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The divisions of the chapter
Verse 1-9 The admonition and result of seeking wisdom.
Verse 1-4 Our responsibility to seek wisdom.
Verse 5 If we seek Godly wisdom, God will give his wisdom to us.
Verse 6-8 The gift God gives is wisdom.
Verse 9 After we seek Godly wisdom, and receive Godly wisdom, we will
understand.
Verse 10-22 The means of deliverance from wickedness and light to walk
correctly.
Verse 10 Two means of deliverance.
Verse 11 Two methods of deliverance.
Verse 12-19 Two evils delivered from.
Verse 20-22 One righteous path of life.
The Positive Results of Hearing Gods Wisdom
Verse 1-9, My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments
with thee; {2} So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart
to understanding; {3} Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy
voice for understanding; {4} If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for
her as for hid treasures; {5} Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD,
and find the knowledge of God. {6} For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth
cometh knowledge and understanding. {7} He layeth up sound wisdom for the
righteous: he is a buckler to them that walk uprightly. {8} He keepeth the paths
of judgment, and preserveth the way of his saints. {9} Then shalt thou
understand righteousness, and judgment, and equity; yea, every good path.
I. Verse 1-4 Our part in obtaining wisdom.
A. Notice the word "if" in verse 1,3, and 4.
1. The word indicates:
a. There is a possibility it will not be done.
b. There is an unseen blessings to all who do it.
B. Notice the action verbs.
1. receive Has to do with accepting that which is offered.
a. My words the word of God, not the words of another.
b. There must be attention paid to the words of God and a determining
by the power and strength of God concerning which words belong to God and
which words belong to another.
2. hide Has to do with storing up for future use, not of keeping
others from this treasure.
a. There is a particular thing we are to hide the commandments of
God.
b. The commandments of God are the ordinances, the laws, the precepts
of God.
c. It is good to continually remember the Ten Commandments of God, even
if the courts of our land have declared them unconstitutional.
d. Many today would disregard the commandments of the Old Testament,
declaring we life in the age of Grace, not in the age of law, yet:
1.) 1 John 3:4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the
law: for sin is the transgression of the law.
2.) Matthew 7:12 "The Golden Rule" Therefore all
things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to
them: for this is the law and the prophets.
3. incline Has to do with paying attention.
a. Incline thine ear to wisdom.
b. Be sure and listen and reason with Godly reason.
4. apply Has to do with using what God declares everyday.
a. Our heart needs to be applied until Godly understanding.
b. Today, the cry is "follow your heart", yet Jeremiah 17:9
states, The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately
wicked: who can know it?
5. criest Has to do with a great longing for another to give to you.
a. This is not crying, as in weeping, but crying out of longing and
anguish of heart for that which we do not possess.
b. This is verbal, our voice is heard by others, not that we might be
heard, but that God might hear us.
c. We are so much in anguish for Godly learning, we are not ashamed of
our lack of Godly understanding.
6. liftest Has to do with openly declaring to God your earnest desire
for his wisdom and understanding.
a. Again, our voice is heard as we cry for Godly understanding.
1.) Daniel was not ashamed to publicly cry to God for understanding,
as he prayed before his open window three times a day.
2.) Daniel did not pray to be seen of men, but he was not ashamed for
others to understand his wisdom came from God, not from himself.
b. We seek more than just knowledge, we seek understanding.
c. We seek not just to know the facts, we seek to know why the facts
are facts, and how they work.
7. seek Has to do with working to learn that which God desires for
us.
a. We seek understanding as some seek riches.
b. Their riches shall pass away one day, but the understanding God
gives to us will forever be a blessing to us.
8. search Has to do with going to great difficulty and discerning to
discover that which God has promised.
a. Some things are not open, some are hidden.
b. Some understanding comes only by diligent effort, while some
understanding is apparent to all.
c. We are not satisfied with that which is apparent, but we desire to
understand the hidden treasures of God.
II. Verse 5 What God will do after we do our part.
A. Note the word "then".
1. It is only after we apply ourselves that we understand the fear of the
LORD, and find the knowledge of God.
2. These two things are not given to the casual believer, but to the
believer who diligently applies himself to the things of God.
B. The fear of the Lord seems to be the grace of God, coupled with his
mercy toward us, and the application of it all toward us forever.
1. The word "fear" speaks of the respectful terror and
awesomeness of God.
2. Those that do not understand the fear of the LORD will not take his
worship seriously.
3. They will approach the throne of God recklessly and will face the
consequences of their rashness.
4. Esther was very careful to approach King Ahasuerus, even though he was
not always wise in his kingdom.
III. Verse 6-8 are all the things God does after we do our part, as revealed
in verse 104.
A. "For" or because.
1. The Lord giveth wisdom (real wisdom) - not a natural or
"horse sense" type of understanding.
a. Wisdom is a gift from God.
b. We do nothing to earn wisdom, although we must seek wisdom.
c. We must seek Christ for salvation, but there is nothing we can do to
earn salvation.
d. Salvation is also a gift from God.
2. James 3:13-18 - The difference between earthly wisdom and spiritual
wisdom.
B. Notice the various words that describe what God does in giving us his
wisdom.
1. Verse 6 giveth Wisdom is a gift from God, nothing we earn.
2. Verse 6 cometh Wisdom comes from the mouth of God, or from his
word.
a. We do not get wisdom by education or by studying the philosophers of
this earth.
b. God will put his word in our hearts, minds, and make the application
in our lives, if we will only seek him.
3. Verse 7 layeth up This indicates God hides his wisdom in us.
a. Layeth up - Reminds me of putting up treasures - Matthew 6:19.
b. It is wisdom to us, not to others, even though others may get the
benefit of our wisdom.
c. Every person must seek wisdom for themselves, and God will hide his
wisdom with them.
4. Verse 7 Buckler A buckler is a personal shield, which
surrounds us.
a. The buckler is a portable shield, a shield for the entire person.
b. The buckler is available only to those who walk uprightly: put into
practice what wisdom dedicates they should.
c. Ephesians 6:16 - Shield of faith.`
d. Proverbs 30:5 - Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto
them that put their trust in him.
5. Verse 8 Keepeth Our ways are guarded by God himself.
"Path" speaks of the short term.
6. Verse 8 Preserveth Our ways are guarded by God himself.
"Way" speaks of the long term.
C. Out of His mouth - Word of God.
1. Revelation 19:15 - God smites the nations with the sword of his mouth.
(He saves us with the same sword.)
2. Ephesians 6:17 - The sword of the spirit is the Word of God.
3. Hebrews 4:12 - Definition of Word of God.
D. Cometh knowledge and understanding.
1. I Corinthians 3:6-11 - The things that happened to Israel were for our
example.
2. We should learn from their mistakes.
E. Verse 8.
1. Keeping judgment - Genesis 28:15 - blessing to Jacob - God will keep
him.
a. Ephesians 6:4 - Fathers, provoke not children to wrath. (This is the
same principle as is talked about in Genesis 28:15.)
b. Psalm 24:20 - Keeping all bones of Christ from being broken.
c. John 17:11 - Kept in Christ.
d. Philippians 4:7 - Christ is guard of heart and mind.
e. II Thessalonians 3:3 - God keeping us from evil.
f. II Timothy 1:12 - God keeping us until the judgment.
2. Preserveth way of saints.
a. I Samuel 2:9 - Hannah praying God keeping feet of saints.
b. Psalm 73:2 - David - feet well nigh slipped. (The saints are saved
people, Rom. 1:7.)
IV. Verse 9.
A. See the word "then".
1. It is only after we seek the wisdom of God (verse 1-4), that God
freely gives us wisdom (verse 5-8) that we understand righteousness,
judgment, equity, and every good path.
2. Any attempt to find out the principles of God without God will lead to
final destruction.
B. Spiritual understanding - Ephesians 3:19 - Know that which passes
knowledge.
C. Righteousness, and judgment, and equity
1. righteousness that which is just, or of good judgment, that which
is right or normal in the sight of God. This informs us what is good and
right in the sight of God, regardless of what the laws of men say.
2. judgment that which is right according to ordinances and laws
(especially the laws of God). This informs us what the laws of God requires,
whether the laws of men confirm or reject them.
3. equity uprightness, equal, evenness, or smoothness. This informs
of to treat all the same, whether we like them or not, whether they are rich
or not, whether they can repay us or not.
Verse 10-22
Verse 10 Two Means of Deliverance
Verse 11 Two Methods of Deliverance
Verse 12-19 Two Evils Delivered From
Verse 20-22 One Righteous Path for Life
I. Verse 10 Two Means of Deliverance. When wisdom entereth into
thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul;
A. When wisdom entereth into thine heart
1. Definitions:
a. Wisdom is seeing things as God sees them, or the practical application
of knowledge.
b. Knowledge is the accumulation of facts as God sees facts.
c. Heart is the inner man, mind, will, understanding, the most God ward
of the three parts of man: spirit, soul, and body.
d. Soul is the life, or living being, the desire, the emotion, the
passion that makes us living creatures, having the breath of God.
2. Wisdom must enter into our hearts.
a. The entire human race lost Godly wisdom at the fall.
b. Adam thought he would understand good and evil, but discovered he had
a positive inclination toward evil and no inclination toward good, and was
unable to come to Christ.
c. It is clearly seen that humans do not have wisdom, unless God gives
wisdom.
3. God must give wisdom, but we must seek wisdom.
a. Luke 24:45 Then opened he their understanding, that they might
understand the scriptures.
b. The disciples had traveled with Christ and been taught by him for more
than three years, yet they did not have understanding.
c. Regardless of how long we have been saved, how long we have been a
Baptist, how much we have studied the Bible, we will not have understanding
until God gives us understanding.
B. Knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul
1. When wisdom enters into the heart three things happen.
a. Knowledge become very pleasant to the soul.
b. Discretion will preserve us.
c. Understanding will keep us.
2. Verse 10 - Is this salvation?
a. NO!
b. Wisdom and knowledge come as a result of a diligent Bible study as God
opens our understanding.
c. Salvation is a gift from God, not something we study to obtain.
3. Wisdom enters our heart (becomes a way of life to us) when we mediate on
the Word of God, asking God to give us his understanding, and forsaking our
understanding.
4. Knowledge becomes pleasant to us.
a. The desire of our life is to learn more and more about Christ.
1.) We will spend all eternity learning more about Christ.
2.) Ephesians 2:7 That in the ages to come he might shew the
exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ
Jesus. That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his
grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
b. There are many things we learn and have pleasure in during this life.
1.) It is not wrong to have pleasure in understanding how God made
things to work.
2.) But it is wrong when the chief end of our lives is to learn for the
sake of satisfying ourselves, or showing ourselves intelligent to others.
II. Verse 11 Two Methods of Deliverance.
A. Discretion shall preserve thee,
1. Discretion is thoughtfulness.
a. Discretion is thinking about things before you do them.
b. Discretion is thinking about the circumstances of our live and
trying to discover what God is saying to us through circumstances.
c. Understanding is the result of Verse 9.
d. God gives us this understanding.
2. There are many situations in life we will stay away from because God
will reveal to us the evil in that situation.
a. Genesis 45:5-8 and 50:19-21 - Thoughts about Gods purpose in him
being sold by his brothers into Egyptian bondage kept Joseph faithful to
God and in love with his brothers all those years.
b. Genesis 39:7-12 - Joseph refusing the "offer" of Potiphars
wife because it was a sin against God.
B. Understanding shall keep thee
1. Understanding is intelligence, but it is more than mental
intelligence; it is spiritual intelligence.
2. Joseph had spiritual intelligence concerning the end result of the
"offer" of Potiphars wife, therefore was able to refuse.
III. Verse 12-19 Two Evils Delivered From.
A. Verse 12-15 Deliverance from the way of the evil man To
deliver thee from the way of the evil man, from the man that speaketh
froward things; {13} Who leave the paths of uprightness, to walk in the ways
of darkness; {14} Who rejoice to do evil, and delight in the frowardness of
the wicked; {15} Whose ways are crooked, and they froward in their paths:
1. It is not just the evil man we will be delivered from: we will be
delivered from his way.
a. We will always have evil men surrounding us, or we must go out of
the world.
b. God did not intend for his people to isolate themselves from the
world, but to keep themselves unspotted from the world.
2. Verse 12 - Froward means perverseness, or evil.
3. Verse 13 - Who leave.
a. For these evil people to leave the way of God, they had to be in the
way.
1.) Adam was in the way of God, yet left that way and brought upon
himself and the entire world much evil and destruction.
2.) 1 John 2:19 They went out from us, but they were not of
us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with
us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were
not all of us.
3.) Acts 15:24 Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which
went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls,
saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no
such commandment:
4.) I Timothy 4:1 - Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the
latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing
spirits, and doctrines of devils;
5.) Jude 3,4 Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto
you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you,
and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was
once delivered unto the saints. 4 For there are certain men crept in
unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly
men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness and denying the
only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.
a.) there are always those who leave the truth because they did
really believe it.
b.) It will show up in time.
c.) Let us not follow men, but God.
b. There is a radical difference in the paths of righteousness and the
ways of darkness.
1.) We must learn to serve God regardless of what anybody else does.
2.) We learn to discover Gods will for ourselves and not let
anybody else discover Gods will for us.
3.) We learn not to look to man for leadership, but look to God for
leadership from man.
4. Verse 14 - Rejoice to do evil - love to do evil.
a. Psalm 52:3 - David concerning Doeg the Edomite.
1.) Doeg loved evil and lying more than doing right.
2.) There is an earthly payment and an eternal payment for doing
evil.
b. Jeremiah 14:10 - Israel loved to wander They stood in danger of
judgment.
c. II Thessalonians 2:11,12 Those that love unrighteousness more
than righteousness, will in the day of judgment be eternally lost.
5. Verse 15 - Crooked.
a. Job 26:13 By his spirit he hath garnished the heavens; his
hand hath formed the crooked serpent.
b. Psalm 125:5 As for such as turn aside unto their crooked
ways, the LORD shall lead them forth with the workers of iniquity: but
peace shall be upon Israel.
c. Compare to Matthew 7:14 Because strait is the gate, and
narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
B. Verse 16-19 Deliverance from the evil woman To deliver thee
from the strange woman, even from the stranger which flattereth with her
words; {17} Which forsaketh the guide of her youth, and forgetteth the
covenant of her God. {18} For her house inclineth unto death, and her paths
unto the dead. {19} None that go unto her return again, neither take they
hold of the paths of life.
1. This strange woman is not an "odd" woman, but a woman who
knows not God.
2. She flatters or says nice things whether she speaks the truth or not
for the purpose of getting her own way.
3. She has forsaken the guide of her youth.
a. When she was young, she was taught the right way by those who
loved her.
b. When she grew up, and began making her own decisions, she forsook
that right way and went her own way, because she does not have the
wisdom of God in her heart.
4. The end result of her flattering ways.
a. Her house or dwelling place inclineth or "heads toward"
death.
b. The way of her life "heads toward" the dead, not just
those that are physically dead, but also toward those that are
spiritually dead.
c. None return again.
1.) This does not mean the person cannot return to righteousness,
but they will be forever scarred by the strange woman.
2.) Davids sin with Bathsheba left him with permanent scars,
which he paid for the rest of his life.
3.) This fact is true for all: Old and New Testament saints;
Spiritual leader or spiritual follower.
d. They do not take hold of the paths of life.
1.) Not as they held to before their sin with the strange woman.
2.) Their sin will be always before them and those who know.
IV. Verse 20-22 One Righteous Path for Life That thou mayest
walk in the way of good men, and keep the paths of the righteous. {21} For the
upright shall dwell in the land, and the perfect shall remain in it. {22} But
the wicked shall be cut off from the earth, and the transgressors shall be
rooted out of it.
A. There are many true believers in the path of righteousness.
1. God calls those that walk in his paths good men.
a. The world often calls Godly people evil, as it is prophesied in the
end days.
b. Isaiah 5:20 Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil;
that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for
sweet, and sweet for bitter! Sometimes, we might think we are the only
ones trying to be true to God.
2. But if we will look around us and seek righteousness, God will reveal
thousands that he has reserved for himself.
a. I Kings 19:18 Yet I have left me seven thousand in Israel,
all the knees which have not bowed unto Baal, and every mouth which hath
not kissed him.
b. Elijah thought he was the only one left standing for God, yet God
knew these 7,000 he had reserved for himself.
c. This is also true in this life.
d. There may be only a few that we know of, but God knows many more.
e. Sometimes we do not know of others because we have limited our
fellowship.
f. In the end, only the righteousness shall continue to dwell in the
land.
3. At this present time, the holy and profane dwell together in the land,
but there is coming a time of separation.
a. In Matthew 13:30, Jesus commanded both the wheat and tares grow
together until the harvest, then the angels shall separate them.
b. Daniel 12:2 speaks of this separation.
4. Do not be discouraged because evil continues to dwell in the land,
because that is what God prophesied would happen.
a. Matthew 13:31-32 speaks of the kingdom of heaven being like a grain
of mustard seed, which when grown, is filled with the fowls (demons) of
the air.
b. Matthew 13:33-33 speaking of the kingdom of heaven being like hidden
leaven, encourages us to continue faithful because the kingdom of heaven
will finally permeate the entire world, and the entire world will be
affected by the faithful.
B. Verse 22 mentions two things concerning the final outcome of the wicked.
1. The wicked shall be cut off from the earth.
a. As plants are cut down and harvested, so the wicked shall be cut
off.
b. There is a difference between cutting down a tree and pulling up the
roots.
2. The wicked shall be rooted out of it.
a. When the wicked are rooted out of the earth, there is no possibility
of their return.
b. It will be impossible for any of the wicked to ever return, and
spoil the eternal kingdom of God. ``
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