Wisdom Literature- Depending Of God Series

INTRODUCTION

• SLIDE #1

• Today we continue with our series, Binge Reading the Bible.

• This series focuses on how God reveals his will and desires for mankind through each specific section of the Bible.

• Each genre, including the Pentateuch, Historical Books, Wisdom Literature, the Prophets, the Gospels, the Epistles, and Apocalyptic Literature, provides a unique and special way God has communicated throughout history and helps us understand the Bible as a whole.

• The genre we will examine today is Wisdom Literature.

• Through this genre, God reveals his wisdom to humanity through a variety of creative forms, so we can make decisions in a way that pleases him.

• The issue of wisdom is essential for us because we talk a lot about knowing God's will for our life, but then comes the difficult task of knowing how to apply His will to our life.

• Applying God's will in our life is where wisdom comes into play.

• Wisdom is defined as the quality or state of being wise; knowledge of what is true or right coupled with just judgment as to action.

• Wisdom is more profound than knowledge; it also includes being able to apply that knowledge.

• The five Wisdom books of the Bible are Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Solomon.

• These books are also known as poetic literature and highlight the spiritual and practical insights of God’s people throughout history.

• These books include prayers, songs, poetry, and wise sayings meant to teach the reader about how to live a life for God in a wise manner.

• Each book highlights a particular angle of wise living based on a particular theme.

• For instance, the book of Job highlights wisdom through the perspective of suffering, while Proverbs highlights wisdom through the perspective of day-to-day living.

• Today we are going to look at a passage that is one of my favorites, Proverbs 3:5-6.

• Many places within this section of the Bible explicitly teaches on the subject of what it means to attain wisdom.

• For instance, Proverbs 9:10 states, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.”

• Here we see that the most crucial trait to have when seeking wisdom in your daily life is the fear of the Lord.

• To fear the Lord is not to be afraid of him, but to show reverence for him due to a proper understanding of how great he is.

• Those who fear God understand his capabilities. However, when it comes to summarizing these five books, Proverbs 3:5–6 states the central theme.

• This passage we will dig into today is simple, yet it may be one of the most challenging passages for one to integrate into one’s life IF we do not understand the core principles the passage requires us to grasp.

• Let’s turn to Proverbs 3:5-6 together.

• SLIDE #2

• Proverbs 3:5–6 (CSB) — 5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways know him, and he will make your paths straight.

• SLIDE #3

SERMON

I. The path that leads to trusting God.

• When you take a glance at this verse, it sounds so clean, so easy, so simple.

• Proverbs 3:5–6 (CSB) — 5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways know him, and he will make your paths straight.

• Proverbs 3:5-6 is one of the passages I memorized years ago as a core passage to my faith.

• While I was memorizing the passage, I really never thought about the depth of the passage.

• I did not dwell on the depth of the commitment that the passage asks of me.

•

• In my view, the lynchpin of the passage is found in the first phrase: Trust in the LORD with all your heart…

• Doesn’t that phrase sound so simple? Does it bring comfort?

• Well, there is the command, let's follow it, and we will receive a great blessing! ?

• The phrase trust in the Lord (16:20; 22:17–19; 28:25; 29:25), and its close associate fear the Lord, is the fundamental definition of wisdom in Proverbs.

• SLIDE #4

• Proverbs 1:7 (CSB) — 7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and discipline.

• Of course, fear is a reference to respect, not scared to death.

• Trusting God as the goal or object means to regard him as the source of wisdom and power in all things and therefore, worthy of your entire confidence.

• The act of trusting is sometimes expressed figuratively as “putting your heart in the hands of” or “laying your liver on someone.” (USB Handbook: Proverbs)