The Benefits of Wisdom (2:5-22)

Introduction

Introduction

Introduction

Introduction

“The beginning of wisdom is the definition of terms.” It has been surmised that Plato summarized some of Socrates teaching in this phrase. This is hard to know for sure, likely impossible to find an original source for the quote, and irrelevant to my point this morning. Regardless of whether Socrates taught this concept, there is a certain level of earthly wisdom in the statement. Ironically, now into our fifth message of Proverbs, we have yet to offer much of a definition of wisdom. It is to that task we will proceed.

Before we do, let’s wrap our heads once more around the immediate concept – the if/then clauses of chapter 2. The first 4 verses establish the “if.” IF we receive wisdom – and by that we mean an active pursuit of grabbing hold of, storing, meditating on, and inclining our hearts in submission to wisdom – and IF we request wisdom from God and IF we pursue wisdom like we would pursue precious and hidden treasure; THEN we will gain a couple of things. We will be gifted wisdom and we will be delivered from the devastation of evil relationships.

Purpose Statement. A Pursuit of wisdom results in (1) the acquiring of godly wisdom and (2) deliverance from evil.

Pursue wisdom and you will acquire it (2:5-11)

So then, the first benefit of pursuing wisdom is that we will acquire wisdom. What then is wisdom?

Wisdom. When we started our study in Proverbs we took just a moment to define wisdom. The Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament defines hakam, the root word used here, as “godly cleverness and skill, which results in practical action.”[1] Those that obtain this wisdom or knowledge can practically discern what path to take in particular decisions.

Of course, the concept for wisdom can have a broad meaning that would include the ability to apply any given principles to a specific task, such as craftsmen in his work or a soldier in the use of their battle tactics or an employee in the administration of her duties. These would all fall under what Solomon calls “wisdom under the sun.”[2] The wisdom spoken of in and typically the wisdom spoken of throughout the Old Testament is fundamentally different in that its’ source is God. Therefore, we define biblical wisdom as “godly cleverness and skill, which results in practical action.” This definition for wisdom can be filled out a bit more by understanding the other words Solomon uses here in .

Knowledge: The ability to distinguish between good and evil, usually gained through experience. This is more than the gathering or possession of data. This word is used in the context of young children on a few occasions. Isaiah speaks of a time “before the boy knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good” ( ESV). As well God confronts Jonah, as he wines about the death of his plant but doesn’t pity Nineveh in which “120,000 persons who do not know their right hand from their left, and also much cattle” were destroyed. ( ESV). When Moses speaks to the people of Israel and tells them that they won’t enter the Promised Land because of their rebellion, but their little ones and “your children, who today have no knowledge of good or evil, they shall go in there. And to them I will give it, and they shall possess it” ( ESV).

Understanding: The ability to practically use knowledge. This type of understanding requires someone to know how to use the knowledge they possess. “While understanding is a gift of God, it does not come automatically. The possession of it requires a persistent diligence. It is more than IQ; it connotes character. . . . When one acts on the objective presentations of God’s revelation, he will attain the ideal of the significance of understanding.”[3]

Discretion. Discretion is the ability to see ahead. It is most often use in a negative sense. The evil plotted and schemed against God. Human scheming resulted in the Tower of Babel. But, in the singular form, it is used 5 times in Proverbs in a positive manner. Its meaning is close to understanding or wisdom, but it seems to add a nuance of dimension. I think it would be fair to say that discretion, in the context of wisdom, is the ability to look ahead and think through how certain decisions and responses would work out.

Illustration. For sake of illustration let’s consider a few of the one another verses. There are around 50 of them in the New Testament, but let me pick a couple that are somewhat related.

· Love one another

· Forgive one another

· Bear one another’s burdens

· Encourage one another

· Don’t provoke one another

At this point, all we have are random statement or commands. This is simply the gathering of data. This is not wisdom.

Throughout my life I am going to have a lot of circumstances in which these verses can be practiced. So then, let’s imagine that I have either done something offensive or have been offended. I now have an opportunity to apply these one another verses.

Knowledge is the ability to discern between right and wrong. Knowledge would be the ability to know that a certain response is going to be gracious or ungracious. Knowledge would be the ability to know that a certain facial expression or body posture or vocal tone is going to either provoke or not provoke, either encourage or discourage, either lead to restoration or further division.

This still must be taken a step further. We can have knowledge and yet stumble through the implementation of that knowledge. Understanding is the ability to practically use knowledge. Knowledge is going to help me discern the right and wrong response, but understanding is going to assist me in knowing when and how to best implement that appropriate and gracious response.

Have you ever thought, “I didn’t mean to say it that way” or “I shouldn’t have said it right then” or “Social media was not the right avenue in which to communicate?” This is where understanding comes in. Understanding guides you in how and where and when to respond.

Discretion seems to be the ability to have a good sense of how different responses and timing and intonation may be received. For instance, if you do something to offend me, I can imagine that if I were to immediately grab you by the shoulders, point my finger in your face, and yell at you that that would be an ungracious manner by which to deal with the offense. Yes, that is a bit dramatic – although we’ve probably all seen it. I can also know that if I furrow my brow, parse my lips, and offer some passive aggressive statement, I can effectively communicate that I think you’re an idiot. On the other hand, if I were to remain calm, pray that God will help me respond appropriately, and at a later time, not in a public venue, graciously discuss the offense with you – I know that there is a much better chance that the conversation will go well, and we may be able to deal with the problem.

In that moment, verses may come to mind that direct your behavior. “A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger” ( ESV). “A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, but he who is slow to anger quiets contention” ( ESV). That is discretion. The awareness of those truths and the ability and willingness to apply those truths in a given moment would be an example of wisdom.

Pursue wisdom and you will be delivered from evil company

How often, as a child, do you recall feeling like all the rules your parents imposed on you were keeping you from having fun. “They just don’t want me to have any fun!” As children we can often feel like that which is intended to protect us is a burden to us. As adults are we that much different? Do you ever look at scripture (Truth) and feel like it is a burden, like it is keeping you from having fun? That thought runs contrary to this passage. In this passage we find that wisdom delivers us from the destruction that inevitably comes from following after evil.

Delivered from the evil man (2:12-15)

They leave the righteous path. Uprightness refers to that which is straight, level, lawful, right, and just. In this context, path refers to a manner of living or one’s lifestyle. Therefore, the evil individual’s lifestyle and manner of living does not abide by God’s law and standards. It is not righteous and just. The Psalmist request of the Lord, “teach me your way, O Lord, and lead me in a level path” (). In Proverbs we read, “Do not enter the path of the wicked and do not proceed in the way of evil men” (). “In the way of righteousness is life, and in its pathway there is no death” ().

Remember, there are only two options in Proverbs: following the path of sin that leads to death or following the path of obedience that leads to life. While we have the responsibility and choice to make the decision as to which one we follow, we don’t have the opportunity to choose which consequence we will receive.

They follow a twisted path. This concept of twisted is seen in a few phrases: perverted speech, perverseness of evil, paths are crooked, and devious in their ways. In verse 15, “paths are crooked” and “devious in their ways” are basically synonymous.

Paths are crooked. Instead of following the path of obedience leading to life, the fool follows a crooked path. In the same way that a woman twists her hair into a braid, someone’s manner of living or path of living can be twisted.

Devious in their ways. The word for devious has the inherent idea of crookedness.

Perverted speech and delight in perverseness of evil. On overly simplified translation for this root word would be to turn or overturn. God overturned Sodom and Gomorrah when he destroyed them. God turned the water of the Nile into blood. God turned the sea into dry land. Leprosy turns healthy skin into a deformity. In essence, this root has the idea of taking something in its natural form and turning it into something else. Therefore, perversion, is taking something good and twisting it into something bad. For instance, our culture has taken sex and perverted it and turned it into a selfish an uncommitted physical act. Culture has perverted love by taking it as a decision to sacrifice myself for the betterment of another and turned it into simply an emotion, if not just a physical act, that remains as long as it gets what it wants.

This perversion is displayed in all aspects of mankind. The mouth can be perverted. “The lips of the righteous bring forth what is acceptable, But the mouth of the wicked what is perverted” () tells us that the “mind will utter perverse things.” In Proverbs a worthless person, “with perversity in his heart continually devises evil” (). Even the eyes can be perverse. “He who winks his eyes does so to devise perverse things” (). In each of these instances, the eyes, heart, mind, and mouth took something that was beautiful and good and twisted it into something manipulative and evil.

They love their twisted path. “The root denotes being glad or joyful with the whole disposition as indicated by its association with the heart (cf. ; ; ; ), the soul (); and with the lighting up of the eyes ().” All of you have experienced this in both yourself and others. You’ve seen someone delight in something. You’ve seen their entire disposition change. Their eyes lift and brighten. Their lips break into an unconscious and uncontrolled smile. There are tons of things in which we can delight. A wise son is said to bring delight to his father. A kind word can bring this joy and gladness. Seeing a loved one can lighten the eyes. Most often in scripture, we see that the salvation that comes from the Lord is the source of great joy. In contrast, this perverse man delights in evil. “Folly is joy to him who lacks sense” ().

Delivered from the forbidden woman (2:16-19)

The twisted path can be through anyone. First, temptation is unbiased. It can come through man or woman alike. Discretion will deliver you from anyone, anyone from the evil man to a strange woman. We may, at times, be tempted to trust men over women or women over men, but our passage tells us to be equally careful. The discretion that comes from our fervent pursuit of wisdom will allow us to steer clear of the perverse speech and actions of the evil man, but it will also help us in avoiding the destructive speech and actions of the strange woman.

Secondly, not only can this temptation come from man or woman, it can come from someone in your own group. (1) Some have concluded that this strange woman must be a gentile. They conclude that she is strange because she is from another household or people group of another land. This is an acceptable understanding of the word, but it is commonly understood in this context to refer to an adulteress woman. This is an Israelite woman not a foreigner from another country. (2) The fact that she leaves the company of her youth seems to imply that her company was good. This word companion carries the literal meaning of 1,000 but is often taken figuratively to describe a large group. Here the context speaks of the large group of positive influences she apparently had as a youth. (3) She as well forgot the covenant with her God. This more clearly establishes her as an Israelite woman. We need to be careful that we don’t draw the erroneous conclusion that evil people are only around us but not among us.

Finally, temptation will likely come from someone presenting themselves as something other than what they truly are. There are two words that “name” this woman in these verses – forbidden (strange in other versions) and adulteress. These two words can be used as synonyms in other passages, but there may be one small nuance in this word that is worth fleshing out a little. The word translated adulteress may simply imply the concept of a prostitute, but there are as well several other passages in which this word carries the idea of “shielding one’s true identity from another.” When Joseph presented himself to his brothers, he pretended to be someone else. Proverbs as well speaks of a man that is filled with hate and “disguises it in his words” (). In this particular context, the woman is disguising herself as safe, pleasant, and enjoyable but cloaks the reality that she is destruction and death.

The twisted path is lined with smooth words. While both this woman and the man spoken of in the immediate preceding context are both evil, their persuasion to evil is presented differently. The man’s speech was perverse and crooked and deceitful, whereas the woman’s speech is smooth. The woman, as well, is straightforward with her speech, but what she says is alluring. “The lips of an adulteress drip honey and smoother than oil is her speech” (). God’s commandments are light and they “keep you from the evil woman, from the smooth tongue of the adulteress” (, Cf. 7:1-5).

So she seizes him and kisses him And with a brazen face she says to him . . ."I have spread my couch with coverings, with colored linens of Egypt. I have sprinkled my bed with myrrh, aloes and cinnamon. Come, let us drink our fill of love until morning; Let us delight ourselves with caresses. For my husband is not at home, He has gone on a long journey; He has taken a bag of money with him, At the full moon he will come home." With her many persuasions she entices him; With her flattering lips she seduces him. ()

With words, she draws for him an enticing picture. A place of solitude and safety that pampers all the senses. No husband to bother them. Everything done by the woman will bring immense delight to the man. In one sense she is not deceitful and is quite bold (brazen) in her communication. The deceit with this woman is found in the consequences. She presents herself as bringing pleasure, but the reality is that she brings destruction.

A lying tongue hates those it crushes, and a flattering mouth works ruin. ()

A man who flatters his neighbor Is spreading a net for his steps. ()

His speech was smoother than butter, but his heart was war; His words were softer than oil, Yet they were drawn swords. ()

Flattery is, “insincere and undeserved praise or words of encouragement, used with the intention of gaining favor with others.”[4] Flattery is broad ranging. When you tell your friend that they are amazing at math and then ask them to help you with yours – that’s flattery. When you butter up your boss because you want them to consider your idea or a new raise – that’s flattery. Anytime your compliments are less than genuine, and they are motivated by a desire to get something for yourself – that’s flattery.

Flattery can have devastating affects on one’s personal life (and those around them) as they crave flattery and form a personal identity around the less than sincere statements made about them. President Trump seems to be such a character. Foreign leaders seem to have figured out that a lot of economic good can come through the flattery of the president. Whether its Japanese Prime Minister gifting him a $4,000 gold-plated golf club, Saudi Arabia projecting a five-story image of his face, Poland busing in people to pose as adoring fans, or China’s leader, Xi Jinping, hosting Trump at the Forbidden City, an honor that has never been granted a US president since the founding of Modern China. They all realize that they can manipulate a man through flattery. In so doing, they can affect diplomatic means and economic agendas.

Most people love compliments, even when they aren’t true. Yet, flattery is empty and manipulative and leads to destruction.

[Divisive people within the church] do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive. ( ESV).

Faithful are the wounds of a friend; profuse are the kisses of an enemy. ( ESV).

For there is no truth in their mouth; their inmost self is destruction; their throat is an open grave; they flatter with their tongue. ( ESV).

The twisted path comes by forgetting. To forsake has “three distinct emphases: to depart, to abandon, and to loose.” [5] Forgetting or forsaking carries the idea of ignoring or allowing to wither. This forgetting is active and purposeful. Many of us can likely relate to a forgetful mind. We struggle to recall particular moments or forget about the time of a meeting. That’s not what this referring to. Forsaking is the purposeful pushing down or suppressing of any thought or remembrance. There are moments when the fool is on his twisted path in which some wise bit of counsel intersects his mind. Instead of sensing any conviction or meditating on any counsel, they suppress this wisdom. They suppress wisdom because it will likely keep them from pursuing their present desires. Wisdom can be irritating. Therefore, they do all they can to forsake it and push it away from any relevant use in their life.

Conclusion

I would like to end with a clarification that I think is both important and will likely require our further meditation beyond the time of this message. The order of the if/then clause is important.

When I wake in the morning, as a believer desiring holiness, I have the option to root out sin and fight it or I have the option to pursue Christ. You likely are thinking that this should be an and/or scenario. I should fight sin and pursue Christ. To some degree you would be correct, but let’s flesh this out a little bit more. This is where the order of the if/then statements come into play. I am told that IF I pursue wisdom THEN I will be delivered from the evil man and the forbidden woman

The if/then statements don’t say that IF I fight sin in my life by avoiding the evil man and the forbidden woman that I will THEN receive wisdom. Instead I am told that IF I pursue wisdom, which we have come to realize is equivalent with pursuing Christ, THEN we will be freed from evil. Being delivered from evil is a result of pursuing Christ, but – and this is important – possessing wisdom or possessing Christ is not a result of fighting evil.

Let’s consider how this could work itself out in a couple of ways. First, and this is likely the potential challenge for those coming from a fundamental background, we can tend to focus all our effort on marking sin and avoiding it. We can be so concerned about the damage of sin in our lives that all our effort is placed in rooting out any potential cause of sin and putting a boundary between it and ourselves. This can sound spiritual and is likely motivated by a wonderful desire for holiness, but it misses the prioritization that teaches. Instead of exerting all my energy into fighting sin, on my own, I am directed to pursue Christ and in pursuing Christ my fight for sin will be a natural byproduct. On the other hand, we can fight sin for a life time and fail to ever pursue Christ.

A second way this could work out would be in the realm of a besetting sin. All of us could likely acknowledge a certain area of temptation in which our struggle with sin is more intense. Some call this a besetting sin or habitual sin or maybe an addiction. Far too often I have observed (and experienced) a believer becoming consumed by an area of sin in their life. Each day revolves around this temptation and the battle against it. At times, the battle against this area of sin in one’s life is so consuming that a passionate pursuit of Christ is lacking or nonexistent. Instead of pursuing Christ and the byproduct being deliverance from sin, all effort is exerted in fighting the one sin and little to no effort is placed in a pursuit of Christ.

With that said, I am not encouraging you to stop fighting sin. tells me to fight sin. I am not discouraging you from acknowledging evil people and removing their ungodly influence from your life. tells us to “mark those who cause division and separate from them.” tells me that I am not to be conformed to this world. Paul writes in Ephesians, “Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them” ( ESV). But remember that even the passage in Ephesians tells us that our manner of fighting sin is by putting on truth and the righteousness of Christ and the gospel of peace.

Therefore, the order of the if/then clause is important. IF I pursue wisdom, IF I receive wisdom, request God for wisdom, pursue wisdom, IF I pursue Christ, THEN I will receive wisdom and I will be delivered from the evil man and the forbidden woman.

Potential additional clarification. A summary of one of the chapters in John Owen’s book is titled “Rules for Walking in Fellowship.” His main point in chapter 12 is that we are to “separate from the world and men of the world and all forms of false worship, so that you clearly become a people dwelling alone, not reckoned among the nations.”[6] Discussions about separating from the world can tend to make this former fundamentalist a little nervous, and yet Owen goes on to further explain his intent.

I would like to close with a summary of one of the chapters in John Owen’s book titled “Rules for Walking in Fellowship.” His main point in chapter 12 is that we are to “separate from the world and men of the world and all forms of false worship, so that you clearly become a people dwelling alone, not reckoned among the nations.”[6] Discussions about separating from the world can tend to make this former fundamentalist a little nervous, and yet Owen goes on to further explain his intent.

Now, the separation from people commanded here is not with respect to normal friendships or our spiritual care for the good of their souls (); nor with respect to duties of family relations (); nor even in the obligations of love and civility (; ); much less in not seeking their good and prosperity (), or not communicating good things to them (), or not living profitably and peaceably with them (). Rather, it refers to separation from the following: (1) Their habits and lifestyle (; ). (2) Lighthearted chatting and familiarity where enmity or opposition presents itself (, , ). (3) Their ways of worship and habits of fellowship (), not running with “them to the same excess of riot” ().[7]

Being delivered from the destruction of the evil man and the forbidden woman is not a deliverance from any form of interaction with them, but instead is deliverance from the sinful and destructive influences they produce. While always on high alert to the potential destruction that can come, we are to depend on the work of the Spirit and pursue redemptive relationships with them. Owen goes on to write, “In the practice of this rule, let us exercise an abundance of meekness, patience, gentleness, wisdom, and tenderness. Let us not offend anyone unnecessarily.”

[1] Louis Goldberg, “647 חָכַם,” ed. R. Laird Harris, Gleason L. Archer Jr., and Bruce K. Waltke, Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament (Chicago: Moody Press, 1999), 283.

[7] Owen, John. Rules for Walking in Fellowship (Kindle Locations 528-536). Reformation Heritage Books. Kindle Edition.

[1] Louis Goldberg, “647 חָכַם,” ed. R. Laird Harris, Gleason L. Archer Jr., and Bruce K. Waltke, Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament (Chicago: Moody Press, 1999), 283.

[1] Louis Goldberg, “647 חָכַם,” ed. R. Laird Harris, Gleason L. Archer Jr., and Bruce K. Waltke, Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament (Chicago: Moody Press, 1999), 283.

[2] ,

[2] ,

[3] Louis Goldberg, “239 בִּין,” ed. R. Laird Harris, Gleason L. Archer Jr., and Bruce K. Waltke, Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament (Chicago: Moody Press, 1999), 104.

[3] Louis Goldberg, “239 בִּין,” ed. R. Laird Harris, Gleason L. Archer Jr., and Bruce K. Waltke, Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament (Chicago: Moody Press, 1999), 104.

[4] Martin H. Manser, Dictionary of Bible Themes: The Accessible and Comprehensive Tool for Topical Studies (London: Martin Manser, 2009).

[4] Martin H. Manser, Dictionary of Bible Themes: The Accessible and Comprehensive Tool for Topical Studies (London: Martin Manser, 2009).

[5] Francis Brown, Samuel Rolles Driver, and Charles Augustus Briggs, Enhanced Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew and English Lexicon (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1977), 736–737.

[6] Owen, John. Rules for Walking in Fellowship (Kindle Locations 507-508). Reformation Heritage Books. Kindle Edition.

[5] Francis Brown, Samuel Rolles Driver, and Charles Augustus Briggs, Enhanced Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew and English Lexicon (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1977), 736–737.

[7] Owen, John. Rules for Walking in Fellowship (Kindle Locations 528-536). Reformation Heritage Books. Kindle Edition.

[7] Owen, John. Rules for Walking in Fellowship (Kindle Locations 528-536). Reformation Heritage Books. Kindle Edition.