Proverbs: Promises or General Principles?
Are Proverbs promises, or are they just general principles?
Dorothy
Dorothy
Dear Dorothy,
It depends. As a general rule, the proverbs found in the Book of Proverbs are not promises. The Bible’s proverbs come in various forms. We have lectures by a parent (e.g., Prov 1:10–19), parables (Prov 7), acrostics (Prov 31:10–31), and anecdotes (Prov 24:30–34). Most proverbs are short, pithy sayings of a principle or observation (e.g., “A wise son makes a glad father, but a foolish son is a sorrow to his mother” Prov 10:1). It is generally true that a wise son makes a glad father, but there are exceptions. For example, if the father is wicked and the son wisely rejects his father’s ways, the father may be angry and resentful of his son.
Occasionally, a proverb may make a universally true statement. For example, “The eyes of Yahweh are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good” (Prov 15:3). So far as I know, there are no exceptions to this statement. One might infer a promise—God will see everything I do—from a theological statement like this. However, the proverb itself isn’t a promise.
Before we look at some proverbs that may be promises, let’s think about the nature of promises. First, promises refer to the future. They give assurance that something either will or will not happen or be done. So, the use of the future tense would naturally be expected. Second, promises may be conditional or unconditional. There are very few unconditional promises in Scripture. God’s promise never to destroy the earth with a flood is one (Gen 9:11). Most promises are conditional, even if the condition isn’t explicitly stated. So, if we think something may be a promise, we carefully need to identify the conditions for its fulfillment. Third, Gods promises are infallible. That is, if the condition for the promise is met, the promise is always fulfilled. Therefore, any verse identified as a promise must meet the “Is it always true?” test.
I expect Proverbs to be promises only when the following criteria are met: 1) the proverb states that God will do a thing, and 2) the proverb passes the “Is it always true?” test if the condition is met. Proverbs 10:3 passes the former but not the latter: “Yahweh does not let the righteous go hungry, but he thwarts the craving of the wicked.” Yahweh does allow righteous people to hunger on rare occasions to test them (Deut 8:3).
On the other hand, Proverbs 3:5–6 is a promise. If the conditions of trusting in Yahweh with all the heart, not leaning to one’s own understanding, knowing Him in all our ways are met, then it is always true that God will direct our paths.
Proverbs 3:9–10 commands, “Honor Yahweh with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce; then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine.” This clearly refers to the future. The condition is that we honor Yahweh with our wealth. The consequence is full barns and overflowing vats. Since we know from Scripture that the righteous may be poor or even robbed by the wicked, this is not a promise. It is generally true that God blesses materially those who honor Him (cf. Mal 3:10), but there are many circumstances that may create exceptions to this principle.
Proverbs 18:10 says, “The name of Yahweh is a strong tower; the righteous man runs into it and is safe.” If by “safe” the author has personal safety from hard times in mind, then this cannot be an unconditional promise. Hebrews 11 tells us that righteous men “experienced mockings and scourgings, yes, also chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were tempted, they were put to death with the sword” (Heb 11:36–38)
The bottom line is that while there are some promises in Proverbs, as a whole, the genre of proverbs is intended to express general principles, not promises.
Blessings,
Philip
It depends. As a general rule, the proverbs found in the Book of Proverbs are not promises. The Bible’s proverbs come in various forms. We have lectures by a parent (e.g., Prov 1:10–19), parables (Prov 7), acrostics (Prov 31:10–31), and anecdotes (Prov 24:30–34). Most proverbs are short, pithy sayings of a principle or observation (e.g., “A wise son makes a glad father, but a foolish son is a sorrow to his mother” Prov 10:1). It is generally true that a wise son makes a glad father, but there are exceptions. For example, if the father is wicked and the son wisely rejects his father’s ways, the father may be angry and resentful of his son.
Occasionally, a proverb may make a universally true statement. For example, “The eyes of Yahweh are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good” (Prov 15:3). So far as I know, there are no exceptions to this statement. One might infer a promise—God will see everything I do—from a theological statement like this. However, the proverb itself isn’t a promise.
Before we look at some proverbs that may be promises, let’s think about the nature of promises. First, promises refer to the future. They give assurance that something either will or will not happen or be done. So, the use of the future tense would naturally be expected. Second, promises may be conditional or unconditional. There are very few unconditional promises in Scripture. God’s promise never to destroy the earth with a flood is one (Gen 9:11). Most promises are conditional, even if the condition isn’t explicitly stated. So, if we think something may be a promise, we carefully need to identify the conditions for its fulfillment. Third, Gods promises are infallible. That is, if the condition for the promise is met, the promise is always fulfilled. Therefore, any verse identified as a promise must meet the “Is it always true?” test.
I expect Proverbs to be promises only when the following criteria are met: 1) the proverb states that God will do a thing, and 2) the proverb passes the “Is it always true?” test if the condition is met. Proverbs 10:3 passes the former but not the latter: “Yahweh does not let the righteous go hungry, but he thwarts the craving of the wicked.” Yahweh does allow righteous people to hunger on rare occasions to test them (Deut 8:3).
On the other hand, Proverbs 3:5–6 is a promise. If the conditions of trusting in Yahweh with all the heart, not leaning to one’s own understanding, knowing Him in all our ways are met, then it is always true that God will direct our paths.
Proverbs 3:9–10 commands, “Honor Yahweh with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce; then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine.” This clearly refers to the future. The condition is that we honor Yahweh with our wealth. The consequence is full barns and overflowing vats. Since we know from Scripture that the righteous may be poor or even robbed by the wicked, this is not a promise. It is generally true that God blesses materially those who honor Him (cf. Mal 3:10), but there are many circumstances that may create exceptions to this principle.
Proverbs 18:10 says, “The name of Yahweh is a strong tower; the righteous man runs into it and is safe.” If by “safe” the author has personal safety from hard times in mind, then this cannot be an unconditional promise. Hebrews 11 tells us that righteous men “experienced mockings and scourgings, yes, also chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were tempted, they were put to death with the sword” (Heb 11:36–38)
The bottom line is that while there are some promises in Proverbs, as a whole, the genre of proverbs is intended to express general principles, not promises.
Blessings,
Philip