Roots of Wisdom
Claus Westermann concentrates and focuses mainly on the Bible that deals particularly with the book of Proverbs 10-31 and he easily demonstrates how this educational literature of wisdom came to be books of poetry that had so much that gained the interest of individuals who read the passages in Proverbs and became even more popular to readers on a universal base as the population of Israel utilized urbanization into their society.
Westermann uses passages that offer wisdom in his words and teaching that enlighten readers who want to learn more about Proverbs and those who desire more literature in determining the truth.
The author uses writing that was from the ancient African land for those individuals and offers a look into the time period and how teaching through poetry changed over the years.
An agrarian setting is demonstrated that prospered from earlier traditions where Claus Westermann argues that the early teaching and understanding about Israel grew from the poetry writing.
“Roots of Wisdom” uses the book of Proverbs 10-31 as a guidance tool and a means to grasp the words of the poetry, in order to gain the true meaning of this passage and a roadmap for those people who need to learn more about the Bible and its true meaning.
“Roots of Wisdom” is a book of writing that people around the world can use to find out information that has been passed down from many generations and has remained intact in order for those individuals who truly desire to read the flowing scriptures and gain the most information from the poetry. Claus Westermann is an author who greatly desires religious truth and demonstrates his true character by the subject that he uses in his writing.
Israel is where Westermann concentrates in order to show religious roots from our past and also shows how to use these scriptures in or everyday lives. We can always learn from Bible scriptures and Westermann is wonderful as we are taught about the poetry that can be uplifting to our spirit and lead us in the proper direction, during our lifetime, if we can only believe what the Bible teaches.
Poetry is used in the Bible on many occasions and people often wonder where this comes from. The many other books in the Bible are often written in forms of letters or talks about prophesy but Proverbs is so different from the other books in the Bible since it uses words of songs that are used as poetry as Claus Westermann writes in his book, “The Roots of Wisdom.” (Westermann, 1994)
Our roots go back so far into history that we must find writing from other authors in order to try to understand what took place in ancient time periods and how the people during these old times were taught.
Books in the Bible often refer us to Israel where God’s chosen people hailed from and still live, today. We can find many passages in the Bible that teach us about right and wrong behavior and how God expects us to do our very best. We can use these passages as guides to lead us in the right direction during our lives and Claus Westermann understands the importance of following God’s rules and laws as we press through hard times as we search for answers that lead us to the truth.
We are told about the oldest Proverbs of Israel and teachings from various places around the world as we read Westermann’s writing, as we continue to look into possibilities in learning the proper way to treat each other in society.
Israel is a country that great emphasis has been placed on down through history and even today, this great country is constantly being looked at under the microscope as people search for answers, not only about our past but about our future and how we need to work toward preparing for times of trouble during the end times which the Bible speaks about, in telling us through the pages of the beginning of time and moves toward telling us about the end of time, as we know it.
This book is extremely enlightening and I think that people who share interest in the Bible should read Claus Westermann’s writing.
The oldest proverbs of Israel remain available for readers, even today. It is so wonderful how these books remained available for our viewing today and how they had never been removed because of damage. Bible books have taught us so much about our past and how our ancestors and others were led by the same set of practices as we follow, today.
Wisdom is a feature that Claus Westermann is very familiar with as he uses this gift as a means of showing how Bible history affects each and every one of us. Wisdom comes with time and knowledge and the author is successful at pointing out this very important fact.
We can learn so much from these few scriptures in our Bible, because Proverbs is very good at explaining the truth through it’s poems as we read these amazing verses in our Bible.
Israel’s earlier wisdom, Claus Westermann argues in his writing and teaching, grew from a tradition of being taught out loud with words where it did indeed; affect the agrarian setting in time.
The universal appeal that proverbs had on our world shows how words of faith and hope can reach a multitude of people from all around the universe in speaking the truth and offering us words and passages that me need to heed to in order to live our lives the best that we can.
Claus Westermann, I think is a wonderful writer and I would recommend that others read the “Roots of Wisdom: The Oldest Proverbs of Israel and Other People’s” so that they can gain truth.
We read in Proverbs 10, verse 1 that, “A wise man maketh a glad father-the mouth of a righteous man is a well of life-He that uttered slander is a fool-The desire of the righteous shall be granted.”
We also learn from this verse from Proverbs, Chapter 10 that, “The proverbs of Solomon. A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish son is the heaviness of his mother.”
We can determine from these scriptures that being wise in our everyday decisions can greatly impact the feelings of others.
Proverbs Chapter 10 and verse 2 explains that, “Treasures of wickedness profit nothing: but righteousness delivered from death.”
We can gain absolutely nothing from wicked or evil deeds but if we are righteous we can be delivered from death.
In verse 3, we read, “The Lord will not suffer the soul of the righteous to famish: but he casteth away the substance of the wicked.
We can gain knowledge from this scripture that the Lord will take care of his righteous people but will not concerning the wicked.
In verse 4, we read, “He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent maketh rich.” Verse 5 goes on to tell us, “He that gathereth in summer is a wise son: but he that sleepeth in harvest is a son that causeth shame.” We learn that the wisdom is shown in action.
Verse 6 tells us, “Blessings are upon the head of the just: but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked.”
The just are blessed through their good deeds and works as Claus Westermann tells us through his literature.
In verse 7, we learn that, “The memory of the just is blessed: but the name of the wicked shall not.”
Verse 8 explains, “The wise in heart will receive commandments: but a prating fool shall fall.”
Claus Westermann is successful in teaching about these passages in the Bible as he writes in “The Roots of Wisdom.”
In verse 9, we understand that, “He that walketh uprightly walketh surely: but he that perveteth his ways shall be known.”
Claus Westermann used these scriptures to explain and teach about the Bible and how we need to abide by the teachings of the poems of Proverbs, in order to be happy in our lives.
In Proverbs 11 and verse 1 we read, “The state and rewards of the righteous and the wicked are contrasted-When a wicked man dies, his expectations perish-He that winneth souls is wise.”
Rewards are shown through Bible teaching, as gifts for those who do good and stay away from forces of evil. We also learn that those who win souls are wise.
In verse 2 we read, “When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom.”
Can we learn from this scripture along with author Claus Westermann that pride is not a good thing and that it is better to be lowly and to possess wisdom in our thinking and actions?
Westermann understands, by his remarkable writing, that wisdom is extremely important and the “Roots of Wisdom” come from the beginning and we have great literature and the Bible to read and learn about wisdom.
I think that Westermann was very wise and showed great wisdom by using the book of Proverbs as a teaching tool in his book. We can never go wrong when we use the Bible. God has given us a great book that will continue to lead us and others in the right direction in our search for wisdom and goodness here on earth.
The author did realize that following God’s word is the most important thing we can ever do and as we continue to gain knowledge and wisdom, we also are gaining rewards.
Reference Page
Westermann, Claus. (1994) “Roots of Wisdom” Westminster John Knox Press.
