The Gospel in the Proverbs

1 The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel: 2 To know wisdom and instruction, To perceive the words of understanding, 3 To receive the instruction of wisdom, Justice, judgment, and equity; 4 To give prudence to the simple, To the young man knowledge and discretion— 5 A wise man will hear and increase learning, And a man of understanding will attain wise counsel, 6 To understand a proverb and an enigma, The words of the wise and their riddles. 7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, But fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Now today we celebrate Veterans Day. We remember those who sacrificed and fought for our country. Who have given us this freedom so we can be here today and worship the Lord.

This reminds me that we need to pray for our govermental leaders.

Now in this day and age there is a severe lack of respect and honor for those in positions of authority. Such as military, our police, our firefighters, pastors, and even God almighty.

There can be several reasons for this. People who have issues with people in authority can have a mental disorder, or came from a sexual abusive home, or are just defiant in nature. It all stems from a prideful heart. One that says I need to be in control and in charge instead of submitting to the authority God has sit in place.

In the jungles overseas, 15 soldiers of a government commando unit were saved by two dogs adopted as mascots. According to a news report, the soldiers were completing a 10-mile hike when their dogs sensed danger. Running ahead toward a water hole where the unit planned to rest, the dogs suddenly began barking and circling the area. The troops searched carefully and found 12 buried grenades attached to a wire trigger.

It’s intriguing to think about those two jungle mascots whose senses were tuned to the smell of danger. The soldiers escaped serious injury and even death because they listened to those barking dogs.

It’s disturbing to realize, however, that sometimes we are prone to give less credibility and attention to more faithful protectors.

How many times have we resented a father’s warnings or a mother’s advice? How often have we grown tired of pastoral pleadings or a fellow believer’s caution?

Yet, how wise and loving is our God! He sends His messengers to whisper, to plead, and about hidden dangers, which can do grave harm to our physical and spiritual lives.

Now Wisdom is something that is extremely needed in today’s world. We have young people who challenged each other to eat Tide pods, to set themselves on fire, and eat tablespoons of cinnamon.

Voltaire said, “Common sense is not so common.”

He was right! In a society that has grown increasingly more foolish, we are given warnings on most products, mostly because some people lack common sense. Just read the following instructions.

On a hair dryer: Do not use while sleeping.

On an iron: Do not iron clothes on body.

On a chainsaw: Do not attempt to stop chain with your hand.

Common sense can be learned from experience or the teaching we receive from those we trust. But God’s Word is the best source of all to develop discernment and good judgment.

Three words echo throughout the book of Proverbs: wisdom, knowledge, understanding. God has packed this book with common sense.

advises restraint: “A man of understanding holds his peace.”

warns: “He who has knowledge spares his words, and a man of understanding is of a calm spirit.”

is practical: “Do not love sleep, lest you come to poverty.”

To get more common sense, consult God’s Word—the source of wisdom—daily.

INTRODUCTION

We know from that Solomon “spoke 3,000 proverbs, and his songs were 1,005.” The passage then goes on to describe his knowledge of trees, shrubs, animals, birds, creeping things and fish. People came from all over to hear the wisdom of Solomon. This wisdom was a gift from God in answer to his prayer recorded in .

records God’s answer, to Solomon’s request for Wisdom “And God said to him, “Because you have asked this thing and have not asked for yourself long life, nor have asked riches for yourself, nor have you asked for the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself discernment to understand justice, 12 behold, I have done according to your words. Behold, I have given you a wise and discerning heart, so that there has been no one like you before you, nor shall one like you arise after you.

Even though no one will have the Wisdom of Solomon. We are instructed to ask for Wisdom from the book of James when he says...”If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.”().

So what is wisdom and how do you know when you have it? Why should we want it?

GODLY WISDOM IS PRACTICAL AND USEFUL FOR EVERYDAY LIFE

(TO KNOW WISDOM AND INSTRUCTION)

A lot of people get knowledge and Wisdom confused. In a day and age where a vast of information is available to us at our fingertips, yet we live in a generation that isn’t very wise.

knowledge tells us what we should but, wisdom does it. Wisdom is simply the right kind of knowledge applied.

God Himself is the foundation for all wisdom. So wisdom isn’t found in a concept, idea or philosophy but, it’s personified in Jesus Christ.

Solomon starts out the book of Proverbs by saying that we are to know Wisdom and instruction.

One of the best ways to gain knowledge is by experience. It was by the wisdom of God that he came into the world in the form of man so He could be an example to us all on how to live a Holy life. Jesus had emotions as we do. He cried, he laughed, he felt betrayal, he showed anger, and he felt pain.

(NKJV) says...

8 though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered.

Many people are misinformed about this verse. They think the beginning of Christ suffering began at the cross. His suffering actually began when he left the comfort of heaven and came into a broken and sinful world.

GODLY WISDOM IS REVELATIONAL

(TO PERCEIVE THE WORDS OF UNDERSTANDING)

God has given us emotions, a will, and an intellect.But, the Bible teaches us that human intellect is limited. “‘No human mind has conceived’ the things God has prepared for those who love him” (). Even the greatest intellects in the world have never been able to grasp the magnitude of God’s plan for the redeemed. One of the greatest minds in history such as Stephen Hawkings who was one of science’s brightest stars could not wrap himself around the truth that their is a God who loved him so much that he created Him.

Every part of us, including the intellect, has been affected by mankind’s fall into sin. The intellect of the unregenerate person has been darkened, spiritually speaking. The unsaved walk “in the futility of their thinking. They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts” (). Even the brightest minds in the world, apart from Christ, have no real understanding of the truths of God

GODLY WISDOM IS MORAL

MORAL

Someone who is wise in God’s eyes is someone who first of all, has a relationship with him. Good behavior and morality will keep you out of prison but a relationship with Christ will keep you out of hell.

A wise person is also disciplined, exercises self-control over their emotions, words and actions, lives a life in which what one does is right, just, fair and shows integrity in all they do.

This is what John Wesley calls the “moral image of God”. Jesus was perfect and without sin. He is the perfect example for us. That’s why He said “Be Holy as I am Holy”

GODS WISDOM IS MYSTERIOUS

Our proverb mentions understanding the words of the wise and their riddles. I know for myself, there isn’t much more frustrating when you cant figure something out. Whether that would be a crossword puzzle, a saying, a phrase or even when I forget my own password.

Jesus had a lot of sayings that were hard to understand. They were called parables. He also had religious leaders who would try to trap him with a question hoping he would give the wrong response so they could accuse him of breaking a law.

Throughout our lives there will be riddles. Things we will desperately want to understand. I think in Gods wisdom, in his mysterious ways, he doesn’t tell us all the answers. He does this because he wants us to exercise our faith and trust in Him! God’s wisdom can be mysterious, and it can be something we don’t understand. But, it’s not something that should discourage us but, mystery is something that we should embrace

YOU:

In what ways are you displaying the wisdom of God in your life?

Are you submitting to the authority that God has put in your life?

Are you listening to the wisdom of the world or the wisdom of God?

Are you embracing Gods mysterious ways day by day?

WE:

We all have a life full of choices. Such as what school to go to. Where to work at, who we are to marry.

A.W. Tozer, in The Knowledge of the Holy, wrote these words about God's wisdom in our lives: "To believe actively that our Heavenly Father constantly spreads around us providential circumstances that work for our present good and our everlasting well-being brings to the soul a veritable benediction. Most of us go through life praying a little, planning a little, jockeying for position, hoping but never being quite certain of anything, and always secretly afraid that we will miss the way. This is a tragic waste of truth and never gives rest to the heart.

"There is a better way. It is to replace our own wisdom and take instead the infinite wisdom of God… God has charged Himself with full responsibility for our eternal happiness and stands ready to take over the management of our lives the moment we turn in faith to Him." (A.W. Tozer, The Knowledge of the Holy, p. 63.)

I leave you with this question to think about...

“If God granted you one wish, like He did Solomon, what would you ask for?”

The way we answer that question will tell a lot about our heart.

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