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Walking with Wisdom: A Study of Proverbs
The people of God may desire to make good and faithful decisions, but actually doing so takes wisdom and courage. The Book of Proverbs aims at cultivating wisdom, insight, and understanding in its readers, so that they will choose the way of God instead of the way of folly. It is ancient wisdom that wants all people to know the joys of Wisdom’s party.
In Walking with Wisdom, Lance Hawley guides readers through the book of Proverbs with a special emphasis on its significance for contemporary life. It is ideal for small group studies, Bible classes, and personal study. The book includes chapters on what Proverbs has to say about relationships, money, and wise speech, along with chapters on how to cultivate and celebrate wisdom.
Praise for Walking with Wisdom
“Many paths in our world are bereft of seasoned straight talk that remains firm but not arrogant, rooted but not intractable, memorable but not cliched. Lance Hawley shows how and why Proverbs utters this kind of speech for the “A to Z” of human existence. He offers in this work a succinct, understandable and user-friendly overview of Israel’s treasury of wisdom maxims—a gratifying go-to for churches and small groups. Hawley is a surefooted guide who invites his reader to progress down wisdom’s walkway. As he observes, it is not wrong to begin naively, but Proverbs warns it is foolish to stay there. So read this book and get a move on!”—Nathan Bills, Senior Lecturer and Head of the Department of Theology & Ministry and Liaison to International Partners, Heritage Christian College, Accra, Ghana
“Lance Hawley has written a book on Proverbs that is as accessible, engaging, and practical as it is astute, scholarly, and profound. I spend a lot of time studying Proverbs myself and found that I was led by Hawley to think in new ways about passages I have read many times and to reflect with new earnestness about the impact God wants them to have on what I think, feel, say, and do. Hawley has a special knack for translating ancient wisdom to our day-to-day in the twenty-first century. Reading this book was a refreshing experience, “pleasant to my soul” indeed (Prov 2:10), and a needed time of learning, growth, and exhortation to seek more of God’s wisdom.”
—Beth Currier, Ph.D, Assistant Professor in Hebrew Bible, Pillar Seminary
“The best of biblical scholarship for the church is herein on display. Hawley writes about Proverbs and the pursuit of wisdom with concision. He details—when necessary—pertinent technical matters in the text, yet refuses to get stuck there. Throughout, Hawley’s focus remains on the believer’s quest for wisdom in everyday on the real obstacles that hinder that quest as well as the practical steps which support it. Walking with Wisdom is a resource for church members and church leaders; it is for anyone and everyone who wants to grow in wisdom and guide others to do the same. ”
—Matthew Love, Ph.D Candidate (Preaching), Baylor University; Instructor of Preaching and Ministry, Harding School of Theology, Searcy, AR; Preaching Minister, Beebe Church of Christ, Beebe, AR
“It’s always a gift when a theology professor writes in a way that can reach the academy and the local church. In Walking with Wisdom, Lance Hawley does just that. We need the book of Proverbs in our head and heart. My friend Lance helps unpack this rich Old Testament book in a way that will grow our minds and hearts to see wisdom as a tremendous gift from God.
In Walking with Wisdom, Lance Hawley guides readers through the book of Proverbs with a special emphasis on its significance for contemporary life. It is ideal for small group studies, Bible classes, and personal study. The book includes chapters on what Proverbs has to say about relationships, money, and wise speech, along with chapters on how to cultivate and celebrate wisdom.
Praise for Walking with Wisdom
“Many paths in our world are bereft of seasoned straight talk that remains firm but not arrogant, rooted but not intractable, memorable but not cliched. Lance Hawley shows how and why Proverbs utters this kind of speech for the “A to Z” of human existence. He offers in this work a succinct, understandable and user-friendly overview of Israel’s treasury of wisdom maxims—a gratifying go-to for churches and small groups. Hawley is a surefooted guide who invites his reader to progress down wisdom’s walkway. As he observes, it is not wrong to begin naively, but Proverbs warns it is foolish to stay there. So read this book and get a move on!”—Nathan Bills, Senior Lecturer and Head of the Department of Theology & Ministry and Liaison to International Partners, Heritage Christian College, Accra, Ghana
“Lance Hawley has written a book on Proverbs that is as accessible, engaging, and practical as it is astute, scholarly, and profound. I spend a lot of time studying Proverbs myself and found that I was led by Hawley to think in new ways about passages I have read many times and to reflect with new earnestness about the impact God wants them to have on what I think, feel, say, and do. Hawley has a special knack for translating ancient wisdom to our day-to-day in the twenty-first century. Reading this book was a refreshing experience, “pleasant to my soul” indeed (Prov 2:10), and a needed time of learning, growth, and exhortation to seek more of God’s wisdom.”
—Beth Currier, Ph.D, Assistant Professor in Hebrew Bible, Pillar Seminary
“The best of biblical scholarship for the church is herein on display. Hawley writes about Proverbs and the pursuit of wisdom with concision. He details—when necessary—pertinent technical matters in the text, yet refuses to get stuck there. Throughout, Hawley’s focus remains on the believer’s quest for wisdom in everyday on the real obstacles that hinder that quest as well as the practical steps which support it. Walking with Wisdom is a resource for church members and church leaders; it is for anyone and everyone who wants to grow in wisdom and guide others to do the same. ”
—Matthew Love, Ph.D Candidate (Preaching), Baylor University; Instructor of Preaching and Ministry, Harding School of Theology, Searcy, AR; Preaching Minister, Beebe Church of Christ, Beebe, AR
“It’s always a gift when a theology professor writes in a way that can reach the academy and the local church. In Walking with Wisdom, Lance Hawley does just that. We need the book of Proverbs in our head and heart. My friend Lance helps unpack this rich Old Testament book in a way that will grow our minds and hearts to see wisdom as a tremendous gift from God.
133 pages, Paperback
Published August 1, 2024
7 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
August 15, 2025
Full disclosure: Dr. Hawley is my professor (and I even took his Wisdom Lit class), but I promise that doesn’t color my review of this book at all. It’s an excellent volume for studying Proverbs by yourself or with a group. Balancing academic insight with practical application is difficult, but this book achieves that beautifully. Hawley engages a number of difficult and sensitive topics with great humility, allowing readers to see the multifaceted wisdom of the text. I’m looking forward to using it as a guidebook for an upcoming Bible class!
December 15, 2024
Dr. Lance Hawley is my masters thesis supervisor, so I believe I am required to give the book five stars.
In all seriousness, this book was a great overview of Proverbs. There were several helpful prompts in each chapter engendering discussion and guiding readers in how they might teach through Proverbs. It was a wonderful balance of exploring the details of difficult or misunderstood passages on the one hand and providing a useful bigger picture on the other.
In all seriousness, this book was a great overview of Proverbs. There were several helpful prompts in each chapter engendering discussion and guiding readers in how they might teach through Proverbs. It was a wonderful balance of exploring the details of difficult or misunderstood passages on the one hand and providing a useful bigger picture on the other.
December 6, 2025
Excellent book. Used this book as the source material for our Sunday morning adult Bible study class for the quarter. I will be reading this book again, and using it when studying the book of Proverbs again.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews