Proverbs: The Beginning of Wisdom
Notes
Transcript
Handout
(S1) — The wisest person you know?
Who do you go to for advice on...
“My Grandfather. He had a troubled youth but he went out of his way to teach me important life lessons such as empathy, loyalty, responsibility and not to speak or act in anger.”
…look at one man’s wisdom…the book of Proverbs; a practical guide for everyday life
Proverbs 1:2…for gaining wisdom and instruction
(S2) — Wisdom
Where do you go to get it…for wise advice?
…manuals available today for nearly every subject imaginable. So-called “experts” have all the answers for how to be a successful husband, wife, lover, parent, businessperson, student, friend, cook..
— How to be happy, how to be rich, how to be skinny, how to build your self-esteem—there seems to be a “how to” book for everything.
“Just Google it dad” Melissa
While there is lots of ways to get knowledge rarely is one completely trustworthy and reliable. We should be suspect and always evaluate the wisdom we seek—Some advice is accurate and helpful. Much is absolutely worthless.
“Wisdom is applied knowledge”
To gain wisdom is to not only get knowledge, but to test it with, PRUDENCE-DISCRETION-DISCERNMENT…
“Proverbs begins with a clear statement of its purpose—to impart wisdom for Godly living” (NIV).
I pray that this series will help us to seek and gain the wisdom of God for everyday life—wisdom that points us to His word.
PRAY/BIBLES
Proverbs: King Solomon’s Wisdom
(S3) — {Proverbs 1:1}
Authorship (10-29) Solomon — (30) Agur — (31) King Lemuel
—Raised by Godly parents (Son of King David)
—Ruled Israel from 971-931 B.C—God offered him anything...he asked for wisdom over everything else
1 Kings 4:29 “God gave Solomon very great wisdom and understanding, and knowledge as vast as the sands of the seashore.”
1 Kings 4:31 “He was wiser than anyone else… His fame spread throughout all the surrounding nations.”
Proverbs is Solomon’s words of wisdom from God!
Ecclesiastes 1:13 “I devoted myself to search for understanding and to explore by wisdom everything being done under heaven.”
What is a Proverb (parable)
(S4) —
‘A short, concise statement, that conveys a moral truth, having value for life’
A series of wise sayings that have practical meaning for everyday life
—Not laws like the 10 commandments...
—Not just knowledge; knowing the best thing to do or avoid in a particular situation
Other words of wisdom that can have value
“Anything worth having is worth waiting for” Dad
“Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving.” —Albert Einstein
“The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.” —Nelson Mandela
“To me, if life boils down to one thing, it’s movement. To live is to keep moving.” —Jerry Seinfeld
“Never let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game.” —Babe Ruth
(S5)
“What you say matters, but what you don’t say matters more.”
While many wise sayings can have value, the wisdom of Proverbs are sayings meant to not only guide one through life; but to point us to the giver of life.
What are your favorites?
3:5 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.”
4:2 “Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.”
5:18 “Let your wife be a fountain of blessing for you. Rejoice in the wife of your youth.”
6:6 “Take a lesson from the ants, you lazybones. Learn from their ways and become wise!”
16:9 “We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps.”
26:11 “As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his foolishness.”
31:28 “Her children stand and bless her. Her husband praises her:”
27:17 “As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend.”
26:27 “If you roll a boulder down on others, it will crush you instead.”
Don’t they make so much sense? I want to encourage you to read a proverb a day, how can you apply them…
Their Purpose—Who they are for?
The key to Godly wisdom—The beginning of wisdom
(S6) —
Their purpose is to teach people wisdom and discipline, to help them understand the insights of the wise...to live disciplined and successful lives, to help them do what is right, just, and fair.
First, their purpose is to give one greater understanding...meaning one must approach these proverbs as a student...pursuing greater knowledge
Understanding—binyah (bee-naw) — ‘interval or space between
It involves asking, “what is the intended lesson...what is it meant to me?”
Back to school in 2011-(50 yrs)
Asking questions (disciples)—the same way we should approach the Bible today
Proverbs 2:3–4 “Cry out for insight, and ask for understanding. Search for them as you would for silver; seek them like hidden treasures.”
Second, their purpose is to lead one to live right (in truth), act justly (towards others), and to behave in a way that benefits others.
Micah 6:8 “...the Lord has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.”
Golden Rule—Jesus’ Teaching
Matthew 7:12 ““Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you.
Godly wisdom comes with an eagerness to grow in understanding; with prudent and practical behavior.
“Do all the good you can,
By all the means you can,
In all the ways you can,
In all the places you can,
At all the times you can,
To all the people you can,
As long as ever you can.” John Wesley
Who the Proverbs for?
(S7)
These proverbs will give insight to the simple, knowledge and discernment to the young. Let the wise listen to these proverbs and become even wiser. Let those with understanding receive guidance.
First, they are wisdom for the SIMPLE
First, they are wisdom for the SIMPLE
— For the gullible, the niave, those without moral direction, and the one who does not know God...but are open-minded
Chock full of meaty morsels about wisdom, this paragraph is designed to whet the appetite of even the most casual reader.
Want to introduce someone to the wisdom of God...
Proverbs 9:4 ““Come in with me,” she urges the simple. To those who lack good judgment, she says,”
Second, they are wisdom for the YOUNG
Second, they are wisdom for the YOUNG
— as are wise words from father to son
Solomons wise sayings, would have been used in the home...by parents...for the instruction of the young...
Proverbs 1:8–9 “My child, listen when your father corrects you. Don’t neglect your mother’s instruction. What you learn from them will crown you with grace and be a chain of honor around your neck.”
The young reference can also mean those who are spiritual babies
Third, they are wisdom for the WISE
Third, they are wisdom for the WISE
...so they will gain greater understanding
Proverbs 9:9 “Instruct the wise, and they will be even wiser. Teach the righteous, and they will learn even more.”
Those who have knowledge of and walk right with God...are never to old to learn
Bill and Judy—learning so much
Fourth, they are wisdom for the DISCERNING
Fourth, they are wisdom for the DISCERNING
..to provide wise guidance for those seeking wisdom
Proverbs 15:14 (ESV) “The heart of him who has understanding seeks knowledge, but the mouths of fools feed on folly.
(S8)
“Here is milk for babes, and strong meat for those who are of full age. Here are plain instructions for the ignorant, and depths of wisdom proper to exercise and enrich the minds of the most intelligent.” George Lawson
Their purpose; for greater understanding of what it means to live a Godly life...and they are wisdom for everyone...
Matthew 13:9 “Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand.””
The last thing I want us to consider; the most important...because we have a choice to live wisely, or to live foolishly
The Key to Wisdom
...where living a wise an abundant life begins; is to...
(S9) — To Fear the Lord
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
What this is not; being scared of God—the boogey man under the bed
What it is: A deep admiration and reverence towards who God and His Word
(S10)
“It is not the fear that torments, but that which is joined with faith expressed in love, as a lively impression of the excellency of God upon the soul, whereby one is disposed to walk before Him unto all pleasing, and to put far away everything provoking and offensive to the eyes of His glory.
(S11)
It is the whole religion of the heart and life of man.” George Lawson
Reverence towards God is where a life of seeking wisdom begins
“One cannot gain knowledge of spiritual things if they begin at the wrong point.”
Solomon the man whose father had a heart for God and who sought the wisdom of God over everything else affirms his reverence of God..
9:10 “Fear of the Lord is the foundation of wisdom. Knowledge of the Holy One results in good judgment.”
10:27 “Fear of the Lord lengthens one’s life, but the years of the wicked are cut short.”
14:27 “Fear of the Lord is a life-giving fountain; it offers escape from the snares of death.”
16:6 “Unfailing love and faithfulness make atonement for sin. By fearing the Lord, people avoid evil.”
19:23 “Fear of the Lord leads to life, bringing security and protection from harm.”
How do we do this?
Good News—God made a way—the wisest person who ever lived and desires to live in us today— Christ, is the wisdom of God
(S12)
1 Corinthians 1:30 “God has united you with Christ Jesus. For our benefit God made him to be wisdom itself. Christ made us right with God; he made us pure and holy, and he freed us from sin.”
The wisdom of God is Jesus himself...Phillip introduced his friend to Jesus
John 1:47–49 “How do you know about me?” Nathanael asked. Jesus replied, “I could see you under the fig tree before Philip found you.” Then Nathanael exclaimed, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God—the King of Israel!””
(S13)
How do we live in fear of the Lord?
I. Cultivate a deep respect for WHO God is!
I. Cultivate a deep respect for WHO God is!
Worshipful respect for God’s holiness—the God who called himself, I am...
Exodus 3:14 “God replied to Moses, “I Am Who I Am.
Holy admiration brings us in awe to the presence of God
Isaiah 55:9 “For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.”
How do you come to worship? Do you PASSIONATLY worship God? Are you in awe to be in God’s presence?
The second way we live in fear of the Lord?
(S14)
II. Fall deeper in love with the WORD of God, and WALK in obedience to it!
II. Fall deeper in love with the WORD of God, and WALK in obedience to it!
Submit to living as a follower of Jesus; trusting, and serving in obedience to it
—This means hating the things that God hates...loving what God loves...living into God’s free gift of grace...
— It means having a genuine fear of living without God…leading us to the assurance of salvation.
Acts 9:31 “The church then had peace throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria, and it became stronger as the believers lived in the fear of the Lord. And with the encouragement of the Holy Spirit, it also grew in numbers.”
What one thing can you do to cultivate a deeper respect for WHO God is?
What is one way that you can fall deeper in love with the WORD of God?
(S15)
These are written down so we’ll know how to live well and right, to understand what life means and where it’s going; A manual for living, for learning what’s right and just and fair; To teach the inexperienced the ropes and give our young people a grasp on reality. There’s something here also for seasoned men and women, still a thing or two for the experienced to learn— Fresh wisdom to probe and penetrate, the rhymes and reasons of wise men and women.
(S16)
Start with God—the first step in learning is bowing down to God; only fools thumb their noses at such wisdom and learning.
What practical steps can you take this week to begin seeking wisdom in your everyday situations?
Next; How these wise words of Solomon add value to life—PRUDENCE-DISCRETION-DISCERNMENT
(S17)
“Wise words must be wisely used by wise people in order to produce wisdom.” Tim Keller
May the wisdom you seek and live by always point you and others to Jesus; who is the wisdom of God
Wisdom in Proverbs is also personified as a women
Proverbs 1:20–21 “Wisdom shouts in the streets. She cries out in the public square. She calls to the crowds along the main street, to those gathered in front of the city gate:”
They also contrast the WISE person with the FOOL
Proverbs 12:15 “Fools think their own way is right, but the wise listen to others.”
