Sermon Tone Analysis
Overall tone of the sermon
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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”
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
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?
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