Wisdom | Proverbs 04
“The Christian ideal has not been tried and found wanting. It has been found difficult; and left untried.” GK Chesterton
“Hear my sons/children…”
- The way of wisdom moves beyond Solomon’s son to his children.
“Give attention to know understanding…”
“Do not forsake my law…”
- A Good Father has confidence in his instructions.
“When I was my father’s son…”
- He points back to instruction and guidance that his father (David) gave him.
- I think a lot about the lessons my dad taught me growing up that I want to instill in my children.
- By recalling our upbringing, we identify with the present struggle(s) that our kids go through.
- Are we preparing our kids for the real world?
o My daughter being called names / hurt feelings.
o Teaching her about persecution which can
? Solidify her faith.
? Abandon her faith.
“Let your heart retain my words…”
- Be humble and be receptive!
- Don’t let wisdom fall on deaf ears.
“Keep my commandments and live…”
- The importance of wisdom and instruction.
- Obedience can be reflected in life or death.
“Get wisdom”
- Pursue wisdom, value wisdom, desire wisdom.
- The Hebrew term is to purchase wisdom (and you purchase wisdom by obeying truth)
“Do not forsake her…”
- The idea behind using feminine language to reflect protection and safety.
- Our call is thus to treat wisdom like a wife (love, embrace, value and honor her).
“Exalt her and she will promote you…”
- This is the benefit of wisdom = loving and pursuing wisdom is rewarded!
“I have taught you in the way of wisdom…”
- This should be the desire of parents – to teach their children!
- Too often, we let others teach (schools and churches) when the reality is that it is OUR CALL, OUR POSITION, OUR JOY to do so!
Q: Why do you think Solomon has begun every chapter with a reminder to pay attention to wisdom and law?
- We easily forget.
- We resist wisdom, instruction, law (it goes against our flesh).
- Deuteronomy 6:4-9 = Know God’s Word and Teach God’s Word!
“Do not enter the path of the wicked…”
- Wisdom never wants you to enter the paths of the wicked.
- Commentator Ross: “Don’t take the first step, for you may not be the master of your destiny thereafter.”
- Don’t associate with those whose lives are sinful. Don’t accompany them.
o Remember that the temptation they offer is “Come with us” to belong to something.
“For they do not sleep unless…”
Q: What have you exchanged to get your own satisfaction, your fill?
- This is the reason they should be avoided.
- They are committed to their own sin.
- They will sacrifice their own health (sleep, dignity, freedom and money) to commit evil.
- Sin becomes their food and break = that is what our addictions become.
“The way of the wicked is like darkness…”
- The chief strategy that Satan uses is to hide what you are doing and the consequences for your actions.
“For they (teachings / instructions) are life to those who find them and health to all their flesh…”
- Solomon returns to his previous instructions to his son – to remember wisdom, teaching, instruction.
- Lots of Bibles are left behind in this program.
- Bridges: “A neglected Bible is the melancholy proof of a heart that is alienated from God. For how can we have a spark of love for him if that Book that is full of his revealed glory is despised?”
- The Word of God is intolerant of sin
o This goes against our flesh, our pride.
o Repentance is a decision and determination.
“Keep your heart with all diligence…”
- Our hearts are where we change.
- If we change anywhere else, it is behavior modification and we will return to our previous patterns of life.
- Diligence implies that guarding / protecting our heart is not easy and there will be many opportunities for us to give our heart / our attention to someone or something else that wisdom warns against.
- The temptation to sin is to belong (come with us) and that is offers a life of fun, excitement, happiness, fulfillment and that is not true!
“Put away from you a deceitful mouth…”
- To stay on the path of the just, you must pay attention to what you and others speak.
“Let your eyes look straight ahead…”
- Watch for distractions; those lead us off the path of wisdom.
“Ponder the path of your feet…”
- Think about where you are doing.
