Proverbs: Wisdom for Sons

The Book of Proverbs is enigmatic. The book is filled with riddles (e.g., 1:6), and the book itself is a puzzle. Proverbs gives little mention of God and no mention of the Covenant or God's great redemptive acts. Does this mean that Proverbs is merely a collection of "secular" wisdom? By no means! A deeper look reveals that Proverbs is a profoundly religious book. Proverbs shows that the way of wisdom is for sons of the covenant. Only those who trust in YHWH and follow his ways are genuinely sons of wisdom. Proverbs indicates that there is a way of life and death. 'Common-grace' wisdom is insufficient without the "fear of the Lord" (e.g., 1:7). The New Testament continues this call to wisdom in the life of Christ, "in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge" (Col. 2:3). If you want to be truly wise, you must be a child of God through faith in Christ. The path of wisdom and life is found only in him (John 14:6).