Wednesday
Evening Bible Study
June 23, 2004
Introduction
We have a great need for wisdom.
Illustration
This imbecile decides one day that he is sick and tired of people calling
him stupid, so he decides to show his wife that he is really smart. While his
wife is off at work, he decides that he is going to paint a couple of rooms in
the house. The next day, right after his wife leaves for work, he gets down to
the task at hand. His wife arrives home at 5:30
and smells the distinctive smell of paint. She walks into the living room and
finds her husband lying on the floor in a pool of sweat. She notices that he is
wearing a ski jacket and a fur coat at the same time. She rushes over and says,
“Honey, are you all right?” He slowly nods his head yes. “What are you doing?” she
asks incredulously. “I wanted to prove that I’m not so dumb,” he started, “and
I wanted to do it by painting the house.” “Well why do you have both a ski
jacket and a fur coat on?” she asks dumbfounded. “Well,” he says, “I was
reading the directions on the paint can and it said: For best results, put on
two coats.”
The older I get, the more I find I’m learning about the need for wisdom.
So many times I go blundering into certain situations and seem to cause
more harm than good.
Wisdom is knowing how and then doing the right thing in a situation. It’s
learning to fix something right the first time and not having to experiment and
try over and over to get something right.
Proverbs 1
:1-6 Introduction – What the book is for
:1 The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel;
proverbs – mashal – proverb, parable; poem; sentences of
ethical wisdom, ethical maxims. The Hebrew term means “a comparison”.
The word “proverb” refers to various forms of wise, insightful
pronouncements.[1]
Another definition: Proverbs are sayings taken from everyday life intended
to serve as practical guidelines for successful living.
When Solomon became king, God appeared to him in a dream and asked him to
ask for whatever he wanted. Solomon asked for wisdom (1Ki. 3:9). God gave
Solomon his request.
One of the byproducts of the wisdom God gave Solomon was the proverbs that
he wrote. 1Ki. 4:32 tells us that he spoke 3,000 proverbs.
Though most of the book contains things written by Solomon, not all of the
book was written by Solomon.
The sayings in this book form a library of instruction on how to live a
godly life here on earth and how to be assured of reward in the life to come.
:4 To give subtlety to the simple, to the young man knowledge and
discretion.
(Pr 1:4 NLT) {4} These proverbs will make the simpleminded clever.
They will give knowledge and purpose to young people.
Illustration
Linda Barbour of Reader's Digest writes,
During a friendly argument, my husband asked me why I married him in the
first place. “I was just stupid,” I teased. When he said he was happy to hear
that, I requested an explanation. “People get divorced all the time because
they fall out of love,” he said. “But I’ve never heard of anybody falling out
of stupid.”
In a way, one of the purposes of the book of Proverbs is to help us “fall
out of stupid”.
:5 A wise man will hear, and will increase learning
Young and naïve people aren’t the only ones that benefit from this book. Wise
men and men who are smart in God’s eyes will also pay attention to the things
in this book as well.
:7 Wisdom and fearing God
:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge
Lesson
The fear of the Lord
This is the first step of learning wisdom.
Learning principles and proverbs by themselves are not going to benefit you
unless you also have a fear of the Lord.
If you have a fear of the Lord, then you will not only learn these things,
but DO them as well.
:8-9 to the son
This might be addressed to Solomon’s son, Rehoboam. This could also simply
be a way of addressing any reader, one who wants to learn.
:10-19 Don’t follow sinners
:10 My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not.
Lesson
Peer pressure
Yet teenagers aren’t the only ones affected by peer pressure.
Herod liked John the Baptist, but because of peer pressure, he had John put
to death. (Mark 9:26)
There were Jewish leaders (John 12) who didn’t follow Jesus openly because
they were more concerned about what people thought.
We often are looking around us to see what other people are doing.
Why is it so important for politicians to be aware of their “poll numbers”?
Because our nation moves with a “herd mentality”. Many people don’t think for
themselves, they just go with the crowd.
(1 Cor 15:33 NASB) Do not be deceived:
"Bad company corrupts good morals."
:17-18 …they lay wait for their own blood
(Prov 1:17-18 NLT) When a bird sees a
trap being set, it stays away. {18} But not these people! They set an ambush
for themselves; they booby-trap their own lives!
This is an example of a proverb (vs. 17-18) – something to think about and
ponder.
Birds aren’t all that smart, yet they’re smart enough to avoid a net spread
out in front of them.
Foolish people will go along with peer pressure, even though it’s obvious
they’re getting themselves into trouble.
They think they’re going to get some victim, but they are their own
victims.
:20-23 Wisdom calls to pay attention
:20 Wisdom crieth without
Wisdom is personified as a woman.
:24-33 Consequences of rejecting wisdom
:28-29 …For that they hated knowledge…
You can’t honestly be seeking God if you don’t want to learn what He wants
for you (knowledge) and you don’t have any intention of doing what He wants of
you (fear of the Lord).
People who say they’ve “tried” Christianity and left it fall into this
category.
Following Jesus is not a “smorgasbord” – you can’t pick and choose which
things you’re going to follow and which things you aren’t. It’s all or nothing.
:33 …shall be quiet from fear of evil.
Lesson
Dealing with fear
It seems to me that so much of our lives are motivated by fear.
We are fearful of financial disaster.
We are fearful of being hurt by someone close to us.
We are fearful of being attacked at night.
We are fearful of illness.
You can choose to be motivated by fear of things, or by fear of God.
When you choose the fear of God, you find peace and safety.
(Isa 12:2 KJV) Behold,
God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is
my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation.
This was D.L. Moody’s favorite verse. He used to say, “You
can travel to Heaven first-class or second-class. First-class is, ‘I will trust
and not be afraid.’ Second-class is, ‘when I am afraid, I will trust in thee.’”
Illustration
I recall a story about a man who had to cross a wide river on the ice. He
was afraid it might be too thin, so he began to crawl on his hand and knees in
great terror. He thought he might fall through at any moment. Just as he neared
the opposite shore, all exhausted, another man glided past him nonchalantly
sitting on a sled loaded with pig iron. How like some Christians! Headed for
Heaven, they tremble at every step lest the divine promises break under their
feet.
Proverbs 2
:1-9 Wisdom gets you closer to God
:4 If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid
treasures;
Lesson
Buried treasure
How do you seek after the right things?
Think of how some people go after buried treasure.
The other night my boys and I watched the Indiana Jones
move, “The Last Crusade” – the search for precious treasures, traveling across
the world, risking danger, etc.
I understand that some folks shop for bargains that way – working to get
the best deal on things.
If we only would handle God’s Word the same way.
Illustration
A man was out walking in the desert when a voice said to him, “Pick up some
pebbles and put them in your pocket, and tomorrow you will be both sorry and
glad.”
The man obeyed. He stooped down and picked up a handful of pebbles and put
them in his pocket. The next morning he reached into his pocket and found
diamonds and rubies and emeralds. And he was both glad and sorry. Glad that he
had taken some—sorry that he hadn’t taken more.
And so it is with God’s word.
:5 Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD …
If you’re truly searching after true knowledge, what you’ll find is God.
:10-22 What wisdom protects you from
:16 To deliver thee from the strange woman
strange – zuwr – to be strange, strange woman,
prostitute, harlot, adulteress
We’ll see more of this as we go on through proverbs, the warnings against
immorality.
Proverbs 3
:1-4 Pay attention
:5-10 Putting God first
:5-6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
(Prov 3:5-6 NLT) Trust in the LORD with
all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. {6} Seek his will in
all you do, and he will direct your paths.
(Pr 3:5-6 The Message) {5} Trust God
from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own.
{6} Listen for God’s voice in
everything you do, everywhere you go; he’s the one who will keep you on track.
Lesson
God’s guidance
1. Trust God.
Be counting on Him.
Illustration
When John Paton was translating
the Bible for a South Seas island tribe, he discovered
that they had no word for trust or faith. One day a native who had been running
hard came into the missionary’s house, flopped himself in a large chair and
said, “It’s good to rest my whole weight on this chair.”
“That’s it,” said Paton. “I’ll
translate faith as ‘resting one’s whole weight on God.’”
Illustration
When descending the Grand Canyon,
often times a person has to travel on narrow ledges that have only enough room
for a mule to get a foothold. The
ribbons of rock that run along the edges of these towering cliffs overlook
vertical precipices that descend hundreds of feet to the valley below. When one must make use of these stony paths,
the safest course is to let the mule find his own way; for the slightest touch
on the bridle may easily throw both the animal and his rider over the cliff to
sudden death. So it is in the believer’s
life. In some circumstances, if he would
keep himself from having sinful doubts and falling into despair, he must lay
the ‘bridle’ on the neck of Faith, and commit his way to God. No matter how things look, he may take
comfort in these words, “I will never leave thee nor forsake thee.” In such trying experiences the only thing to
do is to trust in God and walk by faith, not by sight.
Illustration
reminds me of a story …
A couple was celebrating their golden wedding
anniversary. Their domestic tranquility had long been the talk of the town. A
local newspaper reporter was inquiring as to the secret of their long and happy
marriage. “Well, it dates back to our honeymoon,” Explained the man. “We
visited the Grand Canyon and took a trip down to the bottom of the canyon by
pack mule. We hadn’t gone too far when my wife’s mule stumbled. My wife quietly
said, “That’s once.” We proceeded a little farther when the mule stumbled
again. Once more my wife quietly said, “That’s twice.” We hadn’t gone a half
mile when the mule stumbled a third time. My wife promptly removed a revolver
from her pocket and shot him. I started to protest over her treatment of the
mule when she looked at me and quietly said, ‘That’s once.’”
We need to trust God – don’t shoot Him.
2. Don’t count on your own brain
I have a hard time understanding everything. I can’t see all that’s going
on.
(2 Cor 5:7 KJV) (For we walk by faith,
not by sight:)
When Joshua and the Israelites came across the messengers from Gibeon, they looked like they had traveled
from a distant country. Their proposal for a treaty sounded like a good thing.
(Josh 9:14 KJV) And the men took of their victuals,
and asked not counsel at the mouth of the LORD.
So they made a treaty with these people, though they were not a people they
were supposed to make treaties with. They would eventually cause a bit of
trouble to Israel,
all because they were counting on their own brain and not asking God for
directions.
3. Look for God’s direction
Look for where God is in the situation.
Look to know God in each circumstance.
Illustration
The snow covered the ground where three lads were playing.
A man came along and said to them, “Would you like to try a race and the winner
receive a prize?”
The boys agreed and the man told them that his race was to
be different. “I will go to the other side of the field,” he said, “and when I
give you the signal, you will start to run. The one whose footsteps are the
straightest in the snow will be the winner.”
The race commenced and the first boy kept looking at his
feet to see if his steps were straight. The second lad kept looking at his
companions to see what they were doing; but the third boy just ran on with his
eyes steadfastly fixed on the man on the other side of the field.
The third lad was the winner, for his footsteps were
straight in the snow. He had kept his eyes on the goal ahead of him.
Keep your eyes on Him. Don’t look at
your own feet or at others.
4. He will direct you.
God knows how to guide you.
:9-10 So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst
out with new wine.
Lesson
Loving God with your wallet.
Putting God first involves how you handle your money.
Don’t be giving God “leftovers” but give him the “firstfruits”. Be careful
about the idea of saying, “I’ll give to God if there’s anything left at the end
of the month”.
God wants to have first place in your heart. God wants to have first place
in your wallet.
If you honor God, He will honor you.
(Mat 6:33
KJV) But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his
righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
:11-12 God’s chastening
:12 For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth
Sometimes we have the idea that if we’re going through a difficult time
that God must not love us anymore. Think again.
God wants His children to grow up, and growing up involves learning to deal
with difficult things.
:13-20 The Value of Wisdom
:15 She is more precious than rubies
For most of us, the reality of this doesn’t come naturally.
We have a hard time seeing why it isn’t a good thing to just be incredibly
wealthy. Wouldn’t that solve all of our problems?
Yet the more you go through life, especially the rough times, you will find
the value of wisdom.
:21-26 Safety in wisdom
:27-30 Doing good to others
:31-35 Stay away from evil
:32 For the froward is abomination to the LORD: but his secret is with the
righteous.
froward – perverse
Lesson
Obedience brings intimacy with God
God speaks intimately with those who are walking with Him.
(John 14:21-24 KJV) He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them,
he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and
I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. {22} Judas saith unto him,
not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not
unto the world? {23} Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he
will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and
make our abode with him. {24} He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and
the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me.
:34 but he giveth grace unto the lowly.
Both James (James 4:6) and Peter (1Peter 5:5) quote this.