Autumn Ridge Church Women's Bible Study Women of Wisdom are Faithful Proverbs 3:5-6; 5:15-17; 25:13; 28:20 September 16, 2015 Jann Wright Good morning/evening and welcome to Women s Bible Study. We are so glad to see you back this fall. We have missed you and are excited to begin our study this semester on Women of Wisdom. We are going to be studying the book of Proverbs and will be addressing topics such as: righteousness, hard work, forgiveness, pride, integrity, kindness, patience, and self-control. (Introduction of Teachers and Announcements) Historical Background With Gretchen being away it is my privilege to introduce you to the book of Proverbs. Of course you know it can be a dangerous thing to turn me loose to set the stage for a whole book in the Old Testament, but here we go. Wisdom Literature The book of Proverbs is part of the category of scripture known as the Wisdom Literature. These books include: Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and the Song of Solomon. They are quite different from the Old Testament History Books or a New Testament book like Acts that we studied last spring. They are often full of poetry and imagery. They grapple with tough issues in our faith and daily life. They are a reminder to trust God no matter the circumstances. Author Proverbs was written primarily by Solomon. In fact, verse one identifies him as the author. However, a careful reading of the book also reveals wisdom from other writers some named like Agur and King Lemuel and some noted as simply sayings of the wise (Proverbs 22:17, 24:23). With Solomon as the primary author, the book would have been written around the 10 th Century B.C. Historical Context That was the time of the Kings of Israel. You recall the first King was Saul, then David, and then Solomon. This era was known as the United Kingdom because after the reign of Solomon the kingdom was split into two parts the northern kingdom known as Israel, and the southern kingdom known as Judah. Solomon was the son of the great King David. While David s reign was composed of much suffering and turmoil, Solomon s was one of peace and prosperity. David was known as a warrior even from his youth stepping forward to fight the giant Goliath. He was on the run from his enemies numerous times. He was pursued by Saul, the Philistines, the Ammonites, and even his own sons tried to usurp the throne. Even after Page 1 of 8
he became king there was continual fighting between the house of Saul and the house of David. Peace and Prosperity Solomon in contrast reigned during a time of peace and prosperity. These are some excerpts from 1 Kings Chapter 10 1 : 4 When the queen of Sheba saw all the wisdom of Solomon and the palace he had built, 5 the food on his table, the seating of his officials, the attending servants in their robes, his cupbearers, and the burnt offerings he made at the temple of the Lord, she was overwhelmed. 21 All King Solomon s goblets were gold, and all the household articles in the Palace of the Forest of Lebanon were pure gold. Nothing was made of silver, because silver was considered of little value in Solomon s days. 23 King Solomon was greater in riches and wisdom than all the other kings of the earth. 24 The whole world sought audience with Solomon to hear the wisdom God had put in his heart. Purpose and Theme Solomon had a particular purpose in mind when he wrote the book of Proverbs. We find that purpose in the first chapter. Proverbs 1:1-7: 1 The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel: 2 for gaining wisdom and instruction; for understanding words of insight; 3 for receiving instruction in prudent behavior, doing what is right and just and fair; 4 for giving prudence to those who are simple, knowledge and discretion to the young 5 let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance 6 for understanding proverbs and parables, the sayings and riddles of the wise. 7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction. This book is for everyone. Solomon addresses the young who can be very inexperienced and naive about life. He addresses the mature who have witnessed a great deal in their lifetime. The young have much to learn and the mature have much to add to what they already know. These proverbs are written to guide us in the pursuit of wisdom. Overview of the Book Proverbs is composed of 31 chapters detailing a wide range of topics everything from warnings against adultery and foolishness, to encouragement to work hard and spend 1 Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. All passages quoted are NIV, unless otherwise noted. Page 2 of 8
wisely. It is helpful to remember as we move through these topics that proverbs are general principles and guidelines rather than promises. Svea will explain that more next week. Unlike a historical narrative which is arranged chronologically, this book of wisdom moves quickly from topic to topic making it difficult to teach chapter by chapter. So each week we will address a topic and pull various verses related to it from the book of Proverbs as well as other relevant Biblical passages. Theme for Today: Faithfulness Our theme for this lesson is faithfulness. Faithfulness is a topic discussed often in both the Old and New Testaments. For example: 1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. Hebrews 3:6 But Christ is faithful as the Son over God s house. And we are his house, if indeed we hold firmly to our confidence and the hope in which we glory. Matthew 25:23... Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things... What is Faithfulness? So what exactly is Faithfulness? World Book Dictionary defines faithful as worthy of trust; doing one s duty, keeping one s promise; loyal. 2 Notice the emphasis is on the person and their worthiness and what they do. However, note the difference in the emphasis from some other sources, like this one from the Easton s Bible Dictionary, where faithful means, full of faith, trustful, and not simply trustworthy. 3 The Dictionary of Bible Themes defines faithfulness as a, commitment to a relationship with God or fellow human beings... which is a reflection of God s own faithfulness. 4 So from a Biblical perspective faithfulness begins with our relationship to God and from that flows actions to other people than reflect God s faithfulness to us. Faithfulness is a Characteristic of God From these Biblical references and others we learn several things. faithfulness is a characteristic of God. One is that, 2 Barnhart, Robert K., Editors: Barnhart, Clarence L. and Barnhart, Robert K, World Book Dictionary Chicago, IL Field Enterprises Educational Corporation 1980 p 766. 3 Easton, M. G. Easton s Bible dictionary 1893 : n. pag. Print. 4 Manser, Martin H. Dictionary of Bible Themes: The Accessible and Comprehensive Tool for Topical Studies. London: Martin Manser, 2009. Print. Page 3 of 8
Exodus 34:6 And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness. Deuteronomy 7:9, Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments. Psalm 145:13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures through all generations. The LORD is trustworthy in all he promises and faithful in all he does. Faithfulness is an Expectation of Us Faithfulness is a Characteristic of God. However, faithfulness is an expectation of us. We are expected to be faithful. Genesis 17:1 When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to him and said, I am God Almighty; walk before me faithfully and be blameless. Joshua 24:14 now fear the LORD and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your ancestors worshiped beyond the Euphrates river and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. 1 Samuel 12:24, But be sure to fear the LORD and serve him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things he has done for you. 1 Corinthians, 4:2 Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful. Again, remember from our previous definitions that Biblical faithfulness has an emphasis on God and his character, and then our actions are a reflection of that both in our relationship to God and overflowing from that our attitude toward others. Contexts for Faithfulness Faithfulness in Marriage In the Bible faithfulness is expected in a variety of different spheres in our lives. There is faithfulness in Marriage. This is one of the topics Solomon addresses early in Proverbs. He warns against the temptations of sexual sin. He admonishes that while adultery may look appealing it is deadly. Proverbs 5:3-5, 3 For the lips of the adulterous woman drip honey, and her speech is smoother than oil; 4 but in the end she is bitter as gall, sharp as a double-edged sword. 5 Her feet go down to death; her steps lead straight to the grave. Page 4 of 8
This is also the context for one of your key verses for this week: Proverbs 5:15-17 which says, 15 Drink water from your own cistern, running water from your own well. 16 Should your springs overflow in the streets, your streams of water in the public squares? 17 Let them be yours alone, never to be shared with strangers. That is very poetic imagery, but the context is faithfulness in marriage. Relational Faithfulness Another context of faithfulness is our relationships. This how we treat others like our friends, our neighbors, our coworkers, and our family. Proverbs 17:17 A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity. Proverbs 14:21 It is a sin to despise one s neighbor, but blessed is the one who is kind to the needy. 1 Timothy 5:4, But if a widow has children or grandchildren, these should learn first of all to put their religion into practice by caring for their own family and so repaying their parents and grandparents, for this is pleasing to God. Spiritual Faithfulness So we have faithfulness in marriage, relational faithfulness, and then there is spiritual faithfulness. God often chastised the Israelites for their lack of spiritual faithfulness. Hosea 4:1 Hear the word of the LORD, you Israelites, because the LORD has a charge to bring against you who live in the land: There is no faithfulness, no love, no acknowledgment of God in the land... Jeremiah 3:12,... Return, faithless Israel, declares the LORD, I will frown on you no longer, for I am faithful, declares the LORD,... Deficiencies in our faithfulness in the other spheres reflects on our spiritual faithfulness, in fact in many cases God compares them in very graphic ways. Isaiah 1:21, See how the faithful city has become a prostitute! She once was full of justice; righteousness used to dwell in her but now murderers! Where do we find examples of Faithfulness? So if these are some of the contexts for faithfulness, where do we find examples of how to do this, of how to be faithful? There are examples of the faithfulness of God s people throughout the Bible. Page 5 of 8
After he became the father of Methuselah, Enoch walked faithfully with God 300 years and had other sons and daughters. 5... Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked faithfully with God. 6 And by faith even Sarah, who was past childbearing age, was enabled to bear children because she considered him faithful who had made the promise. 7 Moses was faithful as a servant in all God s house,... 8 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... 9 This is what Hezekiah did throughout Judah, doing what was good and right and faithful before the LORD his God. 10 Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. 11 For this reason I have sent to you Timothy, my son whom I love, who is faithful in the Lord... 12 We have many examples from the Bible, from history, and even from those around us who demonstrate faithfulness. However, putting our trust in any one person biblical or otherwise is always going to leave us disappointed. Our role models will stumble. God is the only one who can be counted thoroughly faithful, and we see that faithfulness demonstrated throughout the Bible and through the person of Jesus Christ. How can we be faithful? Recently, my great Uncle Jim died in Kentucky. Now this may not seem like a very close relative, but consider that my mother died when I was 27 and my father when I was 37. I had three grandparents that outlived my parents. My Great Uncle Jim outlived them all and was truly one of the last remaining patriarchs of the family. His wife suffers from Altzheimer s and is in a nursing home. She is 90 years old. They had no children and really doted on their nieces and nephews. So now the extended family is tasked with sorting and cleaning out the house with my sister serving a major role in that process. When my sister called and asked if there was anything I wanted from my aunt and uncle s possessions, I could only think of one thing, a silver tea set. Now mind you it is not solid silver, but still beautiful and precious to me. 5 Genesis 5:22 6 Genesis 6:9 7 Hebrews 11:11 8 Hebrews 3:5 9 1 Kings 3:6 10 2 Chronicles 31:20 11 Matthew 1:19 12 1 Corinthians 4:17 Page 6 of 8
My sister told me I would probably need to make a bid and she would try to get it for me. I said if others wanted it that was fine, but if it was not a priority for them, she could put in a very small bid from me. After all, I have two children in college and this is a want, not a need. The children and I went to visit relatives in Kentucky this summer. When I arrived at my sister s she had a box for me. It contained every piece of silver from my Uncle Jim s house: a silver serving tray, pitcher, cream and sugar,... I was astonished and reminded her I could not have possibly gotten all of that with my bid. She replied, There was no charge. Jann, no one wanted it, it was a mess, no one wants to clean it to get it ready to sell and no one wants it in their home with the responsibility of cleaning it a couple of times a year. Faithfulness is an Ongoing Process It seems to me there are a lot lessons about faithfulness in the silver tea set. The first is that if we want to be faithful, we have to remember that Faithfulness is an Ongoing Process. It is a lifetime project. It is not something you do twice a year. It is not something that you check off your list as being finished. Graduating from high school, having a baby, being baptized, those are things you can check off as complete. But, Commitment to a relationship with God and others that is a reflection of God s own faithfulness 13 is an effort that will never be completed this side of heaven. These are always areas of unfaithfulness in our lives that need attention. These may only be known to us and God. When you look at this silver tray, the center serving part looks gleaming, shiny, presentable, even beautiful, but I know that I only worked hard on the center. There are all of these crevices and corners and they got very little attention. If I take a q-tip and dip it in water and begin to rub, you will see some of those areas are very black. That is the same way with our lives, we have to pay attention to areas that are not visible to others and devote effort to cleaning and polishing hidden spaces, not just places that others see. This process will always be imperfect, but it is worth the effort because God desires us to become more and more like his son. Faithfulness Requires Effort Second, Faithfulness requires effort. Proverbs 20:6, Many claim to have unfailing love, but a faithful person who can find? 13 Manser, Martin H. Dictionary of Bible Themes: The Accessible and Comprehensive Tool for Topical Studies. London: Martin Manser, 2009. Print. Page 7 of 8
As the silver does not clean itself, neither does faithfulness just happen. We don t drift into faithfulness; in fact we easily drift from it. We drift away by inattention to the daily disciplines of the faith. We drift away by a series of seemingly small decisions. We drift away by allowing that series of small decisions to provide a foundational pattern that leads to bigger and bigger decisions of unfaithfulness. Faithfulness requires effort. We don t have a period in our life or at a particular age when we can stop making the effort. Unfortunately Solomon is a prime example of this. He stopped paying attention to the smaller steps that build a foundation of faithfulness and eventually got way off course in his relationship with God. Faithfulness requires our cooperation, but we can t accomplish it by ourselves. Third, Faithfulness requires our cooperation, but we can t accomplish it by ourselves. There is this bit of tension in this process of faithfulness. God is not going to force us to be in a relationship with him. We have to cooperate by responding to his call, by desiring to serve him, and committing to obey him. But we can t do that by ourselves. Apart from God, we desire only to serve ourselves and let sin reign in our lives. God has provided ways that we can grow in our relationship with him and from that overflow of our relationship to serve others. We have to submit to the process. The process is not a secret. It is things like spending time in prayer, reading our Bibles, fellowshipping with other believers, persevering through trials and suffering. We are also to share our faith, to testify of our relationship with God to others, so that they might come to saving faith. These are not easy tasks. Sometimes we want to give up, sometimes it doesn t seem worth the effort, kind of like some of these pieces of silver. We and those we serve can sometimes feel in a very dark place. Others may want to give up on us, and sometimes truthfully we can feel that maybe others are not worth the effort. But God does not give up on his creation. When He moves in a person s life and His Spirit dwells in them, the blackness of sin and broken relationships can be restored. Faithfulness Has Rewards Finally, Faithfulness has rewards. Proverbs 28:20 says A faithful person will be richly blessed,... and Proverbs 2:8, tells us he guards the course of the just and protects the way of his faithful ones. Women of Wisdom are faithful, because they serve a faithful God. Women s Bible Study is a ministry of Autumn Ridge Church Questions? Ouren.jennifer@autumnridgechurch.org or 507-288-8880 Page 8 of 8