Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction

There are many churches today, that allow what they call the “felt needs,” of the congregation, determine the trajectory of the preaching ministry.

So, they’ll have 7 weeks of preaching on how to communicate to one another in your marriage.

8 week sermon series on becoming a better version of yourself.

4 tips on how to be a Christian in the digital age.

And the major appeal that I’ve heard people give to attend such churches to hear that sort of preaching is, “The message is so practical.

He just gives you something to carry with you all week.”

But sadly, many of these churches rarely get to actually expounding the Scriptures in their attempts to speak to these issues.

It normally ends up amounting to not much more than psychological self-help tips.

The desire to know what to do, to have the discernment, the wisdom to be able to make right choices and carry our lives down the right path, is a good desire.

It’s far better than not caring, or assuming we already have all the right answers within us.

But it is not helpful, if we end up going to the wrong source, to develop these skills.

Self-help tips, developed entirely from the minds of men, is not the source we need to develop the skills necessary to live wise lives.

Where should we go?

God’s Word.

It is within the written revelation of God, that we learn God’s principles, and develop wisdom to be able to apply those principles to our lives.

It’s not that topical sermons, or topical series are wrong.

It’s not that the pastor can’t recognize cultural issues, or congregational issues, and determine to pause a verse by verse study through a book to address a topic.....no it’s that regardless of whether or not it’s a topical sermon or verse by verse exposition, the only preacher worth his salt will simply say what the Bible says.

“If you don’t need your Bible at church, then the Bible says you don’t need that church.”

Thabiti

Our desire this morning, is to look to God’s Word, to know how to live our lives, for God’s glory.

Today, we are looking back into the book of Proverbs as we spend a few weeks in this book, getting a feel for its purpose, and hopefully helping you be able to dive into this book in study with a better understanding of its content and goals.

It is a book, written primarily by Solomon, obviously inspired by the Holy Spirit, to grant to the reader, “WISDOM.”

We’ve given a pocket-sized definition of wisdom as, “The skill required, to accurately apply, biblical knowledge.”

Marriage, jobs, digital age Christians....everyone finds how to live their lives, by growing in biblical knowledge, and the skill to apply it.

We learn these truths from the Word of God…and that’s clearly taught to us in Proverbs.

2 weeks ago, we saw that wisdom begins with fearing God.

We are not even on the right path, until we recognize God for WHO He is, and therefore ourselves for who we are.

Last week, we saw the trajectory of the book beginning to be further revealed: that there are two paths, two options…the way of God that leads to life, or the way of foolishness and wickedness that leads to destruction.

This week, Solomon personifies wisdom.

He portrays wisdom as a lady.

And not only as a lady, Solomon also portrays wisdom as a somewhat of a “street preacher,” who cries aloud in the streets.

And to help us understand this passage better, that’s how I want to approach it....that verses 20-33 give to us, “Wisdom’s Sermon.”

So, if we take this as wisdom’s sermon, there are 4 points I’d like us to consider, as we reflect upon the sermon: 1)The Audience; 2)The content; 3)The Prophecy; 4) The Conclusion

1.

The Audience

Solomon takes time to give us several details as to “where” and “how” this crier, this preacher, is proclaiming this message

The details show us, that the message is not being sounded out, in private....but out in public

Verse 20: the streets; the market

Verse 21: head of noisy streets; entrance of city gates

Notice the manner in which wisdom calls:

Verse 20: cries aloud; raises her voice

Verse 21: cries out; speaks

Often times, when sin is giving its call, its enticement…it’s in the dark; in private; secretive.

Even the call of sinners Solomon mentioned previously, seems to be directed to one individual at a time…not an open call in the street for whoever would listen.

Proverbs 1:

But here, Wisdom’s sermon is taking place in the crowded areas of the city.

Where the tumultuous, chaotic crowds are hustling and bustling.

And there are many implications, many applications that can be made from this point....but one for sure is this:

EVERYONE is invited to pursue wisdom.

The ancient heresy of gnosticism, basically taught that there was a secret wisdom; secret knowledge.

And one needed to have a particular spiritual experience that opened their eyes to it.

And since there’s nothing new under the sun, many false religions have adapted a form of that over time.

Mormons: burning of the bosom to help them see that mormonism is right

Unhealthy protestants who believe certain of their members “get it,” because they’ve had a particular spiritual experience…and others don’t get it, because they haven’t.

But Solomon doesn’t portray wisdom as hiding in a locked room, waiting on those with the passcode to come visit.

In the market, in the crowds, wisdom CRIES ALOUD to those who will hear.

The invite is open to all.

Apply

But don’t think, just because we reject gnosticism and its cousins, that we’re exempt from relegating this invitation of wisdom, to a particular group, and not to ourselves.

For example, this is Father’s Day, so let’s allow that to give us an example.

Many fathers, with kids in the home or grown and out of the home; or many men, or young men, who hope to become fathers one day....many aren’t seriously pursuing a deep understanding of the Word of God

Bible reading; prayer; bible study; studying theology; studying church history

Those are things for the preachers and theologians....I don’t have time for that.

Granted, I realize you don’t have AS MUCH time as the man who gets paid to study the bible, pray, and shepherd.

But you do have SOME time.

And to relegate to the so-called, “professionals,” the responsibility of growing deeper in God’s Word, is to reject Wisdom as she cries aloud in the streets

It is to say, “Solomon, you’re wrong.

Wisdom’s not crying in the streets....she only cries out in the seminary.”

Voddie Baucham gives a great illustration, that offers some stinging rebuke to the church.

He says, if a young man becomes hungry for truth, is eager to know the deep things of God’s Word, studies church history and theology....then what do we normally assume about him?

“He must be called to preach.”

Granted, he may be....but we often assume that, because it’s so different than ourselves.

And to make ourselves feel better, we say that the hungry ones, must be the church leaders…and I’m not called to be a church leader, so I don’t have to live up to that standard.

Don’t become complacent, and give yourself a pass.....wisdom is crying out in the midst of us all....Wisdom is calling YOU! Dads, single men, teenager, moms, single ladies, etc.

Considering Wisdom’s sermon, we see first the audience....secondly....

2. The content

The sermon itself, if you will, is marked by a rebuke, a promise, and a warning

Simple ones: young naive person (same as v.4)

Scoffers: one who jeers, mocks, or treats something with contempt

Fools: Stupid; insolent

These questions offer a stinging rebuke

“At what point, do you plan on being no longer young and naive?

That excuse doesn’t last long.”

The scoffers are busy scoffing; the fools are busy hating any knowledge that may impact their lives…and the young and naive want to stay in their youth and naiveté

And wisdom, rebukes them for it

Coupled with the rebuke, is a promise

Wisdom is indeed reproving them, but if they would just turn, repent, change....

Then..... as Peter Lange put it, “The spirit of wisdom is to flow forth copiously, like a never-failing spring.”

Also.....Wisdom’s words will become understandable.

Wisdom would be POURED OUT

Understanding, knowledge, wisdom....all come more and more to the one who simply turns from the path of foolishness and wickedness, and goes to God for wisdom.

That’s the promise....now hear the warning:

Proverbs 1:2

So Wisdom describes their response to the sermon if you will....there is a refusal to listen, a rejection of Wisdom’s outstretched hand, ignoring Wisdom’s counsel, and not receiving her reproof.

Then, verse 26:

Wisdom doesn’t come to someone’s aid, AFTER calamity strikes…if it was spurned and rejected, BEFORE the calamity struck.

The laughing here, is not callousness....but a recognition of the foolishness, destruction, and helpless state of those who live on in rejection of Wisdom.

To illustrate it in light of the source of Wisdom, God Himself.....remember the words of the Psalmist, as he prophesied of the coming Messiah.

It’s foolish, laughable even....for them to stand opposed to God.

And it’s laughable to think that wisdom can be employed by someone in the midst of calamity, who hasn’t sought wisdom prior to the calamity coming.