Drew Boswell

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Can God Use A Flawed Leader? 1 Kings 3:1-15

Caleb and Joshua’s birthday is coming up, and when they were younger every time we would go to the grocery store, Wal-mart, Burger King, or when they would see a commercial on TV; they would say almost constantly, “Dad, I want that for my birthday,” “I want that, I want that, dad I want that” and I may say, “Caleb do you really want a Shrek foam lamp?” or “Joshua do you really want that movie, it will give you nightmares?”

Many of our prayers are like that, “ Lord, I want this, and this, and that, and can you do this, and that” . . .on and on we go, while God is sitting there saying, “Are you sure you want to have that, or do this, or go there?” “I have such a bigger vision for your life than a Shrek foam lamp, I want to pour out my goodness on your life and give you this.” As you consider your walk with the Lord and the things you ask of Him, consider the following from 1 Kings 3. He desires to use flawed people to accomplish unimaginable things. He desires to use you to do the wonderful. But there is a process.

What Kind of Leader Would Solomon Be? (vv. 1-4)

“1 Solomon made an alliance with Pharaoh king of Egypt and married his daughter. He brought her to the City of David until he finished building his palace and the temple of the LORD, and the wall around Jerusalem. 2 The people, however, were still sacrificing at the high places, because a temple had not yet been built for the Name of the LORD. 3 Solomon showed his love for the LORD by walking according to the statutes of his father David, except that he offered sacrifices and burned incense on the high places. 4 The king went to Gibeon to offer sacrifices, for that was the most important high place, and Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings on that altar.”

The book of I Kings opens with David making Solomon king, David giving his son some instructions and making a few requests of his son, and Solomon then doing some housekeeping. And in today’s text we get a first glimpse of what kind of king Solomon was to be.

An Alliance with Egypt 

When God was giving the people the law, he warned that the people would one day want a king, and he warned the people not to let him do certain things. Deuteronomy 17:16 “The king, moreover, must not acquire great numbers of horses for himself or make the people return to Egypt to get more of them, for the LORD has told you, “You are not to go back that way again.” To go back to Egypt was to return to a place of slavery.  But here we see that Solomon sees the need to marry the daughter of Egypt.

2 Chronicles 1:14-16 “Solomon accumulated chariots and horses; he had fourteen hundred chariots and twelve thousand horses, which he kept in the chariot cities and also with him in Jerusalem. 15 The king made silver and gold as common in Jerusalem as stones, and cedar as plentiful as sycamore-fig trees in the foothills. 16 Solomon’s horses were imported from Egypt and from Kue’ the royal merchants purchased them from Kue.”

Married to Foreign (Women)

1 Kings 11:1-2 “King Solomon, however, loved many foreign women besides Pharaoh’s daughter, Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Sidonians and Hittites. 2 They were from nations about which the LORD had told the Israelites, “You must not intermarry with them, because they will surely turn your hearts after their gods.” Nevertheless, Solomon held fast to them in love.”

Solomon marries these women from foreign lands. Just as an aside, this is not a racial issue — it has to do with the false gods these women worshiped.

Performing Burnt Offerings to Foreign gods

God wanted the people to worship and sacrifice on the altar of the tabernacle, in the manner He commanded Moses, but even more so, He wanted their obedience. Every time we see sacrifices mentioned in the Bible, we need to remember that this is part of God’s concession, and not His will, as we are told in 1 Samuel 15:22 “Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the LORD ? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams.”

Duet. 12:1-2, 4 “These are the decrees and laws you must be careful to follow in the land that the LORD, the God of your fathers, has given you to possess, as long as you live in the land. 2 Destroy completely all the places on the high mountains and on the hills and under every spreading tree where the nations you are dispossessing worship their gods. . . 4 You must not worship the LORD your God in their way.

But Solomon once again ignores God’s Word, “. . . . except that he offered sacrifices and burned incense on the high places” 

The Presence of “High Places”

“The king [Solomon] went to Gibeon to offer sacrifices.”  We first see the city of Gideon in the Bible when they fool Joshua in Joshua 9:14 “The men examined some of their [Gibeonites] provisions, but they failed to ask the Lord’s advice.” God’s command to Joshua and the rest of the people was to clear out the promised land of foreign people who worshipped foreign gods.   This group of people was allowed to stay, and now the king of God’s chosen people is there worshipping their gods.

Here are four examples where the leader ignores God’s Word and decides to do what “seems right in his own eyes.” But, how do we explain that God is about to appear before Solomon, he is going to bless him in ways that no other man has ever known, and yet we see him here, he is clearly going against God and His ways? The first time we really see Solomon acting as king, he is messing up big time.

Do you ever feel that way as a leader? You may not see at the time, but if you look back over your life you see mess ups, mistakes, bad calls, and just plain sinfulness. Can God use you? Is it possible to overcome these things?

Read on friend.  

The King Makes a Wish (vv. 5-9)

5 At Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon during the night in a dream, and God said, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you.” 6 Solomon answered, “You have shown great kindness to your servant, my father David, because he was faithful to you and righteous and upright in heart. You have continued this great kindness to him and have given him a son to sit on his throne this very day. 7 “Now, O LORD my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David. But I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties. 8 Your servant is here among the people you have chosen, a great people, too numerous to count or number. 9 So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?”

“The king went to Gibeon to offer sacrifices” While Solomon was on the high place, going against what God’s Word and Commandments clearly teach, sacrificing animals to other gods, “At Gibeon the LORD appeared to Solomon.”

Romans 10:20 “And Isaiah boldly says, “I was found by those who did not seek me; I revealed myself to those who did not ask for me.”

God in His grace and mercy came to Solomon, when Solomon would not come to the Lord in His Temple. And even though Solomon had sinned against Him, the Lord said, “I want to bless your life greatly!” he said, “Sinner, I want to use you, I want to bless you, I want to use you greatly!

This is one reason why I love the Bible, God loves to reach down and take sinful people and bless them and that’s what happened to the Apostle Paul in Acts 9:1-4 “Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest 2and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. 3As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. 4He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”

Abraham, who was worshipping other gods is called, Joshua 24:2 “Joshua said to all the people, “This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘Long ago your forefathers, including Terah the father of Abraham and Nahor, lived beyond the River and worshiped other gods.”

God’s words didn’t come through a prophet, or a seer, God appeared to him in person. And He simply said to Solomon, “ask for whatever you want me to give to you.” Have you ever heard the teaching on prayer, that says, God answers prayer with yes, no, or wait?  Many times God desires to bless us, or use us in a powerful way, but we have to grow into it, or be able to handle it. God desires for us to learn things about ourselves and what He desires to do through us.

What if God were to come to you, and say, “ask for whatever you want me to give to you.” Jesus put it this way, Mark 11:22 “Have faith in God,” Jesus answered. 23“I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him. 24Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.“

In this process of talking with God Solomon recognizes four things about himself:

(1) “You have shown great kindness to your servant, my father David, because he was faithful to you . . . a son to sit on his throne this very day” — Solomon recognizes that he is in a position that he did not earn, deserve, “ it was because of someone else’s righteousness, his father David, that he is able to be where he is. When we spend time with God we quickly encounter His greatness and our humanity.

(2) “Now, O LORD my God, you have made your servant king,”  He recognizes that he was king, whether he deserved to be there or not, whether someone else could do a better job, no matter what his view of himself was, he was there, on the thrown and he was king.  If you find yourself to be the leader then God expects you to lead.

(3) “But I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties.” He recognizes that in his responsibilities, he does not know how to do it well. He feels like a child, inadequate, and fumbling. In most things that relate to leadership, people, and the spiritual, we humans are this way. Those that think they “have arrived” or are “experts” will eventually discover that it is by God’s grace that they have had success.

(4) “8Your servant is here among the people you have chosen, a great people, too numerous to count or number.” Solomon recognizes that the task before him is a great one. He feels overwhelmed and doesn’t know what to do. God’s vision for you is great, do you see it? It is larger than what you can do on your own.

The Wonder of God’s Grace (vv. 10-13)

10 The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this. 11 So God said to him, “Since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment in administering justice, 12 I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be. 13 Moreover, I will give you what you have not asked for, both riches and honor” so that in your lifetime you will have no equal among kings.

Why was the Lord so pleased with Solomon’s answer? Because his response was all about asking God to give him what he needed to adequately do what God had put him in the seat to do, not his own selfish personal whims.

“I will do what you have asked . . . I will give you [so that]. . . Moreover [so that.]”  Solomon’s one time response to God brought about wisdom and wealth so that the world had never seen. But there was also an ongoing response to God that he had to make on a moment by moment basis.

“14 And if you walk in my ways and obey my statutes and commands as David your father did, I will give you a long life.” 15 Then Solomon awoke,”and he realized it had been a dream. He returned to Jerusalem, stood before the ark of the Lord’s covenant and sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship offerings. Then he gave a feast for all his court.

God also promised Solomon long life, but there is clause, this blessing would be based on “if you walk in my ways” a moment by moment decision to follow God and His ways. Which is more important? The riches the world has never seen (which has no conditions) or a long life (with a condition)? God can give either, but to God which is more important?

Years on this earth, in obedience to God, and living out His calling upon your life, is far more precious than vast wealth, education, or any other trappings of the world. Why? Because the longer you have on this earth, the longer you have to influence other people. Solomon, would influence millions.

How great is the vision that you have for your life? Ask God to show you, “Lord how can I make the most of the years that you have given me, to influence as many people as possible for You?” Don’t let the worries of this world crowd that out. Don’t let that burning movement of His Spirit in your chest become an after thought.

“He returned to Jerusalem, stood before the ark of the Lord’s covenant and sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship offerings.” God came to Solomon in Gibeon and now Solomon moves into God’s will by going back to Jerusalem. The mercy and grace that God pours onto Solomon, moves his heart to obedience.

So if God loves to bless sinful people, and change their lives, shouldn’t we be all the more sinful? Romans 6:1-4 “What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? 2By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? 3Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.” Solomon, understanding God’s grace, doesn’t continue to sin by going to Gibeon, he changes his life and leads the people to God in Jerusalem.

In order for God to show you His great plan for your life, you have to give Him your heart. Be ready when He comes to you. He will tell you of His love for you, and how he want to bless your life, how he wants to change your life, won’t you give Him your heart? If your wish is for Jesus to take your sin away, he will do it. If your wish is for Him to use you for His glory, He will do it. But be warned, it will be big, scary and require your dependence upon Him.

Panic; Psalm 74

There was a time when my boys were of an age where they loved to get up and turn on the TV and choose “their” show (Batman Brave and the Bold, Star Wars Clone Wars, H-G’s was Olivia), etc. One morning Kimberly had gone to run some errands with the rest of the kids, and Caleb I were left in the house. I was going to do some yard work so I called Caleb’s name. He didn’t respond, so I called a little louder, he was focused on this tv show that he was watching, and I he really didn’t hear me. But I told him, “I’m going out to the garage.” So I went out into the garage and started to get the lawnmower ready to cut the grass, I put some new string in the head of the weed eater, filled them up with gas, and I was out there about forty-five minutes just doing different things.

When the TV show went off, Caleb regained consciences and began to look around. He began to run through the house yelling for Kimberly and I. No one was in the house and he began to panic. His loving father was not there, and he felt all alone. Eventually he came outside, really upset – to find me in the garage.

Have you ever had a time when suddenly you realized that God was not there anymore, or at least it felt that way? You pray, but don’t sense His presence. You serve, and discover that His power is not there anymore – you know you are doing it in your strength. You come to worship – But He doesn’t speak to you – you are just going through the motions. You seek Him, but you can’t seem to find Him anywhere – He is gone. Just like with Caleb, God told you “I’m not staying here anymore, I want you to go with me”, but you have allowed ourselves to be distracted by something. For some time it has had our complete focus. But now there is an awakening.

“Few things in life are more excruciating than suffering defeats while serving God. When God’s work is met with setbacks, his people agonize over these losses and long for God’s kingdom work to be reestablished. And until God’s kingdom is again prospering, distress fills the hearts of his servants. Until we find Him, and are in His presence again there is panic. This is the focus of Psalm 74.”[1] This lament expresses how God’s people experienced agony because of their devastation and were calling upon him for relief and restoration.

In 2 Kings 25 the enemies of God have destroyed the temple, and even worse it seems that God has forgotten them. It occurs 586 years before Christ is born – those who were not killed by Babylon were carried off into exile. The people are pleading for God to reestablish his people in their land. So they pray – but if we find ourselves in a similar situation what should we pray for? The following Psalm walks us through how to pray for the panic to stop, and our hearts to be calmed.

I. Pray with a Realistic Picture of Reality (vv. 1-3)  

O God, why do you cast us off forever? Why does your anger smoke against the sheep of your pasture? 2 Remember your congregation, which you have purchased of old, which you have redeemed to be the tribe of your heritage! Remember Mount Zion, where you have dwelt. 3 Direct your steps to the perpetual ruins; the enemy has destroyed everything in the sanctuary!

Because of the events that occurred around them, God’s people cry out and ask God, “Why have you rejected us forever?” God had not rejected them; he had withdrawn the power of his presence from them. The psalmist asked how long will this rejection last? His abandonment was demonstrated by the ransacked city and ruined temple (Psalm 79:1).

“Why does your anger smoke against the sheep of your pasture?” – God’s people see the image of a smoldering city that had been devastated by a foreign power and link it to God’s rejection and abandonment of his people.

The psalmist asks God to remember how He has dealt with them in the past – his people who He had purchased from Egypt (Ex 20:2). God had chosen them to be His inheritance (Deut 4:20), those that He has redeemed (Ex 15:13, 16), God had dwelt among his people on Mt Zion (1 Kg 6:12-13), which was God’s holy hill (Ps 2:6), and dwelling with them (Ps 132:5, 7). God has done all of these same things for us.[2]

The Psalmist is asking God to look at the smoldering temple, how God’s people have been carried off into exile – in other words, “Lord look at our current condition.” This was not just a short term thing, but “perpetual ruin.” The destruction keeps going on and on and on.

“Lord this has been going on for some time now”, and “the enemy has destroyed everything in the sanctuary” There was nothing left within the temple that the enemy had not desecrated and destroyed.

II. Pray With A Realization of the Destruction (vv. 4-9)

4 Your foes have roared in the midst of your meeting place; they set up their own signs for signs. 5 They were like those who swing axes in a forest of trees. 6 And all its carved wood they broke down with hatchets and hammers. 7 They set your sanctuary on fire;
they profaned the dwelling place of your name, bringing it down to the ground. 8 They said to themselves, “We will utterly subdue them”; they burned all the meeting places of God in the land. 9 We do not see our signs; there is no longer any prophet, and there is none among us who knows how long.

The psalmist now points us to the foe himself. He comes into God’s house of worship and roars! He lifts up his battle flags and plants them right there in the meeting place where God’s people worship.

1 Peter 5:8 “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” While God’s people are distracted and focused on everything but the Lord, the enemy enters into the very temple of the Lord, and roars. His teeth snap the necks of the weak and the young.

As the enemy of the Lord he raises his disgusting and foul flag and he dares to plant it among the congregation. The enemy who roars says, “I have this one, and this one, and this, and this one, and this one, and this one – they are mine.” All the while, God’s people stare blindly into space.

The temple had beautifully carved wood paneling build by master craftsmen. So when we see “They were like those who swing axes in a forest of trees. 6 And all its carved wood they broke down with hatchets and hammers.” The enemy takes his ax to the temple paneling and splinters the temple. The enemy seeks to destroy what has been built. It is so much easier to tear down and burn rather than build.

How many churches has Satan taken his hatchet to, so that at the end of day it lays as a pile of splinters? Some here, some there – churches litter the landscape that have been destroyed – that have closed their doors for the last time.

Then when it was completely devastated, before it has a chance to rebuild – he goes one step further “They set your sanctuary on fire; they profaned the dwelling place of your name, bringing it down to the ground.” There is a very real enemy who seeks to bring every church burning to the ground.

The enemy has a plan and he is relentless in his carrying it out. The enemy is set on bring about our destruction – in hell they hold pep rallies where 8 They said to themselves, “We will utterly subdue them”; they burned all the meeting places of God in the land.” They will not be happy until every church is destroyed – including yours. Have you not seen him parade with his flags and clamp his teeth on your fellow church member? You seek to build, but he splinters it again and again with his ax of destruction.  

“9 We do not see our signs; there is no longer any prophet, and there is none among us who knows how long” – There is nothing more terrifying and discouraging then not knowing how long will this pain and devastation continue. How long will this condition last among God’s people? Will the church wake up?

Will it regain consciousness? When will the destruction become so great that it will awake and do something? Will the church have to burn around us? The splinters are hitting you in the face. The person that sat next to you last week isn’t there anymore, only his foul and horrific flag is left. Blood paw prints stains the aisles and the mother’s around you weep.

III.       Pray with God’s Reputation in Mind (vv. 10-11)

10 How long, O God, is the foe to scoff? Is the enemy to revile your name forever? 11 Why do you hold back your hand, your right hand? Take it from the fold of your garment and destroy them!

Why does God seem to do nothing as His temple is destroyed and His people are carried off into captivity? To answer this question we go back to 2 Kings 25.

2 Kings 25 tells us that the nation is punished because of the sins of Manasseh. Manasseh was a king that we first see in 2 Kings 21:2-9 â€œAnd he did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, according to the despicable practices of the nations whom the Lord drove out before the people of Israel. 3 For he rebuilt the high places that Hezekiah his father had destroyed, and he erected altars for Baal and made an Asherah, as Ahab king of Israel had done, and worshiped all the host of heaven and served them. 4 And he built altars in the house of the Lord, of which the Lord had said, “In Jerusalem will I put my name.” 5 And he built altars for all the host of heaven in the two courts of the house of the Lord. 6 And he burned his son as an offering and used fortune-telling and omens and dealt with mediums and with necromancers. He did much evil in the sight of the Lord, provoking him to anger. 7 And the carved image of Asherah that he had made he set in the house of which the Lord said to David and to Solomon his son, “In this house, and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, I will put my name forever. 8 And I will not cause the feet of Israel to wander anymore out of the land that I gave to their fathers, if only they will be careful to do according to all that I have commanded them, and according to all the Law that my servant Moses commanded them.” 9 But they did not listen, and Manasseh led them astray to do more evil than the nations had done whom the Lord destroyed before the people of Israel.”

There was a king who led the people to walk away from God. And the people willingly followed and left the Lord, and did things in the presence of the Lord that were horrible. The Lord moved, and His people did not follow, and it was only as they were being carried off into captivity that they awoke and realized what was going on.

IV. Pray With a Worshipful Heart (vv. 12-17)

12 Yet God my King is from of old, working salvation in the midst of the earth. 13 You divided the sea by your might; you broke the heads of the sea monsters on the waters.
14 You crushed the heads of Leviathan; you gave him as food for the creatures of the wilderness. 15 You split open springs and brooks; you dried up ever-flowing streams.
16 Yours is the day, yours also the night; you have established the heavenly lights and the sun. 17 You have fixed all the boundaries of the earth; you have made summer and winter.

 When things seem the darkest and you don’t know how you will continue, it is helpful to remember what God has done for you in the past. The psalmist says “you” eleven times in vv. 12-17 – and he praises the Lord for what he has done for His people. He praises God for his strength to crush and control.

For example, we don’t know what a Leviathan is but God has crushed it. God has power over all of creation, streams, brooks, day and night, stars and moons, seasons, and where the land begins and where it ends – God is in control. God has the power to stop this condition that His people are in.

Even after Israel had turned to false gods, (which involved the killing of their own children), even after all that they had done – God was still their God and He was still their king. When they turn from their wicked ways, He is still there. This God and King is always seeking to restore and redeem his creation “working salvation in the midst of the earth.”

God is able to see and understand something that we can’t. Since he “is from old,” He has seen all this before. A people who follow God, then turn from Him, then He must discipline them, and then they return – only to repeat the cycle again.

V. Pray with God’s Promises In Mind (vv. 18-23)

18 Remember this, O Lord, how the enemy scoffs, and a foolish people reviles your name. 19 Do not deliver the soul of your dove to the wild beasts; do not forget the life of your poor forever. 20 Have regard for the covenant, for the dark places of the land are full of the habitations of violence. 21 Let not the downtrodden turn back in shame; let the poor and needy praise your name. 22 Arise, O God, defend your cause; remember how the foolish scoff at you all the day! 23 Do not forget the clamor of your foes, the uproar of those who rise against you, which goes up continually!

When the nation has forgotten why God had allowed the destruction of the temple, the psalmist asks God to remember. But to remember how the enemy has mocked Him and His name. He is asking God to not hand over his covenant people to the world or “wild beasts.”

Genesis 17:1-22 – God had promised to preserve them as a nation. When the “wild beasts” invaded their land they brought violence, and it filled the land with darkness – which is a reference to the grave. So the psalmist asks on behalf of the oppressed, poor, and needy for God to rise up and defend their cause. God’s people understood that as God’s people they were to be serving and helping the oppressed, the poor, the needy, the widows and orphans.[3]

Mark 10:45 “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” If God would spare and restore the church, then it would be for the reason that it could bring His name glory and be His hands in feet by serving others (widows, orphans, poor, needy).

So you went to church on Sunday? Did you eat some lunch afterwards? This week you plan to take the kids to ball games and swim practice. You’ll go to work and put in another week. You’ll probably even go back next week sing some songs and hear another massage. But be prepared to see another flag, and the enemy will claim another. Will it be one of mine? Will it be one of yours? Will we awake from our distractions?

There is a way to change the course of the wayward church – They don’t have to sit by and watch as the enemy plants his flags and destroys their families. Jeremiah 29:10-14 “For thus says the Lord: When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will visit you, and I will fulfill to you my promise and bring you back to this place. 11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. 12 Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. 13 You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you, declares the Lord, and I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations and all the places where I have driven you, declares the Lord, and I will bring you back to the place from which I sent you into exile.”

They can awake and cry out to God. 

__________________

[1] Max Anders (ed.), Homlan Old Testament Commentary, Psalms 1-75 (Nashville, Tennessee; Broadman & Holman, 2003), 373.

[2] Ibid.

[3] Ibid. 374.

Choosing Between Two Invitations; Proverbs 9

 

There’s a story about a proud young man who came to Socrates asking for knowledge. He walked up to the muscular philosopher and said, “O great Socrates, I come to you for knowledge.” Socrates recognized a pompous numbskull when he saw one. He led the young man through the streets, to the sea, and chest deep into water. Then he asked, “What do you want?” 

“Knowledge, O wise Socrates,” said the young man with a smile.  Socrates put his strong hands on the man’s shoulders and pushed him under. Thirty seconds later Socrates let him up. “What do you want?” he asked again.  “Wisdom,” the young man sputtered, “O great and wise Socrates.” 

Socrates crunched him under again. Thirty seconds passed, thirty-five. Forty. Socrates let him up. The man was gasping. “What do you want, young man?” Between heavy, heaving breaths the fellow wheezed, “Knowledge, O wise and wonderful…” Socrates jammed him under again Forty seconds passed. Fifty. “What do you want?”  “Air!” the young man screeched. “I need air!” “When you want knowledge as you have just wanted air, then you will have knowledge.”[1]

The young man was seeking an earthly wisdom from Socrates, but we as believers say we seek godly wisdom. But do we crave it like we would crave air if we were without for a few seconds? In Proverbs 9 Solomon’s son is offered two choices. Like a person in the fork of a road, he is invited to go in two different directions. One takes him to safety the other will bring about his destruction.

 Wisdom’s Invitation (vv. 1-6)

“Wisdom has built her house; she has hewn her seven pillars. 2 She has slaughtered her beasts; she has mixed her wine; she has also set her table. 3 She has sent out her young women to call from the highest places in the town, 4 â€œWhoever is simple, let him turn in here!” To him who lacks sense she says, 5 â€œCome, eat of my bread and drink of the wine I have mixed. 6 Leave your simple ways, and live, and walk in the way of insight.”

When it says that wisdom’s house has seven pillars, it is showing the reader that the house is vast, large, open, and ready to receive many guests. The tables in this huge room are filled with food (beasts), and there is wine to drink. The mixed wine is a reference to watering down the wine. Jews considered undiluted wine distasteful. Passover wine was mixed with three parts water to one part wine. It may also reference the mixing of spices into the watered down wine for added flavor (Ps. 75:8).

Now it is time to gather the guests, so wisdom sends out her maids to gather them. They go to the highest points of the city and yell out where all can see them and hear them.  

Luke 14:15-24 “When one of those who reclined at table with him heard these things, he said to him, “Blessed is everyone who will eat bread in the kingdom of God!” 16 But he said to him, “A man once gave a great banquet and invited many. 17 And at the time for the banquet he sent his servant to say to those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’ 18 But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said to him, ‘I have bought a field, and I must go out and see it. Please have me excused.’ 19 And another said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to examine them. Please have me excused.’ 20 And another said, ‘I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.’ 21 So the servant came and reported these things to his master. Then the master of the house became angry and said to his servant, ‘Go out quickly to the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in the poor and crippled and blind and lame.’ 22 And the servant said, ‘Sir, what you commanded has been done, and still there is room.’ 23 And the master said to the servant, ‘Go out to the highways and hedges and compel people to come in, that my house may be filled. 24 For I tell you, none of those men who were invited shall taste my banquet.”

It is Christ’s desire that any who want to have a relationship with Him, can call upon His name and He will answer them. All are invited to come to His house.

This feast that wisdom presents is not for some special elite group of people, she says, “Whoever is simple..or lacks sense…it is for the person who has come to realization that they don’t know everything and that they are not able to provide everything they need (joy, salvation, peace, meaning, purpose, freedom from sin, etc..)

So wisdom’s invitation is for the person to enter into her home where there is plenty of room, and turn from foolish living. Once you are there you are rewarded or are able to enjoy food and drink – or you are satisfied.

In Isaiah God presents himself as something to be eaten or partaken of – Isaiah 55:1-2 “Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.2 Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food.”

Then in the New Testament Jesus presents himself in a similar way: 

John 6:51-65 “I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.” 52 The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” 53 So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. 54 Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. 55 For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. 56 Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him.”

So the call of Wisdom, as she calls on high, is to turn from a wayward path, and turn into her home. There the person will find drink, shelter, safety, contentment, food or provision, and ultimately life. We have life through our relationship with God, and apart from Him is the path of death. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life, no man comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6

If the traveler as he stand out in the street hears wisdom’s cry, and says, “I’ll wait, let me think about it, and goes on his way – then he has made a decision to reject wisdom – you can’t wait to make a decision to follow Jesus, either you accept Him or reject Him.

 How Do We Choose? (vv. 7-12)

“7 Whoever corrects a scoffer gets himself abuse, and he who reproves a wicked man incurs injury. 8 Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you; reprove a wise man, and he will love you.
9 Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning. 10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight. 11 For by me your days will be multiplied, and years will be added to your life. 12 If you are wise, you are wise for yourself; if you scoff, you alone will bear it.”

So in vv. 7-12 we have two types of people described here – (1) one person if you correct them, or try to teach them, will turn on you and you will be abused. This person is described as a foolish person, a scoffer of the things of God, and they will end up hating you. All because you made a comment about their behavior on Facebook, or asked them about something in their life that concerned you.

(2) Then there is a wise person, who when you ask them about something that concerns you, or seek to correct a behavior in their life loves you because of it. The wise man will listen to what you said and learn. He will become wiser.  

How teachable are you? Do you get defensive, or say “don’t judge me” and cuss the person out, or are you open to what others say, and seek to learn from them? Wisdom’s teaching is twofold (1) one is correction, and the other (2) is instruction on righteous living. We like the blessing, but not the pain of having others point out sinful behavior in our lives.

Verse 10 looks a lot like Proverbs chapter 1, and the ESV even translates them the same “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” But the word here for beginning in Hebrew has been substituted, and it means “turning point.” So the “fear of the Lord is the turning point of wisdom.” It’s when a person begins to fear the Lord that the person makes a turn in their life and begins to go a different way. They stop walking outside of wisdom’s home, and turn to come inside to the banquet hall.

God is shown to us here as a God who desires to be known, and to have a relationship with us. It is through our relationship with Him, we discover that He is holy, and because of this it requires us to change many things about ourselves.

“Holy One” in v. 10 is plural in the Hebrew – so it becomes “knowledge of the Holy Ones” which a way of emphasizing the fullness of God’s holiness. When we say “fear of the Lord is the turning point” of a person’s life, it means that person fears God because they realize that they are rebellious, sinful, and wicked in the core of who they are and God is holy and completely different than us. If they stay that way, then they will be cast away from God and punished for their wickedness.

But Jesus has provided a way for us to be made right with God – He gave up his life, by dying on a cross so that mankind may have eternal life. He was punished instead of us; He took our place. If we receive Christ “as the bread of life” and accept the gift of forgiveness of sin that he offers, and repent or turn from our sins, then you will have eternal life – this is the beginning of wisdom, a turning point toward an abundant and meaningful life.

If we receive wisdom’s invitation we are given the reward of multiplied days (or a longer life). An eternal life in fact.

Folly’s Invitation (vv. 13-18)

“13 The woman Folly is loud; she is seductive and knows nothing. 14 She sits at the door of her house; she takes a seat on the highest places of the town, 15 calling to those who pass by, who are going straight on their way, 16 â€œWhoever is simple, let him turn in here!” And to him who lacks sense she says, 17 â€œStolen water is sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.” 18 But he does not know that the dead are there, that her guests are in the depths of Sheol.”

So here we go again by this bad woman’s house; but this time instead of calling her the adulteress as in Proverbs 6, now she is Folly. She has made no preparation, there is no mixed wine, or beasts prepared, there is no vast banquet hall – only the loud calling of a women who doesn’t know very much.

She presents a proverb “Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!” And to him who lacks sense she says, 17 â€œStolen water is sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.” Instead of preparing a meal, she suggests that the traveler and she go and steal it and eat it in the shadows. But the offer is bread and water – instead of meat/beast and mixed wine. Those that lack wisdom don’t know that life can be more than bread and water, and stealing, and immediate gratification.

There is no nourishment in bread and water and in the end it leads to death. If the boy goes into Folly’s home he will discover that her guests are dead.

She is calling out to you when you pass by her house, especially to those who are “going straight on their way.” Proverbs 4:25-27 “Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you. 26 Ponder the path of your feet; then all your ways will be sure. 27 Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your foot away from evil.”

When I first started driving, I was working on getting my learner’s permit so it included several hours of being in the car under my dad’s driving instruction. And when I first started driving I would weave back and forth, back and forth, between the yellow and white line. So my dad said, “Look straight ahead, or focus way down the road, or where you will end up – not on what is directly in front of the car.” When a person looks way down the road, and not at an immediate circumstance, they are able to determine if this action, decision, course, etc. is the going to be best for them in the future.

So we have a father giving instructions to his son, but we don’t know which woman’s home he chose to enter – Wisdom or Folly’s. If you read on through the rest of the book, at each verse you are given these options – listen to wisdom and live a skilled life, or ignore wisdom and go to the grave, life or death.

Also, to follow Wisdom, it requires the person to make a decision, to grow, to change a direction in their lives. Whereas Folly, doesn’t really ask anything of the person. She only wants you to come along for the ride. Wisdom is a harder way of life, but it will lead to life.

 “If you want to be free to sail the seven seas, you must make yourself a slave to the compass” or so an ancient sailor once said.  All of life involves balancing our freedoms and our bondages. We can be free from the toothbrush and a slave to cavities. We cannot be free from the toothbrush and free from cavities. That kind of absolute freedom does not exist.

If we want the freedom of a good reputation, if we want the freedom of guilt-free living, if we want the freedom of emotional peace, if we want the freedom of moral authority, of a strong and happy family and physical health, we must make ourselves slaves to holiness and obeying God’s commands.

We can choose the freedom of immorality if we want. But then we become slaves to all the consequences. Decide in advance what you want for the rest of your life. Then ask yourself if you are willing to pay the price. You have the freedom and a corresponding bondage. You can get a bondage and a corresponding freedom. Choose wisely.  

Many people don’t choose to follow Christ because they are so focused on what they have to give up. They want to be free to do whatever they want to do. But they don’t realize that there is no true freedom, you are always a slave to something. So our choice is to be a slave to something that will give us eternal life and freedom from our sin.

Romans 6:16 “Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness?”

Again, Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life, no one can come to the Father except by me.” (John 14:6) – would you like to meet Him?

[1] M. Littleton in Moody Monthly, June, 1989, p. 29

Wisdom at Work; Proverbs 6:1-19

“When Jesus heard what had happened [to John the Baptist], he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place. Hearing of this, the crowds followed him on foot from the towns. When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick.” Matthew 14:13-14 

Jesus was undoubtedly grieving at that time over the beheading of His cousin and friend, John the Baptist. He needed to “withdraw privately to a solitary place.” Nevertheless, the people learned of His whereabouts and came seeking His healing touch. Even in that painful time of loss, Jesus took compassion on the people and reached out to those in need. So there will times when we, too, must give of ourselves even when it is difficult or inconvenient to do so.

But there was another occasion when thousands of people sought to be healed by Jesus. After spending some time with them, He got in a boat with His disciples and rowed away. Mark 4:36 says, “Leaving the crowd behind, they took [Jesus] along, just as he was, in the boat.” Undoubtedly, the large following that day included individuals with cancer, blindness, physical deformities, and every other kind of human misery. Jesus could have stayed there through the night and healed them all, yet He had apparently reached the end of His strength and knew He needed to rest. He and His disciples rowed away, apparently leaving some of the needy people standing on the bank.

Just as there is a time to give, there is also a time to be alone, to pray and to escape from the pressures of the day, even though there are worthy things yet to be accomplished. Those who fail to strike this balance are risking the good things they want to accomplish.

The book of Proverbs shows us that we must say no to some things in order to do other things well. So how does one determine what these things should be? Solomon shows us how, and he does it by letting us overhear a conversation with his son.

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The Spectator; Trapped by His Words (vv. 1-5)

“My son, if you have put up security for your neighbor, have given your pledge for a stranger,
2 if you are snared in the words of your mouth, caught in the words of your mouth, 3 then do this, my son, and save yourself, for you have come into the hand of your neighbor: go, hasten, and plead urgently with your neighbor. 4 Give your eyes no sleep and your eyelids no slumber; 5 save yourself like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter, like a bird from the hand of the fowler.”

In Hebrew the word for “your pledge” is a picture of the hand – two hands shaking in agreement to something. All throughout the Old Testament the hand is symbol of power. So Solomon is telling his son “don’t give your power away to another by making a rash promise.”

To agree to put up security for another person’s debt is to lose control of the debt. If they make bad decisions or go through some kind of trouble, you are now responsible for the debt. When you “give your pledge” – it is the same as “signing on the dotted line.” Your future now rests on “the neighbor’s” willingness to pay off the loan.[1]

Don’t allow your words (whether it be verbal, or in writing) to trap you. Solomon says that you should do whatever is within your ability to get out of the trap. Don’t sleep, go to them and get out of the agreement.

But since you have signed on the dotted line, then you can’t demand but it says, “plead urgently” – literally humble, tread upon oneself, crush, demean – humbly go to the person and strongly seek to get out of the agreement.

When the animal is caught in the trap, they don’t take a nap for a little while, they immediately begin to try their best to get out of the trap. So “go, hasten”

“your pledge for a stranger” – if a stranger came to you and asked you to cover a debt in case he couldn’t pay for it, would you – most of us would say no, but the idea here is one where you give your money to a stranger who promises quick money. Give me your money, and you will be able to make a huge profit.

Proverbs 11:15 “Whoever puts up security for a stranger will surely suffer harm, but he who hates striking hands in pledge is secure.”

 Proverbs 17:18 “One who lacks sense gives a pledge and puts up security in the presence of his neighbor.”

 Proverbs 20:16 “Take a man’s garment when he has put up security for a stranger, and hold it in pledge when he puts up security for foreigners.”

 Proverbs 22:26-27 “Be not one of those who give pledges, who put up security for debts. 27 If you have nothing with which to pay, why should your bed be taken from under you?”

Proverbs 27:13 “Take a man’s garment when he has put up security for a stranger, and hold it in pledge when he puts up security for an adulteress.

Another way to think about this issue is where I have committed to more than I can really handle. One who says, “yes” to something and suddenly becomes overcommitted, overbooked, and now can’t really afford to keep up with all the things they have committed to, or said they would do.

Like the gazelle and the bird there are so many people who feel trapped by their calendar. Before any time goes by, get out of the commitment that you have made, so that it will not damage your family, or your work/ministry that will make an eternal difference.

Remember that we live in a cycle of life. The New Year is the beginning of a new cycle for many families – How are you guarding your calendar so that God and His purpose for your family are not getting pushed out of the picture?

The Sluggard: Trapped by His Work Ethic (vv.6-11)

“6 Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise. 7 Without having any chief, officer, or ruler, 8 she prepares her bread in summer and gathers her food in harvest. 9 How long will you lie there, O sluggard? When will you arise from your sleep? 10 A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, 11 and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and want like an armed man.”

The word “sluggard” occurs 14 times in Proverbs, and nowhere else in Old Testament. So if we study this word throughout the book of Proverbs it tends to mean “folly” or “foolishness.”

So the ant provides for itself, gathering and storing. It is self-governed, self-directed, it does not need to be told what to do. And it does not need to learn, it actually teaches.

When we look at the ant there is no apparent leader, the ants just seem to recognize that they should be gathering food and storing it away for a later date. With no leader Solomon is telling his son (and us) that we should show initiative and work, and not wait to be told to do something. Take useful action without a supervisor watching.

Proverbs 10:4-5 “A slack hand causes poverty, but the hand of the diligent makes rich. 5 He who gathers in summer is a prudent son, but he who sleeps in harvest is a son who brings shame.” There is a time for work (while the harvest is in the field), but if one waits too long the harvest rots in the field and there will be nothing to eat.

So you have the hands in the first sections that foolishly give away their power with a handshake, and here we see the hands folded across the chest while the foolish man sleeps while he should be working (gathering the harvest) like the ant.

So hands are a metaphor where a dad is trying to tell his son to not waste his time on foolish things – what are you doing with your time and how are you using it to provide for yourself.  

So the father tells his son, “poverty will come upon you” and when it comes it will strike quickly, it will take all you have like a robber, like an armed man takes everything of value.

We are not a people who are lazy in that we sit still, or fold our hands – we are like the ant in that we are engaged in frantic activity, but have little to show for it. The ant is wise because not only does she work hard, but she is purposeful and diligent in staying on task.

We must (get out of inappropriate commitments) then make an appropriate commitment, and then stick with it. When it’s time to work, we must work. When it’s time to rest, we should rest. When it’s time to spend time with the family, then be engaged. When it’s time to serve in the Lord’s church then do that – and stick with it over the long haul.

Some appropriate commitments to consider would be: rest and Sabbath-keeping, unhurried time with friends and family for the purpose of building strong relationships, and schedules planned far enough in advance to ensure that what we do, we do well.

 

The Scoundrel; Trapped by A Way if Life (vv. 12-19)

“12 A worthless person, a wicked man, goes about with crooked speech, 13 winks with his eyes, signals with his feet, points with his finger, 14 with perverted heart devises evil, continually sowing discord; 15 therefore calamity will come upon him suddenly; in a moment he will be broken beyond healing.”

A wicked man is considered worthless because he does not build anything on his own, he only desires to take other people’s belongings. He uses his body to somehow signal to others, which ultimately causes people to be broken up, or to cause disunity among brothers.

It has the idea of side conversations and meetings where when a larger group gets together, the wicked man then with his eyes, feet, hands, and a perverted heart constantly works to destroy, and in that destruction take things.

So you have a warning against over-commitment and making hasty agreements in the first section, and in the second section a person makes gains by working hard and smart. Here we see the shadow side of seeking to build up wealth – to covet. The person who covets has a sense that they lack something. So in order to fill that sense of need, instead of working, they scheme.    

The Portrait of the Scoundrel (vv. 16-19)

“16 There are six things that the Lord hates, seven that are an abomination to him: 17 haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, 18 a heart that devises wicked plans,
feet that make haste to run to evil, 19 a false witness who breathes out lies, and one who sows discord among brothers.”

“Haughty eyes” is a reference to a person who refuses to lower his eyes to authority. He refuses to lower his eyes even toward God, meaning that he sees no one as his superior, no one is over him in authority.   “A lying tongue” is the person who lies to take advantage of whatever the situation may be. They say whatever needs to be said to make them seem to be in the right, or to get their way.

“hands that shed innocent blood” this list of seven things are given to us in the context of work or lifestyle. We would say now, I would never murder someone. David and Bathsheba – the story begins with laziness “a little folding of hands” where David stays behind while his soldiers go out and fight a war. 2 Samuel 11:1 “In the spring of the year, the time when kings go out to battle, David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel. And they ravaged the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah. But David remained at Jerusalem.” David was trying to save his way of life, his reputation – and was willing to kill an innocent to keep it.

A list of seven things are listed as being things that the Lord hates, and by saying it the way he did, his intention was to say that the seventh thing is above all the rest. So God hates haughty eyes, a lying tongue, etc….but he really hates it when a person causes discord among brothers.

The focus is not on God’s vengeance (there is no mention of it here), but instead we are to learn to hate the things that God hates. All of these things flow directly from the second half of the ten commandments – and they are all things that we can become if we are not careful. So guard your resources, but more importantly, guard your heart.

Luke 12:13-21 “Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” 14 But he said to him, “Man, who made me a judge or arbitrator over you?” 15 And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” 16 And he told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man produced plentifully, 17 and he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’ 18 And he said, ‘I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. 19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.’ 20 But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ 21 So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.”

Typically we work from around the late teen years to we are let’s say sixty. That’s about forty years of working, earning a paycheck, building wealth, going through life. We need to avoid being trapped by bad decisions so that our resources can be protected and used effectively.

We need to work hard and guard our commitments and work effectively so that after a period of time we have something to show for all that effort, and we have to guard our hearts so that we please God in how we go about gaining resources.

But the question is “what do I do with my resources once I have protected it, managed it, and have done it in a godly way?” Luke tells us to become rich toward God – not to build bigger barns, or get bigger wallets – but to put it toward the things of God that have eternal dividends.  

Jesus says, “one’s life does not consist in the abundance.” – we must guard our resources so that they can be used for what really counts (time, talents, tithe, and your energy, your heart or passion). What are you doing right now that will really matter one hundred years from now?

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[1] Proverbs 11:15; 17:18; 20:16; 22:26; 27:13

Why Should I Seek Wisdom? Proverbs 2

When children reach the teenage years there is a delicate balance that must be achieved between parents and teens. How much control and how much freedom should a parent exercise? Parents have to decide how much control they will have over their child and how much freedom and decision making the youth will be able to exercise.

We see in this passage that a young man is being instructed by his father and he tells him that he will encounter two major temptations; peer pressure and sexual seduction. Instead of clamping down freedom and ratcheting up control – the father tries to teach his son how to make wise decisions himself, and he instructs him on the benefits of making wise decisions. He tells him the truth about life (these are the dangers), and he gives his son the necessary tools to handle it when it comes.

Also, the father begins with the importance of knowing God. Many parents tell their children “don’t do this,” or “don’t do that” and they may even show in the Bible how these things are destructive, but they do not give an alternative to the desire to be popular, or have a girlfriend, or be in a bad relationship. The alternative is knowing God and finding joy in that relationship and way of life. The alternative given to us in Proverbs 2 is the most valuable pursuit there is, the most important thing in life – to know and love God at a deeper level.  

So let’s take a look: 

How One Receives Wisdom (vv. 1-5)

2:1 My son, if you receive my words and treasure up my commandments with you, 2 making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding; 3 yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, 4 if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, 5 then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God.

We see first in v. 1 there is an “if” and again in v. 4, “if” and in v. 5 we see “then” – these are if/then statements that say if you do this, then these things will happen.[1] If we take in our father’s commandments, then we will understand “the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God.” Fear and knowledge therefore do not just happen, they have to be sought after and desired. They require effort and time.

The way that is described here is of a person seeking wisdom, by calling for it, digging for it, mining for it, so that it can be found or discovered – but all of these things require a person to diligently seek it out – it does not just pop into your mind and heart.

I love my children, but one of my children has a tendency to wander off away from groups – water parks, cub scout camp, church… and there have been several times when we realized that the child (who shall remain anonymous) there is a rush of panic and fear that rushes over you – and your whole focus is finding that child as quickly as you can. I know I treasure this child, because I seek after the child with all I have, my heart desires nothing else but to find this child.

I yell the child’s name “anonymous”, I look under stuff, I look in stuff, I really do want to find the child. This is how we are to seek God – we cry out to the Lord in prayer, we search His Word as though we really want to discover Him, and His commands for our lives – not in some kind of guilt trip, or so we can be self-righteous.

Mark 10:46-52 “And they came to Jericho. And as he [Jesus] was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a great crowd, Bartimaeus, a blind beggar, the son of Timaeus, was sitting by the roadside. 47 And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” 48 And many rebuked him, telling him to be silent. But he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” 49 And Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” And they called the blind man, saying to him, “Take heart. Get up; he is calling you.” 50 And throwing off his cloak, he sprang up and came to Jesus. 51 And Jesus said to him, “What do you want me to do for you?” And the blind man said to him, “Rabbi, let me recover my sight.” 52 And Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he recovered his sight and followed him on the way.”

When we seek after wisdom with all that we have, it is not just wisdom that one is given, but God Himself! We get to know God better, we relate to Him at a deeper level.

How the Lord Protects Us With Wisdom (vv. 6-8)

6 For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding; 7 he stores up sound wisdom for the upright; he is a shield to those who walk in integrity, 8 guarding the paths of justice and watching over the way of his saints.

In chapter Proverbs 1 wisdom calls out to us and here we see that we are to call out for wisdom. So, wisdom desires to be listened to, and the Lord is ready to give wisdom to any who seek it. He stores it up for when we seek Him; it can be found in great quantity. Wisdom is directly related to obedience where the believer chooses to obey and wisdom is then given from God and their paths are protected. The seeker of wisdom is described as upright, blameless, just, and faithful.

Wisdom in the life of a believer then becomes a shield that is given by God that protects the believer. When we are diligent and obedient, wisdom is given from God and our decision-making becomes one where wisdom is shown. So if we look at it from the opposite view, and reverse the teaching here – when we are disobedient, wisdom is not given in the life of a person, and then their decision making is one that lacks wisdom because it is not given by God, and the person’s path is not guarded, and they suffer harm.

One of the ways that God “watches over us” is to allow us to choose to follow Him, and then because we choose His ways, and obey His commands, then he gives us the ability to protect ourselves by our ability to make good and wise decisions.

It is like a father who teaches his child to wear a helmet when he rides his bike. Every time the child goes to ride his bike the father tells him, wear your helmet – then one day the son goes out, puts on his helmet and rides his bike without the father having to say anything – he then falls – how did the father protect his son? By giving him instruction and the son then listens and obeys, and the son is protected when he fell.

As our heavenly almighty father, He has the ability to make us walk in His ways, but He has decided to give us the freedom to choose. The Bible teaches us that those who become wise are those who seek the Lord, and obey His commands (holiness) – wisdom “skills in life” are given to them by God.

The best way to prepare our children for the world is to teach them to fall in love with God’s Word. To memorize it, to discuss it, read it, pray through it – and teach them to have a quiet time on their own. We lead by example – we love God and His Word, and they follow. We can have a quiet time with them, teaching of why we do this and how important it is, then have a quiet time at the same time but separately, and then them by themselves.

Deuteronomy 6:4-9 “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. 6 And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. 8 You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 9 You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.”

Wisdom Protects Us From Evil Men (vv. 9-15) 

“9 Then you will understand righteousness and justice and equity, every good path; 10 for wisdom will come into your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul; 11 discretion will watch over you, understanding will guard you, 12 delivering you from the way of evil, from men of perverted speech, 13 who forsake the paths of uprightness to walk in the ways of darkness, 14 who rejoice in doing evil and delight in the perverseness of evil, 15 men whose paths are crooked, and who are devious in their ways.”

The seeker of wisdom is described to us as being on a path. While on this path he begins to understand how God sees righteousness, justice, and equity – and understand the “good path.” He will discover that living this is “pleasant to the soul.” He enjoys living a godly life, it brings him joy. He doesn’t have to, he gets to. It’s not a duty, or obligation but a privilege.

Wisdom given from God to the believer, and a love for God and this way of life becomes a guard against men who desire to seduce him into “ways of darkness” We see that not only do these men have perverted speech, are unrighteous, walk in ways of darkness, but that they “rejoice in doing evil.” They love being perverted, walking a crooked life path, and being devious. The danger is not what these evil men will do to the young man, but how they will draw him in to doing what they are doing, even to the point of thinking that it is pleasurable and having fun in this activity. The danger is that he will become what they are.

We all have a sin nature, that when we expose ourselves to certain things, stirs up things within us. These evil men use that sin nature to entice the young man into perverse activity. But when the young man has wisdom – he realizes this and rejoices instead in His God, and God’s ways – thus giving him the ability to not go down the crooked path.

Wisdom gives the young man the skill of saying, “no” and realizing that he does not want to live a life that way. The young man has a desire to serve God, rather than allow his sinful desire to control him, and lure him into wickedness.

Wisdom Protects Us From Evil Women (vv. 16-19)

16 So you will be delivered from the forbidden woman, from the adulteress with her smooth words, 17 who forsakes the companion of her youth and forgets the covenant of her God; 18 for her house sinks down to death, and her paths to the departed; 19 none who go to her come back,
nor do they regain the paths of life.

We see the young man, who is separated from his father, and as he is walking he comes across a woman. Wisdom will protect a young man from this “smooth” talking woman. Her smooth talk is for the purpose of getting the young man to commit adultery with her. She is not keeping the pledge that she gave to God (notice it’s not about her pledge to her husband).

Malachi 2:14 “But you say, “Why does he not?” Because the Lord was witness between you and the wife of your youth, to whom you have been faithless, though she is your companion and your wife by covenant.”

Another way to think of this is to engage in a relationship where the other person is willing to break a covenantal promise in order to get something she wants. The people that we choose to associate with will have a direct affect on us – wisdom tells us that being around this woman is dangerous.  

Proverbs 13:20 “Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.”

Desire is a theme that runs through this chapter – desire for God, desire to fit in, desire for an adulterous woman, etc.. Desire, when kept in check, and when a young man is righteous, holy, upright etc…is guarded and protected from the consequences of immoral and evil behavior because he does not engage in the activity.

But here the lust for this woman leads to a “sinking down to death,” keeping the desire in check, not engaging in activity or going to a place where this desire is aroused, has to be guided by wisdom. If not, it leads to destruction. The enticement to be with the peer group leads one to become like they are, here the desire and lust for this woman leads to the destruction of one’s life.

Wisdom’s End Result (vv. 20-22)

20 So you will walk in the way of the good and keep to the paths of the righteous. 21 For the upright will inhabit the land, and those with integrity will remain in it, 22 but the wicked will be cut off from the land, and the treacherous will be rooted out of it.

Here again we see the young man joined with a group – but they are a good and righteous group who are on a good path. And if the young man is able to be guided by wisdom, says “no” to danger, then he will “inhabit the land” and “remain” there. In the Old Testament land often times represents the presence of God, or a relationship with God. When we are obedient we are in a place where we can know God and remain in that place of knowing Him at a deeper level.

But the wicked are “cut off” from knowing God, learning things about Him, and are even at a point where they are “rooted out of it.” Wisdom then, when sought after with all that we have, with our whole heart, and if we remain obedient to God’s commands, we will have the honor and privilege of knowing God.

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Imagine you get on a plane and travel to deepest and most remotest part of a land where the people there do not speak your language and use crude instruments and tools, and have no knowledge of any other land than the surrounding country side where they grew up. Now you take that person and fly them to New York, and drop them off from a taxi to Times Square, you close the door, say “good bye” and drive off. How do you think they will do? Will they be successful? Will they even be able to live?

This is what life is like when we don’t seek God with all of our heart. Life makes no sense, it’s maddening, it’s confusing, and it seems to keep changing. There is no sense of direction and we wander from place to place, day to day, not knowing, and not understanding. Everything is foreign and we don’t understand very much at all.

But after a while, we kind-of figure some stuff out. We discover that we can dig through dumpsters to get food, and we can find clothing in the streets sometimes. But what if we were from New York, and spoke the language, and knew how to hail a cab, or had money to pay for it, because we had a job in one of those high sky scrapers. We had a home, and every sign we read told us where to go, how much, or we understood that dangers that lay ahead. Wisdom is like looking at the world as though we were from another land, and putting on glasses that allowed us to see and understand the world correctly.

The road to wisdom begins with understanding who God is, and what He is like. He is holy; we are not. He is all-powerful; we are not. He is all-knowing; we are not. He is all-loving; we are not. We have been cut off from Him, because of our sin. But in His love, he has made a way, for it all to make sense through a relationship with His Son Jesus Christ.

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[1] Paul Koptan, The New Application Commentary (Grand Rapids:Michigan; Zondervan) 97.

"For by grace you have been saved through faith." Ephesians 2:8

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