The Way of Wisdom

• 1^st – Way of Wisdom … vs. 1-18
  • 1^st – The Invitation… vs. 1-6
    • The House… vs. 1
      • Wisdom has built her house – she has hewn out her seven pillars!
      • Solomon continued to describe WISDOM [plural] as a woman…
      • A woman who built [perfect] her house on SEVEN pillars [foundation]
      • We are given the list of what those PILLARS are in the book of James!
      • James 3:7 – “The WISDOM that is from above is first pure – then peaceable – gentle – willing to yield – full of mercy and good fruits – without partiality and without hypocrisy.”
      • PURE [ἁγνός] – HOLY – this WISDOM is NOT from men but from God…
      • PEACEABLE – this WISDOM brings us PEACE [εἰρήνη] with God – John 14:27
      • GENTLE – this WISDOM is not harsh – it is PATIENT for us to learn…
      • YIELD [submit] – this WISDOM teaches us to put our TRUST in the LORD…
      • MERCY – this WISDOM gives us GRACE – causing us to have LOTS of FRUIT – Galatians 5:22
      • No PARTIALITY – this WISDOM is available to EVERYONE – Romans 2:11
      • No HYPOCRISY – this WISDOM is the TRUTH [ultimately describing Jesus]!
    • The Meal… vs. 2
      • She has slaughtered her meat. She has mixed her wine. She has also furnished her table.
      • She has sent out her maidens. She cries out from the highest places of the city.
      • Whoever is simple let him turn in here! As for him who lacks understanding – she says to him:
      • Come! Eat of my bread and drink of the wine I have mixed.
      • WISDOM prepared a FEAST at her HOUSE – with meat and wine – the table was all SET…
      • All that was missing was the GUESTS – so the INVITATION was sent…
      • From the center of the CITY [highest place] – the CALL went out…
      • WHOEVER needs HELP [fool] – and WANTS [jussive] a new HEART [לֵב]
      • COME [imperative] eat and drink from the FEAST [bread and wine]!
      • Just like the PARABLE of a WEDDING feast – Matthew 22:1-10
      • God wants His HOUSE to be filled – and calls EVERYONE to come!
      • Matthew 22:9 – “Go into the highways – and as many as you find – invite to the wedding!”
      • Because God wants EVERYONE to be SAVED – II Peter 3:9
      • ALL are welcome to come and partake of the BREAD and WINE [communion] – Luke 22:19
      • But we have to RESPOND to the INVITATION…
      • God will not force anyone to be SAVED – He simply gives us ALL the choice!
    • The Choice… vs. 3-6
      • Forsake foolishness and live – and go in the way of understanding!
      • Responding to the INVITATION means we must [imperative] reject being FOOLISH…
      • FOOLISH – from the root word [פָּתָה] – meaning the WIDE [path]
      • Instead we need [imperative] to walk down the WAY of WISDOM [narrow] – Matthew 7:14
      • Usually when people have a wedding – they send out INVITES…
      • But just because someone responds – does not guarantee they will SHOW up…
      • The only way to be SURE to get in – is to come to the CELEBRATION!
      • If we want to ATTEND the MARRIAGE supper of the Lamb – Revelation 19:9
      • We need to respond to the INVITATION – and we also need to follow the narrow PATH…
      • Because choosing Jesus is done just with WORDS – it is seen in our WALK!
  • 2^nd – The Scoffer… vs. 7-8
    • He who corrects a scoffer gets shame for himself. 
    • He who rebukes a wicked man harms himself. Do not correct a scoffer – lest he hate you!
    • We WANT people to come to the FEAST of the LORD – walk the NARROW path…
    • But for a SCOFFER [mocks the truth] – there is NOT much we can do to help…
    • Because anyone who tries to CORRECT him – we only get MOCKED and ATTACKED [harmed]
    • Therefore – do NOT [jussive] rebuke a SCOFFER – he will only HATE you for your effort!
    • I was sitting at the coffee shop the other day – waiting for Hallel to get out of school…
    • I KNOW that sugar filled ice blended coffees are NOT good for me – but I WANTED one…
    • So I ordered it – and then Jen came and gave me a disapproving LOOK…
    • I was NOT happy – not that she was WRONG – I just did NOT want to hear it!
    • The reason why we cannot correct a SCOFFER – is they do NOT want to be helped…
    • They KNOW their choice is WRONG – but they WANT their SIN – John 3:19
    • And until they are BROKEN – there is NOTHING we can do to CHANGE their mind!
  • 3^rd – The Wise man… vs. 8-12
    • Rebuke… vs. 8-9
      • Rebuke a wise man – and he will love you. 
      • Give instruction to the wise and he will be wiser. Teach the just – he will increase in learning!
      • In CONTRAST – if we CORRECT [imperative] a wise man – he will LOVE us…
      • Because when we CORRECT the WISE man – it makes him WISER…
      • We show [יָדַע] him how to be RIGHTEOUS [צַדִּיק] – so he can GROW [hiphil] in the LORD!
      • The FIRST step to overcoming any SIN – is admitting we need HELP…
      • Thought it HURTS to hear the TRUTH – we are NOT good – Psalm 14:1
      • Until a person is willing to admit the PROBLEM – they are not open to the SOLUTION!
    • Teach… vs. 10-11
      • Fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom – knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
      • For by me your days will be multiplied – and years of life will be added to you!
      • The FIRST [beginning] thing we need to KNOW – is we should FEAR the LORD [יְהוָה]
      • We need to UNDERSTAND – that He is HOLY [קְדֹשׁ] – and we are NOT…
      • If we do – then we will cry out for GRACE – and have [hiphil] a eternal [long] life!
      • There are over a HUNDRED different shades of WHITE…
      • It is easy to MISTAKE one of those SHADES for being true WHITE…
      • That is until you compare it to the REAL thing – then it becomes obvious!
      • People think they are GOOD – because they do NOT compare themselves to the REAL thing…
      • They look at people around them – and think since they are BETTER – they are GOOD…
      • But the STANDARD for being GOOD – is to be like God – Matthew 5:48
      • And compared to Him – NONE of us are PURE – Isaiah 64:6
      • Knowing that causes us to run to Jesus for the GRACE to make us WHITE!
      • Isaiah 1:18 – “Though your sins are like scarlet – they shall be as white as snow.”
    • Contrast… vs. 12
      • If you are wise you are wise for yourself – and if you scoff you will bear it alone!
      • For those who are WISE – who SEE their need for God…
      • They will be receive from God WISDOM [Jesus] – who will bear our SIN – I Corinthians 1:24
      • But those who MOCK – reject God – will be left to bear their SIN alone!
      • We will all have to one day stand before the Great White Throne – Revelation 20:13
      • But for those who are WISE – they will NOT have to answer for their SINS…
      • Because Jesus bore their SINS for them – and NAILED them to the CROSS!
      • Colossians 2:14 – “He canceled the charges against us… by nailing [them] to the cross.” [NLT]
  • 4^th – The Fool… vs. 13-18
    • Call of sin… vs. 13-15
      • A foolish woman is clamorous. She is simple and knows nothing.
      • For she sits at the door of her house – on a seat by the highest places of the city.
      • To call to those who pass by – who go straight on their way!
      • The FOOL – from the verb [כָּסַל] – to have NO common sense…
      • Is like WOMAN who knows NOTHING – but is always TALKING…
      • She sits at the DOOR – calling out to ALL who walk [piel] the NARROW path – Matthew 7:14
      • It is not enough to REJECT the WISDOM of God – NOT believe in Jesus…
      • The FOOL wants to convince others to follow them in their FOOLISH choice…
      • They try and get those who DO believe – to SIN with them!
      • Romans 1:32 – “They encourage others to [sin] too!” [NLT]
    • The Lie…  vs. 16-17
      • Whoever is simple let him turn in here. As for him who lacks understanding she says to him:
      • Stolen water is sweet – and bread eaten in secret is pleasant!
      • ONLY the NAÏVE will listen [turn] to what the FOOL says…
      • Because the FOOL does NOT have [lacks] a new HEART [לֵב]
      • That is why they think that FORBIDDEN sin [water – bread] is sweet and pleasant!
      • The world is always trying to convince us that God got it wrong…
      • All those things the LORD tells us we are NOT allowed to do – are the BEST things…
      • As if God is a like a mean Dad – who just wants to keep us from having FUN!
    • Death… vs. 18
      • He does not know that the dead are there – that her guests are in the depths of hell!
      • What the FOOL who encourages others to SIN does not SEE [יָדַע]
      • Is that the path they are going down leads to DEATH – and HELL [שְׁאוֹל]
      • God does NOT tell us to stay away from SIN because to keep us from having FUN…
      • He tells us because He knows that in the end – that kind of life brings DEATH…
      • The LORD is trying to keep us from the things that would HARM us…
      • The WAY of WISDOM is to realize – this world has nothing to offer us – we want Jesus! 

• 2^nd – Wise Sayings… vs. 1-32
  • The Proverbs… vs. 1
    • The proverbs of Solomon:
      • Proverbs 1-9 – was an introduction to the WISDOM of God…
      • Proverbs 10:1 – 22:16 – is the SECOND section of the book…
      • A collection of sayings – laid out as individual truths [verses]
      • Often the statements are NOT connected – there is not much context or organization…
      • So we will look at and interpret each PROVERB individually!
    • Hebrew Poetry…
      • Proverbs s a book of Hebrew POETRY – which does not rhyme WORDS but IDEAS…
      • We will see a lot of this style of RHYMING as we come into the SECOND section…
      • Proverbs that will COMPARE or CONTRAST ideas – BUT [וּ] is used 244x in the book [NKJV]
      • Proverbs that will COMPARE ideas – LIKE or AS [כָּ] – are used 105x in the book [NKJV]
      • Proverbs that will BUILD on ideas – AND [וּ] is used 488x in the book [NKJV]!
      • NOTE – the word AND as well as BUT – are the same word in Hebrew [וּ]
      • The only way to know which to use is by the CONTEXT of the verse!
  • 1^st – Wise Son… vs. 1
    • A wise son makes a glad father – BUT a foolish son is the grief of his mother!
    • If a CHILD is WISE – choses to walk the NARROW path – it brings JOY [piel] to their FATHER…
    • But if a CHILD is a FOOL – it is HEAVY on the heart of their MOTHER!
    • III John 1:4 – “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.”
    • It is true that DADS are proud when their kids make GOOD [wise] choices…
    • And it is often the MOMS who have to carry [heavy] their KIDS when they FAIL…
    • But DADS – we need to remember we are the ones called to TRAIN our kids – Ephesians 6:4
    • Godly KIDS do not happen by ACCIDENT – they are the result of a LOVING father!
  • 2^nd – Wise Treasure… vs. 2-5
    • Righteousness… vs. 2
      • Treasures of wickedness profit nothing – BUT righteousness delivers from death!
      • All of the MONEY in the world cannot SAVE us in the END…
      • The ONLY thing that will save us from DEATH – is the RIGHTEOUSNESS [צַדִּיק] of God!
      • People CHASE after MONEY their whole lives – never stopping to ask WHY…
      • What good will their MONEY do when they stand before God!
      • Mark 8:36 – “What will it profit a man if he gains the whole world – and loses his own soul.”
    • Provision… vs. 3
      • LORD will not allow the righteous soul to famish – BUT casts away the desire of the wicked!
      • God will NOT allow those who are RIGHTEOUS [צַדִּיק] to go HUNGRY…
      • But He will IGNORE [imperfect] the prayers [desire] of the WICKED!
      • The world CHASES after MONEY because they have no promise God will provide…
      • But we do NOT need to WORRY – God will take care of all our NEEDS!
      • Luke 12:31 – “Seek first the kingdom of God… and all these things shall be added to you.”
    • Diligent work… vs. 4-5
      • He who has a slack hand becomes poor – BUT the hand of the diligent makes rich!
      • He who gathers in summer is a wise son. He who sleeps in harvest causes shame!
      • A man makes [עָשָׂה] himself POOR – because he refuses to WORK…
      • A man makes [עָשָׂה] himself RICH – because he never stops WORKING…
      • The SON who WORKS during the summer [when others take a break] – is WISE…
      • The SON who does not WORK during the harvest [required work] – is SHAME!
        
      • God promises to provide for us – give us food to eat – Matthew 6:26
      • God can – and does at times – miraculously provide for our needs [manna from heaven]
      • But that does not mean we get to sit down and wait for the feast to arrive…
      • The most common way God provides – is we WORK to put food on the table…
      • We are NOT to be a burden to others – we are to be accountable for our own needs!
      • II Thessalonians 3:10 – “If anyone will not work – neither shall he eat.”
  • 3^rd – Wise Man… vs. 6-7
    • Blessings are on the head of the righteous – BUT violence covers the mouth of the wicked.
    • The memory of the righteous is blessed – BUT the name of the wicked will rot!
    • God BLESSES every THOUGHT [head] of the RIGHTEOUS [צַדִּיק] man…
    • As a RESULT – people will always REMEMBER the RIGHTEOUS [צַדִּיק] man…
    • But the WICKED man uses his words [mouth] – to try and HIDE his destroyed [חָמָס] life…
    • And even the NAME of the WICKED will disappear [rot]!
    • Having a BLESSED life is not about what we DO – it is about who we KNOW…
    • Because when we KNOW the LORD – He will make everything we do PROSPER!
    • Psalm 1:3 – “Whatever he does shall prosper.”
  • 4^th – Wise Walk… vs. 8-10
    • The wise in heart will receive commands – BUT a prating fool will fall.
    • He who walks with integrity walks securely – BUT he who perverts his ways will become known.
    • He who winks with the eye causes trouble – BUT a bold rebuke promotes peace [NLT]!
    • Wise man…
      • The man with a WISE heart [לֵב] – LISTENS to the WORD [commands] of God…
      • He will WALK on the NARROW [integrity] way – and will be SAFE!
    • Foolish man…
      • But the FOOL [אֱוִיל] – LISTENS to his own words and therefore FALLS down…
      • He WALKS down the WIDE [perverted] path – and EVERYONE will SEE [יָדַע] his folly…
      • He WINKS at SIN – as it is NOT a big deal – NOT dangerous…
      • Which is why the FOOL should be REBUKED – so he can have PEACE [from LXX]!
      • There is a WAR inside of all of us – between our FLESH and our SPIRIT…
      • They BATTLE to control our MIND – dictating how we live our lives – Galatians 5:17
      • The FOOL listens to his FLESH – WALKING according to his own ideas…
      • But the WISE man listens to the WORD of the LORD – WALKING in the SPIRIT!
  • 5^th – Wise Message… vs. 11-14
    • The mouth of the righteous is a well of life – BUT violence covers the mouth of the wicked.
    • Hatred stirs up strife – BUT love covers all sins.
    • Wisdom is found on the lips of him who has understanding.
    • BUT a rod is for the back of him who is devoid of understanding.
    • Wise people store up knowledge – BUT the mouth of the foolish is near destruction!
    • Wise man…
      • The WORDS [mouth] of the RIGHTEOUS [צַדִּיק] – refresh [well] those who listen to him…
      • He SPEAKS the words of LOVE [Jesus] – who takes away ALL [כָּל] of our SIN…
      • His KNOWLEDGE [of Jesus] brings [niphal] WISDOM to those who listen…
      • And those who are WISE – will TREASURE what   SAYS [knowledge]!
    • Foolish man…
      • But the WORDS [mouth] of the WICKED – are only used to HIDE their destroyed [חָמָס] lives…
      • They are full of BITTERNESS [hatred] – and can only bring DIVISION…
      • They have NO heart [לֵב] – therefore they need to be BROKEN [rod]
      • Because their WORDS have the potential to DESTROY others as well!
      • We are going to give one of TWO messages to the world…
      • We can try and HIDE our SIN – and spread a MESSAGE that brings BITTERNESS [hatred]
      • Or we can give ADMIT we are NOT good – so we see we NEED help…
      • Then we can share the MESSAGE of LOVE – Jesus who takes away our SIN!
  • 6^th – Wise Wealth… vs. 15-17
    • The rich mans wealth is his strong city. The destruction of the poor is their poverty.
    • The labor of the righteous leads to life. The wages of the wicked to sin.
    • He who keeps instruction is in the way of life – BUT he who refuses correction goes astray!
    • The RICH…
      • The STRENGTH [city] of a RICH man – is found in his WEALTH…
      • And the WORK of the RIGHTEOUS [צַדִּיק] – is seen in how they LIVE…
      • Because he LISTENS [keeps] to the instructions of the WAY to LIFE! 
    • The Poor…
      • But the RUIN of the POOR – is their lack of WEALTH [poverty]
      • And the FRUIT of the WICKED – is seen in their SIN…
      • Because they refuse to be CORRECTED – causing [hiphil] them to go the wrong way!
      • God knows how to get our attention – one of the best ways is MONEY…
      • When we have LOTS of MONEY – we tend to ignore God..
      • Therefore – God will allows our lives to be RUINED – no money…
      • The question is do we LISTEN – so we can find the WAY of life…
      • Or do we REFUSE to be corrected – and end up going the WRONG way!
  • 7^th – Wise Words… vs. 18-21
    • Whoever hides hatred has lying lips – AND whoever spreads slander is a fool.
    • In the multitude of words sin is not lacking – BUT he who restrains his lips is wise.
    • The tongue of the righteous is choice silver. The heart of the wicked is worth little.
    • The lips of the righteous feed many – BUT fools die for lack of wisdom!
    • Lying lips…
      • The person who hides their HATRED – makes them a LIAR…
      • It causes [hiphil] them to spread RUMORS about others – making them a FOOL…
      • But no matter how many WORDS they use – it will not take away their hatred [sin]
      • Making the HEART of the WICKED worth very little…
      • In fact their lack of HEART [לֵב] – is what is KILLING [imperfect] them!
      • When we are HURT – and do NOT forgive – it plants seeds of BITTERNESS in our heart…
      • We can try and HIDE it – but it will come out in what we SAY [gossip]
      • It will act like a POISON – that slowly kills our heart…
      • And the only SOLUTION – is to take it to the Lord and FORGIVE – Matthew 6:15 
    • Righteous lips…
      • The man who CLOSES his mouth [lips] – is WISE…
      • When he does use his WORDS [tongue] – they are VALUABLE [silver]
      • The WORDS of the RIGHTEOUS [צַדִּיק] are a blessing [feed] to MANY!
      • James 3:5 – “The tongue is a small thing – but what enormous damage it can do…”
      • We need to be aware of the weight of our WORDS – they are POWERFUL…
      • Wounds can heal over time – but WORDS leave scars that NEVER go away…
      • Better to think first about what we are going to say – the consequence of our words…
      • It is easy to say something – it is almost impossible to take our words back!
      • Ephesians 4:29 – “Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth – but what is good for necessary edification – that it may impart grace to the hearers.”
        
  • 8^th – Wise Lord…. vs. 22
    • The blessing of the LORD makes one rich – AND He adds no sorrow with it!
    • It is the BLESSING [בָּרַךְ] of the LORD that causes [hiphil] someone to be RICH…
    • But it is NOT the only way to get RICH – there is a WORLDLY way!
    • I Timothy 6:10 – “The love of money is a root of all kinds of evil – for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness – and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.”
    • People who seek MONEY – will STRAY [passive] from God…
    • As a result of their GREED [ὀρέγω] – to stretch for something that is out of reach…
    • They will be PIERCED through with MANY sorrows…
    • Because these people make MONEY their god – instead of Jesus – Matthew 6:24
    • But if we DESIRE Jesus – He will BLESS us – and there will be NO sorrow!
  • 9^th – Wise Dreams… vs. 23-24
    • To do evil is like [fun] to a fool – BUT a man of understanding has wisdom.
    • The fear of the wicked will come upon him – AND the desire of the righteous will be granted!
    • The Fool…
      • Planning EVIL is fun for those who are FOOLS…
      • But in the end – the NIGHTMARE [terror] of the WICKED will come true!
    • The Righteous…
      • WISDOM is given to the those who UNDERSTAND [they need Jesus]
      • And the DREAM [desire] of the RIGHTEOUS [צַדִּיק] will be given [imperfect] to him!
      • What a contrast – the worst thing a fool can think of – is what will happen to him…
      • Yet the best thing that that a Godly person can dream of – God will give to him!
  • 10^th – Wise Foundation… vs. 25
    • When the whirlwind passes the wicked is no more.
    • BUT the righteous has an everlasting foundation!
    • When the STORM comes – the WICKED are wiped [אִין] out…
    • But it does NOT move the RIGHTEOUS [צַדִּיק] – because they are on an IMMOVABLE foundation!
    • Matthew 7:25 – “[He] did not fall – for [he] was founded on the rock.”
    • EVERYONE will have to go through STORMS in life – TOUGH times…
    • The question of whether or not we make it through – depends on our FOUNDATION…
    • I love that powerful New Testament truths – are first found in the Old Testament!
  • 11^th – Wise Help… vs. 26
    • As vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes – SO is the lazy man to those who send him!
    • VINEGAR – is very acidic – and can irritate sensitive teeth…
    • SMOKE – is always very irritating when it blows into our eyes…
    • In the same way – the LAZY man is irritating to the person who hires him!
    • Jesus gave a parable of TWO brothers – both were asked to WORK – Matthew 21:28-31
    • One said YES but did NOT go – the other said NO but went and did the work!
    • Good HELP is not the person who says they will do the WORK…
    • The person who is faithful to do the WORK – are a blessing!
  • 12^th – Wise Hope… vs. 27-28
    • The fear of the LORD prolongs days – BUT the years of the wicked will be shortened.
    • The hope of the righteous will be gladness – BUT the expectation of the wicked will perish!
    • The Righteous…
      • Those who FEAR the LORD – will add [hiphil] DAYS to their LIFE…
      • And the HOPE [יָחַל] of the RIGHTEOUS [צַדִּיק] – will be given to them [gladly]!
    • The Wicked…
      • But the YEARS of the WICKED – will be very SHORT…
      • And the HOPE [קָוָה] of the WICKED – will die with them!
      • Hebrews 11:1 – “Faith is the substance of things HOPED for- the evidence of things not seen.”
      • HOPE – carries the idea of expectation – what we EXPECT to happen…
      • The WICKED hope for a GOOD life – but LIFE is very short…
      • The WICKED hope they will not be JUDGED – but that hope will die with them…
      • The Godly hope for HEAVEN – and will be given everlasting LIFE…
      • The Godly hope for FORGIVENESS – and it will be given to them GLADLY!
  • 13^th – Wise Life… vs. 29-30
    • Way of the LORD is strength for the upright.
    • BUT destruction will come to the workers of iniquity.
    • The righteous will never be removed – BUT the wicked will not inhabit the earth!
    • The Righteous…
      • The LORD will give STRENGTH to those who look to the END [תָּמַם]
      • And the RIGHTEOUS [צַדִּיק] will NEVER be shaken!
    • The Wicked…
      • But the WICKED will come to an END – they will be destroyed…
      • God will NOT let them ABIDE on the EARTH!
      • People tend to live without an ETERNAL perspective…
      • They look at TODAY – and never think about what will happen in the END…
      • But it only those who LIVE for HEAVEN – will have a GOOD life here on EARTH!
  • 14^th – Wise Truth… vs. 31-32
    • The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom – BUT the perverse tongue will be cut out.
    • Lips of the righteous know what is acceptable – BUT the mouth of the wicked is perverse!
    • The Righteous…
      • The WORDS [mouth] of the RIGHTEOUS [צַדִּיק] bear the FRUIT of WISDOM…
      • And the WORDS of the RIGHTEOUS [צַדִּיק] – KNOW [יָדַע] what is the TRUTH!
    • The Wicked…
      • But the TONGUE [words] of the WICKED – will be cut off [not last]
      • Because the WORDS [mouth] of the WICKED are not the TRUTH [perverse]!
      • The world has sold a LIE – go to SCHOOL for TWENTY years – to get a good JOB…
      • So we can make a lot of MONEY – buy a nice HOUSE – then RETIRE – and DIE…
      • The whole purpose of this LIE is to keep us busy – till we have no TIME left…
      • Because the TRUTH life has only one purpose – to CHOSE where will we spend ETERNITY…
      • And the WISDOM is to live our lives with HEAVEN as the goal!