Encouraging Works Of Godly Wisdom

ENCOURAGING WORKS Of GODLY WISDOM—Proverbs 3:13-26

Attention/Need:

Today is the 10th anniversary of the Attack on America 9/11/2001.

A series of four coordinated suicide attacks against civilian & federal govt. targets. 19 terrorists from the islamic militant group al-Qaeda are known to have been involved.

They hijacked 4 jets—2 of which they flew into New York’s Twin Towers....A third plane was flown into Arlington, VA’s Pentagon....A 4th was intentionally aimed at the Washington D.C.‘s White House? but was thwarted when passengers fought back causing it to crash into a field killing all aboard.

There were 2977 innocent victims of the unprovoked attacks:

246 on the 4 planes.

2606 in the Twin Towers.

At least 200 of these fell or jumped to their deaths.

125 at the Pentagon. 55 of these were military personnel.

The Holy Spirit thru Solomon, encouraged His people in the midst of disconcerting/perplexing/confusing/emotional/bewildering/disturbing/frightening circumstances.

God encourages His people in the midst of frightening/bewildering/disturbing circumstances.

How does God encourage His people in the midst of frightening/bewildering circumstances?

4 encouraging works of godly wisdom in frightening circumstances.

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“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom,

And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.”—Proverbs 9:10

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1— An encouraging work of godly wisdom is....

HAPPINESS(:13-18)

Explanation: (:13-18)

:13—“Happy is the man who finds wisdom, And the man who gains understanding;”

We can find blessing. How can one find true “happiness.”

Happiness/Blessing is found in 1) “Wisdom”. Wisdom is the right use of knowledge— God-honoring, Moral(godly), human dignifying, etc.

Happiness/Blessing is found in 2)“Understanding”. Understanding elucidates & qualifies “wisdom” as possession of God-honoring use of knowledge.

To “Find” & “Gain”—Requires active heartfelt search with the real thrust toward personal possession of wisdom & understanding.

Individuals can have this source of happiness/blessing.

“Happy/Blessed”—rva eh’-sher—1) Happiness, blessedness—1a) Often used as interjection;1b) Blessed are. Strong—Happiness; only in masculine plural construction as interjection, ‘How happy!’

“Man”—Mda aw-dawm’—Strong—Ruddy i.e. A human being (an individual or the species, mankind, etc.).

“Finds”—aum maw-tsaw’—V.—1) To find, attain to. Strong—a primitive root; properly, To come forth to, i.e. Appear or exist; transitively, To attain, i.e. Find or acquire; figuratively, To occur, meet or be present.

“Wisdom”(See :19)—hmkx khok-maw’—N. f.—1) Wisdom—1a) Skill (in war),1b) Wisdom (in administration), 1c) Shrewdness, wisdom, 1d) Wisdom, prudence (in religious affairs), 1e) Wisdom (ethical & religious). Strong—Wisdom (in a good sense).

“Gains”—qwp puwq—1) To bring out, furnish, promote, go out, issue. Strong—a primitive root [identical with 06328 through the idea of dropping out; compare 05312]; To issue, i.e. Furnish; causatively, To secure; figuratively, To succeed. Used 7X.

:14—“For her proceeds are better than the profits of silver, And her gain than fine gold.”

Who would not consider the acquisition of “silver” & “gold” to be worthwhile? They are acquired for the eventual benefit of the possessor.

“Wisdom” provides a “better” profit for the one who possesses it.

Wisdom’s “profit” is far greater than what is possibly had thru financial means. The assets of a superb stock portfolio is ruled miniscule by one’s portfolio built upon godly wisdom.

“Proceeds/Merchandise/Profit”2X—rxo sakh’-ar—1) Traffic, gain, profit, gain from merchandise. Strong—Profit (from trade). JFB—Acquisition by trading. Used 4X.

From—rxo saw-khar’; to travel round (specifically as a peddler); intensively, to palpitate.

“Better”—bwj towb—1) Adj.— Good, pleasant, agreeable; 2)N. m.— a good thing, benefit, welfare; 3)N.f.— Welfare, benefit, good things. Strong—Good (as an adjective) in the widest sense; used likewise as a noun, both in the masculine & the feminine, the singular & the plural (Good, a good or good thing, A good man or woman; The good, goods or good things, good men or women), also as an adverb (Well).

“Gain”—hawbt teb-oo-aw’—1) Produce, product, revenue. Strong—Income, i.e. Produce (literally or figuratively).

“Fine gold”—Uwrx khaw-roots’—1) Adj.— Sharp-pointed, sharp, diligent; 2)N. m.— Strict decision, decision; 3) Trench, moat, ditch; 4) Gold (poetical).

:15—“She is more precious than rubies, And all the things you may desire cannot compare with her.”

Godly wisdom is also a “precious” commodity. She/It is worthy of guarding/protecting. It has great value reaching beyond that of precious jewels.

Nothing we desire or can have is comparable with being able to possess godly “wisdom” & “understanding”.

“Precious”—rqy yaw-kawr’—1) Valuable, prized, weighty, precious, rare, splendid—1a) Precious—1a1) Costly, 1a2) Precious, highly valued, 1a3) Precious stones or jewels, 1b) Rare, 1c) Glorious, splendid, 1d) Weighty, influential. Strong—Valuable (obj. or subj.).

“Rubies/Jewels”—Nynp paw-neen’—1) A precious stone—1a) Perhaps corals, rubies, jewels. Strong—Probably a pearl (as round).

“Desire”—Upx khay’-fets—1) Delight, pleasure. Strong—Pleasure; hence (abstractly) Desire; concretely, A valuable thing; hence (by extension) A matter (as something in mind).

“Compare”—hwv shaw-vaw’—1) To agree with, be or become like, level, resemble. Strong—a primitive root; properly, To level, i.e. Equalize; figuratively, To resemble; by implication, To adjust (i.e. counterbalance, be suitable, compose, place, yield, etc.).

:16—“Length of days is in her right hand, In her left hand riches & honor.”