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Since we are going to be spending Autumn in Proverbs exploring practical
kingdom living, It's helpful for us to know that much of Solomon's wisdom he recorded
is addressed to his son, & this son was a young man of marriageable age.
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This thought is especially helpful for us as we come to chapter 8 and similar
passages.
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Also, Solomon makes wisdom a wonderful woman who was more desirable than anyone
or anything his youthful son might pursue.
- Before we dive into today's message, I want to share with us four important
interpretive keys that will help us to unlock how to understand Proverbs .
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#1. Proverbs are general truth
statements rather than promises.
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They are not promises from God, but basic guidelines on living successfully and
uprightly before God.
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E.g. Proverbs 22:6, "Train up a child in the way he should go; even when
he is old he will not depart from it."
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This Proverbs should not be understood as a promise from God, but as a general
truth that affirms that parents who live out an authentic faith before Almighty
God are more likely to have
children who grow up to have an authentic faith. So it's not a guarantee.
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Many parents have mistakenly taken this proverb as a promise of God and have
been broken-hearted when their child/children grew up to abandon Christianity.
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Proverbs 22:6 is not a blanket promise but a general truth.
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Proverbs are generally true, they're not promises.
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#2. Proverbs are not designed to be
literally accurate.
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Why shouldn't we take Proverbs literally? Because they tend to use figurative
language, such as metaphor, simile, analogy, and imagery.
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E.g. Proverbs 6: 27-29, "Can a man carry fire next to his chest and his
clothes not be burned? Or can one walk on hot coals and his feet not be
scorched? So is he who goes in to his neighbor's wife; none who touches her
will go unpunished."
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It is clear from this proverb that sexual contact is meant not a simple touch.
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Proverbs are not designed to be taken literally.
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#3. Proverbs need to be culturally
reinterpreted for today.
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What do we mean by that? It simply means that some proverbs cannot be
understood unless we understand the culturally outdated thing they're talking
about.
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E.g. Proverbs 22:11, "He who loves purity of heart and whose speech is
gracious will have the king as his friend."
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The overwhelming majority of us will never have the opportunity to be friends
with an earthly king.
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However, all of us can gain the friendship of leaders around us when our hearts
are pure and when we speak graciously.
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Proverbs need to be culturally reinterpreted for today.
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#4. Proverbs depend on imagery to be
memorable.
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Often, Proverbs are designed to create a mental picture that helps the memory
hang on to their truth.
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E.g. Proverbs 20:26 emphasizes that a wise leader won't look the other way
after seeing evil, but deal with it.
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"A wise king winnows the wicked and drives the wheel over them."
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This proverb creates a memorable mental image which reminds leaders to get rid
of evil.
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We need to hang on to these four keys for understanding Proverbs in order to
unlock their message.
1. Proverbs are general truth statements
rather than promises.
2. Proverbs are not designed to be literally
accurate.
3.
Proverbs need to be culturally
reinterpreted for today.
4.
Proverbs depend on imagery to be
memorable.
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I'd like to share a story with you:
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"On August 11, 1978, the Double Eagle 2, a large helium balloon, set out
to cross the Atlantic Ocean from Maine to France.
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"As the crew approached the European continent six days later, they were
losing altitude, [either] they had to lose weight or crash into the ocean.
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One of them wrote, 'We have been expending ballast (weight) wisely, but as we
neared land, not cheaply…over went such gear as tape recorders, radios, film
magazines, sleeping beds, lawn chairs, most of our water, food, and the cooler
it was in.'
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"They made their destination and enjoyed the feeling of satisfaction, plus
the recognition of the world, and the financial rewards that went with it"
(Anders, Proverbs, 71).
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Like the Double Eagle 2, if there are things in our lives keeping us from being
fully committed to following Christ we need to throw them overboard and it
might not be cheap.
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However, it's better for us to lose the things that weigh us down than it is to
crash into a sea of disappointment.
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When I commit to getting wisdom, I commit to getting life.
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As we look at Proverbs 8, in verses 1 to 3, wisdom sets herself at the busiest
part of the city, the gate, where all roads meet and where all traders and
travelers enter, loudly she invites the crowds to learn from her.
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What is her message? Anyone who
desires wisdom should come to her. (vv. 4-5)
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She calls upon two special groups for their attention: i) to the simple, who, because of their
inexperience, are naïve and gullible, she instructs prudence; & ii) to the foolish,
who choose their own way rather than God's, she offers to teach sense or understanding.
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Through Solomon, God is instructing his children that wisdom is available to
those who need it most.
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How can one gain the benefit of wisdom?
By listening; according to verse six she commands her hearers to listen (v. 6).
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Why should we listen to her? She has
a noble message. She only instructs what is right.
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According to verse 7, she is only interested in teaching or speaking truth.
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Verse eight tells the reader that what she says is consistently righteous
because she never speaks a twisted or crooked word. (v.8) How can we know?
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According to verse nine, anyone with a bit of knowledge and understanding knows
what she says is true and right, straight as an arrow.
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Not only does wisdom command her hearers to listen, verse 10 reveals that she commands her listeners to choose;
choose wisdom over wealth (v. 11).
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Solomon pointed out to his son that wisdom is better than wealth, "all that
you may desire cannot compare with her."
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When I commit to getting wisdom, I commit to getting life.
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We should also listen to her because she is intimately connected to high standards of moral ethics as verse
12 reveals: prudence, knowledge, and discretion.
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Prudence in Proverbs always means good sense.
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Knowledge refers to the knowledge of the truth.
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Discretion means careful conduct that comes from a clear cranium, the opposite
of recklessness.
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But wisdom is also more; the fear of God is at her core.
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While knowledge can give one a swelled head, wisdom hates pride and arrogance
according to verse 13.
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Wisdom continues to present her case in verses 14 to 16 (read).
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Need direction? She has counsel and insight.
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Facing challenges? She has strength.
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Want to be a good leader? She is indispensable.
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But, listen to verse 17 (read). While she's available to all only those who
love her and seek her find her.
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What are wisdom's benefits? Let's listen
to verses 18 to 21.
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It is interesting that wisdom says, "choose me over wealth," yet
wealth appears to be a bi-product of wisdom.
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It is generally true that wisdom generates wealth, but also far more than
money, wisdom produces righteousness and justice, spiritual prosperity.
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A word to the wise, Proverbs does not guarantee financial wealth to the wise.
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Why is it crucial to seek wisdom? Let's
hear from verses 22 to 31.
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God is the source of wisdom, she belongs to him.
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God gave her a prominent position.
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God gave birth to her before creating anything else.
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God used her when he created the world.
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She is the personification of God's own craftsmanship, joy, and delight in his
creation.
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It is crucial to seek wisdom because wisdom belongs to God and the fear of the
Lord is the beginning of wisdom.
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What is the way to a blessed life? Let's
read verses 32 to 36.
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The way to a blessed life is to listen to wisdom.
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There are only two pathways, the way to life and the way to death.
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When I commit to getting wisdom, I commit to getting life.
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"John Audubon, well-known naturalist and artist, considered no personal
sacrifice too great to learn about birds and to record that information for
[future generations].
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"He would go into the swamps night after night to record observations
about nighthawks.
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"One summer Audubon repeatedly visited the bayous near New Orleans to
observe a shy water bird.
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"He would stand neck deep in the stagnant waters, scarcely breathing,
while poisonous water moccasins swam past his face.
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"It was a great hardship, but he reported with enthusiasm that the
pictures of the birds that he was able to paint as a result made it all
worthwhile" (Anders, Proverbs, 75).
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If John Audubon could be so disciplined for an earthly goal, how much more
should the Christian be willing to sacrifice to follow Christ?
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Wisdom calls the Christian to a life that may not be easy.
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The committed Christian may have to give up many things we desire or that make
life easier.
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Many of the things we have to do will be hard, physically, spiritually,
emotionally, but…
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When I commit to getting wisdom, I
commit to getting life.
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