The Theology of the Proverbs October 24, 21
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Introduction
Introduction
Good morning having looked through proverbs chapters one through 9 we see certain themes in those chapters. Proverbs chapters 10 through 30 enter the world of repetitive and well not thematically organized proverbs. So today we're going to tackle the discussion of what the proverbs actually teach us about God. What can we learn about the God of the Bible who put proverbs in the Bible? After this week we're going to walk thematically to see what the proverbs teach us about many areas of life. I expect this fall to be an exciting exploration of God's wisdom applied to many crucial areas of life.
The Uniqueness of the Proverbs
The Uniqueness of the Proverbs
First of all we need to understand that the proverbs are while they stand alone. Many cultures had their wisdom sayings but proverbs makes the point that true wisdom comes from God alone.
7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.
10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.
3 When a man’s folly brings his way to ruin, his heart rages against the Lord.
Isn't it true that failure causes us to Rage Against God? When we experienced the devastation of maybe our choices and the pains of our problems our response is to be angry at God sometimes. Proverbs makes the point that wisdom and folly are not just Ying N Yang. They're not just options for you and I to choose to either work the wise way or the foolish way and you could reap the natural results of that work it's not just a world with natural laws. We are men and women created in the very image of God. And proverbs helps us to see that we are always living in relationship with God. So part of living wisely an experiencing the success that wisdom gives is living in relationship with the God who made us.
And now since the proverbs were inspired by God he reveals many of his attributes through them.
God reveals his attributes through the scripture.
God reveals his attributes through the scripture.
The greatest need of every human is to have a relationship with the God who created him or her. Our greatest need is to know God. And yet many people view religion only in the Context of what will help them reach their goals. The goal of scripture is to get us to pursue God's goals as we live in relationship with him.
But here's the question
How in the world do you know God?
How in the world do you know God?
You get to know your friends by hanging out with them and talking and seeing them. You get to know your spouse dating him or her. You get to know more about Terre Haute by experiencing more places in town and discovering new restaurants or businesses.
Well the downside is God is so big that you and I will never fully comprehend him. Nothing can compare with him.
18 To whom then will you liken God, or what likeness compare with him?
But the upside is that God has chosen to reveal himself both through creation and through his word.
5 Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.
God is so big that each of us will never comprehend him. In fact we will likely spend a lifetime pursuing the knowledge of God and never come close to fully knowing him. But through the proverbs God reveals parts of his character and nature for us to see.
First of all let's take a look at God's omnipotence. God is all powerful.
The Omnipotence of God
The Omnipotence of God
God is the one who created everything!
God is the one who created everything!
19 The Lord by wisdom founded the earth; by understanding he established the heavens;
2 The rich and the poor meet together; the Lord is the Maker of them all.
12 The hearing ear and the seeing eye, the Lord has made them both.
31 Whoever oppresses a poor man insults his Maker, but he who is generous to the needy honors him.
This last reference humbles me. If indeed we believe that God has created everything then he has created everyone and if you or I ever insult or press someone else we are insulting God. If you or I think we are better than someone else then we are insulting the work that God has done. The creation God has made.
Secondly, the proverbs teaches that
God controls everything through his providence.
God controls everything through his providence.
God controls the world through His working.
One of the hopeful things the proverbs share to us is that we do not live in a world of chance but in a world where God is constantly working period and his plans work.
21 Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.
1 The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord; he turns it wherever he will.
4 The Lord has made everything for its purpose, even the wicked for the day of trouble.
33 The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord.
Proverbs doesn't invite us into a discussion of whether we have free will or everything is ordained by God. Proverbs doesn't mess around with these intellectual wrestlings that we have. Proverbs holds us tightly responsible for our actions and calls us to be men and wisdom of wisdom and not foolishness. But proverbs also reassures us that we serve an incredibly powerful God totally capable of working out his plans.
In light of God's Providence and power we should humble ourselves before gone
God’s Providence Calls us to Humility Before Him.
God’s Providence Calls us to Humility Before Him.
It's not just a matter of theological debate... God's Providence. Its something that should call us to be thankful. We don't have a God that just turned the universe loose but we have a God who's involved and in control and invested.
People want to think we are totally independent of God and in control of our own life. But proverbs invites us to humility.
5 Everyone who is arrogant in heart is an abomination to the Lord; be assured, he will not go unpunished.
Many proud men in the Bible and beyond tried to thwart God's plans and they suffered. Think of pharaoh, balock, herod, Hayman, and others. Think of men and women you know in your life who have in their arrogance rejected God's Providence and work
30 No wisdom, no understanding, no counsel can avail against the Lord.
18 Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.
And as I've said before the reality of God's Providence does not call us to laziness. Proverbs is quite clear that we are called to faithfulness. To work.
5 The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance, but everyone who is hasty comes only to poverty.
‘Expect great things from God. Attempt great things for God.”[1]—William Carey
‘Expect great things from God. Attempt great things for God.”[1]—William Carey
OK not only does proverbs teach us that God is all powerful proverbs also teaches us that God is all knowing. And the big theological word for this is omniscience
God’s Omniscience
God’s Omniscience
Omni science all science he knows everything. As opposed to Ryan van havlin. Ryan is a very smart guy. But he reminds me often that his advanced degree means he knows a whole lot about very little. A whole lot about a very tiny area of science. God knows everything about every area of science and beyond.
God's is wise.
God's is wise.
The proverb writers realize the foolishness of men and women compared to God's wisdom.
2 Surely I am too stupid to be a man. I have not the understanding of a man.
3 I have not learned wisdom, nor have I knowledge of the Holy One.
4 Who has ascended to heaven and come down? Who has gathered the wind in his fists? Who has wrapped up the waters in a garment? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is his name, and what is his son’s name? Surely you know!
5 Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.
6 Do not add to his words, lest he rebuke you and you be found a liar.
God knows everything that happens
God knows everything that happens
Remember what Jesus said:
29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father.
30 But even the hairs of your head are all numbered.
God knows you
God knows you
3 The eyes of the Lord are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good.
11 Sheol and Abaddon lie open before the Lord; how much more the hearts of the children of man!
2 All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the spirit.
If God is all wise and he knows everything and he knows you then this calls you and I to be humble about what we think we know.
We may think that God and misses the wrongdoing of people we know but he doesn't he sees everything. And he will bring justice. We may think that we can get away with secret sins but our sins do find us out. God knows what makes us tick and he offers to give us wisdom to live our lives well.
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.
6 In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts!
24 And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!
The Justice of God
The Justice of God
I love that God's justice bleeds through virtually every proverb in this book. Proverbs cries out that God rules justly this world.
8 guarding the paths of justice and watching over the way of his saints.
16 The wage of the righteous leads to life, the gain of the wicked to sin.
Our current justice system has many flaws in it. I think any person would agree about that.
The wonderful thing about God's justice because he is all powerful and because he is all knowing is that God's justice is perfect.
God’s Perfect Justice
God’s Perfect Justice
12 If you say, “Behold, we did not know this,” does not he who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not he who keeps watch over your soul know it, and will he not repay man according to his work?
21 Be assured, an evil person will not go unpunished, but the offspring of the righteous will be delivered.
21 Disaster pursues sinners, but the righteous are rewarded with good.
And of course the end of the Bible promises that we can look forward to God's justice. The world will end with the justice of God.
How should we live contemplating the justice of God in the proverbs?
Living in light of God's justice.
Living in light of God's justice.
First of all don't ever think you can win against God. Sinning against God there will always be consequences. But you will never lose by doing God's will either.
23 The fear of the Lord leads to life, and whoever has it rests satisfied; he will not be visited by harm.
Secondly it's not our job to get even or to bring justice to those who have harmed us. Sometimes trusting in God means trusting that he will bring justice to a situation.
22 Do not say, “I will repay evil”; wait for the Lord, and he will deliver you.
That may be one of the hardest things you do. To trust in the justice of God.
But along with Christians around the world God calls us to trust in his name.
10 The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous man runs into it and is safe.
Finally as we wrap this up we must be amazed by God's grace even in the proverbs.
The Grace of God
The Grace of God
If God is all powerful and all knowing and totally just then I know there's plenty of times I should have been struck by a lightning bolt. But I'm still here.
Proverbs shows us that God is the holy one.
10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.
He is worthy of us living holy lives.
Proverbs shows us that wisdom calls us it calls to sinners to repent.
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.
But what's really cool is that proverbs actually talks of atonement as well.
6 By steadfast love and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for, and by the fear of the Lord one turns away from evil.
Atonement means sin getting paid for !
and this atonement revealed in part in the Old Testament is something that God brings to forth fresh and in the New Testament.
Conclusion
Conclusion
the proverbs revealed to us a God that is all powerful, nothing can stop him. He can pro bill his promises in your life. And in the lives of your loved ones. The proverbs show us that God knows everything. We can't pull one over on him. He knows your heart he knows you. The proverb shows that God is just and he will bring justice. Whether it's working to bring justice in your life or bring in justice at the end of time God is just and is working for justice.
But finally God is a God of grace and mercy. God calls us to turn to him in humility so that we might truly live.
And as with every part of the old testament proverbs points ahead to Jesus. You see, it's on the cross that the justice of God and the mercy of God collide. They come together to form an event that changes history. The all mighty, all knowing, totally just God shows his unbelievable mercy by sacrificing his son to save an undeserving world.
God is all knowing, all powerful, just, and full of grace and mercy. Will you trust him with all of your life today?
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[1] Jim Newheiser, Opening up Proverbs, Opening Up Commentary (Leominster: Day One Publications, 2008), 100.