Sermon Tone Analysis

Understanding the Paradox

(NKJV)

3 Yes, if you cry out for discernment, And lift up your voice for understanding, 4 If you seek her as silver, And search for her as for hidden treasures; 5 Then you will understand the fear of the Lord, And find the knowledge of God. 6 For the Lord gives wisdom; From His mouth come knowledge and understanding;

Proverbs ch 2-4: How wisdom develops and grows within us.

Definition of paradox: a seemingly absurd or self-contradictory statement or proposition that when investigated or explained may prove to be well founded or true.

Paradox: Seek wisdom and wisdom is a gift from God

Wisdom cries out:

(NKJV)

20 Wisdom calls aloud outside; She raises her voice in the open squares.

21 She cries out in the chief concourses, At the openings of the gates in the city She speaks her words:

Cry out for wisdom:

(NKJV)

3 Yes, if you cry out for discernment, And lift up your voice for understanding, 4 If you seek her as silver, And search for her as for hidden treasures;

Describes our search for wisdom with great effort and perseverance.

This search is even compared to how you would search for hidden treasure.

Cry aloud for wisdom!! (v. 3)

Wisdom is a gift then, right?

It's both.

Look at the paradox here:

(NKJV)

12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.

"The paradox itself is wise.

The paradox gives enough incentive and enough assurance to pursue the knowledge of God all our life long."

Keller

Question:

Are you pursuing wisdom as you should?

If you are, are you being as patient with God as you should?

He gives out wisdom in His wise time.

Be righteous

(NKJV)

20 So you may walk in the way of goodness, And keep to the paths of righteousness.

21 For the upright will dwell in the land, And the blameless will remain in it; 22 But the wicked will be cut off from the earth, And the unfaithful will be uprooted from it.

Hebrew words for Righteous: tzedeq and mishpat.

both have a strongly social aspect.

"The righteous are willing to disadvantage themselves to advantage the community; the wicked are willing to disadvantage the community to advantage themselves."

Bruce Waltke

Moral + committed to social justice

Points to Jesus:

(NKJV)

45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

Everything I have is for the good of those around me.

Question:

In what ways are you disadvantaging yourself, in time and money, for the food of the community in which you live?

Don't rely on pedigree

(NKJV)

10 My son, if sinners entice you, Do not consent.

11 If they say, “Come with us, Let us lie in wait to shed blood; Let us lurk secretly for the innocent without cause;

(NKJV)

15 My son, do not walk in the way with them, Keep your foot from their path;

Anyone has the potential to be cruel

The Bible never assumes that family pedigree is any insurance against evil.

(NKJV)