Sermon Tone Analysis

Wisdom

How many of us would love wisdom?

Do we want to be smart?

How many of us want to know how to live well!

The bible has a lot of wisdom, because some of these wisdom sayings come not from our text of today, but from ancient wisdom, from men who have studied the world and faith and come to certain conclusions about life and it is compiled as wisdom for us.

Lamentations chapter 3

Wisdom

Today i will share on a particular wisdom saying which is more of a poem than a saying.

“It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth”

In the context of Jerusalem’s troubles.

The story goes.

There was a great nation, with a city that was so powerful that surrounding nations were afraid of them.

This nation was given a responsibility, with the power that had they were to be a nation that practices righteousness to all people and bless others.

But they didn’t

So in the end, the city was to be destroyed.

The wise of men of that time, they were a few, some of them of very normal stature like you and me, but given with immense wisdom, they sat down and observed.

First part of lamentations 3, 3:1-20 is written by one such man who has seen troubles very close to him, then in 3:21 it takes a turn “but this i call to mind and therefore I have hope:

The author of Lamentations then goes on to talk about the Lord in whom he places his trust in.

Then comes 3:27 which is an interesting statement.

“It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth”

Let him sit alone in silence

when it is laid on him;

29  let him put his mouth in the dust—

there may yet be hope;

30  let him give his cheek to the one who strikes,

and let him be filled with insults.

What does it mean?

The author has seen trouble, so much trouble that it troubles his soul, he has this piece of wisdom for us that he poetically and beautifully expresses.

While you are young, you have the strength to bear the burdens and troubles that are sure to come.

The following verses tell us more about this statement.

Point?

For many times the wisdom in the bible reminds us of a point over and over again.

Bad things is an opportunity for our character to be tested, our character to be shaped and refined to be one of good character, godly character.

How you take on those burdens, how you respond in troubled times while you have the strength to, will reveal your character and trust in God.

For the Lord will not

cast off forever,

32  but, though he cause grief, he will have compassion

according to the abundance of his steadfast love;