Hello! Since Pastor Alan finished our tour through the Gospel of John, he has now begun a wonderful series on the Book of Proverbs. To listen to the first message in this series, simply click play on the audio player below. Also included is the outline of the message with links to the verses referenced. Enjoy (I know I did)!
Wise Words for Living in a Wicked World
- Introduction
- It is absolutely necessary to gain wisdom.
- Other words for wisdom used in Proverbs: moral instruction, prudence, righteous living
- One way to gain wisdom is to absorb the Proverbs into our lives.
- The starting point of wisdom is the fear of the Lord. (Proverbs 1:7)
- Those who say there is no God are described as fools, wicked, and corrupt. (Psalm 10:4, Psalm 14:1)
- It is absolutely necessary to gain wisdom.
- Author of Proverbs
- Most, but not all of Proverbs, was written by Solomon (who asked God for wisdom – 1 Kings 3:4-28). He spoke 3,000 proverbs (1 Kings 4:32).
- The actual “proverbs” are found from Proverbs 10:1-22:16.
- Daily Proverbs
- The book of Proverbs is 31 chapters long. So, if you read one chapter a day, it makes for a great monthly Bible reading plan.
- What is a proverb?
- The Hebrew word is mashal and it essentially means a wise, short saying condensing wisdom into a brief form to aid memory.
- Sometimes the saying can be enigmatic (puzzling, like a riddle).
- Some of Pastor Alan’s favorites:
The Benefit of Proverbs (Proverbs 1:2-9, 2:1-8)
- To learn wisdom and moral instruction. (Proverbs 1:2a)
- Learn: experiential learning or skillful acting upon what one knows.
- Wisdom: to have moral skill that produces something of lasting value, leaving a moral legacy.
- Moral Instruction: parental discipline or chastisement, verbal warnings, and moral training.
- Our Father (Matthew 6:9)
- Children of God (1 John 3:1)
- Whom God loves, He chastens/disciplines/rebukes (Revelation 3:19)
- “Smart people learn from their own mistakes; wise people learn from the mistakes of others.”
- To discern wise counsel. (Proverbs 1:2b)
- Discern: the ability to discern right from wrong by God’s law.
- Wise Counsel: words of discernment. Literally, the ability to distinguish the rightness or wrongness of words of discernment.
- To receive moral instruction in skillful living. (Proverbs 1:3)
- Moral instruction: parental discipline or chastisement, verbal warnings, and moral training.
- Receive: the word carries with it the idea of treasuring up something in your heart. (Proverbs 2:1b; Psalm 119:11)
- Skillful Living: involves knowing and practicing righteousness, justice, & equity.
- Righteousness: conforming to a standard of God’s law.
- Justice: doing the right thing in light of God’s law.
- Equity: the idea of walking in a straight line.
- Moral instruction: parental discipline or chastisement, verbal warnings, and moral training.
- To impart shrewdness to the morally naive, a discerning plan to the young person. (Proverbs 1:4)
- Shrewdness: to be prudent/to not be naive/to not be simple-minded about what the world is all about. (Matthew 10:16)
- Morally Naive: easily influenced, enticed, or misled.
- Young person (son): one in need of training.
- To gain guidance and instruction. (Proverbs 1:5)
- Guidance: a combination of two Hebrew words – for sailor and rope. It is the imagery of directing a ship, giving direction for your life.
- To discern — live by — the truths found in the Proverbs. (Proverbs 1:6)
- To realize how valuable the wisdom of the Proverbs is and to do what’s necessary to gain it. (Proverbs 2:1-4)
The Source Behind the Wisdom? (Proverbs 1:7-9)
- Fear of God
- fear/dread, awe, reverence (Exodus 20:18-20)
- Wisdom helps us discern what is/is not sin & keeps us from sinning.
- The Proverbs are given in the backdrop of fearing God and listening to godly parents (of course, not all parents are godly). (Proverbs 1:8)
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