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Proverbs 2:1–13 Pastor Rob Kimsey 10/1/23
Please open your Bibles to the book of Proverbs. Proverbs chapter 2 the search for wisdom. Proverbs chapter 2 we're going to be looking this morning at verses 1 through 13 The search for wisdom in our modern culture and society.
We have an ever-increasing confusion on Morality. What do we think of as right? What do we think of as wrong and those things more currently have been sort of flipped upside down. There is definitely a lot of deception and Things that we would consider according to the Word of God to be evil.
Our society is now calling good This morning. I want to put before you these amazing passages from Proverbs and I want us to think about what it means to be wise to have knowledge how we live our lives and what do we live our lives by and What the the Word of God says about good and evil?
We must look to the scriptures as the only ruling and guiding principle for which we are to live in this world. So in Proverbs chapter 2 1 through 13 King Solomon is Explaining to the readers that Yahweh is the one who gives wisdom.
He is the source of understanding and knowledge so we will seek to just be at the feet of God's Word the feet of Solomon this morning as we look to search for wisdom. Chapter 2 verses 1 through 13. The heading in my Bible says Yahweh gives wisdom and these are the words of the wise King Solomon.
He says my son If you will receive my words and Treasure my commandments within you to make your ear pay attention to wisdom. Incline your heart to discernment for if you call out for understanding Give your voice for discernment if you seek her as silver and search for her as for hidden treasures.
Then you will understand the fear of Yahweh and find the knowledge of God. For Yahweh gives wisdom. From his mouth comes knowledge and discernment. He stores up sound wisdom for the upright a shield to those who walk in integrity.
To guard the paths of justice and he keeps the way of his holy ones. Then you will understand righteousness and justice and equity every good track. For wisdom will enter your heart and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul.
Discretion will keep you. Discernment will guard you to deliver you from the way of evil from the man who speaks perverse things. From those who forsake the paths of uprightness to walk in the ways of darkness.
Well to really understand Proverbs, we need to understand the purpose statement of the book. Why did King Solomon write Proverbs? It's a good practice for us as we read scripture to try to find the purpose statement that the author explains in the writing.
It's not always easy to discern. Sometimes we have to dig a little bit for this in Proverbs that's not the case. The purpose statement of the book is really found in Proverbs chapter 1 verses 2 through 6 and there's really a Two-fold purpose of the book of Proverbs.
Read with me chapter 1 verses 2 through 6. Why? Did King Solomon write Proverbs? He says to know wisdom and discipline to understand the sayings of understanding. To receive discipline that leads to insight righteousness justice and Equity to give prudence to the simple to the youth knowledge and discretion.
Let the wise man hear and increase in learning and a man of understanding will acquire guidance to understand a proverb and an enigma. The words of the wise and their riddles the purpose statement of the book of Proverbs the first part of verse 2 and Really verses 3 3 4 give the purpose of producing the skill of godly living by wisdom and instruction.
This is a very practical book. It teaches us how to live. The second part of verse 2 and verse 5 give the purpose of developing Discernment to know good from evil. The two-fold purpose of the book is to produce the skill of godly living by wisdom and instruction and to develop discernment.
The main point of the passage from chapter 2 verses 1 through 13 is If you search for wisdom You will find it. There are two realities to wisdom. It is the result of a determined search and work. On our part this is work.
But it is a god-given gift. The starting point really for wisdom is God and his word the Bible his revealed word because the Word of God is the source of knowledge and Understanding. In this way wisdom is a gift from God his gift to us.
But there's a caveat here God only gives wisdom to those who Genuinely seek it. If a person earnestly seeks wisdom. God will give it. The truth is that the wisdom of God is hidden from the foolish and those who have rebelled against him.
The search for wisdom takes effort to find and to use it. Even though the path to wisdom requires great Exertion this is work. We will discover true wisdom is God's and he will generously give. The Lord will guide us and reward our sincerity on the path of our persistent search for wisdom.
The wise King Solomon describes three amazing results for searching for wisdom. So that you can learn to grow in the skill of godly living and to develop discernment.
Three.
Amazing results number one discernment from God. That's verses 1 through 5 number 2 defense from God in verses 6 through 9 and number 3 deliverance from God verses 10 through 13. Three amazing results of searching for wisdom.
So that you can learn to grow in the skill of godly living and to develop discernment to be able to say in Full conviction what is good and what is evil? The first is discernment from God number two defense from God and number three deliverance from God.
We'll look first at discernment. Discernment from God. Verses 1 through 5. The search for wisdom must be genuine it must be sincere and there's an earnest desire within the heart. We must search for wisdom as if it were an invaluable treasure.
I Once heard an illustration that explains this earnest desire. There's a story about a proud young man who came to the philosopher Socrates to acquire knowledge. He walked up to the muscular philosopher and said, oh great Socrates I come to you for knowledge.
Socrates recognized a dis genuine person when he saw one. He led the young man through the streets to the sea and chest deep in water. Then he asked what do you want? Knowledge. Oh wise Socrates said the young man with a smile on his face.
Socrates put his strong hands on the man's shoulders and pushed him under the water. 30 seconds later Socrates let him up. What do you want? He asked again. Wisdom. The young man sputtered. Oh great and wise Socrates.
Socrates crunched him underneath the water again. 30 seconds passed 35 40. Socrates let him up. The man was gasping for air. What do you want young man? Between heavy heaving breaths the person.
Wheezed.
Knowledge. Oh wise and wonderful. Socrates jammed him down again. He's under the water again. 40 seconds passed 50. What do you want air the young man screeched? I will. I need air. He said when you want knowledge as you have just wanted air then you will have knowledge.
There must be an earnest desire. Even though the path to wisdom requires exertion on our part. We will discover true wisdom if there's a genuine desire. The Lord will guide us and reward our sincerity on the path of our persistent search for wisdom.
Three amazing treasures that are found in the search for wisdom discernment from God. Let's look at verse 1. He says my son if you will receive my words and treasure my commandments within you. Solomon starts his statements with a personal plea my son.
Now the Hebrew word here for son can literally mean a son. It can be a young male even a young animal. It can also be translated as grandson or in collectives a single or individual. It is also often used as a familiar address my son as in a younger companion or a Disciple.
His statement is not a plea with an unrealizable condition. It's a statement of truth. Serving as an indication of a realizable condition. It's more of a promise than a plea. Solomon starts in verse 1 through verse 4 Instructing his disciple with an if and a then and we really are gonna see this pattern through these 13 verses.
If you do this Then this will happen. Here he says if you receive my words and the word he uses for receive means to take. To grasp or to seize. It can also mean to accept. To receive or to acquire. To acquire and that is the usage here.
It's a metaphor meaning to comply with commandments or words. This is not a maybe that may or may not happen. If you accept the wise words of King Solomon. Then you will understand but it's a it's a thing you have to do.
You have to accept these teachings and that's a reality that if you accept the teaching you will acquire. It's not a maybe. No, it's not a maybe. Solomon uses the same word to receive to accept to acquire later in Proverbs 410.
He says hear my son and receive my sayings and the years of your life will be many. I like the NASB translations of 410. He says hear my son and Accept my sayings and the years of your life will be many.
That's a good way to think about this first statement. It's not a maybe it's a personal plea to accept the truth. He says to make your ear pay attention to wisdom incline your heart to discernment. Solomon says there's a participation or responsibility in the receiving or the accepting.
The verb to make Can mean to be fully alert with a human subject it conveys the idea of listening attentively. Solomon says to listen attentively with an aspect of alertness and inclination. When he says incline he's talking about stretching out or or reaching out your heart toward discernment.
It's the idea of guarding your inner person your inner person and being Literally one's inner self the seat of feelings and emotions the will. He says guide it and reach out for discernment. He'll qualify what that means in the next few verses.
The Oxford Dictionary defines discernment as the ability to judge well the ability to judge well or in a Christian's context perception in the absence of judgment with a view to obtaining spiritual guidance and Understanding discernment.
In the Hebrew it is understanding even cleverness or skill. This is the way the word is used. This discernment is the understanding of God as the creator as the leader Shepherd of the people of his covenant.
He feeds them his word. Look at verse 3. He says for if you call out for understanding Give your voice for discernment. Verse 3 gives a double explanation of what it means to incline oneself to discernment.
The first is to call out for understanding. Although understanding and discernment are synonymous Solomon uses a different word here. This is more than human understanding. This is divine comprehension the power of thought and Intellect as an as in an individual's perception or judgment of a situation and this Understanding is from the knowledge of God.
This section is communicating the idea of calling out or shouting to someone. Solomon says to call out for godly perception for rightly Judging a circumstance. The second explanation of inclining oneself to discernment is really a nuance of the first.
The second part of verse 3 describes the calling out. The word Solomon uses forgive can literally mean to give to hand down to allow or to surrender. One of the usages conveys to set to place or to lay as and to put something in the mouth.
To lay something in the heart to set one's mind and more specifically here The giving of the voice is to raise the voice to literally shout. To make a noise. It can be a noise of thunder or animals or a human noise.
This is an audible voice of an individual making lament or prayer. Solomon's nuanced double explanation of an inclination to discernment is to pray to God to give you Understanding he says use your mouth and call out to God for discernment.
In Verse 4 he'll continue. He says if you seek her as Silver and search for her as for the hidden treasures. He likens the prayer for discernment and understanding to seeking treasure. This is the seeking is a search.
This is a treasure hunt. This is wanting to discover or find. This is an attempt to do something as in trying to possess it a Search for something extremely valuable that he likens to treasures and here he gives the illustration of silver.
Something.
Extremely valuable. This is better than silver and this goes back to verse 2 you know as I started the heading of chapter 2 in the legacy standard Bible and it might be in yours as well as the Lord gives wisdom Yahweh gives wisdom.
Verse 2 states plainly make your ear pay attention to wisdom. Yahweh's wisdom is better than silver or gold. Later in the Proverbs Solomon will qualify his comments here in verses 2 through 4. Godly wisdom and discernment is more of a prophet than silver.
We can look at Proverbs chapter 3 verses 14 and 15 for her prophet is Better than the prophet of silver and her produce better than fine gold she is more precious than pearls and Nothing you desire compares with her.
That's that's a desire. Solomon is saying that if you attempt to possess Discernment more than as if you were seeking the most valuable thing on earth. The word he uses here for search is different than the word to seek.
It actually means to search out or examine. The term hidden treasures is one word actually in the original. It's describing treasure. That is more valuable More more valuable than the most precious metals like silver or gold on the face of the earth on the face of the earth.
This treasure is beyond earthly comparison because because it is divine. It is divine and otherworldly. This is supernatural divine wisdom from heaven that surpasses all earthly understanding. Without this there is no understanding.
And the Lord Jesus is extremely helpful here. He gave a wonderful word illustration of what a hidden treasure is in the eyewitness gospel from Matthew. Matthew chapter 13 verse 44 says this the words of our Lord.
He says the kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in the field Which a man found and hid again and from joy over it. He goes and sells all that he has and buys that.
Field.
That's the the hidden treasure Solomon says. Then you will understand the fear of Yahweh and find the knowledge of God. Now here is the then the first result the first treasure understand the fear of Yahweh and find the knowledge of God.
If you accept and Hold dearly the words and instructions. If you pay close attention and reach out with your inner being for discernment. If you pray and raise up your voice to God for Understanding and discernment.
If you search for wisdom like a hidden treasure and value it more than silver and gold. Then you will understand the fear of God and find the knowledge of God. The fear of Yahweh is the beginning of knowledge.
Ignorant fools despise wisdom and discipline. That's verse 7 out of chapter 1. The fear here is literally the fear of God but let's look at this from the right side of the cross. As Believers, we don't fear wrath or judgment.
The Spirit of God dwells in us. Paul speaks about this in Romans in chapter 8. He says. Therefore there is now no Condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death.
For what the law could not do weak as though as it was through the flesh God did. Sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin He condemned sin in the flesh so that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us.
Who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit there is now no condemnation in Christ Jesus. Praise God. We can think of this as a as reverence and honor for God reverence for God a deep Respect for someone or something.
Knowledge of God is not human knowledge. This is more than human logic or reason which can be seen as part of God's common grace. You know, even the most depraved atheist on some level has the ability to think and to reason.
That's God's common grace. This knowledge is from God the divine ability for discernment and Understanding. This is wisdom from above that produces divine understanding to discern between what is good and what is evil righteous versus unrighteous and this wisdom comes from above.
James will write about this in his letter. He asked this very simple question who among you is wise and understanding. And he's writing to believers. Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show by his good conduct his works in the gentleness of wisdom.
But if you have bitter jealousy and Selfish ambition in your heart do not be arrogant and so lie against the truth. This wisdom is not coming down from above but is earthly natural demonic for where jealousy and Selfish ambition exists there is disorder and every evil practice.
But the wisdom from above is first pure then peaceable considerate submissive full of mercy and good fruits without doubting without Hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
James 3 that's wisdom from above the source of true understanding and knowledge. God himself this is wisdom from above that produces divine understanding to discern between right and Wrong. And for us, I mean simply in the in the world we live in today.
We need God's wisdom to help us to make good choices. Depending upon what stage in life you're in we're presented with choices we make in life. You know for the young person it may be. What college am I going to?
Well, let's think about that. Let's look at the Word of God. What does God have to say about it? You know, should I be buying that car? Should I be hanging out with that group of friends? Should I be doing that maybe for the older folks, you know, what what's the retirement look like?
You know, should I be buying that home? The decisions we make in life must be put under the scrutiny of the Word of God. We must look to God's wisdom to help us to make good choices. Who are we spending time with what are we doing in our time and our activities outside of worship?
Seek God's wisdom in those decisions. Should I be married to this person? Should I go to this school? Should I get that?
Thing.
Well, let's look at what God's Word has to say about it. Have have true Wisdom and your decision-making. If we seek to look at God's Word and look to him to help us to make our choices. Things will go good for us if we ignore God's instruction in our life.
And we're not looking at God's wisdom to make choices. Things will not go good for us. Wisdom helps us make good choices. The wise King Solomon describes three amazing results from searching for wisdom so that you can learn to grow in the skill of godly living and discernment.
The ability to develop discernment. The first treasure is discernment from God. Helps the believer to develop an ever-increasing awareness of sin and righteousness. Discernment from God helps the believer to develop an ever-increasing awareness of sin and righteousness.
And number two defense from God. We'll see that in verses 6 through 9. Defense from God. For Yahweh gives wisdom from his mouth comes knowledge and Discernment. In verse 6 the if and then shifts to declaring more aspects of the results of searching for wisdom.
The next few verses declare what Yahweh does what God does. And then in verse 9 We have a then for us in verses 1 through 5. We see that if we search for wisdom. We will find it. Verse 6 qualifies the source of the finding.
Yahweh gives wisdom. God gives wisdom. This is presenting someone with something tangible. A Gift is freely given. God gives wisdom not skill in technical matters not experience or shrewdness not worldly wisdom.
God's wisdom from his mouth come knowledge and Discernment. We have many examples in the scriptures of God giving wisdom to human beings. The best example I can think of is the very man who wrote these words.
The very man who wrote the Proverbs before us this morning. If you search for wisdom. You will find it because God gives it and we can look to none other than the wise King Solomon in 1st Kings chapter 3 verses 10 through 12.
We see God's response when Solomon asked Yahweh for wisdom. This is what it says and it was pleasing in the sight of the Lord that Solomon had asked this thing and God said to him. Because you have asked this thing and have not asked for yourself long life.
Nor have asked riches for yourself nor have you asked for the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself. Discernment to listen to justice. Behold I have done according to your words. Behold, I have given you a wise and discerning heart and sometimes we forget about that Solomon asked God for wisdom.
So God gave him wisdom. What does the scripture say? He asked for discernment to listen to justice to know the difference between right and wrong and God granted his request one of the according to the scriptures the wisest person who ever lived on this on the planet.
The wisest person ever because God gave him that request. Now another Old Testament example is from Job in Job chapter 32. We say we see this young man. His name is Eli. Who? He's a friend of Job and he becomes angry with Job and his other three older friends.
Job's older companions and He becomes angry during their speculations and conjecture of why Job had suffered. So the young man says something amazing in verse 8 and I'll just point this out that the three older men who were giving Job Counsel were called by God to repent for what they had said.
But Eli who was never called by God to repent interesting. Eli who he said this is the the quote it's from Job 32. Then these three men ceased answering Job because he was righteous in his own eyes. But the anger of Eli who the son of Barak all the booz-ite of the family of Ram.
Burned.
Against Job his anger burned because he was proving himself righteous before God and His anger burned against his three friends because they had found no answer and yet had condemned Job. Now Eli who had waited with his words for Job because they were years older than he.
Then Eli who saw that there was no answer in the mouth of the three men. So his anger burned. So Eli who the son of Barak el the booz-ite answered and said. I am young in years and you are old. Therefore I was shy and afraid to tell you my knowledge.
I thought age should speak and increased years should make wisdom known in verse 8. But it is a spirit in man and the breath of the Almighty gives them understanding. The the older guys just didn't get that.
They were spouting off all of this really bad advice and counsel and making Accusations against Job as if they knew what God was doing behind the scenes, but this young man makes this amazing statement.
But it is a spirit in man and the breath of the Almighty gives them Understanding. Yahweh gives wisdom and he stores up Wisdom. Look at verse 7. He stores up sound wisdom for the upright a shield to those who walk in Integrity.
Solomon says Yahweh saves it up. He stores it up and he adds an adjective to qualify or describe the wisdom. Now the origin of the Hebrew word for sound is uncertain. There's different ways to look at this word.
The basic root of the word means strength and ability. One commentator noted this sound wisdom. Suggests an advancement of that which profits so particularly true wisdom. I think it's helpful to think of the description in the relationship to the source of the wisdom.
What is the source of the wisdom. Divine wisdom is sound? Wisdom in the theological workbook of the Old Testament. Lewis Goldberg said this. Among the usages of this technical word is sound efficient wisdom and an intended example would be sound judgment.
Sound wisdom that leads to practical Success. Really on the issues we deal with he says thus the son will find life and honor if he follows his father's sound judgment. Because personified wisdom gives this quality to the Kings.
They rule effectively. On the other hand God frustrates the shrewd so that their hands cannot attain success. That's from Job. Sound judgment is based on the righteous character of God's rule. The upright have sound wisdom.
Hidden in them and that's again Proverbs 2 7. The second part of verse 7 is a is a really a parenthetical insert. He's making this note in the in there and he says this is about what the storing up of wisdom does for the one searching for the wisdom.
Wisdom is a shield as a weapon serving as a metaphor for protection. Wisdom protects us. Wisdom is a defensive protection for the person that lives or behaves with integrity. The Hebrew concept of integrity is a perfection.
It's the idea of completion of Fulfillment. Whoever walks in integrity is someone who walks completely innocently. And that is only possible with godly wisdom from above. Given freely by God for those who want it.
God does not give wisdom for us to float idly through life. Nor does he give us wisdom to act irresponsibly with it nor with the resources. He provides for us. This is about being faithful with the resources.
God gives to us. I Mean, have you ever thought about that that the wisdom of the scriptures is a resource that God has given to you. What are you doing with God-given wisdom if we as believers remained faithful to God and set our purpose in life.
Straight before us God will protect us. He will protect us from pride and from greed. He will shield us and defend us from stumbling in sin. To guard the paths of Justice and he keeps the way of his holy one.
Solomon says y 'all Yahweh will guard the path. Yahweh will guard your path in life and he uses the word to keep watch to watch over or to keep from. This is protection and preservation and specifically in verse 8 it conveys to observe or comply with.
Yahweh causes the path as in a metaphor for the way. The way or the straight path of justice relating to judgments or legal claims. These are legal decisions of Yahweh that are just and right. God does this for the one who desires godliness.
Yahweh enables godliness. Yahweh causes the path to be straight and he guards the one who searches for wisdom. The second part of verse 8 gives us a parallel. Solomon simply restates the first part of verse 8.
He uses a different word for guard that is very similar in meaning to keep or to watch over. This is the idea of the watchman. The watchman who looks over the city from the watchtower to warn the city of an impending attack.
The word also has the idea of observing as in taking care of to preserve or to protect. And there is an implication here of preserving one's life or the preserving really the Instruction even from a parent to a child.
And instead of path Solomon uses a different word than path. Yahweh keeps the way. It conveys the concept of treading as in to tread down or to cause to walk. For the one who desires godliness Yahweh enables godliness.
Yahweh causes the path to be straight and he guards the one who searches for wisdom and Just so the readers are sure Solomon adds on to the tail end of this parallel the recipients of Yahweh's actions his Holy ones.
One word in the Hebrew literally the faithful the faithful or the godly. And Now the crescendo of this section because Yahweh does all things in verses 6 through 8 for the person who searches for wisdom.
Then you will understand righteousness and justice and equity every good track. And I know in you know in in the years I guess between 2018 and maybe 2020 2021 we've heard that word equity thrown around a lot by those that are enemies of the gospel.
They have hijacked words. Let's keep it in context here. God is the one who created language. These words belong to the one who created everything. So when we hear these kind of words being thrown around.
Social justice justice gospel social justice gospel equity. Understand that these people that are saying these things don't know Christ. They are they are actually attacking God's Word. When you hijack what God has said and you put your own spin on it to mean something other than the biblical definition.
It is not only an attack on God. It is an attack on the gospel. It is an attack on Jesus Christ himself. So, let's learn what the words mean according to what the scripture says they mean and That's verse 9.
Here is the then of verses 6 through 9 Solomon gives three elements of God's defense in understanding righteousness. Justice and equity. And then he adds on a qualifier for equity. Righteousness is accuracy.
Accuracy what is correct? Righteousness is the right thing. What is right. And here Solomon goes deeper in the biblical Hebrew meaning of righteousness. Communal loyalty communal loyalty conduct loyal to the community.
You want to live a life of righteousness? You can't do that without faithful conduct toward the body of believers to which call which God has called you to be with. I'll say that again you cannot live a life of righteousness if you are unfaithful to the body of believers that God has called you to be with.
Righteousness is not only about what is correct. Righteousness is not only about what is right. Righteousness according to God's meaning is about whether your conduct is Loyal to the community of believers to which God has called you.
God defends the godly and those faithful to understand this and to live this. The scriptures are not theoretical. They're practical. They're for us to live out. Justice is the sound judgment and legal decisions of Yahweh.
Justice this is purity in religious practice purity in laws. It relates to God's Instructions for life his commandments and equity the the power word here equity level ground level ground a metaphor for rectitude morally correct behavior or thinking this is fairness as in a level playing field of justice equity.
And Solomon caps off verse 9 with a strong word picture describing equity. Equity is a beneficial Pleasant or favorable wagon track. This is every firm path. Because Yahweh does all these things in verses 6 through 8 for the person who searches for wisdom in verses 1 through 4 God will defend the godly in their understanding of righteousness justice and equity in morally correct behavior or thinking.
That's the way we should think about these words and That is not the way those words have been used over the last few years. But it's important for us to remember that when we pray to God for help with sin.
He will help us. I Mean very simply God promises He's our defense. He defends us. He makes our lives walk on his path the straight path. I Power what these words mean in your life. You're if you're struggling with a particular sin ask God to help you with that sin and I promise you according to the Word of God this morning God will help you if you need God's protection and help and enablement in living a godly life.
Then pray to him. Pray to God he will help you. 110 a thousand percent. There is no shadow of a doubt no sliver of a doubt. When you pray to God for help with sin, he will help you. What an amazing promise.
This is a treasure. Three amazing treasures that are found in the search for wisdom. Number one was discernment from God. And Number two is defense from God. Protects the believer by giving a divine understanding of righteousness justice and equity in morally correct behavior or thinking.
Defense from God protects the believer by giving a divine understanding of righteousness justice and equity in Morally correct behavior or thinking. And number two is deliverance. I'm sorry number three rather is deliverance from God.
Number three deliverance from God. This is the last verses 10 through 13. Look at verse 10 for wisdom will enter your heart and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul. Verses 10 through 13 are really all then statements all of them.
This section qualifies the results of searching for wisdom because a person earnestly searches for wisdom. Yahweh will do this and for this reason here are the results. Wisdom will enter your heart. Wisdom will enter your inner being.
This is the idea of entering into the palace for an audience with the king. Cohabitation wisdom will live inside of you. Knowledge inability will be lovely. It'll be a delight to your soul. Speaking in the context of wise wise words.
We see a parallel passage in Proverbs 22 18. For it will be pleasant if you keep them within you that they may be ready on your lips. This is more than head knowledge. This is the ability in living that is a delight to the soul.
Verse 11. Discretion will keep you. Discernment will guard you. Discretion and discernment will keep and guard you. Solomon uses the same words from verse 8. To keep watch to watch over or to keep from.
Discretion is not deceitful. It's prudent. Discretion is not deceitful. It's prudence. The quality of behaving or speaking in such a way as to avoid causing offense or revealing private information. Will protect and preserve you.
Understanding cleverness skill as in the understanding of God as the Creator. Will watch over and take care of you. That's verse 11. He says to deliver you from the way of evil from the man who speaks perverse things.
Part of the guarding power of discernment is deliverance from evil deliverance from sin. And the most common usage of the verb for deliverance is to be saved to secure or to even save oneself. One verb form means to rob or to snatch oneself and.
The verb form used here by Solomon actually means to tear from to tear from. The guarding power of discernment will tear one away or remove one from the way of evil. Discernment and wisdom will cause a person to keep free from unrighteous living.
This is knowing good from evil through wisdom of God not human speculation. He who trusts in his own heart is a fool but he who walks Wisely will be delivered. That's Proverbs 28 26. Discernment in wisdom will tear you away and keep you from people who deal in perversity.
What a person speaks comes from within their heart. This is a person who lives in perversion. There's even an aspect of scheming in the meaning of the Hebrew word Solomon uses here. The term translated perverse things.
One word it conveys depravity. Listen to this the lexical meaning distortion of what is good. Distortion of what is good. God will deliver us out of sin. And the company of those who speak and do perverse things through discernment that comes from the wisdom of God the wisdom from God.
He says from those who forsake the paths of uprightness to walk in the ways of darkness. Solomon makes it clear. Verse 12 is more than just words. The person who speaks of perverse things and distortion to God's Word will also live that way.
They have forsaken the way which should be followed in behavior. They have forsaken the path or the way of living righteously. Solomon is talking about straightness in living honesty honesty. Discernment in godly wisdom delivers the faithful from those that have left behind or abandoned a pursuit of godliness.
The unfaithful Depraved ones that have abandoned the straight path to live a life of secrecy and hiding. They live a life of darkness those who do not know about God. Just a couple of chapters later Solomon will describe those who walk in darkness.
Chapter 4 verse 19. He says the way of the wicked is like darkness. They do not know what they stumble over. Having a godly wisdom based on the Bible Will help you to discern from good and evil. It will deliver you and tear you away from those that would cause you to Stumble, of course, we know that the greatest deliverance is the gospel.
The greatest deliverance is from the gospel. Jesus spoke about deliverance from this darkness when he explained the gospel to Nicodemus in the eyewitness account from the gospel of John. He said for God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish.
But have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through him. He who believes in him is not judged. He who does not believe has been judged already.
Because he's not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God and this is the judgment that the light Has come into the world and men love the darkness rather than the light for their deeds were evil.
For everyone who does evil hates the light and does not come to the light lest his deeds be exposed. But he who practices the truth comes to the light so that his deeds may be Manifested as having been done by God, of course, you know, that's John 3 16 through verse 21.
Men loved the darkness rather than the light for their deeds were evil. We need to listen to Kings King Solomon's wise words this morning. This is the Word of God as believers. We ought to seek out the Word of God and how we can practically live in this world.
That's what Solomon is talking about here. This is not complicated. This is easy to see. This is what godly wisdom delivers us from is a life in the shadows a life and the darkness. You know, we can think about this point maybe, you know in some application and very simply bad company corrupts good morals.
Bad company corrupts good morals. I Mean, I'll challenge you here a little bit think about your life. Are you spending more time with? Unbelievers than you are with believers. I Know I don't need a show of hands, but just answer that.
Who are you spending your time with when you're outside of worship? Are you spending your time with people that don't love God? Of course, we need to go there to reach them to share the gospel. I'm not saying that but I'm saying in your life and your daily routine.
What who are you spending your time with? You know that for the young person who's hanging out with unbelieving Teenagers and they're doing a bunch of things that the Bible teaches against. You know vulgarity of speech looking at perverse things on the TV.
I mean think about not only bad company, but what are you allowing into your mind? What kind of TV shows are you watching? What kind of movies are you watching? You think I'll go it's harmless. I'm in Christ.
There's now no condemnation in Christ. I can watch whatever I want. No, you actually are conforming yourself to the things of the world and Bad company corrupts good morals. How are you living? I mean wise decisions.
I mean think practically go through the movie collection and the stuff that's rated R. Do we need gratuitous violence and vulgarity to enjoy a film. Chuck it you don't need it. What are you spending your time with?
Not only company but other things and what you're watching and listening to. You know, we as Christians often or we come here to worship. We come here to worship God the creator of the universe became a man and died and took your penalty on himself.
He took the wrath of God on himself so that you can live and then you go home and you watch things that God hates. That God calls an abomination. I Mean just think about it like that wisdom. How are you living your life?
The gut the Word of God tells us God gives us wisdom. Bad company corrupts good morals. Three amazing treasures that are found in the search for wisdom. Number one discernment from God. Number two defense from God.
And number three deliverance from God helps the believer by removing us away from sinful habits and Those that would cause us to stumble. The hope in this passage is that believers gain wisdom through a constant process of growing through sanctification.
And that's only possible through the atoning work of Christ who gave his life as a sacrifice for our substitute.
Jesus.
Voluntarily laid down his life and he took on the just and righteous wrath of God the Father for the penalty of sin that was due to us. If You believe in the name of Jesus and trust him with your soul.
Acknowledging you are a sinner and turning away from sin and hoping in the good news that Christ gave his life. To pardon you then you will be saved. Then you will be saved. What does it take to be saved believe in the name of Jesus for salvation?
God started the work of salvation and now as believers we now have a new position in Christ. It is a finished and completed act. Everlasting life by faith alone in Christ alone. Sanctified literally means to set apart for special use or purpose that is to make holy or sacred.
Therefore sanctification refers to the state or process of being set apart made holy. We gain wisdom through a constant process of growing this happens over our life. But the growth is not in our own.
Understanding the growth must come from the Word of God and the Holy Spirit. God is the only source for true wisdom. You know you think about this and you guys may not be familiar with this term, but there's a term called the emergent Church.
Which says that as culture and society changes? Then the church Must change along with culture and society and a new church must emerge to meet the culture where it is. That is satanic. I Don't want to change to be a part to do what the culture says to do.
The culture is ever changing tides of morality. We don't want to change and be like the culture. The Christian is counter culture. We are followers of Christ.
Christians.
You know God is the only source for true wisdom and oftentimes we we put our The understanding we have in life we put on things that the world tells us is right or wrong. We think we know everything. We forget we have the Bible the Word of God that can tell us how to live.
I read this illustration that demonstrates our Willingness to lean on our own understanding. A man was on the practice golf course when the club golf pro the guy that does the lessons he brought another man out for a lesson and The pro watched the guy swing several times and started making suggestions for improvement.
But each time the guy interrupted with his own version of what was wrong and how to correct it. So he pays the golf course people the money to be with the pro for the lesson. He's swinging away the golf pros telling him this is what you're doing wrong.
But the guy's interrupting and just giving his own input and how he should fix it. After a few minutes of this interference the pro Began nodding his head in agreement. And at the end of the lesson the man paid the pro Congratulated him on his expertise as a teacher and left in an obviously pleased frame of mind.
He got his money's worth. The person watching this was so astonished by the performance that he asked the pro. Why did you go along with him? Why did you go along with him and the old golf pro said with a grin as he carefully pocketed the fee for his lesson?
He said I learned long ago that it's a waste of time to sell answers to a man who wants to buy the sound of his own voice. Does that describe you this morning? Are you leaning on your own? Understanding or are you leaning on God's understanding as followers of Christ.
We must follow.
Him.
We must follow him as Believers. We must place our trust in God for understanding. What does the Proverbs say? Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not depend on your own. Understanding Proverbs 3 5 we must trust and depend on God.
Proverbs chapter 2 verses 1 through 13 helps us to realize that the Bible reveals God's wisdom to us. If We seek God's wisdom He will allow us to make a habit in our lives of right choices and help us to avoid moral pitfalls because of God's wisdom.
When we do make sinful choices or mistakes we can learn from those errors and recover. As Believers we are not going to develop in all areas of wisdom at once. Some people may have more insight than discretion.
Some people may have more knowledge than common sense. This passage tells us that we can all pray to God for wisdom. We can pray to God for all areas of wisdom. We can take the necessary steps to develop all aspects of wisdom in our lives in the context of dealing with trials.
James the half-brother of Jesus said this. Consider it all joy my brothers when you encounter various trials. Knowing that the testing of your faith brings about perseverance and let perseverance have its perfect work.
So that you may be perfect and complete lacking in nothing. But if any of you lacks wisdom Let him ask of God who gives to all generously and without reproach. And it will be given to him James 1.
One.
Commentator said on this passage from James and I think this is a great correlation to our passage in Proverbs chapter 2. Listen to this quote. He says we can't really know the depth of our character until we see how we react under pressure.
It is easy to be kind to others when everything is going well. But can we still be kind when others are treating us unfairly? God wants to make us mature and complete not to keep us from all pain. Instead of complaining about our struggles. We should see them as opportunities for growth.
Thank God for promising to be with you in rough times. Ask him to help you solve your problems or to give you the strength to endure them. Then be patient. God will not leave you alone with your problems.
He will stay close and help you grow. By wisdom James is talking not only about knowledge But the ability to make wise decisions in difficult circumstances. Whenever we need wisdom we can pray to God and he will generously supply what we need.
Christians don't have to grope around in the dark hoping to stumble upon answers. We can ask for God's wisdom to guide our choices. The wisdom from God relates to life even during the most trying times.
It is not a wisdom isolated from suffering in trials. This wisdom is the tool by which trials are overcome. An Intelligent person may have profound ideas, but a wise person puts those ideas into action.
Intelligence will allow someone to describe several reasons why the car broke down. The wise person chooses the most likely reason and proceeds to take action. God's wisdom goes beyond common sense. Common sense does not lead us to choose joy in the middle of trials.
This wisdom begins with respect for God leads to living by God's direction and results in the ability to tell right from wrong. Asking for wisdom is ultimately asking to be like Christ. The Bible identifies Christ as the wisdom of God.
Paul actually says in Colossian that he's the hidden treasures of All wisdom and knowledge of God. That's Christ. That's who Jesus is. In Proverbs chapter 2 the wise King Solomon Describes three amazing results for searching for wisdom.
So that you can learn to grow in godly living. The skill of godly living and discernment to develop discernment. Discernment from God helps the believer to develop an ever-increasing awareness of sin and righteousness.
Defense from God protects the believer by giving a divine understanding of righteousness justice and equity in Morally correct behavior and thinking. Deliverance from God helps the believer by removing us away from sinful habits and those that would cause us to stumble.
Bow your heads with me. Let's pray.