Sermon Tone Analysis

Opening Illustration

Here’s a quiz question .. Who are we?

We were a bunch of 16 yr old teens who loved mucking around with guitars .. we decided to give ourselves a name .. the Blackjacks .. but then called ourselves the Quarry Men seeing that we all went to Quarry Street School .. we soon found out that the name Quarrymen was already taken by another respected band .. so had to think again ... different kids would come and go into our group .. just mucking around .. even called ourselves Johnny and the Moondogs

We had an offer to be the back up band for a Johnny Gentle gig .. a fellow Liverpudlian .. we desperately needed a drummer

It was getting a bit boring playing every weekend at the Cave but one night a local record store owner and music columnist by the name of Brian Epstien introduced himself to us .. who put us in contact with George Martin ... who signed us up with EMI recording label

We are ..............

Yep the Beatles .. the best selling band in history

Epstein recalls that first meeting by saying "I immediately liked what I heard.

They were fresh, and they were honest, and they had what I thought was a sort of presence ... star quality."

Yep .. That classic line .... it’s not WHAT you KNOW (or can do) but WHO you KNOW

How many budding 16 yr olds are strumming on guitars and writing their own songs ... how much talent is out there but undiscovered

It’s not WHAT you know so much as WHO you know ... and we are going to see this clearly as we round off our series in Proverbs

We’ve seen that this ancient book contains WISDOM and PRUDENCE and DISCIPLINE .. these are TOOLS not RULES for living life in God’s world and making sense of a very complicated and messed up environment we live in .. how do we become the BEST people we want to be ... how do we relate to people around us

REVIEW .. Well ... I’m not a builder .. nor the son of a builder .. but I think we can see some parallels in building HOUSES and BUILDING A LIFE as we’ve been looking at the book of Proverbs

We’ve seen TWO paths summed up in .. LADY WISDOM and LADY FOLLY .. ways that lead to life and death .. and it all depends on our focus in life .. or our FOUNDATION

We’ve seen that this ancient book contains WISDOM and PRUDENCE and DISCIPLINE .. these are TOOLS not RULES for living life in God’s world and making sense of a very complicated and messed up environment we live in .. how do we become the BEST people we want to be ... how do we relate to people around us

We’ve seen TWO paths summed up in ways to BUILD .. LADY WISDOM and LADY FOLLY .. ways that lead to life and death .. and it all depends on our focus in life .. or in building terms … our FOUNDATION

Proverbs states it well .. and repeatedly .. it’s all bound up in the FEAR OF THE LORD .. e.g.

“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.”

Another way of putting that is seen in vv.5-6 “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.”

And there are great blessings that follow as we TRUST GOD following and applying HIS wisdom

Proverbs states it well .. and repeatedly .. it’s all bound up in the FEAR OF THE LORD .. e.g.

“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.”

Another way of putting that is seen in vv.5-6 “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.”

And there are great blessings that follow as we TRUST GOD following and applying HIS wisdom

So .. when you’re building a house there are things that you must get right .. the FOUNDATION is crucial .. laying the slab AND ... the FRAMEWORK is critical .. load bearing beams and trusses otherwise you end up with a pile of rubble

When you’re building a house there are things that you must get right .. the FOUNDATION is crucial .. laying the slab AND ... the FRAMEWORK is critical .. load bearing beams and trusses otherwise you end up with a pile of rubble

There are heaps of wise sayings .. pithy one-liners .. practical thoughts and directives and they build on the FOUNDATION .. That’s what we’ve been seeing in the book of Proverbs ... build a framework on that foundation ... righteousness, love faithfulness personal integrity etc .. these are vital and absolutely necessary for a life as God designed it ...these are OBLIGATIONS

Other things that aren’t so critical in building there’s a degree of flexibility .. it’s up to you .. weatherboard .. brick .. colourbond roof .. tile roof .. paint it blue .. pink .. so what ... now you’ll get the “experts” telling you all sorts of things ... you HAVE to have a tile roof ... brick will keep it better insulated etc etc and of course there are some WISE decisions .. eg if in a hot climate you have low ceilings .. tin roof .. no insulation .. no air con .. well it will be hot in summer ... but at the end of the day it’s preference .. and .. what you can afford .. it might not be sensible but the house won’t collapse

There are heaps of wise sayings .. pithy one-liners .. practical thoughts and directives and they build on the FOUNDATION .. That’s what we’ve been seeing in the book of Proverbs ... build a framework on that foundation ... righteousness, love faithfulness personal integrity etc .. these are vital and absolutely necessary for a life as God designed it ...these are OBLIGATIONS

Other things that aren’t so critical in building there’s a degree of flexibility .. it’s up to you .. weatherboard .. brick veneer .. colourbond roof .. tile roof .. paint it blue .. pink .. so what ... of course there are some WISE decisions .. eg if in a hot climate you have low ceilings .. tin roof .. no insulation .. no air con .. well it will be hot in summer ... but at the end of the day it’s preference .. and .. what you can afford .. it might not be sensible but the house won’t collapse

We see a degree of flexibility in the book of Proverbs .. some statements are OBSERVATIONS in life .. these are helpful in making wise decisions

We’ve seen a degree of flexibility in the book of Proverbs .. some statements are OBSERVATIONS in life .. these are helpful in making wise decisions

As we look at the closing chapters of Proverbs we see a few case studies .. or DISPLAY HOMES .. display LIVES to walk through .. observe how they’ve done things .. how they’ve put things together .. here’s the first of those

As we look at the closing chapters of Proverbs we see a few case studies .. or DISPLAY HOMES .. or display LIVES to walk through .. observe how they’ve done things .. how they’ve put things together .. here’s the first of those

Just TWO Things

Just TWO Things

Verse 1 is important ... check it out ... The sayings of Agur son of Jakeh — an oracle: This man declared to Ithiel, to Ithiel and to Ucal:

Agur ... son of Jakeh ... an oracle?

.. this would be unique there is no other place where the proverbs are called “oracles” or a prophecy

Verse 1 is important ... check it out ... The sayings of Agur son of Jakeh — an oracle: This man declared to Ithiel, to Ithiel and to Ucal:

Agur ... son of Jakeh ... an oracle?

NIV .. it gets a bit tricky with translations .. y’see .. there’s no other place where the proverbs are called “oracles” or a prophecy .. seems a bit strange for Proverbs .. wisdom book

There’s a footnote version .. the word is translated Massa ie a place ie a Gentile place .. descendants of Ishmael () .. the same word in 31:1 King Lemuel .. an oracle ?

If it is Massa .. makes more sense .. Lemuel an Ishmalite King .. we don’t read of a King Lemuel in Israel

There’s a footnote version .. the word oracle is translated Massa ie a place ie a Gentile place .. descendants of Ishmael () .. the same word in 31:1 King Lemuel .. an oracle ?

If it is Massa .. makes more sense .. Lemuel an Ishmaelite King .. we don’t read of a King Lemuel in Israel in 1&2 Kings

So ... Agur an Ishmaelite .. gentile (Arab) ... makes more sense of .. v.2-3 ““I am the most ignorant of men; I do not have a man’s understanding.

I have not learned wisdom, nor have I knowledge of the Holy One.” Gentiles know nothing .. they are far from God and that’s what Agur seems to be .. HOWEVER .. here is a guy who wants to make sense of the world .. how do you live in it well ... notice what he says

v.4“Who has gone up to heaven and come down?

Who has gathered up the wind in the hollow of his hands?

Who has wrapped up the waters in his cloak?

Who has established all the ends of the earth?

What is his name, and the name of his son?

Tell me if you know!”

So ... Agur an Ishmaelite .. gentile (Arab) ... makes more sense of .. v.2-3 ““I am the most ignorant of men; I do not have a man’s understanding.

I have not learned wisdom, nor have I knowledge of the Holy One.” Gentiles know nothing of the HOLY GOD .. they are far from God and that’s what Agur seems to be .. HOWEVER .. here is a guy who wants to make sense of the world .. how do you live in it well ... notice what he says

v.4“Who has gone up to heaven and come down?

Who has gathered up the wind in the hollow of his hands?

Who has wrapped up the waters in his cloak?

Who has established all the ends of the earth?

What is his name, and the name of his son?

Tell me if you know!”

Agur figures .. the one who would know would be the one who made the world .. sustains the world ... you need a teacher OR at least someone very close to the maker of the world .. his son .. but who is that .. tell me

Well we NT Christians know don’t we .. maybe you’re bursting to tell this guy .. we know the Father .. and Jesus His son who has come down from heaven and established the ends of the earth .. this side of the cross it’s a no brainer .. but for Agur .. give him some credit for his thought processes .. here’s a gentile searching for the meaning of life in OT times .. seeks God and finds him ... v.5-6 ““Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.

Do not add to his words, or he will rebuke you and prove you a liar.”

Agur figures .. the one who would know would be the one who made the world .. sustains the world ... you need a teacher OR at least someone very close to the maker of the world .. his son .. but who is that .. tell me!

Quotes from OT .. strong echo of & echoes of .. Agur’s search leads him to the OT .. inspired scriptures of Israel .. perfect .. a gentile discovers the fear of the Lord (Yahweh) covenant God .. the ONLY true God .. that’s when you find life

Well we NT Christians know don’t we .. maybe you’re bursting to tell this guy .. we know the Father .. and Jesus His son who has come down from heaven and established the ends of the earth .. this side of the cross it’s a no brainer .. but for Agur .. give him some credit for his thought processes .. here’s a gentile searching for the meaning of life in OT times .. seeks God and finds him ... v.5-6 ““Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.

Do not add to his words, or he will rebuke you and prove you a liar.”

Your might remember FRANK MORRISON the academic who started out to write a book rubbishing the Christian Faith .. thought he’d better read the Bible to show how stupid and contradictory it is .. but saw a different book .. a book that convinced him of his rebellious heart .. and to put his faith in Christ

NotAgur’s words but quotes from OT .. strong echo of & echoes of .. Agur’s search for wisdom leads him to the inspired scriptures of Israel .. a gentile discovers the fear of the LORD (Yahweh) the PERSONAL NAME of the COVENANT God .. the ONLY true God .. that’s when you find life .. that’s when it makes sense

Y’see no matter what his moral condition .. how nice .. how honest ... no matter how good a husband or dad .. Agur knew it wasn’t WHAT you know but ... WHO you know

ILLUSTRATION

Your might remember FRANK MORRISON the academic who started out to write a book rubbishing the Christian Faith .. thought he’d better read the Bible to show how stupid and contradictory it is .. so he searched .. read and found our how stupid HE was!

He saw a different book .. a book that convinced him of his rebellious heart .. and to put his faith in Christ .. and he wrote the classic apologetic for the cross .. WHO MOVED THE STONE

He has found his answers in the God of Israel .. who’s words are flawless .. in whom we can take refuge

Y’see no matter what his moral condition .. how nice .. how honest ... no matter how good a husband or dad .. Agur knew it wasn’t WHAT you know but ... WHO you know

Therefore STICK close to Yahweh .. here’s his desire ““Two things I ask of you, O LORD; do not refuse me before I die: Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread.

Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, ‘Who is the LORD?’

Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God.”

He has found his answers in the God of Israel .. who’s words are flawless .. in whom we can take refuge

Therefore STICK close to Yahweh .. this is what you learn .. here’s his desire ““Two things I ask of you, O LORD; do not refuse me before I die: Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread.

Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, ‘Who is the LORD?’

Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonour the name of my God.”

( NIV)

This is probably the most pertinent point in the chapter ... The last thing you want to do is drift AWAY from Yahweh .. disown and disobey your God ... the one you know

( NIV)

This is probably the most pertinent point in the chapter …

Imagine having so much money that I am seduced from loving and serving and praising my God ...

The first thing this GENTILE SEEKER is convinced of after FINDING wisdom .. Coz ..the last thing you want to do is DRIFT AWAY from Yahweh .. DISOWN and DISOBEY your God ... the one you know

And for us .. we KNOW who holds the wind in the hollow of his hands … we KNOW who has COME DOWN from heaven and who has ASCENDED back into heaven .. we know the One who has secured our life

Or so little money that I’m tempted to do something that would dishonour him

Here’s his point : Imagine having so much money that I am seduced from loving and serving and praising my God ...

To disobey .. disown .. drift from him ... that is foolishness beyond belief

Gentile or Jew .. the lure of WEALTH is there ... much is said in Proverbs about the WISDOM we need to handle riches well .. as we saw earlier

Or … so little money that I’m tempted to do something that would dishonour him

Greed drives our world .. how far are we away from another GFC?

To disobey .. disown .. drift from him ... that is foolishness beyond belief

Gentile or Jew .. the lure of WEALTH is there ... and so much is said in Proverbs about the WISDOM we need to handle riches well .. as we saw earlier in Proverbs