Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction:

When I first started courting my wife, I was very intentional in my pursuit of her.

And in those early days of courtship, I remember all the different ways I was intentional with in my pursuit of her.

I would want to be with her every opportunity I got.

I was thinking about her when we were apart.

I would do things I don’t normally do because I was trying to impress her like watch musicals or eat vegan food.

I would drive to LA just to see her and have a meal with her.

I would ask her if she needed help decorating her classroom.

I would try to actually look nice.

I remember all the different ways I was intentional with in my pursuit of her.

I would want to be with her every opportunity I got.

I was always thinking about her when we were apart.

I would do things I don’t normally do because I was trying to impress her like watch musicals or eat vegan food.

I would drive to LA just to see her and have a meal with her.

I would ask her if she needed help decorating her classroom.

I would try to actually look and dress nice.

I was intentional because I wanted to win her hand in marriage and to have her as my partner in life and in ministry.

Its been just six years, and I just want to say that my wife has enriched my life.

We have been blessed with four children now (Helen is pregnant) and I am truly blessed to call my helper and my greatest earthly treasure.

I have repeatedly said that she has made me a better man, a better father, a better husband, a better pastor, and a better Christian.

This woman has brought blessing into my life.

In a spiritual way, whether you are married or not, tells us that wisdom will also enrich your life.

Wisdom will bring blessing and make you a better student, a better father, a better mother, a better member, a better Christian.

If you pursue, prize, value, treasure, commit to wisdom, wisdom will enrich your life and in fact grant you eternal life if you know what wisdom ultimately points to.

This has been the theme of Proverbs.

That is why it has been repeated over and over again.

Background

Last week, we saw we should avoid the forbidden woman or the adultreress.

The woman who is rebellious, immodest, seductive, sexually immoral.

This week, we turn to a different kind of woman.

A woman who we should pursue.

And this woman is personified as wisdom.

Chapter seven describes the forbidden woman in the dark and private places, while chapter eight describes wisdom is out in the the light and open.

Chapter seven describes the forbidden woman as immoral, chapter eight describes wisdom as virtuous.

Chapter seven describes the forbidden woman is seductive, chapter eight describes wisdom as straitforward and plain with the truth.

Chapter seven describes the forbidden woman leading a young man to death, while chapter eight invites the young man to life.

Solomon already alluded to this in chapter one and chapter three, but he reminds his Son to embrace Lady Wisdom instead of Lady Folly.

Wisdom will enrich your life if you

Listen to Her (vv.

1-11)

Value Her (vv.

12-21)

Admire Her (vv.

22-31)

Commit to Her (vv.

32-35)

Scripture Reading: I will read the Scripture as we go along in our sermon this morning since we will be covering the whole chapter.

I. Listen to Wisdom (vv.

1-11)

What I love about wisdom here is that she is seeking the naive and simple.

She is crying aloud and raising her voice to all people in the public places and the busiest intersections.

Wisdom cries out in public (vv.

1-3)

Proverbs

Where is she?

She cries out on the heights.

All can see her.

She cries out besides the way or where people are traveling.

She cries out at the crossroads, the place where you have to make a decision at which path you are going to stand.

She cries out in the gates in front of town where decisions are being made.

She cries out at the entrance which means you must pass by her.

City gates consisted of a towered entrance and a large open area where people gathered, similar to a civic or community center.

Citizens

Everyone sees her.

Everyone hears her.

Everyone passes by her.

The question is will we stop and listen?

She cries aloud for people to stop and listen.

I have learned that we worship best when we listen.

Do you stop, and let God speak?

Are you listening to what God is saying to you?

Prayer is most effective when you respond to what God has said in His Word.

Do you stop and see God speaking his glory in Creation?

Do you stop and hear God speaking in his Word?

Do you stop and hear God speaking in Christ?

Do you stop and hear God speaking in His Prophets and Apostles?

We must pay attention to what she has to say.

Wisdom cries out to all people (vv.

4-5)

Prover

Proverbs 5

Wisdom is not for the high and lofty, not for the philosophers or the academics, pastors or intellectually superior, but it is to all men children of men.

Wisdom is not for the pastors

The difference between human wisdom and biblical wisdom is that biblical wisdom is offered for all who will take it.

You don’t have to be a Ph D. to have wisdom.

You don’t have to be a Greek philosopher to attain wisdom.

Simple are those inexperienced and the gullible.

Fools are those who scoff and mock at truth.

Why should you listen to wisdom?

Let us not miss the fact stated here: wisdom is ever speaking, calling, seeking, inviting, and demanding our attention!

God is not silent.

He does not sit by quietly, letting the world pass by until someone stops and gives Him attention.

How we need true words today!

In a world of fake news, in a world where advertisers lie to make money, in a world where truth is relative and determined by the individual or society, we need someone to speak authoritatively and one who knows how reality works.

And here is wisdom.

Wisdom gives true knowledge (vv.

6-11)

What does wisdom speak?

Noble things, right things, true things, straight things.

The way of wisdom is the the straight path, the right path, the true path.

Similarly, when wisdom speaks, ‘right things’ come forth.

This Hebrew word is found nineteen times in the Old Testament with a range of meaning which includes notions of a level way, order, justly, uprightness, straightness, equity, justice and integrity.

The words of wisdom conform to reality.

They are in line with what God is

How we need true words today!

In a world of fake news, in a world where advertisers lie to make money, in a world where truth is relative and determined by the individual or society, we need someone to speak authoritatively and one who knows how reality works.

And here is wisdom.

There is nothing twisted or crooked in her words.