Sunday Service 11-29-20 - Proverbs 13:12-19 - Wisdom's Fulfillment, Folly's Frustration

Proverbs 13 Sermon C (12-19) - Wisdom's Fulfillment, Folly's Frustration 12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life. 13 Whoever despises the word brings destruction on himself, but he who reveres the commandment will be rewarded. 14 The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life, that one may turn away from the snares of death. 15 Good sense wins favor, but the way of the treacherous is their ruin. 16 Every prudent man acts with knowledge, but a fool flaunts his folly. 17 A wicked messenger falls into trouble, but a faithful envoy brings healing. 18 Poverty and disgrace come to him who ignores instruction, but whoever heeds reproof is honored. 19 A desire fulfilled is sweet to the soul, but to turn away from evil is an abomination to fools. Outer Border/Inclusio (12 & 19): Desire Fulfilled. (The Ends) Inner Border/Inclusio (13 & 18): Heed the Word/Instruction. (The Means) Intro: Christmas and unfulfilled expectations. 12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life. Treated together with V11: (Wealth gained hastily will dwindle, but whoever gathers little by little will increase it) Not getting what you desire immediately makes you sick (not dead), but getting it in the end is the cure-all ... it heals all the hurt, wounds, pain and sacrifice. Use Abraham and Simeon and many others as examples of this message. Deeper Connection: The tree of knowledge VS the tree of life ... tree of knowledge was the devil's temptation of the hope deferred - get it right now, while God's plan for Adam was going to fulfill this desire ... the tree of life meant that Adam would not die, they would be together with God in perfect fellowship forever and thus would gain the knowledge of God little by little. And, trusting God with what we should/shouldn't know falls in line with the next verse about the Word/Commandment and reward/destruction. Here the antithetical parallel suggests that the frustrated suffers a loss of morale. With his true longings never satisfied, he stumbles in resignation and despair to his death. For the wicked, the hope is deferred/extended forever. The metaphor a tree of life (see 3:18) functions as the antithesis of sickness; he is transferred from the realm of sickness and death into the realm of health and life. The fruit of that tree revitalizes energies, renews courage to live and to plan for the future, and extends life forever The righteous may find their hopes deferred for a while, but their hearts never grow sick, for they know the LORD who upholds his promises. Though tried, they are never disappointed in their faith (cf. Gen. 15:3 with 21:3-6; Psalm 137 with 126; Luke 2:25-30 with Hag. 2:7; cf. Matt. 13:16, 17; Luke 24:41; Acts 12:12-16). The proverb is an index of lives that are moving either toward final despair of every expectation in death or toward a fulfillment of every desire in the everlasting presence of the LORD (Rom. 8:19, 23-25; 1 Cor. 15:51-54; 2 Cor. 5:1-4; Heb. 10:37, 38; Rev. 22:7, 12, 20). 13 Whoever despises the word brings destruction on himself, but he who reveres the commandment will be rewarded. Tying into the rest of the Unit - listening, learning, accepting correction. Practical means to fulfillment of desire is listening to those who have gone before us and those whom God put over us, but more than that it's listening to God, Himself (the Word, the Commandment). "Whoever despises the Word will be ruined by it (become a debtor to it). The debt is his life, and that is what will be paid in judgment/death. Notice that moral perfection is not what is required here for reward, but rather submission, fear, reverence, affection toward the Word/Commandment. To despise vs To revere (to stand in awe, to worship, to bow). Herein lies the difference between salvation and damnation: And, there is no other option, no third way, no middle ground, no neutrality. You either revere the Gospel or you despise it. You either revere Jesus or you despise Him. Lewis' Liar, Lunatic, or Lord. Not just a good teacher - an absurd impossibility. (He claimed Lordship, Exclusivity, Judgement, Authority, etc.) 14 The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life, that one may turn away from the snares of death. Parallel with 14:27 "The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, that one may turn away from the snares of death." Taken together we may say that the teaching of the wise is the fear of the LORD and the fear of the LORD flows from the ordinary means of grace (OMG), the teaching of the wise. What this does is reverses the fall, it reverses our course of depravity toward righteousness, toward something beyond ourselves, turs us outward and upward ... It is the teaching of the Word that guides us into all Spiritual and Physical life (Your Word is a lamp unto my feet and a life unto my path). We learn how to live. BUT, it's so much more than learning how to live ... we learn what life is, what our existence is about, it re-orients reality according to glorious truth, re-orients our hearts, our minds, our perspectives - it renews our minds. "Be transformed by the renewing of your minds." And, in this reorientation comes also the moral teaching, the wisdom teaching that makes us savvy for this life, how to live at peace, how to navigate trouble, how to manage everyday details of relationships, finances, work, ministry, etc. And, it gives us the perspective, the motivation, the strength to turn away from the temptations of Satan and this world who seeks to destroy us, to ensnare us to death. Only by learning from Christ and His servants do we learn how to do this. Everything else is a lie, a farce, a bill of goods, a legalistic, man-centered doctrine of self-realization that ends in what? Death. How to be a better you, how to have your best life, how to be a better (husband, boss, golfer, father, man, etc) ... How to beat death. How to beat sin. How to beat final judgement. What we have in the teaching of the wise is how to have life and have it to the full and not have death be the final word. The teaching of the wise is to fear YHWH. Jesus speaks like this: "I have come that you may have life and have it abundantly." "I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?" These are the words that, if we will hear them and reverence them, promise that their reward is life, the heart's desire. Ie Jesus' Words are not only the teaching of the wise, He is YHWH. He Himself is the fountain. He Himself is the one to whom we bow in awe and worship and we receive from Him life everlasting, and repentance from death to life now. John 6:35, 51 - Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst." ... "I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh." John 4 - Jesus said to her, "Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, 14but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life." 15 Good sense wins favor, but the way of the treacherous is their ruin. The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life that turns you away from the snares of death. One who heeds that teaching and drinks from that fountain gains good sense (prudence) - moral perception/perspective and ability to act accordingly ... which then leads to favor with God and man. This is again the middle step as the means to the ends of life. It is because of this favor that you have all of the resources for life and savvy to avoid snares of death. You have the sense to take Jesus at His Word, to accept His offer of life, to trust Him as Lord. And, from this faith in Him, you now abide in God's favor. This is the fountain of life, this is the desire and hope of the heart fulfilled. Practically, a person with good sense gains favor from others because they make good decisions, are able to lead well, do not get involved in schemes that hurt or take advantage of others ... they're able to advise others in their problems. You know what to do. Examples in Scripture: Joseph, Samuel, David, Daniel ... Jesus, Paul. The way of the treacherous (unfaithful/disloyal/treasonous) is their ruin (is ruined, hard). The way of faith is demanding, but the way of unbelief even more so. Satan is a hard taskmaster and many of his servants tend to be miserable much of the time. It also makes others who follow in their way miserable. And, so the disloyal do not gain favor. Good sense does not walk away from commitments or go against the Lord's will. Good sense is faithfulness to God. Jesus: Jesus had good sense and thus grew in favor with God and man. Now, we also see that Faithfulness can also lead you to disfavor with man, but not with God. 16 Every prudent man acts with (protects himself through) knowledge, but a fool flaunts his folly. So, the knowledge that is gained through the Word, through the teaching of the wise, through reverence for God resulting in good sense ... this is not just knowledge for the sake of the head, but for the sake of the hands - this knowledge is to govern our actions. And, it will bear fruit, it will be known. Every prudent/shrewd man does this, without exception. If someone is acting without knowledge, or against knowledge, this person is not numbered among the prudent. In fact, they have just shown that they are a fool, their folly exposes them. To get into extra detail in this grammar: We are advised here to be prudent/shrewd, to protect ourselves through knowledge, which is a similar idea to acting with knowledge. You must act on the best information you have available. "223 studies show that too much sugar is bad for you, but you know medical "facts" change all the time, they're liable to come out with a study next week that says that too much sugar is good for you." Not only do those 223 studies say that, but also almost every mother who ever lived. Or, "I know there's a 1/200 million chance of winning the lottery, but I have a feeling today's my lucky day." No, act with knowledge, not with "feelings". Or, "I know God (the Bible) says this, but I just feel like..." More than that, we're called to protect ourselves, to take a healthy measure of caution ... to try to know the world around us, the people around us, not to tie ourselves into people who will bring us down, who will put our lives, or our souls in danger. We are not to be naïve to the devil's schemes: 2 Cor 2:11 - "so that we would not be outwitted by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his designs." This is one of the points of Church Discipline, to protect the flock. Paul says this, "1 Cor 5:11 But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler-not even to eat with such a one." Our love for neighbor does not preclude us knowing the hearts and deceits of men, it doesn't preclude us from being shrewd and cautious - in fact we never give ourselves . This is part of what Jesus did ... John 2:23-25 - Now when he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many believed in his name when they saw the signs that he was doing. 24 But Jesus on his part did not entrust himself to them, because he knew all people 25 and needed no one to bear witness about man, for he himself knew what was in man. It was also part of His advice to us: Matt 10:16 - "Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves." Christians are allowed to be wise as serpents, we are allowed to be informed and know what's going on in the world. But, we must also be innocent, and even a bit naïve like a dove. At times, we must allow pain - "Let them strike you on the other cheek also. Give him your tunic also. Walk with him two miles." How does that fit into this advice of wisdom ... this is still acting with and protecting ourselves through knowledge because we are entrusting ourselves to Him who judges rightly: 1 Pet 2:23 - "When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly." Notice the contrasting pictures: The wise man, by knowledge, covers himself, protects himself. The fool spreads out his folly. In this is haughtiness, pride, insolence, scoffing. Fearlessness when it comes to God and morality. He's fearless when he should be fearful. Be afraid, be very afraid. It will be ruinous (see V14). 17 A wicked messenger falls into trouble, but a faithful envoy brings healing. The picture here is of a titled official - a representative, an ambassador, an envoy. A wicked messenger would be looking for opportunities for his own self-interest, while a faithful/trusted envoy would be looking out for the interests of his Lord/King. A wicked messenger divides and makes a community sick ... he is not delivering the message as given but rather manipulates the situation for his own gain. He may cause war or conflict. The consequence is that he falls into the very trouble he creates. The idiom 'falls intro trouble' means perishes through trouble/evil. The faithful/trusted representative brings healing to conflict, breaks down walls that divide communities, averts war and terror, saving lives ... because of the order of clauses here, we may also assume that his message may override the message of the previous wicked messenger to undo the trouble he caused, bringing healing to the trouble. Relates to the Word we are to revere and the teaching of the wise that is a fountain of life. There are those who give this Word and this teaching faithfully and there are those who claim to give this Word and teaching but are deceitful. They are bad counselors, false prophets, wolves in sheep's clothing. They are those who tickle ears and manipulate through their messages, motivated by their own gain. We may think today of those messengers of Satan in political power, on prime time media, on the television and movie screens, lecturing in the Universities, and even standing in pulpits. Those who preach not the Word of God but the words of men. Not according to knowledge but according to folly and sinful desires, deceiving themselves and others, motivated by their own gain. Contrast this with one who preaches faithfully. I will always say this. The spotlight should not be on the preacher. The preacher should be the spotlight shining on the Word. The message of the sermon should be the message of the passage. The text drives the point and the message, not the message looking for textual support. This is the background to the role of the apostles and preachers in the NT: Acts 20:27 for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God. 1 Corinthians 4:1-2 This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful. 2 Corinthians 2:17 For we are not, like so many, peddlers of God's word, but as men of sincerity, as commissioned by God, in the sight of God we speak in Christ. 1 Thessalonians 2:3-6 For our appeal does not spring from error or impurity or any attempt to deceive, 4 but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts. 5 For we never came with words of flattery, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed-God is witness. 6 Nor did we seek glory from people, whether from you or from others, though we could have made demands as apostles of Christ. The ultimate faithful envoy: Jesus Christ - John 6:38-39 "For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. 39 And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day." And, again as amazing as ever, to think that he entrusted that message now to us!!! We have a ministry, a message of reconciliation, by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, as revealed by the ultimate authority found in Scripture alone, to the glory of God alone. The message of the Gospel, delivered by a faithful messenger honors and pleases our LORD, and brings the opportunity for healing to the hearer. 18 Poverty and disgrace come to him who ignores instruction, but whoever heeds reproof is honored. "Disgraceful poverty" - there are different classes/causes of poverty in Proverbs (laziness, love of pleasure, talking without working, meanness, wickedness, but also injustice or even integrity). Here, the reason is a moral failing - stubbornness, pride, apathy, ignoring instruction. When the cause is a moral problem, the poverty is disgraceful. Contrast this with the honor from being correctable - literally, the Hebrew idioms are "to be light" vs "to be heavy". The ability to learn from reproof, criticism, mistakes, etc. The ability to be humble will bring honor and wealth. Irony is that the person who will not humble himself to discipline will be disciplined to humility by the consequences of his pride. The person who will humble himself, who considers himself low will be lifted up. Jas 4:10 - "Humble thyself in the sight of the Lord and he will lift you up." - This message runs throughout Scripture. "Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, but whoever humbles himself will be exalted." This verse finishes the first border about the means to fulfilling desire. To fulfill our desire we must take the ironic road of humility through learning. We want to be lifted up, we want to be favored, we want to know ... we must make ourselves the lowest. "The last shall be first and the first shall be last. Whoever would be great among you must be the servant of all." "If anyone would come after me, let him take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it." Christ humbled himself and was obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. And, He was lifted up... 2 Cor 2 - So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, 2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. 19 A desire fulfilled is sweet to the soul, but to turn away from evil is an abomination to fools. The instructive poem ends the way it began, and its point is imminently practical and deeply profound. What do you want? How do you get it? With folly, you think you found your own shortcut to get it, and it will ever elude you. With wisdom, it may take longer, but you will get it in the end, and it will be eternally sweet to your soul. The desire that is fulfilled is one that has no taste for evil, but rathe is a desire for good and that hunger and thirst for righteousness will be satisfied. The fool however has no taste for good - to him good is an abomination (repugnant, regurgitate) ... but he never gets to taste anything of satisfaction, anything sweet. His will forever be a sour, unsatisfied existence. Abomination for God often refers to the mixing of the profane with the holy; and that is ironically what is in view here as the fool has a holy longing that he has perverted and he tries to fill with profane things. The place of God in his heart, that God shaped/sized hole is replete with idols of the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life. The righteous are encouraged in their desire for good. CS Lewis' sermon "The weight of glory" - God's promise of reward in the gospel is so profound. We go fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us - like a child who goes on making mudpies in the slums because he cannot imagine what is offered by a holiday at the sea. God finds our desires not too strong but too weak." It's not that God doesn't want you to desire - He made you to desire. It's rather that you would believe and trust in Him as He guides you to the ultimate fulfillment of that desire. U2 "I still haven't found what I'm looking for." Wisdom hears God say that He will fulfill our desire - the fear of the Lord is the teaching of the wise that becomes to us the fountain of life and keeps us from the snares of death. What can we be tempted by when we know the truth about what truly fulfills us and what just dangles the carrot all the way off the cliff? Augustine: "Thou hast made us for thyself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it finds its rest in thee." "The difference between the appetites and fates of the wise and the fool is as great as the gulf fixed between heaven and hell" How are we converted?? How is the great gulf bridged? Listen to the prophet Isaiah speak of the Messiah fulfilling this teaching of true wisdom: Isaiah 53:11 - "Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities." This is conversion: To awaken to desire, to awaken to the true satisfaction of our hearts, our will, our desires, our hearts change, the beauty of Christ is unveiled to us. This is the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit which is as miraculous in its nature (or moreso) as resurrection from physical death. This is what it is to be a new creation in Christ. The old has passed away, behold the new has come. And, it comes by learning, by humbling ourselves to Him and His Word and His way of salvation through Christ's atoning work on the cross, paying the penalty for fools to become wise. Remember as we enter the Christmas Season: Jesus is our hope fulfilled. It is Him we longed for. He came. And, now, we long for His return. Come Thou Long Expected Jesus.