Explore the Bible Lesson Preview March 9, 2014 Learn Wisdom s Benefits Background: Proverbs 1:33-3:8 Lesson: Proverbs 1:33-2:5-12, 16, 20-22; 3:1-8

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1 Explore the Bible Lesson Preview March 9, 2014 Learn Wisdom s Benefits Background: Proverbs 1:33-3:8 Lesson: Proverbs 1:33-2:5-12, 16, 20-22; 3:1-8 Motivation: Everyone has a choice to make: Fear God, accept His wisdom and live abundantly or scoff at God, reject His wisdom and face destruction. God calls us to accept His bounty. Examination: I. Encouragement to Seek Wisdom (1:33 2:4) A. Listen But whoever listens to me will live securely and be free from the fear of danger (33) Listening goes beyond mere hearing; it implies understanding and application. The promise is security. B. Receive If you accept my words (2:1) This in contrast to the rejection of 1:24. C. Treasure store up my commands (2:1) We must honor God s commands by treating them as valuable. D. Apply directing your heart to understanding (2:2) We must be doers of the word and not hearers only (James 1:22). 1 / 7

2 E. Seek If you call out to insight lift your voice to understanding seek it like silver search for it like hidden treasures (2:3-4) Finding God s wisdom requires some diligence on our part. Once could truthfully say that Texas abounds in oil. However, someone had to seek for it and pump it out of the ground as black gold. God s wisdom is contained in His Word; we will find treasure if we re willing to dig deeply in study and rigorously apply His treasure to our lives. Here we have the conditions, what follows in the chapter are the results. II. Encounter Security and Protection (2:7-8, 20-22) A. Wisdom s Compensation He stores up success for the upright; He is a shield for those who live with integrity so that He may guard the paths of justice and protect the way of His loyal followers. (7-8) HCSB; p. 1033: 2:7 As we store up God s commands (v. 1), He stores up success as our reward. Success is competence (3:21; 8:14) or sound judgment (18:10). Upright means corresponding to God s ethical instruction (Hb yashar ). The Hebrew word for integrity implies genuineness and reliability; it is also translated honorable (10:29) and honest (29:10). 1. Success (7a) 2. Shield (7b) God s protection shields us from undesirable things. 3. Security guard protect (8) What a wonderful promise to us! God alone provides true significance and security. B. Wisdom s Comfort So follow the way of good people, and keep to the paths of the righteous. For the upright will inhabit the land, and those of integrity will remain in 2 / 7

3 it, but the wicked will be cut off from the land, and the treacherous uprooted from it. (20-22) The late Bill Bright popularized the saying, God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life ( Four Spiritual Laws ). However, that vital truth is found throughout God s word (John 10:10b). God has our best interests in mind when He provides wisdom, counsel and knowledge. His restrictions are meant to bless us. HCSB ; p. 1034: 2:20-22 These good people have moral excellence. Figuratively, to inhabit the land means to enjoy God s blessing through a relationship with Him (Ps 37:3; Jr 7:5-7). While the warning of Pr 2:16-19 is specifically against illicit sexual relations, this suggests a broader application. Those who choose the good will enjoy God s blessings eternally (Ps 7:29; Is 60:21; Mt 5:5), but the wicked (impious, evil, selfish, violently antisocial) will be eternally cut off from God s blessing. Treacherous people are unfaithful in relationship; here they have abandoned commitment to God. III. Experience Discernment and Guidance (2:5-6, 9-19; 3:5-6) A. Wisdom s Counsel Then you will understand the fear of the Lord and discover the knowledge of God. For the Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding. (5-6) The then in verse 5 introduces the benefits for following the conditions of verses 1-4. Listening, receiving, applying and seeking wisdom results in understanding the fear of the Lord (5) and the know ledge of God (5) and leads to: B. Wisdom s Custody It will rescue you from a forbidden woman, from a stranger with her flattering talk. (2:16) Following God s wisdom will actually protect you from evil influences and people. You will be delivered from: 3 / 7

4 1. the way of evil (12) 2. the one who says perverse things (12b) 3. those who abandon the right paths (13) 4. who enjoy doing evil (14) cf. vs from the forbidden woman (16, cf ) More will be said in chapter 5. C. Wisdom s Compass Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding; think about Him in all your ways, and He will guide you on the right paths. (3:5-6) HCSB; p. 1034: 3:5 To trust anything or anyone other than the Lord results in disaster (11:28; 28:26; cp. Ps 52:7; 62:10; Is 30: 12-13; Ezk 16:15). To rely on something a synonym for trust is to lean on it as if it were a crutch (2 Sm 1:6; Jb 8:14-15; Is 50:10). Understanding is good (16:16), but only if it is from the Lord (9:10). 3:6 To think about God in all your ways is to invite His presence into all daily activities and decisions. Guide on the right paths is literally make straight or smooth. God will make righteousness attainable. IV. Enjoy Wholeness and Well Being (3:1-2, 7-8) 4 / 7

5 A. Blessings My son, don t forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commands; for they will bring you many days, a full life and well-being. (1-2) HCSB, p. 1034: 3:2 To have well-being is to be healthy, free from threat or need, and thus fulfilled, content, prosperous, and at peace in a way that only God can grant (Ps. 4:8; 119:165). B. Brokenness Don t consider yourself to be wise; fear the Lord and turn away from evil. This will be healing for your body and strengthening for your bones. (7-8) A broken, contrite, humble spirit will lead to a healthy, strong body! This is not a guarantee but rather a guideline. V. Embrace Right Relationships (3-4) Never let loyalty and faithfulness leave you. Tie them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart then you will find favor and high regard in the sight of God and man. (3-4) HCSB, p. 1024: 3:3 Loyalty (HB chesed) and faithfulness summarize godliness in contrast to the selfish malice and infidelity of the wicked (14:22; 16:6; 20:28; cp. Mt. 22:37-40). The son should make them his permanent characteristics, externally and internally. Application: 1. Wisdom is available through God s grace. (James 1:5) 2. Wisdom may be rejected with destruction to follow. 3. Wisdom may be embraced with blessings. (2 Cor. 9:8) 5 / 7

6 Bible Teaching Packet: Item 4: Handout: Wisdom Teams; Item 5: Poster: Apple Biblical Illustrator: p. 51, The Fear of the Lord: The Meaning, p. 29, Strange Women, Adultresses, and Seducers in the Book of Proverbs **You may access David s Lesson Preview in MP3 format at: Dates: 1/21 3/4 Living Proof Bible Study; 3/9 Daylight Saving Time begins; 3/9 Deacon s meeting/church Conference; 3/16 Ben Stuart Loop; 3/19 NO MIDLINK Spring Break; 3/29 Deacon Widow/Widowers Luncheon; 3/30 High 5 Choir in Worship; 4/4 FBA Warrior Day; 4/6 Deacon s Meeting/Church Conference; 4/6 Leadership Lunch; 4/10 Summit Celebrates; 4/12 SPF Hippity Hoppin Easter - SPF; 4/12 - Deacon s Wives Brunch; 4/13 Palm Sunday; 4/13 AMP/Wired Sunday; 4/16 No Midlink; 4/17 Broken for you service childcare avail. 4 and under; 4/18 Good Friday, Church offices closed; 4/20 Easter Sunday/No LBS; 4/25 6 / 7

7 ReCreate Date Night; 4/25-26 Deacon s Retreat; 4/27 Peter Williams speaking@ all campuses; 4/28 Staff Wives Fellowship; 5/2-4 Summit Spring Retreat; 5/3 - CBS Graduation; 5/4 Houston 1:8 Kickoff/High 5 Concert/HS Senior Celebration; 5/4 Deacon s Meeting/Church Sienna; 5/11 Mothers Day Event SPF; 5/18 Parent Commitment; 5/26 Memorial Day Church offices closed; 5/27 - Daycation begins; 5/30 ReCreate Date Night/Next Gen Summer Kickoff Night. 7 / 7