Solomon, The First Sychologist
A proverb is a pithy sentence, concisely expressing some well-established truth susceptible of various illustrations and applications. The word is of Latin derivation, literally meaning for a word, speech, or discourse; the Hebrew word for proverb is mashal which is translated into comparisons. The design of Proverbs is to fear God, believe in his word, to avoid the company of wicked men, attaining wisdom, and the dreadful punishment of those who refuse to submit to the will of God and his glory. Proverbs is broken down into thirty-one chapters. Each of these chapters instructs us in the proper ways to live our lives. It begins with a brief introduction preface in the first six verses, then followed by different discourses from a father to his son, filled with practical advice on how to face some of the problems of life. When Solomon became king he had a vision of God in which God asked him what his heart desired above everything else, rather than saying riches or fame, he asked for wisdom. God gave him all three. The book of Proverbs discusses the will of man but also his fall. The whole purpose of the book is stated in just one of the most important verses in the book. That men may know wisdom and instruction, understa
With no exception, both the Jews and the Christians as the divinely inspired production of Solomon. He lived in an era five hundred years before the “seven wise men of Greece”, seven hundred before Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle. We often assume that psychology began a hundred years ago with Sigmund Freud’s Interpretation of Dreams, 1900. It would be better to consider the psychology of the human heart in the book of Proverbs. Long before the modern emphasis on the psychosomatic effects of certain kinds of behavior, we discover that Solomon knew almost as much about this as we do. Here is a list of six kinds of heat attitudes that he emphasized were bad for our health. The cruel heat, Those who are kind reward themselves, but the cruel do themselves harm (11:17). The anxious heart, Anxiety weighs down the human heart, but a good word cheers it up (12:25). The hope-less heart, Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life (13:12). The bitter heart, the heart knows it own bitterness, and no stranger shares its joy (14:10). The angry heart, A glad heart makes a cheerful countenance, but by sorrow of hear the spirit is broken down (15:13). The haughty heart, Before destruction one’s heart is haughty, but humility goes before honor (18:12). Finally we can see how wisdom can keep us safe and sound. Those who listen to me will be secure and will live at ease, without dread of disaster (1:33) In this book we are supplied with proverbial wisdom commended by divi
Some topics in this essay:
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God God,
Interpretation Dreams,
,
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Continuously Solomon,
Plato Aristotle,
wisdom instruction,
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heart word,
acknowledge paths,
fear lord,
book proverbs,
human heart,
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Approximate Word count = 1021
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)
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