When we began the process of adopting our twin sons, the U.S. State Department required numerous criminal background checks. First, the Pennsylvania State Police cleared us of any misdemeanors or felonies. Second, the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare cleared us of any history of child abuse. Third, the FBI cleared us of any federal offenses. In addition, despite our spotless history in the United States, the Ugandan magistrate also required a background check from Interpol. Once again, our records were so clean you could have disinfected a toilet with them.
Why did they require such thorough investigation into our history? I imagine it was because we were pursuing a lofty objective with weighty consequences. How could they not examine every corner of our lives to make sure these precious boys would have a good home with us?
When we study a book of the Bible like Proverbs, we must likewise investigate its background. Therefore, over a few posts we’ll examine four topics that are foundational for understanding this book: the genre, the author, the audience, and the author’s intentions for his audience.
Stay tuned!
