What's this about "Wisdom"
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KIDDOS YOU ARE DISMISSED FOR YOUR SUNDAY SCHOOL!
KIDDOS YOU ARE DISMISSED FOR YOUR SUNDAY SCHOOL!
What's this about "Wisdom"
What's this about "Wisdom"
Since I have been your Pastor, I hope that you have “caught” some of my wisdom.
Thank God we live at the intersection of the Cross and Grace!
The Mercy of God is not humanly understandable
Pick your battles carefully.
Work smart not hard
Work smart not hard
Be part of team; two or three are always stronger than one. Respect and honor the team.
Listen carefully for wisdom… from all kinds of sources.
Now for some Biblical context of wisdom
May I remind you of the interaction with Balaam and his donkey. The Lord caused the donkey to speak wisely. The end result of this is
31 Then the Lord opened Balaam’s eyes, and he saw the angel of the Lord standing in the road with his sword drawn. So he bowed low and fell facedown.
Numbers
The donkey had it right all along...
The quest for wisdom sends us back clear to Genesis
6 When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.
Eve recognized the value of wisdom. She went about getting it the wrong way and the results were a disaster for her.
She and Adam plunged humanity into a state of rules, laws, traditions and religions.
But she also set course for the Messiah to come, the one whose bruised heal made redemption possible.
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The Book of Deuteronomy lays out the path of gaining this “wisdom” that is so elusive.
5 See, I have taught you decrees and laws as the Lord my God commanded me, so that you may follow them in the land you are entering to take possession of it.
6 Observe them carefully, for this will show your wisdom and understanding to the nations, who will hear about all these decrees and say, “Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.”
deut 4.
Follow God’s law and decrees, listen for His voice in your life, and if you “observe” them carefully… ALL the nations will say “Surely this great nation is a WISE and understanding people.
This was the nation Israel before they even existed. They were to follow the laws and decrees and be wise. And God would have honored them.
We know they took a “left turn” and ended up crucifying their Messiah.
Let’s make a leap to the New Testament
53 When Jesus had finished these parables, he moved on from there.
54 Coming to his hometown, he began teaching the people in their synagogue, and they were amazed. “Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers?” they asked.
Mt
PRINCIPLE #1 - LOSE THE “AWE” AND FIND THE “DO”
It is SO EASY to fall into...”Man I heard something today from someone and it really hit me right between the eyes.” And then just keep on doing what we have always done!
I love to hear the encouragement that I get each week from you. I get a handshake, a smile, a “great job Pastor. What I would really like is…this is how I’m going to change my life based on what I’ve heard.
As Jesus began teaching…the people wondered where he got the wisdom. We know His wisdom came from God and was the key to Israel’s success THEN, NOW and in the future.
Because “this “ generation has neglected the “wisdom” of God.
Jesus said...
49 Because of this, God in his wisdom said, ‘I will send them prophets and apostles, some of whom they will kill and others they will persecute.’
50 Therefore this generation will be held responsible for the blood of all the prophets that has been shed since the beginning of the world,
Luke 11.
PRINCIPLE #2 - WE HAVE A “LOVE-HATE” RELATIONSHIP WITH WISDOM
So we seem to have a love-hate relationship with WISDOM...
We LOVE wisdom when we agree with it. We HATE wisdom when we disagree
WE SEEM TO LIKE IT WHEN WE AGREE AND OF COURSE WE REJECT IT WHEN WE DON’T.
WE SEEM TO LIKE IT WHEN WE AGREE AND OF COURSE WE REJECT IT WHEN WE DON’T.
Open your bibles if you will to …yup we are out of Samuel. 1 & 2 Samuel was the story of David and his becoming King over Israel.
1 Some time later there was an incident involving a vineyard belonging to Naboth the Jezreelite. The vineyard was in Jezreel, close to the palace of Ahab king of Samaria.
2 Ahab said to Naboth, “Let me have your vineyard to use for a vegetable garden, since it is close to my palace. In exchange I will give you a better vineyard or, if you prefer, I will pay you whatever it is worth.”
3 But Naboth replied, “The Lord forbid that I should give you the inheritance of my ancestors.”
4 So Ahab went home, sullen and angry because Naboth the Jezreelite had said, “I will not give you the inheritance of my ancestors.” He lay on his bed sulking and refused to eat.
5 His wife Jezebel came in and asked him, “Why are you so sullen? Why won’t you eat?”
6 He answered her, “Because I said to Naboth the Jezreelite, ‘Sell me your vineyard; or if you prefer, I will give you another vineyard in its place.’ But he said, ‘I will not give you my vineyard.’ ”
7 Jezebel his wife said, “Is this how you act as king over Israel? Get up and eat! Cheer up. I’ll get you the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite.”
8 So she wrote letters in Ahab’s name, placed his seal on them, and sent them to the elders and nobles who lived in Naboth’s city with him.
9 In those letters she wrote: “Proclaim a day of fasting and seat Naboth in a prominent place among the people.
10 But seat two scoundrels opposite him and have them bring charges that he has cursed both God and the king. Then take him out and stone him to death.”
11 So the elders and nobles who lived in Naboth’s city did as Jezebel directed in the letters she had written to them.
12 They proclaimed a fast and seated Naboth in a prominent place among the people.
13 Then two scoundrels came and sat opposite him and brought charges against Naboth before the people, saying, “Naboth has cursed both God and the king.” So they took him outside the city and stoned him to death.
14 Then they sent word to Jezebel: “Naboth has been stoned to death.”
15 As soon as Jezebel heard that Naboth had been stoned to death, she said to Ahab, “Get up and take possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite that he refused to sell you. He is no longer alive, but dead.”
16 When Ahab heard that Naboth was dead, he got up and went down to take possession of Naboth’s vineyard.
17 Then the word of the Lord came to Elijah the Tishbite:
18 “Go down to meet Ahab king of Israel, who rules in Samaria. He is now in Naboth’s vineyard, where he has gone to take possession of it.
19 Say to him, ‘This is what the Lord says: Have you not murdered a man and seized his property?’ Then say to him, ‘This is what the Lord says: In the place where dogs licked up Naboth’s blood, dogs will lick up your blood—yes, yours!’ ”
20 Ahab said to Elijah, “So you have found me, my enemy!” “I have found you,” he answered, “because you have sold yourself to do evil in the eyes of the Lord.
21 He says, ‘I am going to bring disaster on you. I will wipe out your descendants and cut off from Ahab every last male in Israel—slave or free.
22 I will make your house like that of Jeroboam son of Nebat and that of Baasha son of Ahijah, because you have aroused my anger and have caused Israel to sin.’
23 “And also concerning Jezebel the Lord says: ‘Dogs will devour Jezebel by the wall of Jezreel.’
24 “Dogs will eat those belonging to Ahab who die in the city, and the birds will feed on those who die in the country.”
25 (There was never anyone like Ahab, who sold himself to do evil in the eyes of the Lord, urged on by Jezebel his wife.
26 He behaved in the vilest manner by going after idols, like the Amorites the Lord drove out before Israel.)
27 When Ahab heard these words, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and fasted. He lay in sackcloth and went around meekly.
28 Then the word of the Lord came to Elijah the Tishbite:
29 “Have you noticed how Ahab has humbled himself before me? Because he has humbled himself, I will not bring this disaster in his day, but I will bring it on his house in the days of his son.”
1Kings 2
Now we move to David’s successors, this week it is Solomon.
1 When the time drew near for David to die, he gave a charge to Solomon his son.
His charge...
2 “I am about to go the way of all the earth,” he said. “So be strong, act like a man,
3 and observe what the Lord your God requires: Walk in obedience to him, and keep his decrees and commands, his laws and regulations, as written in the Law of Moses. Do this so that you may prosper in all you do and wherever you go
1Kings2.2-
PRINCIPLE #3 - STRAIGHTEN UP, GET YOUR ACT TOGETHER. JUST DO IT!
Let’s tear this apart a bit
Analytical Bible Expositor: I Kings to II Chronicles 2. The Character in the Charge (1 Kings 2:2–4)
Do not be childish in behavior. Solomon had a great responsibility as king. He needed to be mature and behave accordingly. So many of our politicians fail here.
Do not be childish in behavior. Solomon had a great responsibility as king. He needed to be mature and behave accordingly. So many of our national figures miss the mark here!
Do not be childish in behavior. Solomon had a great responsibility as king. He needed to be mature and behave accordingly. So many of our politicians fail here.
“Be strong, and act like a man, [the language here can also be translated as “mankind.”]
You must participate in this thing called life to be able to fulfill the command from Deuteronomy. “Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.” A nation is composed of people. At the time this was written Israel was NOT a united nation. This is almost written like a
Have courage,
Have the guts to say the “wrong” things, the things that move against the prevailing thought and society.
Remember Jesus was a revolutionary!!
“Obey” - We will get to that one in a bit
“keep his decrees and commands, his laws and regulations, as written in the Law of Moses.” There was a handbook long before there was a “Bible” it started with the Ten Commandments and “grew” from there.
“Do this so that you may prosper in all you do and wherever you go.” As difficult as it was to follow the “Law” and the ONLY to follow the LAW perfectly was Jesus Christ.
God’s Mercy was still evident. He didn’t strike everyone down and kill them. He continued and continues to be a Graceful and Merciful.
6 Observe them carefully, for this will show your wisdom and understanding to the nations, who will hear about all these decrees and say, “Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.”
You must participate in this thing called life to be able to fulfill the command from Deuteronomy. “Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.”
A nation is composed of people. At the time this was written Israel was NOT a united nation.
This is almost written like a dare, like a challenge to Israel to straighten us and get your act together
YOU want to be known as a WISE and understanding person. Especially as a member of the “great nation of followers of Christ.”
“observe what the Lord your God requires.”
3 Therefore, the Lord says: “I am planning disaster against this people, from which you cannot save yourselves. You will no longer walk proudly, for it will be a time of calamity.
4 In that day people will ridicule you; they will taunt you with this mournful song: ‘We are utterly ruined; my people’s possession is divided up. He takes it from me! He assigns our fields to traitors.’ ”
4 Then they will cry out to the Lord, but he will not answer them. At that time he will hide his face from them because of the evil they have done.
5 This is what the Lord says: “As for the prophets who lead my people astray, they proclaim ‘peace’ if they have something to eat, but prepare to wage war against anyone who refuses to feed them.
What does God require?
8 He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.
literally in Hebrew the last part of that is to walk with a “listening” ear.
Listen carefully…even if you have not listened in a long time. If you start listening again… he will start speaking again.
I hope that you are not going to ask for my resignation after I say this but...
We can become chapter and verse experts and have memorized 100’s or 1000’s of verses. We can pray and pray and pray some more. The Pharisee’s did that!
But ultimately you have to give God your ear and listen
10 He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”
There absolutely wisdom in scripture, in prayer, in spending time in His word. Be sometimes you just have to “shut up and listen.”
1Kings2
Back to verse 3
Back to verse 3
3 and observe what the Lord your God requires: Walk in obedience to him, and keep his decrees and commands, his laws and regulations, as written in the Law of Moses. Do this so that you may prosper in all you do and wherever you go
Next “walk in obedience” - different context in the Old Testament and New Testament.
In the OT it would have been follow the Ten Commandments and follow the law. This would not have included the 627 additional “laws” that were placed on the Jews by their rabbis.
In the NT these laws, decrees and commands would have all been replaced by the action of Jesus death, burial and resurrection.
Next “walk in obedience” - different context in the Old Testament and New Testament. In the OT it would have been follow the Ten Commandments and follow the law. This would not have included the 627 additional “laws” that were placed on the Jews by their rabbis. In the NT these laws, decrees and commands would have all been replaced by the action of Jesus death, burial and resurrection. He fulfilled the law, the commandments and replaced them with this.
He fulfilled the law, the commandments and replaced them with this.
PRINCIPLE #4 - OBEY!
27 He answered, “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”
OBEY These HARDEST 5 words in all of scripture...
LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF!
if we really, really did “love your neighbors as yourself.”
First you must love yourself. This is a huge problem…when we look in the mirror we see a distorted picture of ourselves. We see a picture that is altered by fear, by doubt, by sin. That is not what God wants. When we look in the mirror God wants to see Jesus.
When your ready to see Jesus in yourself you are ready to lay down our lives for our neighbors. Sacrifice everything, including our lives for our neighbors. By today’s standards would either be a
Member of our armed forces
Or crazy, deserving of the little men in white suits coming to take you away.
It is NO LONGER in the DNA of us, of our country to pray, listen, to act when we still hear God’s still small voice.
It’s the DNA of us to ignore the margins of society, to separate based on age, nationality, immigration status, economic status.
We all forget that everyone comes into the world with NOTHING and leaves with NOTHING
When we hear wisdom from scripture it’s easy to read it, enjoy it, take it in and repeat when we AGREE with it. It’s a whole other matter if we DISAGREE with it.
If we do all these “things”
3 The company of the prophets at Bethel came out to Elisha and asked, “Do you know that the Lord is going to take your master from you today?” “Yes, I know,” Elisha replied, “so be quiet.”
3 and observe what the Lord your God requires: Walk in obedience to him, and keep his decrees and commands, his laws and regulations, as written in the Law of Moses. Do this so that you may prosper in all you do and wherever you go
2Kings
“Do this so that you may prosper in all you do and wherever you go...”
That’s of power of “Wisdom” in your life.
Let’s bring this around to the NT.
We have to live in this world! We have to exist with those who don’t live according to the “decrees of the prophets.”
We have to exist in a world with false prophets and those who wish to drag us down… why you ask.
Simply because we are followers of the culmination of the prophets… Jesus Christ.
5 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.
Here is the key to that verse… Ask God! He won’t find fault
He won’t say, Jeff we’ve had this discussion a 100 times before.
He won’t say, REALLY Jeff you have flat out ignored this advice the last 20 times I gave it to you.
He won’t say, hey Jeff you’ve done the exact opposite of this advice.
He won’t shame you, shame is from satan.
He won’t blame you for your past stupid mistakes. He forgives GRACIOUSLY.
He forgives GRACIOUSLY. He choses to “Remember no more” our sins if we ask for forgiveness.
He chooses to “Remember no more” our sins if we ask for forgiveness.
He will ALWAYS be there until the end of the age to offer His advice through His word, through His people or even through a… donkey if necessary!
