Proverbs: Growing in Wisdom

Prayer

Prayer for:

Mail bomber attacks

Kroger shooting (racism)

Synagogue shooting (racism)

16,000 abortions

Vision Moment

Prayer for:

Reformation Sunday

Mail bomber attacks

Night of Worship - November 11

Kroger shooting (racism)

Synagogue shooting (racism)

16,000 abortions

Introduction:

Opening Question - Did anyone in here win the lottery?

We used to play a game called, “What would you do with a million dollars?”

Now it’s “What would you do with a billion dollars?”

Tweet - “You don’t want to win the Mega Lottery, it will ruin your life.”

Lots of people fantasize having their circumstances completely changed

Would you rather be changed, or have your circumstances change?

I think the majority of human beings would rather have things change

What about you?

Which one is going to carry the effects further?

The reason winning the lottery can ruin a life is that typically being in debt is not a money problem, it’s a decision-making problem.

Until a person can gain the wisdom and understanding to make better decisions, we’re bound to repeat them

And that’s why we’re taking a look at the book of Proverbs, and looking closely (today) at the Value of God’s Wisdom and that we can actually grow in Divine wisdom

The book of Proverbs

It’s a valuable portion of Scripture

But it’s a unique genre called, Wisdom Literature

But it’s a unique genre of literature called, Wisdom Literature

Proverbs aren’t the same as promises

They’re models of reality

They model for us how to live well in the world, how to make a beautiful life

That being said, this passage reads more like

That being said, the passage today reads more like a conversation between a father and son

Chapters 1-9 contain 10 of these speeches between father and son

Each of these dad talks contain the same format, exhortation, lesson, conclusion

Interwoven are four poems by Lady Wisdom speaking to the reader to really pay attention

It’s not until that you begin reading the actual Proverbs as we know them

Why does he take so long?

I don’t know

In no less than half, he uses the phrase “the fear of the Lord”

It’s as if he’s belaboring the intro so his son sees the link between “fearing the Lord” and applying knowledge to his life

One last thing about Proverbs...

It’s easy to see Divine authority in the Laws because we are confronted with “Thou shalt not”

It’s also easy to see Divine authority in the Prophets because we’re confronted with “Thus saith the LORD”

But here it’s, “My son...” and comes across as mere human authority, but is it?

These introductory speeches are making a claim that, what you’re about to read in 10-31 isn’t just man’s wisdom, but Divine wisdom coming through the words of those who have gone before

This is why many saints (including the late Billy Graham) read through Proverbs each month

There is great value in God’s Wisdom and we can grow in Divine Wisdom, first let’s clarify the terms

What is Wisdom?

Translated from the Hebrew word, “Hokmåh”

The Bible Knowledge Commentary Purpose

Of the several words for wisdom and related synonyms used in Proverbs, the primary and most frequent one is ḥokmâḥ It occurs 45 times in Proverbs. In the Old Testament ḥokmâh is used of the skill of craftsmen, sailors, singers, mourners, administrators, and counselors. These workers and others, being knowledgeable, experienced, and efficient in their areas of expertise, were considered skillful; they were therefore “wise.” Similarly in the spiritual realm a person who possesses ḥokmâh in reference to God is one who is both knowledgeable and experienced in following God’s way. So in the Bible’s Wisdom literature being wise means being skilled in godly living. Having God’s wisdom means having the ability to cope with life in a God-honoring way. Crawford H. Toy wrote that “wisdom is the … knowledge of right living in the highest sense” (A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the Book of Proverbs, p. 5).

Wisdom is not an impersonal force, it’s an attribute of God

The authors speak of wisdom as a lady, roaming the earth eager to give of herself to benefit God’s image bearers

So when you see a person making good decisions, you’re seeing wisdom in action

We need wisdom in all areas of life, but how do we obtain and Grow in Divine Wisdom?

If You’re Intentional and Desperate in Pursuit of God’s Wisdom, then You Will Find It

Proverbs 2:1–4 ESV

1 My son, if you receive my words and treasure up my commandments with you, 2 making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding; 3 yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, 4 if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures,

Proverbs 2:1-4

If you are anything like me, you struggle to go the Proverbs because conditions feel legalistic

Verses 5-8 even contain the consequence if the condition is met

This is a definite “cause and effect” exhortation

But if you stop and read what the cause and effect is, you will not find legalism, you will find safety and freedom

He’s not saying, “If you do these things… I will love you more”

He is saying, “If you look intently for these things, you will find what you’re looking for.”

The difference between legalism and a call to whole person discipleship is like this

If you turn your windshield wipers on, then you will see better (WPD)

If you don’t stop drinking coke by the gallon, then you may get diabetes (WPD)

If you exercise routinely, then you will improve your cardiovascular health (WPD)

If you clean your room, then I will speak kindly to you (L)

If you want me to spend time with you, then you’d better get your act together (L)

What are the actions King Solomon is calling his son to?

Receiving his words

Treasuring up his commandments

Making his ear attentive to wisdom

Inclining his heart to understanding

Calling out for insight

Raising your voice for understanding

Seeking for it like silver

Searching for it as hidden treasure

This list is a clear action list, but not necessarily a checklist

Dad is coaching his son more on the attitude behind the actions

Receiving requires humility (Am I willing to change?)

Treasuring requires valuing (Is change all that important?)

Attentiveness requires priority (What am I willing to give up to change?)

Inclining requires meditation (How is God going to change me?)

Calling out and raising your voice requires having a hunger (How badly do I want change?)

Seeking and searching are about persistence (I will not stop until change happens)

We tend to look at a list like this and say, “This is hard and sounds like a lot of work… is all this really necessary?”

And that’s a very important question

One question deeper needs to be answered, what is at stake? Before that question...

If I put in the work, what is the return?

Prov 2:5-8

Proverbs 2:5–8 ESV

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; 7 he stores up sound wisdom for the upright; he is a shield to those who walk in integrity, 8 guarding the paths of justice and watching over the way of his saints.

If You’re Intentional and Desperate in Pursuit of God’s Wisdom, then You Will Find It

Let’s go through the list of returns

understand the fear of the Lord

Find knowledge

If I’m intentional and desperate in my pursuit I’ll understand the fear of the Lord and I’ll find knowledge?

That’s kind of a downer

Unless there is more than meets the eye with those two phrases

Proverbs 1:7 ESV

7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.

The “fear of the LORD” is the foundation for change

When we have a healthy reverence and awe for who God is, and who we are we have begun to understand the fear of the Lord

Many surface level problems can often be traced back to a root problem, that we lack the fear of the Lord

Our issue with authority can be traced back to an issue with acknowledging the God who is wholly other, all-powerful, all-knowing, all-sufficient, and ever-present

The same goes for how reactionary we can become when our well-planned lives begin to not go as planned

Ultimatums and threats in relationships become normative when at the head level we are well-versed in theology, but we haven’t allowed that theology to break through and affect the heart

Through the practice of fearing the Lord, we will find the knowledge we need to make a beautiful life

What’s the difference between wisdom and knowledge?

Knowledge is absorbed information (read a book, have a conversation, watch a movie…)

Our brains store an incredible amount of information

Wisdom is the attribute of God that is given to us to discern and apply knowledge

And that’s what he says in verse 6-8

The attitude of intentionality and desperation in the pursuit of Divine Wisdom

Will lead us right to it...

Wisdom from the Lord

Knowledge and understanding

Sound wisdom

Protection

Guarded paths

Watching over our way

Proverbs 2:9–11 ESV

9 Then you will understand righteousness and justice and equity, every good path; 10 for wisdom will come into your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul; 11 discretion will watch over you, understanding will guard you,

Two phrases stick out to me, wisdom coming into your heart and knowledge being pleasant to the soul

This is quite a handful to unpack, but dad has a very specific goal in mind, dad wants to save our lives

This intentional and desperate pursuit will not just shock us in the intellect although it will

This intentional and desperate pursuit will touch us in the heart and reorder our love

David experienced this, see if you can catch the irony

Psalm 19:10 ESV

10 More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb.

Psalm 119:103 ESV

103 How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!

Psalm 119:97–104 ESV

97 Oh how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day. 98 Your commandment makes me wiser than my enemies, for it is ever with me. 99 I have more understanding than all my teachers, for your testimonies are my meditation. 100 I understand more than the aged, for I keep your precepts. 101 I hold back my feet from every evil way, in order to keep your word. 102 I do not turn aside from your rules, for you have taught me. 103 How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! 104 Through your precepts I get understanding; therefore I hate every false way.

Ps 119:97-104

Do you see the irony? And the similarity?

The irony is that God’s law is often looked at like a grueling set of restrictions

David delights in them, meditates upon them, they’re sweeter than honey to him

How? In David’s pursuit of the LORD, he found that he was transformed from the inside out

C.S. Lewis on his reflections envisions David seeing the depravity of the pagan nations around him how they hurt each other and offer their babies to Moloch by throwing them in the fire and sees God’s law as altogether lovelier how it protects and provides for people

Is it possible for a knowledgable person to be a caring and compassionate person?

This is true also because th

Knowledge puffs up

The difference is Divine wisdom

There are two primary life threatening temptations that are waiting for everyone - the way of men of perverted speech and the forbidden woman

Proverbs 2:12–15 ESV

12 delivering you from the way of evil, from men of perverted speech, 13 who forsake the paths of uprightness to walk in the ways of darkness, 14 who rejoice in doing evil and delight in the perverseness of evil, 15 men whose paths are crooked, and who are devious in their ways.

Men of Perverted Speech

These are categories that we are to be on the lookout for

Perverted speech is not limited to “profanity” or “dirty jokes”

They forsake the paths of uprightness, walk in darkness, rejoice in doing evil, etc...

The goal of the tempter is not hidden, the men of perverted speech openly use their words to convince you to believe that the way of darkness/doing evil is not all that bad

This “Inner Ring” makes you feel like you’re in control

You deserve this

You gotta do what is best for you

This is the party scene where peer pressure to do wrong is high, people are shouting your name

Being intentional and desperate for God’s wisdom will make our antennas go up and discern what is true and pure

Just because a preacher uses Jesus name doesn’t make it straight speech

Just because a politician uses patriotism or says, “I love my country” doesn’t make what they say straight speech

Being intentional and desperate for God’s wisdom will make our antennas go up and discern what is true and pure

Just because a sociologist uses the word family doesn’t make it straight speech

Evil flows from the master of deception, subtle and crafty are used to explain the evil way

Being intentional and desperate for God’s wisdom will make our antennas go up and discern what is true and pure

Divine wisdom will also protect you from another temptation, dad warns against the forbidden woman

The Forbidden Woman

King Solomon portrays these two temptations using poetic imagery

The first warning is against those who use speech that appears to be straight, but after further review it is crooked

This second warning is against the allure of the smooth words to do what is evil

This is the close friend who effortlessly guides you to the same destructive decision that the men of perverse speech guide you

But this person makes it all seem innocent and they’re not going to plainly tell you to cheat, steal, or lie, but the innuendos and suggestive words are very clear

Cheating on taxes in order to get a bigger return to take a family vacation

They know how to use body language to appear genuine and honest

How do you think politicians are convinced to change their vote at the last minute?

Why do certain companies commit to partnering with a unsuspecting companies

The forbidden woman has sold her soul to the devil, forsaken her husband, her covenant with God and is going to spend her life convincing others to do the same

The wise father is going to close by encouraging his son with good news. For a little while it can feel like obtaining wisdom is only for avoiding sin, but it’s much more than that...

Proverbs 2:20–22 ESV

20 So you will walk in the way of the good and keep to the paths of the righteous. 21 For the upright will inhabit the land, and those with integrity will remain in it, 22 but the wicked will be cut off from the land, and the treacherous will be rooted out of it.

When wisdom has come into our hearts because of an intentional and desperate seeking of God’s Divine Wisdom, we’re rescued from evil, but we will also come find goodness and beauty

The goodness of relationships

It’s difficult to find friendships that are meaningful and where you’re not being used

Prioritize your pursuit of God’s wisdom and you’ll find that there are a handful of others who are also pursuing God’s wisdom and those relationships can be very meaningful

The goodness of abiding in Christ

The land was more than just a plot of dirt, it was a promise that God would dwell with his people and they would dwell with their God

It was pointing the people of God back to the Garden of Eden

It’s not different for us

Even in the midst of an ugly world, we find hope in the truth that

John 15:7 ESV

7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.

Now that is a promise to chew on

What is it that you will ask the all-sufficient Savior for?

Will you call out for insight?

Will you raise your voice for understanding?

He is ready and willing to receive our cries and give to us Divine Wisdom