Wisdom

Intro

Find some awesome quotes from Wise or Otherwise

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What does it mean to be wise? Where does wisdom come from? What difference does it make in our lives?

These are all questions Proverbs is interested in helping us answer

The first 9 chapters in particular are focused on the idea of wisdom… and choosing wisdom over folly

Let’s jump in! Pray.

Fear of the Lord is the Beginning of Wisdom

Outline the purpose of the book of Proverbs

Read Proverbs 1:1-6.

Most likely a collection of materials used to train up young men into positions of leadership in Israel

Explains focus on young men and the wealthy (poor are spoken of, not spoken to)

Purpose statement also shows one of the literary devices used in Proverbs: repitition (in this case, synonyms of wisdom)

Wisdom -> instruction, understanding, wise dealing, prudence, knowledge, discretion, learning and guidance

All seek to further explain the focus word “wisdom”

Hebrew word = “hokmah;” “depicts the combination of observation, obedience, careful planning, prudent conduct and sensitivity to God’s will that Israel’s wise treasured and taught” (David A. Hubbard)

More than just knowing stuff; a holistic term that permeates every aspect of how we live and relate to God and others… this is biblical Wisdom

How do we get this wisdom, then?

Read Proverbs 1:7

This means that God is the source of true wisdom, not human endeavour

*Share story of the source of Mississippi River; Mark falling in*

Put Israel at odds with other surrounding nations

Story of King Solomon (Cf. 1 Kings 3:3-12)

Wisdom was God-given; a gift

Read Proverbs 2:6-8.

We need to guard against this sermon series becoming self-help talks; this is God’s activity and not our own

God is the source of wisdom, and it is the fear of God that allows us to tap into that source

“Fear” speaks to deep reverance of God and obedience to His ways

Solomon had that fear when he asked God for wisdom (loved the Lord, walked in the ways of David his father)

Your wisdom increases as your love of God increases

If you are to receive any good thing from these next few weeks, start by getting right with God

Lady Wisdom vs. Dame Folly

One unique aspect of Jewish wisdom literature is that wisdom is personified… and she is awesome!

Cf. Proverbs 8:12-21.

She is of true substance; carries with her the blessings from God that truly fulfill

Wisdom was even with God at Creation!

Cf. Proverbs. 8:22-23.

Wisdom is NOT Jesus, but DID provide the backdrop for the language John used to describe Christ (John 1:1).

Lady Wisdom is amazing, but is set against a foe named Folly

Where Wisdom is upright and true, Folly is personified as a seductress who tempts with the allure of desires that come up empty

Cf. Proverbs 9:13-15.

Other places in the first 9 chapters speak of avoiding sexual temptation (both literal and figurative lessons)

The call to attention in Proverbs 1 - 9 is to ask who will we follow? Wisdom or Folly?

*Show Wisdom/Folly meme*

Wisdom and Folly both invite us to eat in their house

Wisdom’s invitation = Proverbs 9:4-6.

Folly’s invitation = Proverbs 9:16-17.

How we respond to these invitations is of the utmost importance; a matter of life and death

Wisdom’s outcome = Proverbs 9:11.

Folly’s outcome = Proverbs 9:18.

Choosing wisdom over foolishness is a matter of life and death, much more than just good advice

*Use illustration of harmful addictions*

Not so much a promise of blessing (God is not a vending machine) as a natural outcome of living according to God’s design

Vs. the natural outcome of the consequences of sin

Wisdom is a Matter of Worship

The reason why choosing Wisdom over Folly is so important, is that it is a matter of worship

“The choice is not good conduct versus bad, though that choice is life-shaking; it is at bottom the choice between true worship and false, between Yahweh whose sovereignty and order make wisdom what she is and the fatal attractions of immorality and idolatry for whom folly is the pitchwoman” (David A. Hubbard, 133)

Wisdom’s call to enter and eat uses temple imagery (pillars, animals for sacrifice); true worship

Remind of the importance of covenant to the original audience of Proverbs

This is what true worship looked like for them!

Solomon’s story shows this lesson to be true: His movement away from true worship was his movement away from wisdom

But when Solomon lost the fear of the Lord at the end of his reign, he also lost the source of true wisdom

Cf. I Kings 11:3-4.

God’s promise was conditional: “IF you will walk in my ways...”

When true worship stopped, wisdom stopped as well

Continual fear of the Lord will lead to continual wisdom; losing the fear of the Lord leads to foolishness and downfall

And so we end where we began: The fear (true worship) of the Lord is the beginning (source) of wisdom

If we are to be wise, we must worship God in Spirit and in truth

Cf. John 4:23-24.

Jesus reveals to us what true worship is; He also paves the way for us to worship God

Have you responded to Jesus? It is the only place to start

Have you examined your heart of worship? The path to wisdom does not start with religious action but with heartfelt reverance and love for God

First “Word to the Wise:” True wisdom is a matter of true worship

Pray