The Principles And Promises Of Wisdom Series

A. As you know, we are in a sermon series on the book of Proverbs called “God’s Wisdom: More Valuable Than Gold.”

1. So far in the series we have focused on how valuable God’s wisdom is and how the proper reverence and respect for God is the beginning of wisdom.

2. Last week, we talked about being wise in friendship which includes choosing our friends wisely and being a good friend to others.

3. Today, I want us to be impacted by the general principles and promises of wisdom.

B. We are in another election year and those of us who are old enough to have been through many elections know that politicians make many promises that they can’t keep.

1. Someone has said, “politicians wouldn’t promise the impossible, if people didn’t expect it.”

2. I like the story told of the African politician who visited a remote village and asked what their greatest needs were.

a. The village leader replied, “We have two basic needs, sir. Firstly, we have a hospital, but we have no doctor.”

b. On hearing this, politician took out his cellphone, made a call, and after speaking for a while he reassured the village leader that a doctor would be there the next day.

c. Then the politician asked about the second problem.

d. The village leader said, “Secondly sir, we need cellphone coverage in our village, for there is no cellphone coverage anywhere in this village.”

e. The politician had been caught because without reception no actual call had been made.

3. But in contrast to the promises of politicians and the promises of many others, God’s promises can always be counted on.

4. As we return to our study of the book of Proverbs and as we seek the wisdom of God, I want us to be assured that the principles and promises of God’s wisdom can be counted on.

5. Today, by looking at a number of verses from Proverbs, I hope that each of us will want to make every effort to get God’s wisdom and then put it into practice because of the promises that God’s wisdom offers.

6. Let’s explore these verses filled with the principles and promises of God’s wisdom.

C. In the first sermon from this series, we looked at Proverbs 2:1-5 where we see Solomon string together a number of contingent statements… “if you accept my words”… “if you call out for insight”… “if you search for it”… “then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God.”

1. I want us to pick up from there and see the promises that come from having and using God’s wisdom.

2. Solomon wrote: 6 For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. 7 He stores up success for the upright; He is a shield for those who live with integrity 8 so that he may guard the paths of justice and protect the way of his faithful followers. 9 Then you will understand righteousness, justice, and integrity—every good path. 10 For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will delight you. 11 Discretion will watch over you, and understanding will guard you. (Proverbs 2:6-11)

3. Which promises from these verses resonate with you especially?

a. How about the promise from verse 6? God gives wisdom, knowledge and understanding.

b. Or how about the promise of verse 7? God’s wisdom leads to success for the upright – although the type of success is not specified.

c. The main promise that jumps out to me the most because it is repeated so many times is the promise of protection.

1. God’s wisdom gives us a measure of protection.

2. As we walk in God’s wisdom with integrity, God’s wisdom is a shield for us.

3. Discretion will watch over us and understanding will guard us.

4. Doesn’t all that sound good to you? It certainly does to me.

a. I need wisdom’s shield and protection.

b. I need God’s wisdom to guard me – How about you?

D. Let’s see how Solomon proceeds to clarify the way God’s wisdom guards and protects us.

1. Solomon wrote: 12 It will rescue you from the way of evil—from anyone who says perverse things, 13 from those who abandon the right paths to walk in ways of darkness, 14 from those who enjoy doing evil and celebrate perversion, 15 whose paths are crooked, and whose ways are devious. (Proverbs 2:12-15)

2. The NIV renders verses 12 and 13: “Wisdom will save you from the ways of wicked men, from men whose words are perverse, who leave the straight paths to walk in dark ways.”

3. Last week we talked about choosing our friends wisely and avoiding people whose ways are evil.

4. God’s wisdom helps us to know what is right and wrong and who is right and wrong so that we can limit their influence on us.