Not Without Exceptions
Friday, October 1, 2010 at 9:37AM 
On interpreting scriptural proverbs, from 40 Questions about Interpreting the Bible by Robert L. Plummer:
[Biblical proverbs] generally assume exceptions. Such exceptions are inherent to the nature of wise sayings about the way life normally works. For example, in Proverbs 10:4, we read, “Lazy hands make a man poor, but diligent hands bring wealth.” This is generally true. If you are lazy, after a while, you will be poor. Or as we read in Proverbs 6:10-11, “A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest—and poverty will come on you like a bandit and scarcity like an armed man.” On the other hand, those who work diligently will gradually acquire wealth. But there are situations with extenuating circumstances when this general truth does not prove true. For example, some children are born into such immensely rich families that they are able to live lazily and luxuriously their entire lives and still die wealthy. There are other hardworking people who are unjustly denied the fruit of their labor. Indeed, other proverbs note such injustice. For example, Proverbs 13:23 states, “A poor man’s field may produce abundant food, but injustice sweeps it away.” The fact that some biblical proverbs on first glance conflict with each other reminds us that proverbs are situational or occasional. Each proverb addresses a certain occasion as we normally encounter it, but it does not intend to describe all exceptions. If all such exceptions were listed, the resulting proverb would be far from short or memorable! It would be more like an essay titled, “A General Truth, with All Conceivable Exceptions.”
Can you think of more biblical proverbs that are meant as general rules and have obvious exceptions? The proverb that comes to my mind immediately as a statement that many people understand as a promise, but that is, instead, a general rule with obvious exceptions is “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it” (Proverbs 22: 5).
As you might expect, this rule for interpreting proverbs is a general rule. There are exceptions to it; there are some biblical proverbs that have no exceptions. Can you think of an example of a proverb that is true without exception?
Or do you want to argue with the whole premise of this quote? That happened last week and it helps keep things interesting around here.
Other quotes from 40 Questions about Interpreting the Bible:
Reader Comments (7)
>>Or do you want to argue with the whole premise of this quote? That happened last week and it helps keep things interesting around her.<<
I believe that "IT" also helps keep things interesting around him also! :)
All kidding aside, I believe that if we God's Children do what we honestly know is truly right with God, His Bright Light which shines within each of our hearts will correct us if we're wrong but whether we follow "IT" will depend on our willingness to do His Will and I agree that The Good Book is certainly of great help but personally I'm so busy just keeping up with The Daily Gospel according to Jesus and I hope you agree that following in that way will still give me a chance to make "IT" to Heaven''s Gate and then Jesus might still give me one of His White Dress and tell me to go in and talk to Saint Peter. :)
Does that make any sense?
Peace
Heh. Thanks for the heads up on the typo. :)
True without exception: Trust in the Lord... and lean not on your own understanding.
I have been studying Proverbs of late! (my beloved has been helping me as he took a Simeon Trust course on wisdom and poetry). Well, an easy example of one that is true without exception is Prov. 9:10, "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight." Which, is somewhat an explanation of the purpose of the book. I read this today in the "New Dictionary of Biblical Theology:, "Human beings have a rational capability which reflects what is often called the cultural mandate. They have the responsibility, in the course of seeking to exercise God-given dominion in the world, to understand the nature of the orderliness of the universe. The essence of this emperical wisdom is, by reflecting on experiece in the light of God's self-revelation, to learn of what each circumstance consisits, so as to know the best way to relate and respond to it......An understanding of life's experiences can be achieved only if the Lord of life is acknowledged."
Great post. It is so important to interpret according to the genre. Wisdom literature is tough, especially when trying to find how it points to Christ within the Redemptive Historical framework.
Thank you for pushing me to think so often!
I think the exceptions are in a sense the very point: the proverbs are there not to do our thinking for us but to get us thinking -- Proverbs itself insists that proverbs are not enough, and that we need to reflect on how to apply them appropriately:
Like a lame man's legs, which hang useless, is a proverb in the mouth of fools. (Pr. 26:7)
Like a thorn that goes up into the hand of a drunkard is a proverb in the mouth of fools.(Pr. 26:9)
That is a really good point.
Scriptures can lead a human being to spiritual water but "IT" can't make him or her drink but then again who wants to drink from "IT" nowadays when so many so called human animals have literally made their home in "IT" ? :)
I hear ya! Give "IT" All UP to God sinner vic and He'll take care of "IT" for you.
God Bless,
Peace