Proverbs: Living Like You Love Jesus

Introduction

Sometimes these sayings sum up why the world is the way it is:

I took an IQ test and the results were negative

Most uncommon thing in the world is common sense

Despite how frustrating people can be most of us want to live well and make good decisions

Most people want wisdom and understanding

Unfortunately, most people don’t know how to find wisdom & often we assume our deeply held opinions are wisdom

Many think the path to wisdom is like this conversation:

"Tell me, oh Master!" he cried. "What is the secret of wisdom?"

The Master replied: "Good judgment."

"But how do you get good judgment?" asked the young man.

The Master replied: "Experience."

"And how do you get experience?" the young man persisted.

"Ah," said the Master: "Bad judgment."

Sadly, we’re in a culture that’s overflowing with information and drowning in opinions but shallow in wisdom

Bible tells us we can be wise, urges us to be wise, teaches us to be wise

Proverbs is one of the ways God leads us to wisdom

I was reminded this week in study how desperately we need people that understand and apply the Proverbs

Today, we’re going to see what Proverbs is about and why it’s important

Over the next few weeks we’ll look at a couple of the topics that it addresses

Proverbs posts:

Each day this month I will post a proverb on Socials

Many try to read through Proverbs in a month

That’s good but can be really confusing

Try picking one proverb a day and thinking on it

What is Proverbs about?

The People of Proverbs

Proverbs Author (Prov. 1:1)

Solomon wrote and collected proverbs

Who wrote most of Proverbs? King Solomon

He spoke/wrote many more

How many proverbs did Solomon write (1 Kings 4:32)? 3000 Proverbs & 1005 songs

1 Kings 4:32 – He spoke three thousand proverbs, and his songs were one thousand and five.

He didn’t only write them, he collected them too

Eccl. 12:9 – And moreover, because the Preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge; yes, he pondered and sought out and set in order many proverbs.

This shows in a few areas of Proverbs

A section from Proverbs 24-27

Prov. 30 by Agur & Prov. 31 by Lemuel

Proverbs isn’t just a display of Solomon’s own wisdom & understanding

Reveals his wisdom in seeking out & understanding truth everywhere

Wise people seek wisdom

Solomon’s wisdom

This was one of our studies from last summer

How did Solomon become so wise? He asked God for wisdom

He became the wisest person to ever live

This makes his words worth listening to

He taught Israel wisdom and he is teaching us

Proverbs Audience

People Described

What types of people does Proverbs talk about?

Talks about children, teens, adults

Talks about parents, employers, employees

Talks about hardworking, lazy, clever, simple, rich, poor, wicked, good

Talks about those who tempt to sin & those tempted by sin

Solomon uses all sorts of illustrations to help

People, food, drink, nature, beauty & ugliness

Prov. 10:26 – As vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes, So is the lazy man to those who send him.

Prov. 4:18 – But the path of the just is like the shining sun, That shines ever brighter unto the perfect day.

People Instructed (Prov. 1:4-5)

What 3 types of people does he want to help (Prov. 1:4-5)? Simple, young, wise

You will be in at least one category

We’ll describe each in more detail later

Proverbs Adages

Not going to look comprehensively at structure & types of Proverbs

Book I found very helpful this time in study is “God’s Wisdom in Proverbs: Hearing God’s Voice in Scripture” by Dan Phillips

Proverb = adage, saying, parable

Short, expressive, descriptive statement of a truth

Doesn’t say all there is about a topic in every circumstance

Proverb may be true in some circumstances but not all

E.g. “If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again” or “Don’t beat a dead horse”

“Birds of feather flock together” or “Opposites attract”

Prov. 26:4-5 – 4 Do not answer a fool according to his folly, Lest you also be like him.\\ 5 Answer a fool according to his folly, Lest he be wise in his own eyes.

Principles, not specific promises

Part of learning Proverbs is to learn how to use & understand proverbs

The Power of Proverbs (Prov. 1:2-6)

How can we get the most out of Proverbs?

What can make this (& Bible) powerfully transforming in our lives?

Teach Us to Live with Skill (Prov. 1:2a)

Be familiar (know)

Proverbs isn’t just teaching us handy things to know or remember

Power of Proverbs isn’t in being able to quote one

E.g. Someone asks you to tell a joke and you can’t remember any

Proverbs are so that we will know wisdom, be personally acquainted with wisdom

What does it mean to know wisdom? Be in a living relationship with the truth

E.g. Researching hunting knives (you don’t need to know why)

1 video review was excellent quality but guy was pasty white with soft hands and like the colour of the handle

Didn’t look like he’d been outside much less hunted

I wanted someone who it was clear they knew how to use the knife

Solomon wants this to become part of you

With wisdom

We usually think of wisdom as a knowledge thing, something more mental, intellectual

What does Solomon mean by wisdom?

How does the Bible use this word?

Bible uses the same word to describe:

Skill in war & strategy (Isa. 10:13)

Skill in technical work [gifted artisans] (Ex. 28:3)

Skill in sailing (Ps. 107:27)

Skill in leadership & administration (Deut. 34:9)

Describe skills, ability, talent, craftmanship

Should be noted that God gives all this type of wisdom

So a wise person is a person who has mastered something (DJP - GWP:HGSV)

Wisdom is knowing what to do with facts

Wisdom = skill of living in fear of Yahweh

Fear of God + careful living = wisdom

Teach Us to Live with Integrity (Prov. 1:2b)

Leads to truth

Instruction/correction/discipline

Correction that leads to learning

Teaching that is enforced by punishment when necessary

Children that’s why parents have to punish sometimes – to lead you to truth when you don’t listen to truth

What this tells us is that wisdom is about character not just knowledge

Leads to understanding

1 Kings 3:9 – Therefore give to Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people, that I may discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?”

To have insight

Not just insight but being able to see things the way God does

Ablility to sort out the good from the bad

To know what is worthwhile and what is worthless

Important skill to have in an age of AI & disinformation

Teach Us to Live with Humility (Prov. 1:3)

Receive God’s Word

How to we gain wisdom (Prov. 2:6)? God gives wisdom

What are we supposed to do with it (Prov. 1:3)? Receive it

Real question is how do I receive it?

Pray & listen for still small voice? No

If that was true then why did Solomon write this book?

Remember wisdom is a skill & you master a skill with hard work

Fox (as cited in DJP), “to take it to heart, to absorb it and change one’s ways.”

Walk in God’s Ways

Fortunately Solomon defines aspects of this wisdom

Justice (righteousness) – Living according to God’s standard

Judgment (justice) – character

Equity (uprightness)

Knowledge must be joined with morality

E.g. We can do it but should we?

1 Cor. 10:23 – All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful; all things are lawful for me, but not all things edify.

This also means that education/instruction isn’t meant to be unbiased

Neither are we to teach our children many options for them to choose when their ready - wisdom assumes God’s way is the normal way

It’s our duty to teach all things with God in mind

Teach Us to Live with Purpose (Prov. 1:4)

For maturity

Proverbs is for the simple, the gullible

Person who is easily swayed

Whose mind is open but not critical/discerning

People who don’t think deeply about things

This is a huge & growing problem

Not just young people

Our thinking patterns have been so changed by things like technology that we no longer think deeply about things

Our generations desperately need what wisdom and proverbs offer

Proverbs is for the young

Youth refers to anyone from infancy to young adulthood (Moses in basket to Absalom)

Carries the idea of immaturity

For success

What does Proverbs teaches the gullible? To be clever

Prov. 14:15 – The simple believes every word, But the prudent considers well his steps.

Gives you the tools, understanding, foundations you need to look at life

Helps you to discern good & bad, valuable & worthless, truth & lies

What does Proverbs teaches the young? How to succeed in life

Discretion is one of those hard words to translate

Root meaning is to plan, ponder, devise

Has the idea of planning skills

Wisdom can help you successfully plot your course through life

Teach Us to Live with Action (Prov. 1:5)

To actively listen

The wise listen to God’s Word

So we must listen and not refuse instruction

Prov. 28:9 – One who turns away his ear from hearing the law, Even his prayer is an abomination.

Prov. 29:1 – He who is often rebuked, and hardens his neck, Will suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.

Actively listen to God’s Word

To keep growing

Increase / add learning

Wise know they have never arrived

Don’t be a know it all

Prov. 28:26 – He who trusts in his own heart (know it all) is a fool, But whoever walks wisely will be delivered.

Wise keeps adding to his learning, storing it up for when its needed

Teach Us to Live with Thoughtfulness (Prov. 1:6)

The Bible is a deep book

Spurgeon is known to have said something like the Bible is deep enough for an elephant to swim in and shallow enough for a child to play in

Our duty is to learn how to swim in the depths

4 deep areas to learn:

Proverbs: we’ve talke about

Interpretations (enigmas): satire, sarcasm, mocking poem

Satire, sarcasm, mocking poem

Prov. 19:24 – A lazy man buries his hand in the bowl, And will not so much as bring it to his mouth again.

Exposes & mocks foolishness

E.g. Babylon Bee

Words of the wise: Like Prov. 30-31

Dark sayings / riddles

Hard things to understand

Things that need interpretation

Things that must be thought about deeply, reflected on

Our world needs people willing to put the work in to understand these things

Learn to understand it

You won’t be wise if you’re satisfied with the milk of the Word of God

You must work hard, seek understanding

You must take time to think deeply about things

To learn how to see the world and discern life through the principles of God’s Word

The Point of Proverbs

Point Us To Worship

This is where wisdom begins

It never gets left behind – we don’t start here to move on to something else

Fear of Yahweh is the foundation, environment in which all wisdom exists

Wisdom begins with a relationship

Wisdom exists and grows within that relationship

Pursuit of wisdom is an act of worship

It is to submit to God recognizing your weakness & need

Prov. 3:5-6

Wisdom requires knowledge

To know wisdom I must know God

To know God He must make Himself known

Fear of God is produced by the Word of God – DJP

Actually, the wisest person in the world is the person who knows the most about God. – A.W. Tozer

Wisdom grows with practice

Wisdom is conforming our lives to the ways of God

Proverbs reminds us that Godliness & worship are practical

1 Cor. 10:31 – Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

Skillful, godly living is worship

Proverbs will help you worship with your whole life

Point Us To Christ

Wisdom is found in Christ

In many instances you could change ‘wisdom’ for ‘Christ’ in Proverbs

Read Proverbs 8:23-31. How is wisdom described in these verse?

Now compare that with what the following verses say about Jesus. (John 1:1-2; 1 Corinthians 1:24, 30; Colossians 2:2-3; Hebrews 1:3)

Read Proverbs 1:20-33. In what ways can you see parallels with the life of Christ?