See and Share the Pilgrim Vision
The Wisdom of Christ in Proverbs
by Phillip A. Ross
First Edition, 419 pages.
This study on Proverbs uncovers the biblical message of the Book Proverbs verse by verse in the light of Jesus Christ, like a commentary. Every verse is seen in the light of Christology, from the perspective of Christianity.
We cannot pretend to be other than Christians who live on the redemption side of the Cross, while Proverbs was written by King Solomon on the anticipation side of the Cross. Nonetheless, the Christian faith is founded on the eternal consistency of God. God does not change, nor does God's wisdom.
The God of Solomon, the author (and editor) of Proverbs, is the same God spoken of in the New Testament. In fact, the God of Solomon is Jesus Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit. Thus, the present work acknowledges this fact of faith and applies it by reading Proverbs in the light of Jesus Christ. God's wisdom doesn't change.
From the Back Cover
Agur asks the Lord to give him neither 1) poverty, nor 2) riches. These two things are enumerated in the middle clause of verse 8. The first clause, then, is the condition or foundation upon which the gift can be given. And the third clause clarifies the fact that God gives poverty and riches, which denies the common illusion that man provides such things himself. It is a denial of self-reliance.
"Remove far from me vanity and lies" (v. 8) is a request to remove the scourge of self-deception. It is a plea, not merely for the revelation of God's truth, but is a commitment and/or desire to penetrate the vanity and deceit of one's own self-assessment of one's own material needs. The request for neither poverty nor riches requires a measure or standard by which poverty and wealth are to be measured. Agur asks that the standard not be his own self-assessment, which is tainted with sin and self-deception, but that God would use His standard, His measure to determine how much Agur actually needs and/or deserves.
Christians of every stripe will find this book very interesting. Particularly those who have an interst in Christian theology, or who are concerned about the deteriorating condition of the churches, and who have a serious interest in Christianity will find much grist for the mill in this commentary on Proverbs.
Seminary students will find it very worthwhile, as will church leaders (pastors and elders). Here you will find a renewed understanding of the historic, Protestant perspective and its interaction with various historic and popular movements in ways that are surprisingly faithful.
