Sense: Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs

Intro

Illust: Choice making video games. Playing killer frequency.

Wisdom is the art of good decision making. It is precious, it’s amazing, you should want it so badly.

Proverbs 4:7 ESV

The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom, and whatever you get, get insight.

1 Kings 3:5–15 ESV

At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night, and God said, “Ask what I shall give you.” And Solomon said, “You have shown great and steadfast love to your servant David my father, because he walked before you in faithfulness, in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart toward you. And you have kept for him this great and steadfast love and have given him a son to sit on his throne this day. And now, O Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of David my father, although I am but a little child. I do not know how to go out or come in. And your servant is in the midst of your people whom you have chosen, a great people, too many to be numbered or counted for multitude. Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil, for who is able to govern this your great people?” It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this. And God said to him, “Because you have asked this, and have not asked for yourself long life or riches or the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern what is right, behold, I now do according to your word. Behold, I give you a wise and discerning mind, so that none like you has been before you and none like you shall arise after you. I give you also what you have not asked, both riches and honor, so that no other king shall compare with you, all your days. And if you will walk in my ways, keeping my statutes and my commandments, as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your days.” And Solomon awoke, and behold, it was a dream. Then he came to Jerusalem and stood before the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and offered up burnt offerings and peace offerings, and made a feast for all his servants.

Three Lessons to Win at Life:

1. Guard The Purity of Life (Song of Songs)

Song of Solomon 8:4 ESV

I adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem, that you not stir up or awaken love until it pleases.

Song of Solomon 8:6 ESV

Set me as a seal upon your heart, as a seal upon your arm, for love is strong as death, jealousy is fierce as the grave. Its flashes are flashes of fire, the very flame of the Lord.

2. Follow The Precepts of Life (Proverbs)

Illust: Life is full of choices. Paper or plastic? Work on school or watch youtube? Spend time with friends or family? Give him the wallet or he shoots me?

Proverbs 2:1–7 ESV

My son, if you receive my words and treasure up my commandments with you, making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding; yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding; he stores up sound wisdom for the upright; he is a shield to those who walk in integrity,

3. Prioritize The Purpose of Life (Ecclesiastes)

So Solomon’s set-up was golden! What a life.

1 Kings 11

Ecclesiastes 2:9–12 ESV

So I became great and surpassed all who were before me in Jerusalem. Also my wisdom remained with me. And whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them. I kept my heart from no pleasure, for my heart found pleasure in all my toil, and this was my reward for all my toil. Then I considered all that my hands had done and the toil I had expended in doing it, and behold, all was vanity and a striving after wind, and there was nothing to be gained under the sun. So I turned to consider wisdom and madness and folly. For what can the man do who comes after the king? Only what has already been done.

Ecclesiastes 2:15 ESV

Then I said in my heart, “What happens to the fool will happen to me also. Why then have I been so very wise?” And I said in my heart that this also is vanity.

Ecclesiastes 12:13–14 ESV

The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil.

Conclusion

In trying to be a good man, Solomon lost sight of the most important things of his life.

The marriage relationship never satisfied him so he kept taking more and more. Wisdom didn’t satisfy him.

So what did?

You want to have the happiest life possible. Your pursuit of that doesn’t run into conflict with God. It’s found in God!

Solomon ran past God hoping to find something better with his wisdom.

Matthew 12:42 ESV

The queen of the South will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and behold, something greater than Solomon is here.

Proverbs 16:6 ESV

By steadfast love and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for, and by the fear of the Lord one turns away from evil.

1 Corinthians 1:30 ESV

And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption,

Application:  Christ is your purity, your precepts, and your purpose. Seek to be wise, but be content with just Him.