Difference between revisions of "Sermon for September 24th, 2017"

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Proverbs 3:19-35

19 The Lord by wisdom founded the earth;
    by understanding he established the heavens;
20 by his knowledge the deeps broke open,
    and the clouds drop down the dew. 
21 My child, do not let these escape from your sight:
    keep sound wisdom and prudence,

22 and they will be life for your soul
    and adornment for your neck.
23 Then you will walk on your way securely
    and your foot will not stumble.
24 If you sit down, you will not be afraid;
    when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.
25 Do not be afraid of sudden panic,
    or of the storm that strikes the wicked;
26 for the Lord will be your confidence
    and will keep your foot from being caught.

27 Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due,
    when it is in your power to do it.
28 Do not say to your neighbor, “Go, and come again,
    tomorrow I will give it”—when you have it with you.
29 Do not plan harm against your neighbor
    who lives trustingly beside you.
30 Do not quarrel with anyone without cause,
    when no harm has been done to you.
31 Do not envy the violent
    and do not choose any of their ways;
32 for the perverse are an abomination to the Lord,
    but the upright are in his confidence.

33 The Lord’s curse is on the house of the wicked,
    but he blesses the abode of the righteous.
34 Toward the scorners he is scornful,
    but to the humble he shows favor.
35 The wise will inherit honor,
    but stubborn fools, disgrace.

Walk This Way: The Wisdom of Proverbs IV

There's an old saying that goes something like this: Knowledge is recognizing that a Tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad. Philosophy is wondering if that means that ketchup is a fruit smoothie. And common sense is never, ever drinking the ketchup smoothie.

For the past four weeks, we've been studying Wisdom in the Book of Proverbs, and today we conclude our sermon series with one final stab at answering the question, "What exactly is Wisdom?"

When I was young, my father used to tell me that wisdom is "knowledge rightly applied." He was a computer programmer, so he liked explanations that were simple, concise, and straightforward. But that definition never really sat well with me. Who gets to decide what makes something "rightly" applied? If you apply a piece of knowledge one way, I apply it in another, you think I'm wrong and I think I'm right, which one of us is wise? And what if sometimes wisdom consists of NOT applying the knowledge that you have? Like when your spouse asks you "Does this dress make me look fat?" There is no way, in this situation, to apply any knowledge that you might have in any way that is both right and wise at the same time!

Fortunately, Proverbs gives us a much better definition of wisdom. But like all wisdom that comes from poetry, you have to look closely, read deeply to find it. More on that in a moment.

Today's passage from Proverbs is divided, roughly, into four sections. Verses 19-21 function as a prologue and a definition of wisdom. Verses 22-26 are the promised rewards (in this life) for choosing the path of wisdom. Verses 27-32 are practical examples of how to show wisdom in daily living. And verses 33-35 conclude with the central theme of Proverbs wisdom--that God will punish the foolish (or allow their own behavior to punish them) and God will reward the wise (who naturally benefit from their wisdom). Proverbs is about Biblical Karma.

-Wisdom = understanding + knowledge + "prudence" + "sound wisdom," per rules of Hebrew Poetry

1. חָכְמָה (hochmah) WISDOM

2. תָּבוּן (tabonah) UNDERSTANDING

3. דָּ֫עַת (Da'at) KNOWLEDGE

4. תּוּשִׁיָּה (tushiyah) technical term connected to wisdom literature, 11 times, mostly Job & Proverbs - success, deliverance, INSIGHT

5. מְזִמָּה (m'zimmah) discretion, discernment, plan, PURPOSE