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Introduction
- 1st – Introduction… vs. 1-7
- 1st – The Author… vs. 1
- Wisest man…
- The proverbs of Solomon the son of David – king of Israel!
- PROVERBS [מָשָׁל] – 39x in OT – means a PARABLE – or a wise SAYING…
- It usually refers to a short statement – or story – with a MORAL truth of SPIRITUAL lesson…
- The main author of these PROVERBS – is King Solomon [שְׁלֹמֹה] – the son of King David…
- Although he wrote over 3000 Proverbs – I Kings 4:32
- Only about 800 of those Proverbs made it into the Book…
- Solomon wrote the teachings of Proverbs 1-9 – and most of sayings of Proverbs 10-24
- King Hezekiah was the one to record to saying of Solomon – Proverbs 25-29
- And King Lemuel may be another name for Solomon – Proverbs 30-31
- Wisdom from God…
- When Solomon became King after David – he felt like a lost little child…
- He was being asked to rule a nation too numerous to count…
- So – he asked for wisdom – so he would be able to rule Israel well!
- I Kings 3:9 – “Give to Your servant an understanding heart to judge [שָׁפַט] Your people – that I may discern between good and evil.”
- The WISDOM of God is not the same thing as KNOWLEDGE we learn in the world…
- If you want KNOWLEDGE you go to school – and you will be taught…
- But even the best-educated people – often lack WISDOM in their lives…
- Because WISDOM is not learned – it is a gift of the Spirit – I Corinthians 12:8
- Wisdom in Action…
- Solomon was the WISEST man to ever live…
- But we do NOT know for sure if Solomon made it to heaven…
- The Law commanded kings to NOT add money – women – horses – Deuteronomy 17:16-17
- Solomon added all THREE – and they took his heart away from God – I Kings 11:4
- There is HOPE – the end of the book of Ecclesiastes says to FEAR God – Ecclesiastes 12:13
- But Solomon is notably MISSING in the Hall of Faith – Hebrews 11
- It is NOT enough to have the WISDOM of the LORD…
- We could memorize the whole Bible – have ALL knowledge…
- But if we are not putting it into practice – KNOWLEDGE cannot SAVE us!
- Matthew 7:24 – “Whoever hears these [proverbs] of Mine – and DOES them – I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock.”
- 2nd – The Purpose… vs. 2-4
- Know Wisdom…
- To know wisdom and instruction – to perceive the words of understanding.
- To receive the instruction of wisdom – Justice – judgment – and equity.
- To give prudence to the simple. To the young man knowledge and discretion!
- The purpose of the Book of Proverbs is so we KNOW [יָדַע] WISDOM [חָכְמָה]
- But WISDOM is not something that is EASY to learn…
- It takes DISCIPLINE [יָסַר] to cause us [hiphil] to THINK [בִּין] about TRUTH [knowledge]
- So we can receive WISDOM – about RIGHTEOUSNESS [צַדִּיק] – JUDGMENT – and EQUITY…
- EQUITY [מֵישָׁר] – meaning to be LEVEL [not above or below]
- So even the SIMPLE [unwise] and YOUNG [ignorant] – have KNOWLEDGE!
- The word EQUITY has been kidnapped by the world today…
- Example: THREE men are trying to look over a FENCE…
- Equality is all THREE men are given a BOX to help them see [the shortest still cannot]
- EQUITY is TWO boxes are given to the shortest – while NO box is given to the tallest!
- Wisdom does NOT say that we should take from those who HAVE and give to have NOTS…
- EQUITY in the Bible means we are already the SAME…
- None of us are RIGHTEOUS – and we all deserve to be JUDGED…
- Wisdom says we are ALL poor in SPIRIT – we ALL need Jesus – Matthew 5:3
- Two Kinds…
- It turns out there are TWO kinds of WISDOM – James 3:15-17
- There is WISDOM of this WORLD [below] – the KNOWLEDGE we learn from the world…
- There is WISDOM from God [above] – which can only come from Him!
- James 1:5 – “If any of you lacks wisdom – let him ask of God – who gives to all liberally and without reproach – and it will be given to him.”
- A lot of people today think they can SEARCH for WISDOM…
- One of the greatest inventions of the past 20 years has been Google search…
- Interesting side note – Google is named after the numerical notation GOOGOL…
- 10^100 – that is 10 with 100 zeroes after it – more than the atoms in the universe…
- The idea being if we have ANY question we can ask Google and get an answer!
- We might have the WISDOM of this world [below] – search for any answer…
- The problem is – most of the KNOWLEDGE we are given is EARTHLY…
- What we NEED is the WISDOM that comes from God [above]
- And the ONLY place for us to find that WISDOM – is in the WORD…
- The book of PROVERBS was given to us – so that we might have TRUE wisdom!
- Know Wisdom…
- 3rd– The Audience… vs. 5-6
- A wise man will hear and increase learning. A man of understanding will attain wise counsel.
- To understand a proverb and an enigma. The words of the wise and their riddles!
- A WISE man always [imperfect] is willing to LISTEN – and therefore [hiphil] he LEARNS…
- He UNDERSTANDS [niphal] – because he LISTENS to wise COUNSEL…
- Allowing him [hiphil] to interpret [בִּין] – the mysteries [riddles] of PROVERBS!
- If we think we have all the ANSWERS – we are ARRIVED…
- They we are NOT going to be open to LISTEN to what WISDOM has to say…
- This book is for those who realize we have a LOT left to LEARN…
- And if we are willing to HEAR the words God spoke through Solomon [words of wise]
- Then we will be able to UNDERSTAND the RIDDLE – MYSTERY [enigma] of the PROVERBS…
- Which in turn will open up to us the TRUTH about the MEANING of this life!
- 4th – The Key… vs. 7
- Fear the LORD…
- The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge and wisdom!
- WISDOM begins with the FEAR of the LORD – Psalm 111:10
- Those who KNOW they are SINNERS – KNOW they will be JUDGED – Hebrews 10:31
- But FEAR is where WISDOM begins – NOT where it ENDS…
- Those who come to the LORD in FEAR – will LEARN about His GRACE and LOVE…
- And in the end they will PRAISE the LORD – FOREVER!
- The Fool…
- But fools despise instruction!
- The FOOL [אֱוִיל] – one who MOCKS when he is GUILTY…
- He HATES it when he CORRECTED [instruction] because of his sin!
- Much of the world today MOCKS the Bible – because they do not FEAR the Lord…
- They do not fear the judgment seat – they do not fear the Lake of fire…
- But there are only two kinds of people when it comes to God…
- Wise sinners who FEAR the Lord and see their need for Jesus – and those who do not!
- Fear the LORD…
- 2nd – Avoid Evil… vs. 8-19
- 1st – Wise Parents… vs. 8-9
- My son – hear the instruction of your father – and do not forsake the law of your mother.
- For they will be a graceful ornament on your head – and chains about your neck!
- Solomon begins his PROVERBS by addressing his SON…
- He commanded [imperative] him to listen to DISCIPLINE [יָסַר]
- And he encouraged him [jussive] to NOT forget the LAW [תּוֹרָה] of his mother…
- Because – they would be a CROWN of GRACE [חָנַן] on his head!
- No doubt Solomon had a LOT of sons [he had 700 wives and 300 concubines] – I Kings 11:3
- But we are only given the name of ONE – Rehoboam – and he was a FOOL…
- Because rather than listen to the WISDOM of his parents – his listened to his friends!
- I Kings 12:8 – “He rejected the advice… given to him – and consulted the young men who had grown up with him.”
- There is a reason why we are commanded to OBEY our parents [in the Lord] – Ephesians 6:1
- They have a LOT more experience than we do – giving them WISDOM…
- In contrast – those who are our age – have the same LIMITED experience we do…
- We are WISE to listen to the ADVICE of those who are father down the road than we are!
- 2nd – Unwise Friends… vs. 10-14
- My son – if sinners entice you – do not consent.
- If they say – Come with us. Let us lie in wait to shed blood.
- Let us lurk secretly for the innocent without cause.
- Let us swallow them alive like Sheol – and whole – like those who go down to the Pit.
- We shall find all kinds of precious possessions. We shall fill our houses with spoil.
- Cast in your lot among us. Let us all have one purse!
- The FIRST thing Solomon tells his Son – please [jussive] do NOT follow sinners…
- Those who demand [imperative] his son come with them to HARM [blood] innocent people…
- Those who take pleasure [cohortative] in killing [שְׁאוֹל] others for personal GAIN…
- So they could steal their possessions – and fill their houses…
- If his son joined them – they would all SHARE [one purse] the spoils!
- When our friends want to go to a PARTY – or coworkers want to HANG out…
- It is easy to JUSTIFY – that we are NOT going to compromise our FAITH…
- But our CHOICE is not WHAT are we going to do – the CHOICE is WHO are we with!
- We must be careful NOT to go along with those who live in SIN…
- We must DIVORCE ourselves from the world – put space between us and their example…
- Because people will either draw you closer to – or father away from Jesus – I Corinthians 15:33
- 3rd – Choose Wisely…vs. 15-19
- My son – do not walk in the way with them. Keep your foot from their path.
- For their feet run to evil – and they make haste to shed blood.
- Surely – in vain the net is spread. In the sight of any bird.
- But they lie in wait for their own blood. They lurk secretly for their own lives.
- So are the ways of everyone who is greedy for gain. It takes away the life of its owners!
- Solomon pleaded [jussive] with his Son – do NOT go with them…
- Do NOT [imperative] even let your FOOT take a step down their evil PATH…
- A bird will NOT get caught in a NET that it can SEE…
- Yet these FOOLS run down a road that will cost them their SOULS [נֶפֶשׁ]
- This is the END of ALL [כָּל] who are GREEDY – they will lose their SOULS [נֶפֶשׁ]!
- Just because EVERYONE is doing something – does NOT make it right…
- There are a LOT [most] of people who are going to HELL – Matthew 7:13
- Which is why we need to be very CAREFUL who we chose to FOLLOW…
- The WISDOM is to look and see where are they GOING – where do they END up…
- Because if we are following them – we will end up in the SAME place!
- 1st – Wise Parents… vs. 8-9
- 3rd – Call of Wisdom… vs. 20-33
- 1st – Wisdom Speaks… vs. 20-21
- Wisdom calls aloud outside. She raises her voice in the open squares.
- She cries out in the chief concourses. At the openings of the gates in the city she speaks!
- Solomon describes WISDOM as a PERSON – a woman yelling to get our attention…
- She is NOT in universities – or government buildings – or rich neighborhoods…
- WISDOM cries out in the STREETS – full of people – for EVERYONE to hear!
- The common convention today is – if you want to be WISE then go to college…
- Yet more often than not today – universities are turning out fools…
- Because they do NOT teach the Bible – they deny there is TRUTH!
- Romans 1:22 – “Professing to be wise – they became fools.”
- The world makes things complicated – tries to hide the TRUTH…
- But God makes things SIMPLE – He makes WISDOM available to everyone!
- Luke 10:21 – “You have hidden these things from the wise… and revealed them to [children].”
- 2nd – Listen to Wisdom… vs. 22-25
- How long – you simple ones – will you love simplicity?
- For scorners delight in their scorning – and fools hate knowledge.
- Turn at my rebuke. Surely I will pour out my spirit on you. I will make my words known to you.
- Because I have called and you refused. I have stretched out my hand and no one regarded.
- Because you disdained all my counsel – and would have none of my rebuke!
- WISDOM asks a simple question – HOW long…
- Will the IGNORANT love ignorance – MOCKERS enjoy mocking – FOOLS hate understanding…
- If they would REPENT [שׁוּב] – WISDOM would pour out [hiphil] her SPIRIT [רוּחַ] on them…
- She would make [hiphil] them understand [יָדַע] the WORD [of God]
- But the problem was – when WISDOM calls – men REFUSED [אִין] to answer…
- They ignore ALL [כָּל] of her advice – and refuse to be CORRECTED!
- Isaiah 65:2 – “I have stretched out My hands all day long to a rebellious people.”
- God is ALWAYS trying to get people LISTEN to Him – REPENT of their SIN…
- If they would – He would fill them with His SPIRIT – open their eyes to His WORD…
- The problem is men LOVE their SIN – and therefore IGNORE the Lord – John 3:19
- 3rd – Limited time… vs. 26-28
- I also will laugh at your calamity. I will mock when your terror comes.
- When your terror comes like a storm – and your destruction comes like a whirlwind.
- When distress and anguish come upon you.
- Then they will call on me – but I will not answer.
- They will seek me diligently – but they will not find me!
- Because men MOCKED and LAUGHED at WISDOM when she called…
- WISDOM will LAUGH and MOCK when their life falls apart [calamity] – when TERROR comes…
- Like an unexpected STORM – like a TORNADO – their destruction will come…
- THEN – men will cry out to WISDOM – but she will NOT answer…
- THEN – men will search for WISDOM – but they will NOT find her!
- Noah warned men of the coming JUDGMENT – and they refused to REPENT – Luke 17:27
- God was PATIENT – giving them right up to the JUDGMENT [120 years] to LISTEN…
- But once the FLOOD came it was too LATE – God no longer listened to their cries!
- Genesis 6:3 – “My Spirit shall not strive with man forever.”
- God is very GRACIOUS – He gives us TIME [120 years] to REPENT – II Peter 3:9
- But that time is not UNLIMITED – today is the day to OBEY – II Corinthians 6:2
- Once the JUDGEMENT begins – in a day when we least expect [like a storm] – Matthew 7:27
- Then it is too LATE – we have missed our opportunity to be saved – Hebrews 9:27
- 4th – Two results… vs. 29-33
- Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the LORD.
- They would have none of my counsel and despised my every rebuke.
- Therefore they shall eat the fruit of their own way – be filled to the full with their own fancies.
- For the turning away of the simple will slay them – the complacency of fools will destroy them!
- But whoever listens to me will dwell safely – and will be secure – without fear of evil!
- INSTEAD – because [כִּי] they always [imperfect] hated knowledge [wisdom]
- And did NOT choose [perfect] to FEAR the LORD [יְהוָה]
- And REFUSED [perfect] to LISTEN to His advice – rejecting His CORRECTION…
- Therefore [וְ] – they will face [eat] the consequence [fruit] of their choice [path]
- The IGNORANT and FOOL will die because they TURNED away from WISDOM…
- BUT – those who LISTEN [participle] – will be SAFE and not be afraid of JUDGEMENT [evil]!
- Galatians 6:7 – “God is not mocked. For whatever a man sows – that he will also reap.”
- In the DAY when EVERYONE had to stand before the White Throne – Revelation 20:11
- Many will try and RUN away – but there will be no place for them to HIDE…
- Because there are only TWO possibilities on that DAY!
- Those who [ignorant and fool] REFUSED to walk in the FEAR of the LORD today…
- Will end eating the fruit of their CHOICE – and will be JUDGED by the LORD…
- But those who are LISTENERS [participle] – and FEAR the LORD today…
- Will not have to be AFRAID – because they know they are FORGIVEN!
- 1st – Wisdom Speaks… vs. 20-21
- 4th – Searching for Wisdom… vs. 1-22
- 1st – Deep Wisdom… vs. 1-5
- My son – if you receive my words – and treasure my commands within you.
- So that you incline your ear to wisdom – and apply your heart to understanding.
- Yes – if you cry out for discernment – and lift up your voice for understanding.
- If you seek her as silver – and search for her as for hidden treasures.
- Then you will understand the fear of the LORD – and find the knowledge of God!
- Solomon went on to tell his SON – to KEEP [imperfect] choosing WISDOM…
- Because if he chose to RECEIVE [imperfect] these words – KEEP [treasured] these commands…
- It would cause [hiphil] his son to LISTEN to WISDOM – and APPLY his heart to UNDERSTAND…
- Because if [כִּי אִם] his son called [imperfect] continually out for discernment [understanding]
- If his son intensely [piel] sought WISDOM – like SILVER [something of great value]
- THEN his son would find the FEAR of the LORD – and understand God!
- I have been blessed to serve as a pastor and study the Bible for over TWENTY years…
- In that time we have taught through SIXTY books of the Bible…
- But with each new study – I am reminded of how little I know!
- Because while the WISDOM of God is easy to receive – and available to all…
- That does not meant His WISDOM is SIMPLE – it in fact very DEEP…
- Therefore – the SEARCH for WISDOM is not something we do occasionally…
- It is a lifelong CHOICE – daily making the time to DIG [mine] into His Word…
- As we uncover His endless RICHES – as we get to KNOW our God!
- 2nd – Wisdom from God… vs. 5-9
- For the LORD gives wisdom. From His mouth come knowledge and understanding.
- He stores up sound wisdom for the upright. He is a shield to those who walk uprightly.
- He guards the paths of justice – and preserves the way of His saints.
- Then you will understand righteousness and justice – equity and every good path!
- Solomon used the picture to describe WISDOM of a women calling out in the streets…
- But now he gives the true source of WISDOM – it comes from the LORD [יְהוָה]
- Out of His mouth comes KNOWLEDGE and UNDERSTANDING…
- And He has LOTS of WISDOM to give to those who walk the STRAIGHT path…
- A path that He guards – and watches over as His saints who walk down it…
- A path that leads to – RIGHTEOUSNESS [צַדִּיק] – JUDGMENT – and EQUITY…
- So that we ALWAYS [כָּל] – have GOOD [טֽוֹב] tracks [מַעְגָּל] to follow!
- If a heavy truck goes down a muddy dirt road – it takes tracks…
- When the road dries – become the tracks other trucks must follow!
- How we chose to live our life – can easily become a HABIT…
- We get stuck in our RUTS – we end up following a ROUTINE…
- The WISDOM is to make set our TRACK – so that we follow the LORD…
- Make coming to the LORD part of our DAILY routine!
- Psalm 1:2 – “Blessed is the man… [whose] delight is in the law of the LORD – and in His law he meditates day and night.”
- 3rd – Protected by Wisdom… vs. 10-19
- Wisdom in the heart… vs. 10-11
- When wisdom enters your heart – and knowledge is pleasant to your soul.
- Discretion will preserve you. Understanding will keep you.
- The WISDOM of God protects us – KNOWING Him keeps us safe…
- WHEN – we allow that WISDOM into our HEART – when it is SWEET to our SOUL!
- If I had a PICTURE of a police officer over my door…
- And I said I KNEW he was an officer – and he COULD protect me…
- That would NOT be the same as having the police officer INSIDE my home!
- There are a LOT of people who talk about God – they know His name…
- They can tell you that He has the power to SAVE us from our sin…
- But that does NOT mean we are SAVED – He needs to be in our HEART and SOUL!
- From ungodly Men… vs. 12-15
- To deliver you from the way of evil – from the man who speaks perverse things.
- From those who leave the paths of uprightness to walk in the ways of darkness.
- Who rejoice in doing evil – and delight in the perversity of the wicked.
- Whose ways are crooked – and who are devious in their paths!
- If we have the WISDOM of the LORD in our hearts…
- Then [hiphil] God will snatch us from the EVIL path – men who speak PERVERSE things…
- Those who have abandoned the GODLY path – to walk in darkness…
- Those who ENJOY doing evil – and celebrate PERVERSE and WICKED things…
- Those whose ways are CROOKED – causing [niphal] them to leave the GOOD tracks [מַעְגָּל]!
- I was watching the news the other day – and was shocked at what I saw…
- A café in Manila that is hosting a DRAG [men dressed like women] brunch!
- We live in a world that celebrates PERVERSE and WICKED things…
- The common argument we hear – is people should be allowed to be HAPPY…
- But we word PERVERSE – comes from the word [הָפַךְ] – to overthrow…
- And the word WICKED [רַע] – is the contrast to being GOOD [morally]
- The INTENT of these MEN is to try and get us OFF the GOOD tracks [מַעְגָּל]
- They do so by overthrowing [הָפַךְ] the STANDARD God has set [wisdom]
- They want to make EVIL seem like it is GOOD – and make GOOD seem EVIL – Isaiah 5:20
- And the only way we will be able to stand against them – is with the WISDOM of God!
- From ungodly women… vs. 16-19
- To deliver you from the immoral woman. From the seductress who flatters with her words.
- Who forsakes the companion of her youth – and forgets the covenant of her God.
- For her house leads down to death – and her paths to the dead.
- None who go to her return. Nor do they regain the paths of life!
- If we have the WISDOM of the LORD in our hearts…
- Then [hiphil] God will snatch us from the STRANGE [זוּר] woman [not our wife]
- The women who left the husband of her youth – forgot her marriage vows before God…
- Because [going into] her house – her path – leads to DEATH…
- ALL [כָּל] who go in do NOT come back – they do NOT return to the path of LIFE!
- Sadly – this was the fate of the King Solomon…
- It was his lack of WISDOM – when it came to women – that destroyed him!
- I Kings 11:4 – “His wives turned his heart after other gods.”
- For those who are NOT married – be careful WHO you marry – II Corinthians 6:14
- An unbeliever will not have our love for Jesus – different priorities – inevitable problems…
- For those who are MARRIED – be careful WHO you spend time with…
- If we are investing our time with someone other than our spouse…
- And they are FLATTERING us – it can deceive our heart – Matthew 6:21
- Wisdom in the heart… vs. 10-11
- 4th – Blessing of Wisdom… vs. 20-22
- So you may walk in the way of goodness – and keep to the paths of righteousness.
- For the upright will dwell in the land – and the blameless will remain in it.
- But the wicked will be cut off from the earth – and the unfaithful will be uprooted from it!
- The WISDOM of God allows us to WALK the GOOD [טֽוֹב] and RIGHTEOUS [צַדִּיק] path…
- Because only the UPRIGHT get to live in the LAND – the FORGIVEN [blameless] will stay there…
- But the WICKED will be cut off [niphal] – pulled out of it!
- Everyone will make it to heaven – at least – to the white THRONE – Revelation 20:12
- But only those who walked the GOOD path – that makes the RIGHTEOUS – get to STAY…
- The WICKED will be JUDGED – and then cast into outer DARKNESS!
- If we want to have a BLESSED life – that ends in dwelling with God in HEAVEN…
- There is ONLY one way – we must come and learn the WISDOM of the LORD!
- 1st – Deep Wisdom… vs. 1-5
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