Don't Be Foolish About God Part 1

Introduction

Greetings...

The book of Proverbs is a noteworthy book for its “intensely practical character.”

It gives great advice on how live everyday life.

It isn’t a book many would consider when looking into “theology” i.e. knowledge of God.

However, “what’s more practical than knowing about God? And what is more impractical than to live as if God doesn’t exist?”

It’s in this sense that Proverbs points us in the direction of theology and what “please and displease God.”

With this in mind let us examine our lesson for today.

God Exists

Atheism in a nutshell.

There are two kinds of atheism in the world today.

The first is philosophical atheism which used to be few in it’s following, but has grown over the last few decades.

This is the “denial of God’s existence based on the claim that there is evidence that proves he doesn’t existed.”

Just one generation ago this didn’t exist much here in America.

However, men like Richard Dawkins and Christopher Hitchens have pushed this atheism and popularized it with their “in-your-face” aggression against theistic beliefs.

The second is practical atheism and is the most wide spread of all atheism.

This is where people don’t overtly and rudely deny God’s existence, they just live their life without much real thought into it.

God’s existence described.

The proverbs begin with a basic truth concerning how one can “know there is a God.”

Proverbs 1:7 ESV

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

Proverbs 2:4–6 ESV

4 if you seek it like silver and search for it 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;

Translation: It’s dumb or foolish not to know God.

Proverbs isn’t limited to this truth either.

The psalmist in would say...

Psalm 14:1–2 ESV

1 The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds; there is none who does good. 2 The Lord looks down from heaven on the children of man, to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God.

Summery

There are two prominent thoughts that come forth from what we have seen in Proverbs and Psalms here.

First, those that deny God exists are “corrupted and perform abominable deeds.”

Second, everyone that an unclouded heart seeks God.

There is no wisdom outside of God.

This brings us to our second point...

God Created The World By Wisdom

Foolishness abounds in atheism’s creation.

It doesn’t take but a moment to see how foolish atheism is were the universe is discussed and Creator is denied.

Basic atheistic evolutionist claim, “the universe is here simply by chance and that there is no first cause or creator.”

This is not only illogical but goes against science itself since any elementary science student knows “something cannot come from nothing.”

Some atheistic evolutionist claim, “the universe appears to have been designed by someone but in reality it wasn’t.”

This again is illogical and we wouldn’t apply this logic to anything else.

Illustration: When the Mayan city of Chichen Iza were discovered know one said “this looks like someone made this but really it just formed on its own.”

God’s wisdom created the universe.

The book of Proverbs and the rest of the Bible is clear God created the universe by His wisdom.

Proverbs 3:19–20 ESV

19 The Lord by wisdom founded the earth; by understanding he established the heavens; 20 by his knowledge the deeps broke open, and the clouds drop down the dew.

Not only do we see God wisely created the universe but that it functions by virtue of wisdom. Everything God made is infused with His wisdom.

Right after making this great point on wisdom in creation Solomon states...

Proverbs 3:21–26 ESV

21 My son, do not lose sight of these— keep sound wisdom and discretion, 22 and they will be life for your soul and adornment for your neck. 23 Then you will walk on your way securely, and your foot will not stumble. 24 If you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet. 25 Do not be afraid of sudden terror or of the ruin of the wicked, when it comes, 26 for the Lord will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being caught.

The point is we live in a world created by wisdom, it only makes sense to acknowledge that wisdom and live by it. If you do “the LORD will be your confidence.”

Summery

The point is we live in a world created by wisdom, it only makes sense to acknowledge that wisdom and live by it. If you do “the LORD will be your confidence.”

Conclusion

The fool says in His heart “there is no God.”

We must not be fools and help others not to be as well.

Invitation

Isaiah 59:1–2 ESV

1 Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, or his ear dull, that it cannot hear; 2 but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear.

Philippians 2:6–7 ESV

6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.