Songs of the Heart: Wisdom

Types of Psalms

*** Images of Psalm Genres

Wisdom

Some time in Proverbs

*** NS: Neighbors

Proverbs 11:12 NRSV

Whoever belittles another lacks sense, but an intelligent person remains silent.

Proverbs 25:17 NRSV

Let your foot be seldom in your neighbor’s house, otherwise the neighbor will become weary of you and hate you.

*** NS: Work

Proverbs 10:4 NRSV

A slack hand causes poverty, but the hand of the diligent makes rich.

Proverbs 10:26 NRSV

Like vinegar to the teeth, and smoke to the eyes, so are the lazy to their employers.

*** NS: Listening to both sides of an argument

Proverbs 18:17 NRSV

The one who first states a case seems right, until the other comes and cross-examines.

*** NS: Fear of the Lord, who has placed truth into creation

Proverbs 15:33 NRSV

The fear of the Lord is instruction in wisdom, and humility goes before honor.

Proverbs 1:7 NRSV

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.

*** LBD Dfn of Wisdom

Practical skills

A way of life that leads to success

Practices to embrace or avoid

Rooted in a respect for the Lord, who created the world with wisdom “build in.”

Wisdom Psalms

*** Slide: 2 Paths

Emphasize two paths:

A path that leads to blessing

A path that leads to ruin.

Psalm 1:1–2 NRSV

Happy are those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or take the path that sinners tread, or sit in the seat of scoffers; but their delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law they meditate day and night.

Psalm 1:3 NRSV

They are like trees planted by streams of water, which yield their fruit in its season, and their leaves do not wither. In all that they do, they prosper.

Psalm 1:4–5 NRSV

The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;

Psalm 1:6 NRSV

for the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.

*** Image, two paths