A Call to Wisdom
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· 9 viewsWe need to listen to Wisdom's call so that we can live blessed lives and rest securely.
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Introduction:
Choices matter. One famous quote goes like this.
Sow a thought. Reap an action. Sow an action. Reap a habit.Sow a habit. Reap a character. Sow a character. Reap a destiny.
We all know people who have made choices in their lives that led them down the wrong path. Maybe it is a family member, or close relative, or even a former member of our church. They chose to go down a path that causes pain and grief when you think about some of the choices they have made.
Maybe it was a relative who found a wrong group of friends and began experimenting with drugs and now is addicted. Maybe it was a friend who involved himself in an immoral relationship and now stuck in an unhealthy and abusive relationship. Maybe it was a member who abandoned the faith and embraced a different religion. Maybe it is a son or daughter who has no direction or purpose in life and they just spend their time entertaining themselves to death through video games or wasting time, money and resources. Maybe it is a father who simply is absent because of his personal ambition regarding his career or a relative who cannot see the destructive effects of his gambling or his drinking on his family.
These people made choices that affect not only their own lives, but the lives around them.
What do all these people have in common?
What I believe all these different people have in common is that they rejected wisdom. They rejected wisdom’s call. Instead of listening to wisdom, they listened to their own foolishness and led them down a path that is ruining their lives and is ruining the lives of those around them.
You and I don’t want to have a life wasted. But a life that is blessed and prosperous and delighting in the Lord in which God can use our lives to bring Him much glory and do much good to our neighbor.
Wisdom is a matter of life and death. And wisdom is also a matter of eternal life or eternal death. And God wants to give us wisdom for everyday living so that we can have happy and blessed lives.
Background:
As we have been looking at Proverbs, we see that the first fundamental priority and principle of wisdom is the fear of the Lord. Fearing the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, wisdom, instruction, humility, a fountain of life that protects one from the snares of evil.
God desires that you have a blessed life. And that blessed life comes through wisdom. Wisdom is knowing how live successfully and skillfully in the world God has made.
And as Solomon instructs his sons (maybe even daughters), he gives further principles on wise living.
Proposition: In this next section of Proverbs, we will see four instructions a Father gives to His Son, so that he may heed wisdom’s call and therefore live a happy and successful life.
And if we are going to live successful and blessed lives, you too need to heed these instructions so that we would not shipwreck our lives and our faith. They are:
Listen
Avoid
Turn
Rest
Scripture Reading: Proverbs: 1:8-33
Hear, my son, your father’s instruction,
and forsake not your mother’s teaching,
for they are a graceful garland for your head
and pendants for your neck.
My son, if sinners entice you,
do not consent.
If they say, “Come with us, let us lie in wait for blood;
let us ambush the innocent without reason;
like Sheol let us swallow them alive,
and whole, like those who go down to the pit;
we shall find all precious goods,
we shall fill our houses with plunder;
throw in your lot among us;
we will all have one purse”—
my son, do not walk in the way with them;
hold back your foot from their paths,
for their feet run to evil,
and they make haste to shed blood.
For in vain is a net spread
in the sight of any bird,
but these men lie in wait for their own blood;
they set an ambush for their own lives.
Such are the ways of everyone who is greedy for unjust gain;
it takes away the life of its possessors.
Wisdom cries aloud in the street,
in the markets she raises her voice;
at the head of the noisy streets she cries out;
at the entrance of the city gates she speaks:
“How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple?
How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing
and fools hate knowledge?
If you turn at my reproof,
behold, I will pour out my spirit to you;
I will make my words known to you.
Because I have called and you refused to listen,
have stretched out my hand and no one has heeded,
because you have ignored all my counsel
and would have none of my reproof,
I also will laugh at your calamity;
I will mock when terror strikes you,
when terror strikes you like a storm
and your calamity comes like a whirlwind,
when distress and anguish come upon you.
Then they will call upon me, but I will not answer;
they will seek me diligently but will not find me.
Because they hated knowledge
and did not choose the fear of the Lord,
would have none of my counsel
and despised all my reproof,
therefore they shall eat the fruit of their way,
and have their fill of their own devices.
For the simple are killed by their turning away,
and the complacency of fools destroys them;
but whoever listens to me will dwell secure
and will be at ease, without dread of disaster.”
I. Listen to Your Parents (vv. 8-9)
I. Listen to Your Parents (vv. 8-9)
If we want to heed wisdom’s call, we need to listen to our parents.
Hear, my son, your father’s instruction,
and forsake not your mother’s teaching,
for they are a graceful garland for your head
and pendants for your neck.
Hear, my son, your father’s instruction,
and forsake not your mother’s teaching,
The word “hear” in the OT is also the word for “obey”. Solomon is instructing his sons not to forget his instruction/discipline and his mother’s teaching.
The word instruction is the word for discipline and correction while the world for teaching is the word torah which could refer to the law of God or moral instruction in righteousness.
Why are we to listen to our parents?
for they are a graceful garland for your head
and pendants for your neck.
A garland was an attractive wreath that would be awarded to victors in sports competition. It is a graceful wreath meaning it was attractive and pleasant.
The NET Bible First Edition Notes Notes for 1:9
The word חֵן (khen, “grace”) refers to qualities that make a person pleasant and agreeable, e.g., a gracious and charming person (BDB 336 s.v.). The metaphor compares the teachings that produce these qualities to an attractive wreath.
Listening to mom and dad helps you be a successful person.
The NET Bible First Edition Notes Notes for 1:10
Its meaning is more likely seen in the related Akkadian term “to revolt, rebel.” It is active rebellion against authority. It is used here in reference to a gang of robbers.
Why do we need to listen to our parents?
Most parents I know want what is best for their kids. And you won’t realize this until you become a parent yourself. I know parents are flawed, but so are you. And most parents do what they think will be best for their children because they love them.
“Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.
Exodus
Mom and Dad want you to be successful and long. And Mom and Dad are representatives of God in our lives as they exercise their loving authority.
But I don’t like their instructions! Why should I listen to them?
Commands are expression of love, not oppression. When our culture thinks about commands, they think it is oppressing and infringes on our personal rights.
But when authority is exercised rightly, commands are given for our protection and for our good.
When I command my son and daughter not to run in the street, it is for his protection and for his good. When I tell them not wait for me and hold my hand before crossing the street of traffic, it is for their good and their protection.
In proverbs 5, Solomon will tell his son to avoid an immoral woman and not go out at night near her house, it is for his son’s good and his protection.
Commands are expressions of love from parents who are given authority from God.
Children, you need to see that when mom and dad are commanding you to do something, they are doing for your good. And when you obey their authority, this pleases the Lord?
And the family is to be the first discipleship course or training we get in the Christian life. When we obey mom and dad, we learn to obey God. We see God’s commandments not as a burden, but as a blessing to protect us. The Ten Commandments are an expression of God’s character and God’s love for us. It is good for us to only serve God and to love our neighbor. It is good for us when we obey mom and dad. It is good for us when we don’t murder and steal. It is good for us when we are content with what we have.
Well, my parents are not Christians. Do I still obey them?
Just because your parents are not Christians does not release you from the responsibility of obeying them. The only exception is when they ask you to do something that God forbids. Even non-Christian parents wants best for their children. The command still applies today.
Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!
Matthew
What if I am adult?
The Bible still says we are not give them respect even if we are not living in their household. Yes, we are to cleave to our wives, but this does not mean we forget them altogether. We need to pay attention to them. Help them if they need help. Provide financial assistance if they need assistance. Drive them if they need a ride to the doctor.
Command these things as well, so that they may be without reproach. But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
Fathers—This means you cannot be passive in your leadership. You cannot neglect your responsibility to teach and discipline your children. You need to take the lead in instructing your child. Whether that is through family worship, spending quality time with them, or taking them out for coffee, make sure you understand it is your responsibility to teach your children wisdom.
Mothers—You also have a responsibility to teach your children. It is not your pastor’s job, your Sunday school teacher, the youth, it is your responsibility to teach your children wisdom and the fear of the LORD. It will look different from each family, but are you praying with your children? Are you reading Scripture with your children? Are you cathechizing your children? Are you memorizing Scripture with your children?
Get a catechism.
Seeds Songs.
Family Worship.
Children—Do you obey mom and dad? Joyfully? Quickly? Mom tells you to do the dishes or take out the trash, do you do it begrudgingly? Dad tells you it isn’t wise to wear that type of clothing, do you argue with him? Mom tells you you shouldn’t play that type of video game because of sexually explicit material or violence, do you argue with her? Your parents tell you to clean your room. You parents tell you to do your homework so you won’t fail in school. Do you obey them? This is the first commandment in the second table of the law. Fearing God expresses itself in obeying mom and dad. And honoring mom and dad leads to blessing.
Church—Have a regular time of family worship. Confess sins. Praise God. Sing his praises. Read Scripture. If they are doing it throughout the week, they will be prepared to worship on Sunday. Don’t let Monday through Saturday be a disconnect from Sunday morning.
One thing that blessed me a few Sundays ago that almost brought tears to my eyes and warmed my heart was seeing my Son singing. We sing My Worth is Not in What I Own and he was singing out of key out of tune loudly because we sing that song all the time at home.
Jesus Christ—You see Christ obeying his heavenly Father and obeying his mother growing up as a child. You remember the time when he was 12 years old. His family came to Jersualem to observe Passover. After the the festival ended, they traveled and Mary and Joseph thought Jesus was with the other relatives only to find out he wasn’t there. They returned to Jerusalem worried.
And when his parents saw him, they were astonished. And his mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been searching for you in great distress.” And he said to them, “Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?” And they did not understand the saying that he spoke to them. And he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was submissive to them. And his mother treasured up all these things in her heart.
And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man.
Luke 2:48-
Our obedience to our parents help us grow in favor with God and man.
Non-Christian Parents—If you have non-Christian parents, you are still obligated to obey them if they are not asking you to sin. But you also learn what it means to be a Christian in the church. The church was called the mother of Christians because of her nurturing role in teaching God’s Word. You cannot have God as Father if you do not have the church as mother. Take wisdom from your parents. But also take wisdom from spiritual fathers and mothers in the church.
Wisdom calls you to obey your parents. Second…wisdom calls you to avoid the path of sinners...
Transition: If you want to have a successful life, listen to your parents. But Solomon gives specific instructions to his son(s).
II. Avoid the Pathway of Sinners (vv. 8-19)
II. Avoid the Pathway of Sinners (vv. 8-19)
If we are going to heed wisdom’s call, we need to avoid the pathway and values of the godless. Here, the author of proverbs if realistic concerning the world we live in. We live in a world where people can join the wrong crowd. In the recent years, we have problems with terrorism, where young people were recruited to ISIS and radicalized and some committed suicide bombings that brought harm to others. I know that is an extreme example, but the point is the power of influence.
If they say, “Come with us, let us lie in wait for blood;
let us ambush the innocent without reason;
like Sheol let us swallow them alive,
and whole, like those who go down to the pit;
we shall find all precious goods,
we shall fill our houses with plunder;
Proverbs 1:
The broader application is to avoid a group of friends who will bring you down the wrong path.
If I can think of my own life before I was a believer, I did a lot of stupid and sinful things because I listened to my friends.
Think about it: most kids get involved with drugs because they have a friend who does drugs. Some smoke marijuana because they had a friend who was a pothead. Some kids join a gang because they came from a broken home and the gang was the only place where they felt true belonging.
Our friends have great influence over us. And here, Solomon warns about people who are willing to murder because of their greed.
Again, remember Solomon is probably addressing his own sons in the royal court who may have been tempted by wicked men to overthrow others.
In the book of the Kings, you see wicked men trying to overthrow the throne in their lust for power and greed.
My son, if sinners entice you,
do not consent.
Sinners referred to those with hardened hearts and rejected God’s teaching. If they entice you are persuade you, avoid their ways. Solomon talks about the fifth commandment, but now he addresses sixth, eight, and tenth commandment to not murder, not steal, and not covet.
These were godless people who had no regard of God’s law. What Solomon is saying is choose your friends wisely. Don’t follow the company of fools.
Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.”
1 Corinthians
Should I avoid friendships with unbelievers?
I’m not saying you should avoid friendship with unbelievers. That would be disobedience to the Great Commission. What I’m saying is that you should avoid their values, their worldview, their behavior. Be with sinners, but don’t join the sinner in his ways. As we read in ,
You
Blessed is the man who does not walk in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seats of scoffers, not stand in the ways of sinners. Blessed is the man who chooses friends wisely.
Jesus, Friend of Sinner, But Not Engaging in the Sin of Sinners.
Jesus was with tax collectors, but didn’t steal money from people like the tax collectors. Jesus was with prostitutes, but he didn’t engage in prostitution. Jesus was with drunkards, but he didn’t become a drunkard.
The Problem with the Missional Movement
This is where I think we often take extremes. In a desire to reach people, we end up becoming like them. Oh, I want to reach my friend who do questionable things. A person dates a non-believer
People are not won by your worldliness, but by your other-worldliness. You are salt and light. You don’t win lost people by becoming lost or dark yourself.
They Murder for Greed
If they say, “Come with us, let us lie in wait for blood;
let us ambush the innocent without reason;
like Sheol let us swallow them alive,
and whole, like those who go down to the pit;
we shall find all precious goods,
we shall fill our houses with plunder;
These people were murderous. “Lie in wait” means that these people plan and strategies their evil. They have murderous intent. And they want to attack the innocent without reason.
Why do they have murderous thoughts? Because of their greed.
We can think of some biblical examples. Josephs brothers sold him to slavery because they did not want him to rule over them. They betrayed him threw him into a pit and sold him to traders.
We can think about the thieves who were lying in wait to ambush the man who was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho and robbers who stripped him and beat him and leaving him half dead ().
We can think about Judas who betrayed Jesus for thirty pieces of silver and had a mob to betray and arrest Christ.
Don’t follow these people.
Because of their greed or lust for power, they were willing to harm people at others expense.
How many
I don’t follow murderers? How does this apply to me?
Have you ever done something for your own advantage that would put others at a disadvantage? Maybe you lied on your taxes. Maybe you cheated
throw in your lot among us;
we will all have one purse”—
Proverbs 1:14
We will share the the money. Join our gang and you will reap the rewards of following us.
Proverbs 1:15-
my son, do not walk in the way with them;
hold back your foot from their paths,
for their feet run to evil,
and they make haste to shed blood.
Objection: Cut off all my unbelieving friendships?
Avoid these people. Run away from these people. Don’t join the wrong crowd. Do not walk means do not follow their way of living. Hold back your foot from their paths means don’t follow them. This is very practical advice.
Why?
B. Do not follow godless values
They are eager to do evil and eager to harm others.
But I don’t follow murderers?
How does this apply to me? I don’t think of following murderers?
You might not want to join a company of murderers, but have you ever done something that disadvantaged others for the sake of your own advantage?
Every time you click on a porn site, you are perpetuating modern day sex trafficking?
Every time you lie and cheat on your taxes, you are disadvantaging the common good of state and country?
Every time you gamble in the name of innocent fun, you may be perpetuating an industry that grows at the expense of others poverty?
Every time you
The Book of Proverbs, Chapters 1–15 (2) Body: Sinners’ Temptation Unfolded (1:11–14)
Sinners love wealth and use people; saints love people and use wealth to help others.
Avoid their Path because there will be Consequences for Sin
Avoid their Path because there will be Consequences for Sin
For in vain is a net spread
in the sight of any bird,
but these men lie in wait for their own blood;
they set an ambush for their own lives.
Such are the ways of everyone who is greedy for unjust gain;
it takes away the life of its possessors.
For in vain is a net spread
in the sight of any bird,
but these men lie in wait for their own blood;
they set an ambush for their own lives.
Such are the ways of everyone who is greedy for unjust gain;
it takes away the life of its possessors.
Wisdom cries aloud in the street,
in the markets she raises her voice;
Better is a dry morsel with quiet
than a house full of feasting with strife.
A servant who deals wisely will rule over a son who acts shamefully
and will share the inheritance as one of the brothers.
The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold,
and the Lord tests hearts.
An evildoer listens to wicked lips,
and a liar gives ear to a mischievous tongue.
Whoever mocks the poor insults his Maker;
he who is glad at calamity will not go unpunished.
Grandchildren are the crown of the aged,
and the glory of children is their fathers.
Fine speech is not becoming to a fool;
still less is false speech to a prince.
A bribe is like a magic stone in the eyes of the one who gives it;
wherever he turns he prospers.
Whoever covers an offense seeks love,
but he who repeats a matter separates close friends.
A rebuke goes deeper into a man of understanding
than a hundred blows into a fool.
An evil man seeks only rebellion,
and a cruel messenger will be sent against him.
Let a man meet a she-bear robbed of her cubs
rather than a fool in his folly.
If anyone returns evil for good,
evil will not depart from his house.
The beginning of strife is like letting out water,
so quit before the quarrel breaks out.
He who justifies the wicked and he who condemns the righteous
are both alike an abomination to the Lord.
Why should a fool have money in his hand to buy wisdom
when he has no sense?
A friend loves at all times,
and a brother is born for adversity.
One who lacks sense gives a pledge
and puts up security in the presence of his neighbor.
Whoever loves transgression loves strife;
he who makes his door high seeks destruction.
A man of crooked heart does not discover good,
and one with a dishonest tongue falls into calamity.
He who sires a fool gets himself sorrow,
and the father of a fool has no joy.
A joyful heart is good medicine,
but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.
The wicked accepts a bribe in secret
to pervert the ways of justice.
The discerning sets his face toward wisdom,
but the eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth.
A foolish son is a grief to his father
and bitterness to her who bore him.
To impose a fine on a righteous man is not good,
nor to strike the noble for their uprightness.
Whoever restrains his words has knowledge,
and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding.
Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise;
when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent.
Whoever isolates himself seeks his own desire;
he breaks out against all sound judgment.
A fool takes no pleasure in understanding,
but only in expressing his opinion.
When wickedness comes, contempt comes also,
and with dishonor comes disgrace.
The words of a man’s mouth are deep waters;
the fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook.
It is not good to be partial to the wicked
or to deprive the righteous of justice.
A fool’s lips walk into a fight,
and his mouth invites a beating.
A fool’s mouth is his ruin,
and his lips are a snare to his soul.
The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels;
they go down into the inner parts of the body.
Whoever is slack in his work
is a brother to him who destroys.
The name of the Lord is a strong tower;
the righteous man runs into it and is safe.
A rich man’s wealth is his strong city,
and like a high wall in his imagination.
Before destruction a man’s heart is haughty,
but humility comes before honor.
If one gives an answer before he hears,
it is his folly and shame.
A man’s spirit will endure sickness,
but a crushed spirit who can bear?
An intelligent heart acquires knowledge,
and the ear of the wise seeks knowledge.
A man’s gift makes room for him
and brings him before the great.
The one who states his case first seems right,
until the other comes and examines him.
The lot puts an end to quarrels
and decides between powerful contenders.
A brother offended is more unyielding than a strong city,
and quarreling is like the bars of a castle.
From the fruit of a man’s mouth his stomach is satisfied;
he is satisfied by the yield of his lips.
Death and life are in the power of the tongue,
and those who love it will eat its fruits.
He who finds a wife finds a good thing
and obtains favor from the Lord.
The poor use entreaties,
but the rich answer roughly.
A man of many companions may come to ruin,
but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
Better is a poor person who walks in his integrity
than one who is crooked in speech and is a fool.
Desire without knowledge is not good,
and whoever makes haste with his feet misses his way.
When a man’s folly brings his way to ruin,
his heart rages against the Lord.
Wealth brings many new friends,
but a poor man is deserted by his friend.
A false witness will not go unpunished,
and he who breathes out lies will not escape.
Many seek the favor of a generous man,
and everyone is a friend to a man who gives gifts.
All a poor man’s brothers hate him;
how much more do his friends go far from him!
He pursues them with words, but does not have them.
Whoever gets sense loves his own soul;
he who keeps understanding will discover good.
A false witness will not go unpunished,
and he who breathes out lies will perish.
It is not fitting for a fool to live in luxury,
much less for a slave to rule over princes.
Good sense makes one slow to anger,
and it is his glory to overlook an offense.
A king’s wrath is like the growling of a lion,
but his favor is like dew on the grass.
A foolish son is ruin to his father,
and a wife’s quarreling is a continual dripping of rain.
House and wealth are inherited from fathers,
but a prudent wife is from the Lord.
Slothfulness casts into a deep sleep,
and an idle person will suffer hunger.
Whoever keeps the commandment keeps his life;
he who despises his ways will die.
Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord,
and he will repay him for his deed.
Discipline your son, for there is hope;
do not set your heart on putting him to death.
A man of great wrath will pay the penalty,
for if you deliver him, you will only have to do it again.
Listen to advice and accept instruction,
that you may gain wisdom in the future.
Many are the plans in the mind of a man,
but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.
What is desired in a man is steadfast love,
and a poor man is better than a liar.
The fear of the Lord leads to life,
and whoever has it rests satisfied;
he will not be visited by harm.
The sluggard buries his hand in the dish
and will not even bring it back to his mouth.
Strike a scoffer, and the simple will learn prudence;
reprove a man of understanding, and he will gain knowledge.
He who does violence to his father and chases away his mother
is a son who brings shame and reproach.
Cease to hear instruction, my son,
and you will stray from the words of knowledge.
A worthless witness mocks at justice,
and the mouth of the wicked devours iniquity.
Condemnation is ready for scoffers,
and beating for the backs of fools.
The picture of a bird seeing a trap and avoiding it. But the wicked are stupid and do not realize they will fall into a trap through their wickedness. They will bear the consequences of their own sin. They will reap what they sow.
I listen to the Briefing by Albert Mohler throughout the week. And one article published by the NY Times caught my attention: Search for Golden State Killer Leads to Arrest of Ex Cop
James Angelo, age 72, was arrested last month for crimes he committed in the 70s and 80s. He killed twelve people, raped at least 45 and burglarized 120 homes.
The case was considered cold in 1986, meaning the case was unsolved. And detectives eventually matched his DNA and found him 30 years later. He faces life in prison and the potentially the death penalty.
Justice may be delayed. But justice will come eventually. If it does not come in this life, it will come in the life to come.
We can think about Biblical examples.
Think about Haman who wanted to bring extermination to the Jewish race wanted to hang Mordecai ended up being hanged that was meant for Mordecai.
Think about Judas after realizing his guilty ended up hanging himself.
Sin has consequences and it will return to you. You will reap what you sow. And you will bear the consequences of your sin in time if not in this life, but in the life to come.
Your sin will eventually catch up to you and you will bear those consequences. We do not live in a world where we are unaccountable to our actions. You may think so for a limited time, but eventually you actions will catch up to you.
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.
For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil.
Christian—Who are your closest friends? Are they the godless who have have no regard for God’s Word or God’s Ways? Or are they people who love the Lord, holiness, and righteousness?
I get it. We don’t want to be in a holy huddle. But you can’t win your friends to Jesus if you aren’t holy and different. You can’t be a witness for Christ if you are more like your friends that you are like christ.
Parents—Do you pay attention to who your children are hanging around with? Are you keeping watch over the influence of their peers?
Who are you friends? Are your closet friends those who regard God’s law? Or they who have no regard?
Children—Do not give into peer pressure. Resist the wrong crowd even if that means losing your popularity or bring even persecution. You will be thankful in the long run.
Young people, do not get married to someone who does not love God.
Church—Be committed to the church. The church is the community of love and those who should look out for the interest of one another. We should care for the members of our flock and make sure you are not joining the wrong crowd. The church should be the outpost of heaven.
The world is the community of those who exist to serve themselves, while the church is the community of those who exist to serve God and others.
Transition: Listen to your parent’s instruction. Avoid the pathway of sinners. But third, if you are going to listen to wisdom’s call for successful living, you need to turn to wisdom. Wisdom calls you to turn to her.
III. Turn to Wisdom’s Call (vv. 20-32)
III. Turn to Wisdom’s Call (vv. 20-32)
They will be punished and judged for their sin. There are consequences for their actions.
II. Heed Wisdom’s Warning
II. Heed Wisdom’s Warning
Have you heard the story of a famous violinist who dressed himself as a normal person. A man sat in the metro station in Washington D.C. For 45 minutes, he played six Bach pieces for forty five minutes.
One lady threw in a dollar. Another started to listened to him, and then looked at his watched and walked away. The only person that probably watched him was a young child whom the mom took away. About 20 people gave him money and he only collected $32 dollars that day.
No one knew that the violinist who played was Joshua Bell, one of the best musicians of the world. He played beautiful music with a violin that was worth 3.5 million dollars. Two days earlier, he sold out a concert with the cheapest seat averaging $100 each.
The Washington post did this as a thought experiment to see what else are we missing in our lives? Are we so busy that we fail to recognize beauty and value with what is right in front of us?
People missed what was right in front of him.
Wisdom is the street preacher standing in Santa Monica crying out aloud to listen to her. Wisdom is the violinist or the person dressed in everyday clothing saying listen to me in the NY subway station. Wisdom is standing in the busiest intersections of the city or the market place saying listen to me!
Wisdom cries aloud in the street,
in the markets she raises her voice;
at the head of the noisy streets she cries out;
at the entrance of the city gates she speaks:
“How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple?
How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing
and fools hate knowledge?
If you turn at my reproof,
behold, I will pour out my spirit to you;
I will make my words known to you.
She addresses three groups of people: the simple, the scoffer, and the fool. Wisdom is for everybody. Wisdom is not for the philosophers or the noble. It is for the common people.
The simple was the naive or inexperienced. It does not refer to a deficiency in mental capacity, but one who lacked discernment and judgment.
The scoffer was the person who refused instruction. The scoffer was hardened in his heart and mocked instruction.
The fool was the arrogant person who believes he is always right and knows what is best. He rejects instruction and rejects the fear of God in his own life.
Wisdom says to these three, if you turn at my reproof, I will pout out my spirit to you and I will make my words known to you. Wisdom is willing. Wisdom is willing to make us live blessed and prosperous lives.
Church Member—Do you miss the value of what we are doing every Sunday? We are preparing for eternity. We are hearing God’s instruction so that we can live for today and make much of Him.
Turn is the Hebrew word for repentance. If we repent of our own thinking and our own ways, and turn to God’s way of thinking and God’s ways, he will pour out his Spirit to us and make us wise through his words!
Luke 15:1
Wisdom calls us to herself.
And he said, “There was a man who had two sons. And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.’ And he divided his property between them. Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living. And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything.
“But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger!
Wisdom calls us to correction.
The prodigal Son turned from his foolish living and went back home. Wisdom is telling us to turn back and receive Him. Wisdom is saying come to me and I will give you wisdom.
The Consequences of Rejecting Wisdom
A. Disaster
Wisdom warns against rejecting her.
Because I have called and you refused to listen,
have stretched out my hand and no one has heeded,
because you have ignored all my counsel
and would have none of my reproof,
I also will laugh at your calamity;
I will mock when terror strikes you,
when terror strikes you like a storm
and your calamity comes like a whirlwind,
when distress and anguish come upon you.
Proverbs 1:
Your worst fears have been realized. You face the consequences of your own sin come upon you. Your sin will find you out. Calamity, terror, storm, whirlwind, distress, anguish.
B. Rejection
Then they will call upon me, but I will not answer;
they will seek me diligently but will not find me.
Proverbs 1:
Why did these all happened?
Because they hated knowledge
and did not choose the fear of the Lord,
would have none of my counsel
and despised all my reproof,
You didn’t listen. You didn’t listen to God. You thought that the things of God was just a religious routine and you didn’t see that the Bible was a book for your life. You didn’t see that God’s instructions were good for you.
How many people wished they had more time only to say I wasted it and I wished I would have listen to my parents and I wished I would have listened to God.
How many people wish they would have listened and turned to God when they only have few remaining moments before they meet their maker and come into judgment.
C. Reaping (v. 31)
therefore they shall eat the fruit of their way,
and have their fill of their own devices.
As mentioned in my introduction, you and I know people like this. These are some of our family members. Some of our friends. Some of our co-workers.
They choose their own way, and they are bearing the consequences of their actions.
D. Destruction (v. 32)
For the simple are killed by their turning away,
and the complacency of fools destroys them;
They didn’t listened to wisdom. Instead of turning to Him, they turned to their own ways and therefore they are reaping the consequences of the decision they made.
There will be a day where God mocks the mockers.
They are judged and bear their own consequences for their sins.
C.S. Lewis said there are only two types of people in this world, those who say “Thy will be done, and whom God says Thy will be Done”
There is a way that seems right to a man,
but its end is the way to death.
How do I turn to Wisdom?
Non-Christian—If you are not a Christian, you need to admit you don’t have it all together. The beginning of true wisdom is admitting you are not wise. In fact, it is admitting that God, I admit to you I thought I knew how to live life. I don’t know it all. I listened to my own ways and I thought I had it figured out. But now I see the foolishness of my own actions. Only you can change me and help me. Please forgive me for my sin. I believe Jesus Christ came into the world to save me from my sin and I believe he rose again from the dead. Help me turn from my own ways of living and turn to your ways of living.
And embracing the wisdom of God who is Jesus Christ, the One who died for your sin and rose again. It is to confess Christ as Lord and Savior and follow Him.
Christian—Receive God’s Word. Wisdom is found in God’s Holy Word. Wisdom is found when you repent of the things that don’t line up with God’s Word. As you read Scripture, you see that some of your thinking, some of your actions don’t line up to what God says. Turning to God means confessing your actions don’t line up and asking God to help you act in a way that lines up with what He says by His grace.
Remember wisdom is taking the truths of God’s Word and living skillfully in the world God has made. This applies to marriage, work, family, spirituality, recreation, all of life.
So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
Older Christian—Receive Wisdom still. Wisdom is a continual ingesting and feeding on God’s Word. Don’t be proud and think you know it all.
Whoever trusts in his own mind is a fool,
but he who walks in wisdom will be delivered.
Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes?
There is more hope for a fool than for him.
Proverbs
Younger Christian—Receive Counsel. You can also find wisdom in brothers and sisters in Christ. If there is something questionable, ask your elders or ask a brother who loves the Lord.
for by wise guidance you can wage your war,
and in abundance of counselors there is victory.
Idle Christian—Turn to God in affliction. I think that some of you are so hardened and indifferent to the things of God, that some of you may learn wisdom through affliction and suffering.
Before I was afflicted I went astray,
but now I keep your word.
Psalm 118
“Pain insists upon being attended to. God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our consciences, but shouts in our pains. It is his megaphone to rouse a deaf world.” C.S. Lewis
Christian Needing Correction—You can turn to wisdom by listening to correction.
Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you;
reprove a wise man, and he will love you.
Transition: Wisdom calls you to listen to your parents, avoid the sinner’s path, turn and embrace her, and finally...
One’s attitude toward God and His wisdom is not a simple matter of preference, but an eternal matter of life and death. To spurn wisdom is spiritual suicide.
IV. Rest in Wisdom’s Security (v. 33)
IV. Rest in Wisdom’s Security (v. 33)
Wisdom goes with the fear of the LORD.
but whoever listens to me will dwell secure
and will be at ease, without dread of disaster.”
Wisdom provides security.
If you turn to wisdom and listen to wisdom, you will dwell securely. You will not be afraid of dread or disaster. You will will have peace.
The Book of Proverbs, Chapters 1–15 (2) Body: Sinners’ Temptation Unfolded (1:11–14)
Sinners love wealth and use people; saints love people and use wealth to help others.
Proverbs: An Introduction and Commentary Wisdom’s Impassioned Appeal (1:20–33)
I … will laugh is not an expression of personal heartlessness, but of the absurdity of choosing folly, the complete vindication of wisdom, and the incontestable fitness of the disaster.
And we know that when we read the rest of the Bible, there is one who surpassed the wisdom of Solomon. It was the Lord Jesus Christ.
The book of Proverbs—the most practical, down-to-earth book in the Bible—is written for God's sake. John Piper
We can rest in Wisdom because Wisdom incarnate was the one who bore the consequences of our foolish actions and our foolish ways.
The NET Bible First Edition Notes Notes for 1:9
The word חֵן (khen, “grace”) refers to qualities that make a person pleasant and agreeable, e.g., a gracious and charming person (BDB 336 s.v.). The metaphor compares the teachings that produce these qualities to an attractive wreath.
The One who completely honor His heavenly Father and his earthly parents, the One who avoided the pathway of sinners, the One who embraced wisdom and rested in God was the One who would be punished for the simple, the fools, and the scoffers. Isaiah speaks of the Suffering Servant who is also the wise servant.
The NET Bible First Edition Notes Notes for 1:10
Its meaning is more likely seen in the related Akkadian term “to revolt, rebel.” It is active rebellion against authority. It is used here in reference to a gang of robbers.
There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse,
and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit.
And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him,
the Spirit of wisdom and understanding,
the Spirit of counsel and might,
the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.
And his delight shall be in the fear of the Lord.
He shall not judge by what his eyes see,
or decide disputes by what his ears hear,
but with righteousness he shall judge the poor,
and decide with equity for the meek of the earth;
and he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth,
and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked.
You will say in that day:
“I will give thanks to you, O Lord,
for though you were angry with me,
your anger turned away,
that you might comfort me.
“Behold, God is my salvation;
I will trust, and will not be afraid;
for the Lord God is my strength and my song,
and he has become my salvation.”
With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. And you will say in that day:
“Give thanks to the Lord,
call upon his name,
make known his deeds among the peoples,
proclaim that his name is exalted.
“Sing praises to the Lord, for he has done gloriously;
let this be made known in all the earth.
Shout, and sing for joy, O inhabitant of Zion,
for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel.”
There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse,
and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit.
And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him,
the Spirit of wisdom and understanding,
the Spirit of counsel and might,
the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.
And his delight shall be in the fear of the Lord.
He shall not judge by what his eyes see,
or decide disputes by what his ears hear,
We do not have to fear dread or disaster or the storms of God’s judgment because dread and disaster and the storm of God’s wrath fell on the Son of God.
One’s attitude toward God and His wisdom is not a simple matter of preference, but an eternal matter of life and death. To spurn wisdom is spiritual suicide.
And those who embrace Christ, embrace the wisdom of God and will not have to fear judgment because judgment fell on Him.
The book of Proverbs—the most practical, down-to-earth book in the Bible—is written for God's sake. John Piper
They can rest in security and peace knowing that he has secured our peace with God.
Those who turn to Christ will have a second chance and peace with God.
Those who turn to Christ will have hope that their lives will not be ruined and wasted.
Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
If you build your life on Christ, you will rest securely. If you build your life on anything else, your life will be founded on sinking sand.
You can rest securely no matter what happens on this earth if you turn to the wisdom of God found in Jesus Christ.
“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”
Matthew 7:
The ultimate fool is the one who rejected the love of God in Christ. The ultimate fool is the one who thinks he knows better than God. The ultimate fool is the one who thinks he can save himself.
While the wise person is the One who embraces the wisdom of God found in Jesus Christ. It is the one who acknowledges God to be God. It acknowledges that man cannot save himself and only God can save. The wise person is the one who embraces God’s wisdom in Jesus Christ.
Summary:
If you want live a blessed and successful life, you need to heed wisdom’s call. Wisdom calls you to
Listen to your parents
Avoid the pathway of sinners
Turn to Wisdom’s Instruction
Rest in Wisdom’s security by embracing Christ, the Wisdom of God.
Conclusion
Don’t look back at the end of your life and say I wished I would have listened to my parents. I wished I choose my friends wisely. I wished I listened to wisdom. I wished I trusted in Christ.
Wisdom is a matter of life and death. Choose life and wisdom today.
Only One Life, Soon Will Past. Only What is Done for Christ Will Last.