#840 - "Wisdom's Cry" | Proverbs 1:20-33
Notes
Transcript
SCRIPTURE
SCRIPTURE
20 Wisdom cries aloud in the street, in the markets she raises her voice; 21 at the head of the noisy streets she cries out; at the entrance of the city gates she speaks: 22 “How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple? How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing and fools hate knowledge? 23 If you turn at my reproof, behold, I will pour out my spirit to you; I will make my words known to you. 24 Because I have called and you refused to listen, have stretched out my hand and no one has heeded, 25 because you have ignored all my counsel and would have none of my reproof, 26 I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when terror strikes you, 27 when terror strikes you like a storm and your calamity comes like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come upon you. 28 Then they will call upon me, but I will not answer; they will seek me diligently but will not find me. 29 Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the Lord, 30 would have none of my counsel and despised all my reproof, 31 therefore they shall eat the fruit of their way, and have their fill of their own devices. 32 For the simple are killed by their turning away, and the complacency of fools destroys them; 33 but whoever listens to me will dwell secure and will be at ease, without dread of disaster.”
INTRODUCTION
INTRODUCTION
Solomon had just now referred to the call that we hear from sinners to join with them. He wrote of the folly and foolishness of these sinners and the foolishness of heeding such calls.
Solomon now turns to Wisdom’s Cry, and this is what we want to speak to you about today.
We live in a time where there seems to be fewer and fewer people who possess wisdom.
To be honest, I don’t remember a time when the world seemed to be so foolish as it is right now.
Never have there been more experts to hear…and yet rarely has there been more foolishness to listen to.
BODY
BODY
(1) Wisdom is there to be found
(1) Wisdom is there to be found
(A) Cries aloud in the street -- in our everyday lives...wisdom is there crying out to us.
(A) Cries aloud in the street -- in our everyday lives...wisdom is there crying out to us.
When the world is full of foolishness, we can sometimes wonder if wisdom is anywhere to be found.
We can be sure it is…the Bible tells us it is.
She is speaking today, just like she always has...
How does she speak?
(B) Raises her voice in the markets
(B) Raises her voice in the markets
What do you think wisdom would tell us “in the market place”?
Biblical advice on money and finances
4 A slack hand causes poverty, but the hand of the diligent makes rich. 5 He who gathers in summer is a prudent son, but he who sleeps in harvest is a son who brings shame.
11 Wealth gained hastily will dwindle, but whoever gathers little by little will increase it.
20 Precious treasure and oil are in a wise man’s dwelling, but a foolish man devours it.
7 The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is the slave of the lender.
5 Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
9 Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce; 10 then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine.
These things which Wisdom say’s are very different from the foolishness of the world.
Honesty in financial affairs
Selling your good name and character for money, regardless of the amount, is always a poor trade.
Uncertainty of financial success and security
16 And he told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man produced plentifully, 17 and he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’ 18 And he said, ‘I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. 19 And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.” ’ 20 But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ 21 So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.”
Riches will not leave with us when we leave this world
21 And he said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.”
If this is anything that represents the truth of man’s fallen condition, it is his relentless pursuit of what he can never hold onto, and his refusal to obtain what he can never lose.
(C) Cries out in the noisy streets
(C) Cries out in the noisy streets
21 at the head of the noisy streets she cries out; at the entrance of the city gates she speaks:
There is a cacophony of voices today...and everyone seems to be yelling, all the time.
Do not equate passion for truth. We ought to be passionate about the truth, but a lie is a lie no matter how passionately one might think it is true.
Do not get carried away with the voices in the noisy street of your life, all vying for your attention and obedience.
In the midst of the yelling, wisdom cries out
Train your ear to recognize wisdom’s voice when she cries out to you.
There is ONE voice that matters among all the voices straining for your attention. That voice is Wisdom’s voice
In the noisy street of today, all sorts of lies are heralded by all sorts of liars.
Sex outside of marriage is not only okay, it’s ridiculous to think otherwise
Human beings can be something other than male or female
At some point billions and billions of years ago...the earth and the universe just popped into being out of literally nowhere, and it is the Christian and his belief in God who is insane.
A $27 TRILLION dollar debt, which is now 137% higher than our Nations GDP is not a problem! Every minute (as of this morning), the debt increases by 2,671,462. But...We need more stimulus NOW and we must elect the people who will give us what we WANT NOW, rather than what we will NEED LATER.
The answers to our nations problems will come from the Government, so the church and her preachers should be silent, and we should all listen to the State and her politicians. In fact, in this time of pandemic, the church should just stay home and wait for the government experts to sound the all the clear.
Truth is not an objective reality...it is instead a nebulous web of opinions and feelings in the minds and hearts of men.
ON AND ON...and ON AND ON...we could go. One thing is certain...the noisy street of the world is as loud as it has been in my lifetime.
What does Wisdom say in the noisy street?
Do not follow the foolishness of this world.
(D) Speaks At the entrance of the city gates
(D) Speaks At the entrance of the city gates
As you enter the gates of each new day, wisdom is there.
The question is really whether or not you are listening for her, and recognize her voice.
We know that wisdom is found in God’s Word...so I pray that you are seeking counsel from the God in His Word each day as you live and walk among the clamoring foolishness of this world.
(2) How long will you remain “simple”
(2) How long will you remain “simple”
22 “How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple? How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing and fools hate knowledge?
Simple here, is “naive”, “easily persuaded”, “ignorant”, etc.
As Christian’s, we are not to be naive, easily persuaded, ignorant, etc.
We are to be wise as serpents, harmless as doves
16 “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.
The Bible asks you a question...”How long will you love being simple?”
God does not want us to be simple!
The key to no longer remain “simple”
God’s Word
7 The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple;
Listen to, and “turn” at the reproof of God (23)
If you do, God will “pour at [His] spirit to you” AND “make [His] words known to you.”!
The key then isn’t intelligence, position, power, influence, ability, effort, etc. It is “TURNING” at the God’s reproof!
So long as you refuse to turn at God’s reproof when He corrects, you will remain simple.
In fact, you will gather more simple ones with you to create an echo chamber of lies in your life as you attempt to drown out the voice of God in your heart.
(3) The dangerous path of the simple!
(3) The dangerous path of the simple!
A path that:
Refuses to listen to wisdom
Ignores wisdom’s extended hand, counsel, and reproof
Ends in:
Wisdom ignoring them
So then...know this...If you ignore Wisdom now, you risk Wisdom ignoring you later!
26 I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when terror strikes you, 27 when terror strikes you like a storm and your calamity comes like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come upon you. 28 Then they will call upon me, but I will not answer; they will seek me diligently but will not find me.
If you refuse to walk in Wisdom’s ways and enjoy the sweet fruit that comes from it, you will eat the fruit of your own way. You will reap what you sow.
Anyone who has ignored Wisdom and paid the price for their choice, knows the sting of Wisdom’s mockery.
They think back and remember, “I knew I was making a mistake, and I did it anyway!” The knowledge of that Wisdom then stands there in mockery, not helpfulness, because the time to heed the counsel of wisdom has passed. Wisdom becomes a source of mockery when it has been ignored.
One caught in a lie remembers when Wisdom cried out, “Do not lie about this, it will make matters worse!”
One caught in adultery remembers when Wisdom cried out, “Do not look upon, or think about this woman or this man like that…it leads to heartache and ruin for your family!”
One who spends and gambles away their savings remembers when Wisdom cried out, “Do not waste this money! You and those who count on you will need it in the rainy days ahead.”
Worst of all…the one who scorns and rejects God’s call to salvation remember when Wisdom cried out, “Repent and believe the gospel before it is too late! Eternity hangs in the balance!”
If you sow rebellion against God, you will reap exactly what you sowed...the absence of God’s presence!
(4) A final encouragement (33)
(4) A final encouragement (33)
33 but whoever listens to me will dwell secure and will be at ease, without dread of disaster.”
You don’t HAVE to live this way.
You don’t HAVE to remain simple, rebellious, alone, uncertain, without love, hope, and freedom.
You can listen to Wisdom and dwell securely in this life and the next. You can be at ease now and in eternity. You can live with no fear or dread of tomorrow.
But to do so, you must listen to Wisdom’s Cry.
CONCLUSION
CONCLUSION
In my own life, there have been times I have ignored God’s counsel. When I have come to myself and prayed, and looked back, wisdom was there to be heard, but I refused to hear.
In your life, wisdom is there to be heard. Are you listening? Are you turning when reproved by God?
Or are you ignoring God’s counsel…His extended hand…or His loving and Fatherly reproof?
Hear Wisdom’s Cry! Hear Christ and obey His voice!
Amen