Proverbs 1:6 (Mini Sermon)

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6. Pro 1:6 - "To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings." A. Let's look at the second half of this proverb first before getting to the first half. B. The words of the wise, and their dark sayings. i. Even to a learned man, some of the proverbs are difficult to understand, hence the reason they are called dark sayings. ii. Dark adj - I. literal. 1. a. Characterized by (absolute or relative) absence of light; devoid of or deficient in light; unilluminated; said esp. of night. II. fig. 6. a. Obscure in meaning, hard to understand. iii. A dark saying is something that has been kept secret (Psa 78:2 c/w Mat 13:35). iv. Some proverbs, therefore, are secretive sayings with obscure meanings that are hard to be understood which is why they have to be interpreted. C. To understand a proverb, and the interpretation... i. From the word order we see that the proverb itself must first be understood, after which the interpretation can be comprehended (Pro 1:6). a. Put another way, to understand what a verse means we must first understand what it says. b. To know what a proverb says requires that we identify its form which will usually be one of the following types: comparing, contrasting, or a statement of truth (see Interpreting a Proverb, Section II). c. Once it is clear what a proverb says, then the interpretation must be given. d. Interpretation n. - The action of interpreting or explaining; explanation, exposition. e. To give the interpretation is to explain what the proverb means. ii. To understand a proverb and the interpretation, Solomon taught in the previous verse that a wise man must attain unto wise counsel, listen, and learn (Pro 1:5). iii. Proverb n. - 1. a. A short pithy saying in common and recognized use; a concise sentence, often metaphorical or alliterative in form, which is held to express some truth ascertained by experience or observation and familiar to all; an adage, a wise saw. a. Though a proverb is a saying in common use, its meaning is not necessarily obvious to all. b. Given that a proverb is a wise saying that expresses a truth gained by experience, those who have yet to experience what the older and wiser generation have must therefore learn to understand and interpret their sayings. iv. As previously stated, a man must attain unto wise counsels to understand a proverb and the interpretation (Pro 1:5-6). a. How can a man understand what he reads without some man to guide him (Act 8:30-31)? b. In the multitude of counselors there is safety (Pro 11:14). c. The best counsel of all is the counsel of the LORD (Pro 19:21). (i) God's counsel is found in His word (Psa 119:24; Pro 2:6; Pro 22:20-21), which is manifested through preaching (Tit 1:3). (ii) The best way to understand a proverb and the interpretation is to learn in the manner in which the Holy Ghost teaches, "comparing spiritual things with spiritual" (1Co 2:13). (iii) For the finest explanation of an author's work, it's best to ask the author himself. (iv) The proverbs are no different.