Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction

Throughout our lives, there will be many decisions we must make, as our day to day life unfolds.

Questions like, “Which job should I take?”

Or, “Who should I marry?”

Or, “When should I retire?”

Or, “Should we buy this house?”

These are obviously important questions.

And of course, for believers, there is one question that is the foundation for all of these other questions.... “What is God’s will for my life?”

Sometimes, the answer to that question is clearly spelled out for us in Scripture.

For example:

Paul tells the Thessalonians that God’s will for them, is sanctification.

But what about when it’s not so clear?

What about when we’re wanting to know which direction God would be pleased with, when it comes to our careers or relationships?

Or what about when it comes down to ethical choices on the job, or political positions we should stand with in relation to justice and equality?

How do we consistently make right choices?

How do we consistently live a life that is characterized by a sufficient knowledge of the facts and our surroundings, as well as possessing great skill in applying that knowledge to our life?

That is where we are desperately dependent upon God, to grant to us wisdom.

We are not taught from Scripture, the idea seemingly espoused by many today, that the will of God is some secret knowledge, always just beyond our reach.

As many have said, “Finding God’s will is not a cosmic easter egg hunt, or a game of hot and cold.”

Nor is wondering about the will of God, something that should cause us to second guess every decision we make, leading us to a life of unceasing frustration and inner turmoil.

Living a life that is godly, disciplined, and charts the right path forward…is lived by skillfully applying the accumulation of biblical knowledge within us.

And that is one major purpose of the book of Proverbs.

It operates on the premise that God is, as the hymn states, Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise.

And we, as his creatures who have fallen into sin, are not wise.

God is God.

He possesses all knowledge, and He possesses all the skill necessary to apply that knowledge perfectly to fulfill His purposes.

We possess very limited knowledge.

Limited knowledge, that is often shrouded and obscured by sin and the darkness of this world, in our fallen state…and we do not naturally possess the skill necessary to properly apply even the limited knowledge we do have to our lives, in a way that fulfills God’s purposes and brings Him glory.

So, we turn to God…by turning to His Word.

And we open a book like the book of Proverbs.

A book that is full of, well...proverbs, which are short, pithy statements, full of wisdom and truth.

For our congregation, we plan to spend 5 weeks, looking at the book of Proverbs…taking 3 weeks or so to cover the first chapter, and 2 weeks to look at 2 other chapters.

This morning, we will look at (page ).

Turn there with me please, if you haven’t already.

And what we’ll see in these verses, is the introduction to this book, giving to us the purpose of the book.

And then these verses call upon its readers to live wisely, fear God, and seek wisdom.

So a condense version of our takeaway from these verses would be: To live wisely, we must be wise.

To live wisely, we must become wise.

The Book of Proverbs helps us with this.

It is filled with wise sayings, that are not meant to be shrouded in mystery that we need a codebook to crack…but meant instead to add skill to the people of God to live wise lives.

These introductory verses set the stage for this.

We see in verse 1, that these are the proverbs of Solomon.

Meaning the whole of the book was his…or compiled by him…or this first section, from chapters 1-9, are his wise sayings…and the others given credit later, are found after his.

We see in verse 1, that these are the proverbs of Solomon.

This means the whole of the book was his…or compiled by him…or this first section, from chapters 1-9, are his wise sayings…and the others given credit later, are found after his.

Solomon is clearly identified as the prominent figure in the OT

He was the King of Israel…He was David’s son.

Solomon is known for his wealth, the Temple he constructed, he is known for the great success brought to the people of Israel under his leadership…but humanly speaking, this is all due to his wisdom.

God had gifted him, upon his request, with a wisdom to make decisions and lead the people of God.

And here we have a collection of his wise sayings, that will add skill to the people of God during any time, to live wise lives.

After the superscription in verse 1, you have the purpose for the book in verses 2-6, followed by the starting point for knowledge given to us in verse 7.

And as we approach this text this morning, I want us to ask and answer 3 questions of this text…with the hopes that we will be convinced: To live wisely, we must be wise.

Not only convinced of the obvious truth of that statement....but convinced that God grants to us the path forward in becoming wise.

The first question is this...

1.

What is Wisdom?

This seems like the obvious place to start

Because if we’re talking about living wisely, and if we’re talking about acquiring wisdom, then we must know what it is we’re talking about.

What it is, we’re seeking to gain.

Notice, verse 2....

Solomon’s purpose for compiling this work, is “to know wisdom...”

Well…what is wisdom?

So, if we’re talking about living wisely, and if we’re talking about acquiring wisdom, then we must know what it is we’re talking about.

What it is, we’re seeking to gain.

I think a good pocket size definition for wisdom could be, “Wisdom is, the skill required to accurately apply, biblical knowledge.”

So…you can have knowledge, without having wisdom....you cannot have wisdom, without having knowledge.

I think a good pocket size definition for wisdom could be, “The skill to accurately apply, sound knowledge.”

Think of it this way:

When a person is looking for a construction project to be done around their home, whether its a large job of big construction, or a small job, or its dealing primarily with finish work, they are looking for a person that “knows their stuff.”

They want to hire someone with the knowledge of the material, knowledge of how one is supposed to do it, and the skill to apply that knowledge properly, so that the person is successful with the project.

This is the same idea that comes to mind, when we deal with the concept of “wisdom.”

We are talking about a person skilled, in a particular area....here, it is the area of living a right, moral life.

To further clarify this...

When the Hebrew word that is used here, is used elsewhere in Scripture…it refers to those whom God has gifted with great levels skill, in particular areas of expertise

When the Hebrew word that is used here, is used elsewhere in Scripture…it refers to those whom God has gifted with great levels of skill, in particular areas of expertise

Certain individuals were selected for the work in the temple, in making Aaron’s clothing, and in other fields…because they had particular expertise and skill to be applied in those fields.

In the area of moral living, of right living, those who are wise…have a skill, an expertise, to be applied for right living.

And the Proverbs were written, according to Solomon, in order “TO KNOW” that wisdom…

Wisdom…and…instruction (or discipline)

Instruction (or discipline)

And understanding words of insight

Because this skill of practically applying biblical knowledge to our lives, will be a lie that is marked by discipline

These thoughts are expanded further as Solomon continues to give the purpose for the book in verses 3

Here, Solomon is giving his reasons for compiling this work.

And out of the gate, the reason is, “to know wisdom.”

Receive: take; grasp; seize or accept

Instruction: same as verse 2

In wise dealing: to have success; in other words, in these areas he mentions....righteousness (the right thing); justice (the right judgement); and equity (fairness and integrity)…these proverbs are given so that one can receive the instruction necessary to live successfully in them.

In 3 areas: righteousness (the right thing); Justice (the right judgment); Equity (fair; integrity)

To have “wise dealings,” in these areas.

So…the proverbs of Solomon are compiled, so that people know this skill and this discipline of living successfully in the areas of righteousness, justice, and equity.

“ A disciplined (cf.

v. 2) and prudent (cf.

v. 4) life is one with high moral standards, a life in which one does what is right … just, and fair (cf.

2:9).

An immoral or unjust person can hardly be called wise in God’s sight!” ~Bible Knowledge Commentary

A disciplined (cf.

v. 2) and prudent (cf.

v. 4) life is one with high moral standards, a life in which one does what is right … just, and fair (cf.

2:9).

An immoral or unjust person can hardly be called wise in God’s sight!

That is the goal of the proverbs.

Not simply growing in knowledge.