Wisdom in Obedience

Point: God has given us His word for heart transfomation, more than just behaviour modification.

Structure:

1. Transforming power of the word

2. Transforming Power of Love

Introduction to series (1 min)

What about Proverbs?

Most likely, many people in this room, your main experience with proverbs has probably been bumper stickers, coffee cups and cookie-cutter exerts.

Proverbs 3:5 (ESV)

Trust in the Lord with all your heart,

and do not lean on your own understanding.

Proverbs 22:6 (ESV)

Train up a child in the way he should go;

even when he is old he will not depart from it.

Proverbs 31:10 (ESV)

An excellent wife who can find?

She is far more precious than jewels.

My favourite:

Proverbs 6:6 (ESV)

Go to the ant, O sluggard;

consider her ways, and be wise.

Start off the series with an intro/foundation of proverbs. All scripture is God-breated, points to Jesus.

Honour the note-takers.

Proverbs is part of the wisdom literature.

Often believed to be written by Solomon - not entirely written by Solomon. Most likely some sections were his’ sayings, recored by someone else. Some sections written by others, inspired by Solomon.

Some principles;

Proverbs: An Introduction and Commentary (Wilson) (a. Some Principles for Preaching Proverbs)

i. Always approach the individual proverbs through the gateway of chapters 1–9. Proverbs 1–9 establishes the framework needed for understanding each particular proverb, based on three main messages: the fear of the Lord, choosing wisdom not folly, and the need to have our character transformed . Once we have these three features in place, we are ready to interpret the individual proverbs.

ii. Proverbs are not promises or guarantees.

iii. Proverbs do not apply all the time and in every context.

iv. Proverbs often describe reality rather than urge action.

v. Proverbs often have to nuance, and be nuanced by, each other.

vi. Each proverb must be read in the broader context of OT wisdom literature

vii. Every proverb must ultimately be read in the light of Christ

God has given us His word for heart transfomation, more than just behaviour modification

The Way of Wisdom, is following after Jesus, allowing the same saving grace that secures for us eternity to transform us from the inside-out for the His purposes. Let us allow the wisdom literature of Proverbs 3, help to light the way.

Proverbs 3:1 (ESV)

My son, do not forget my teaching,

but let your heart keep my commandments,

The father begins by imploring to his son- “Please, don’t forget what you have been taught- what I have shown you.” What I have learnt and kept is good for you- so let what is good lead you and guide you! This is a loving father, hoping for a good life for his son. What are these commandments? His teachings and his commandments are written down for us in scripture.

So how can the son remember and keep that which he has been given? “Son, read your bible!” You have already forgetten that which you don’t know! The father, like many others, knows and believes that there is a transforming power in scripture. The best hope for his son, is that we cherishes it close. Paul says, in his second letter to Timothy;

2 Timothy 3:16–17 (ESV)

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

Transforming Power of the Word

This is the transforming power of the word. When a person comes to faith is Jesus, we read that they are reborn; brought from death in their sins, alive to Christ- biblical scholars call this regeneration. As a new believer we are often referred to as infants, encourage to take on the journey of the Christian walk, matruing as belivers. This process is called sanctification. As we follow after Christ there is an invitation- and an expectation- that we grow and are transformed over our life. In 2 Timothy, Paul says that the prupose of scripture is to bring us to completion in that work. That’s why the father says-

“Do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments.” It is great to learn and memorise scripture, or to have cool party tricks like naming all 66 books, but even Solomon recognises the beauty and gift of His word, sinking deep, transforming our hearts that they may be obedient to him.

Proverbs 3:2 (ESV)

for length of days and years of life

and peace they will add to you.

Length of days and years of life are phrases. What they allude to here is that when a person reads scripture and they allow it to sink deep into their heart and transform them- they will experience life in its fullest sense. Solomon’s argument to his son is that a scripture rich life leads to a richness of life.

v. 2 calls this richness of life a form of peace- the Hebrew word is šālôm. In the OT, this word means profound wholeness and wellbeing. But it also had a deeper cultural meaning, šālôm embodies the deep desire of the Israelites to one day return to Eden. So the encouragement here is, if you keep the commands and guidelines on how you can live wisely, you’re set for the best chance to live a life as closely to what Eden would have and could have been.

The exhortation from the father is also a warning. There is a moral implication for both remembering and forgetting the word of God. Without the eternal, true, word of God a person if left to their own devices, to determine right from wrong. A dangerous concept. The person who believes they have the capability to do so is acting as if they were God. This is sin. In concept, if you live a life in addiction, immorality, selfishness, gossip, greed, laziness and whatever else proverbs warns you against- it’s very possible they can cut your life short. It is, not a contradicition- that the life that is lived most freely, is a live lived in obedience to Him.

So, verse 1-2, here, teaches us to read, learn and allow scripture to transform us. It will inform and guide us in how to go about our life. How to treat others, live our lives and follow after Jesus. If you do that then the likely, not guaranteed, result is we will be peaceable, calm and confident neighbours and will enjoy a life lived to the fullness of what God is calling us to. What I can guarantee, is we will be transformed into the likeness of His Son Jesus.

Transforming Power of Love

Proverbs 3:3 (ESV)

Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you;

bind them around your neck;

write them on the tablet of your heart.

After the father has exhorted his son to keep the scriptures close to his heart and in his mind, knowing the transorfming power they wield he turns to love. Knowledge can puff up a person, love transforms knowledge into wisdom. Love transcends our weaknesses. There is a transforming power of love.

I love that language used in that first line- don’t let steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you. Don’t let them get away, cling on to them and hold them to you. Do not let steadfast love and faithfulness leave your life. In the Hebrew, the word for steadfast love means a loyal love, it isn’t necssarily romantic or passionate but a joint obligation between people. An immovable, unshakeble bond. And to be faithful is to be trustworthy- that is to be worthy of other people’s trust and reliance. It’s contancy, durablity- a firm foundation. Paint’s quite the picture. That is the deep, self-sacrificing love of Christ.

It is that kind of love that the writer encourages us to bind them around our necks. This imagery is used oftentimes in Proverbs, it gives the image of a necklace or pendant, perhaps one containing pictures of a loved one or you family. It is this outward display of who you are and what matters to you. Let that be steadfast love and faithfulness- Christ-like love. The outward display is mirrored by the next line- “write them on the tablet of your heart”. The imagery of course is a parallel to the 10 commandments, which were written on tablets of stone. Whilst the Israelites did not obey the commandments written on stone, the time has been fulfilled where God promises to write his laws on our hearts-

Jeremiah 31:33 (ESV)

For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

Ezekiel 36:26 (ESV)

And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.

Exalting Jesus in Proverbs (Does Proverbs Preach a Prosperity Gospel? (Proverbs 3:1–12))

So, as anticipated by the rest of the Old Testament, Proverbs recognizes the need for inward-out transformation, not behavior modification. Proverbs isn’t exhorting us to behavior first and foremost; it’s advocating our need for regeneration before these things can be followed.

So how do we find inward-out transformation, that comes from regeneration? Where to we find renewal for our hearts? Draw scripture close that your heart might keep it, display steadfast love and faithfulness to others that shows how it matters to you. The final verse of our reading, verse 4-

Proverbs 3:4 (ESV)

So you will find favor and good success

in the sight of God and man.

Luke 2:52 (ESV)

And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man.

Isn’t it scripture sometime just perfect? (repeat v.4 and luke together) Proverbs 3:1-4 is summarised in the personhood of Jesus Christ. As we look to live wisely, to be obedient to what God is calling us to do- look none further than Jesus. The wisest person you’ll ever meet will be the one most like Jesus. The way of Wisdom begins wih Transformation.

Scripture tells us that not only is Jesus the fulfillment of God’s promises to us, that we would recieve new hearts, that he would dwell with us and we would be His people- Jesus is also known as the Word. The Word became flesh, John 1. He is not only our example to follow, but he has gone before us and completed the work that is being done in us. As we begin this journey of exploring The Way of Wisdom, we can mark reading scripture as the beginning step, paired with Christ’s love. He offers you, an invitation, to come before him, to read and learn and allow it to transform you. Yet, for many of us, however, this may well up resistance within you. Many of us are exhausted, we are tired. And when we talk about following after Jesus, employing the spiritual disciplines, such as reading the bible or serving, it can feel like too much. Like, just another thing. There is this resistance. Jesus says to us, “Come to me, all who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest. For my way is easy and my burden light.” So why does a resitance often form up against it? I believe it is the idols in our life, who currently have contol and that don’t want to give you up. Perhaps, for rest and energy you turn to the TV, or you phone, social media, alcohol, food, treats, gym or sex. These things numb us or distract us from the turmoil in our hearts and in the world. They do not give us rest though, they cannot transform us and they do not want to let us go.

Let go of your idols.

Jesus says, “”I have come to give you life, and life in adundance.” Do you want your life back? Jesus offers us not only life in eternity, but life in adundance, now. True freedom, lived in obedience that results in heart transformation. Rest and joy in the midst of the turmoil. You may also be thinking, I don’t think that is for me, so I’d like to finish with a testimony and a story, about my excellent wife.

*Story time*

Prayer.