Book of Proverbs Summary: Wisdom for War, Not a Feel-Good Fortune Cookie. Proverbs is often misunderstood as a spiritual vending machine of helpful quotes. It has been reduced in modern Christianity to feel-good soundbites for wall art and Instagram captions. But in its true form, Proverbs is a battlefield manual for spiritual war, crafted to develop fear of the Lord, self-discipline, discernment, and maturity in those willing to listen.