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Audio Wisdom - 5: Proverbs 3:1-12
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Audio Wisdom - 6: Proverbs 3:13-26
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Audio Wisdom - 7: Proverbs 3:13-26
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Audio Wisdom - 8: Proverbs 3:13-35
Proverbs 3:1-12
An admonition to remember the laws of God,
Verse 1-4
I. Verse 1, My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my
commandments:
A. Remembering the law is physical, being in the brain, or mind.
1. Must know so you won’t forget.
2. This takes us back to 2:1-5 - We must study in order to know.
B. Keeping the law is spiritual, being kept in the heart.
1. Must be available at all times.
2. Continue to study and remember.
3. Many people acquaint keeping the law with the body, forgetting the body
only obeys what the heart and mind demand of it.
4. If all we have is an external manifestation of the commandments of God,
we have missed the entire point of the commandments.
C. When the law is kept in the heart, it will show up in the body.
1. Submit completely.
2. Feeling (flesh) - and heart (spiritual).
D. Therefore, all parts of the trichotomy of man are involved.
1. Forget not my law - a work of the flesh.
2. Let heart keep commandments - a fruit of the spirit.
3. Colossians 3:15,16 states, And let the peace of God rule in your
hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. 16
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and
admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with
grace in your hearts to the Lord.
a. This is a balance between the flesh and the spirit.
b. Notice that letting the peace of God rule in our hearts will cause us to
be happy and sing praises to God, and be a help to those around us.
E. Compare verses 1-4 to verses 5-10 to verses 13-17.
1. These three sections of verses seem to be saying the same thing. The
repetition is necessary because we are so dull of hearing.
2. Three things lead to one conclusion.
a. Verse 1-4 speaks of keeping the law of God, then receiving length of
days, peace and health.
b. Verse 5-10 speaks of trusting in the Lord with all thy heart, then
receiving length of days, peace and health.
c. Verse 13-17 speaks of finding wisdom, then receiving length of days,
peace and health.
3. It is impossible to fulfill one of the above sections without fulfilling
all of the above sections.
a. There are those who would desire to trust in the Lord, yet not know
his commandments, or follow his commandments: that is impossible to do.
b. There are those who would obey all the commandments of God without
trusting in God for anything: that is also impossible.
c. There are those that believe they can have the wisdom of God without
trusting in the Lord, or obeying his commandments: that is also impossible.
d. If a person does not trust in the Lord with all his heart, he is
leaning on his understanding, and attempting to keep the law of God only in
his flesh.
e. If a person is leaning on his own understanding, he is not trusting
God, nor does he have heavenly wisdom.
f. A person is never happy when they are not trusting God, or leaning on
their own understanding.
4. The result of trusting God with your heart, leaning on the understanding
of God, and having the wisdom of God is the same.
a. Length of days.
b. Long life.
c. Peace.
d. Health to they navel.
e. Marrow to thy bones.
f. Riches and honor.
II. Verse 2. For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add
to thee.
A. Godly Wisdom, rightly applied to the life adds three things.
1. Length of days. There is some indication the phrase means eternal life.
a. Psalm 21:4 states, He asked life of thee, and thou gavest it him,
even length of days for ever and ever.
b. Job 12:12 declares, With the ancient is wisdom; and in length of
days understanding.
c. Proverbs 3:16 states, Length of days is in her right hand; and in
her left hand riches and honour.
2. Long life. The phrase apparently means a long life on this earth.
a. Eph. 6:2,3 - Days added because of honoring parents.
b. "Long" is Hebrew "Shanah".
c. Used 709 times, translated "years".
d. Also translated "be given to change, do again, do the second
time, repeat, return, speak again, strike again, the 2nd time."
e. Therefore the use of the word can mean to add additional years to your
life.
f. Job 42:1-17 - God adding to Job after he had blessed his
"friends".
g. II Kings 20:3 - God added 15 years to Hezekiah’s life because
Hezekiah reminded God of his life and his promise.
3. Peace.
a. Old age without peace is not a blessing of God.
b. In our old age as opposed to Eccl. 12:1-7.
c. I think the peace referred to here can relate to physical health as
described in Proverbs 3:8.
1.) When a person yields himself to the word of God in obedience,
understanding the word of God reveals Godly wisdom, it is health to thy
navel and marrow to thy bones.
2.) There is more explanation of Proverbs 3:8 given later.
d. God may not keep you where you want to be or give you the health you
desire, but He can give you peace in your old age.
B. Length of days and long life seem to be speaking of a worthwhile, and
extended life, plus the promise of obtaining eternal life because the eternal
wisdom of God was sought. Old age will not be filled with remorse and sorrow,
but joy in a life well spend in doing God’s will.
C. Peace, or tranquility of heart and mind, because there is no reliance on
our wisdom, which is fallible, but on the eternal, unerring wisdom of God.
III. Verse 3. Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy
neck; write them upon the table of thine heart:
A. This verse shows the necessity of "hanging onto" the right way.
1. The word "let not" shows that mercy and truth will slowly go
away, and we will awake suddenly to find them gone.
2. The word "forsake" shows the tendency for these good values to
leave us.
3. "Write them" shows that these values are not easily learned,
but must be constantly reinforced.
B. The natural depravity of man is the reason the truth is easily forsaken,
and wickedness put in wisdom’s place.
C. Compare the works of the flesh and the fruit of the Spirit.
1. They must work in the flesh, but come from the Spirit (heart).
2. Matt. 23:1-7 (verse 5) - Not like the Pharisees.
3. Matthew 23:23 states, Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees,
hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted
the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye
to have done, and not to leave the other undone.
IV. Verse 4. So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight
of God and man.
A. The result of obeying God is always good.
1. This is the way to find favor.
2. Favor with God is more important than favor with men.
B. Favor is like grace. Good understanding is that men and God will take
notice of you and observe that you are doing the right thing.
C. Man will see and like what they see.
1. This scripture doesn’t say that lost people will approve of your Godly
lifestyle, at least in public, but privately, they will readily endorse it.
2. Potiphar saw Joseph’s attitude and ability and promoted him to a
position of authority in his house.
3. Acts 26:29-31, Paul was in jail at Rome, but gave his enemies something
to reason about. He was kept in his own hired house, and received all that
came to him, freely preaching the gospel, no man forbidding him.
D. God will give more grace to the faithful.
1. Some people seem to believe that there is nothing a lost person or a
saved person can do to obtain the grace of God.
2. Grace is absolutely undeserved, but only those that seek the Lord will
find Him.
3. This may sound like a contradiction, and it is in the minds of men, but
not in the mind of God.
Verse 5-10 - An admonition to trust the wisdom of God, not our
own wisdom
There are five blessings in the next six verses that will be received if the
necessary "qualifications" are met. The five
"qualifications" are:
1. Trust in the LORD with all thine heart.
2. Lean not unto thine own understanding.
3. In all thy ways acknowledge him.
4. Be not wise in thine own eyes.
5. Depart from evil.
I. Verse 5, Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto
thine own understanding.
A. Trust in the Lord to keep all the promises of His Word.
1. Involves a remembrance (from the study) of God’s Word.
2. Trust with heart, not with the understanding, knowledge, or memory.
a. The heart is not what the world calls the heart.
b. The heart is the very source of life, therefore God desires us to
trust him with the very source of our life.
3. All thy ways - what would Jesus do if He were in your situation?
4. In easy things and hard things.
B. Compare the word "trust" and the word "lean".
1. Trust indicates a total, complete, dependence on God.
2. Lean indicates a gentle reclining toward ones own understanding while
still standing by ones own strength (outwardly trusting Christ).
a. Trust could be illustrated by picturing a person sitting on a chair,
or laying on a bed, his weight completely on the chair or bed.
b. Lean could be illustrated by picturing a person leaning, reclining,
or resting against a wall with his feet will on the floor.
C. Compare the meaning of the entire verse.
1. Trust in the Lord with all thine heart - a spiritual exercise.
2. Lean not on thine own understanding - a physical exercise.
D. It is impossible to completely trust in the Lord and lean toward our own
understanding at the same time.
II. Verse 6, In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy
paths.
A. This verse is a positive promise.
1. If we acknowledge God in our ways (paths), he shall direct our paths.
2. Acknowledging God in our lives will stop us from doing some things we
might otherwise do.
B. This verse is also a negative promise.
1. If we don’t acknowledge God in our ways, he shall not direct our
paths.
2. If we forget that God is our maker, and we are responsible to Him
alone, we will live our lives according to the principles of the world.
C. "All thy ways".
1. In every avenue of life, whatever it is; spiritual or secular,
financial or faith, sickness or health, youth or old age.
2. When things are going good, and when things are going bad.
3. We must realize that God is in complete, total control of our lives,
and everything that happens to us is for our good and His glory.
III. Verse 7, Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart
from evil.
A. I suppose we could say that if we are wise in our own eyes, we do not
fear the Lord, and we haven’t departed from evil!
1. The natural result of not trusting our own intelligence is trusting
God.
2. A natural result of trusting God is to depart from evil.
3. A great enemy to religion is being wise in our own eyes.
4. I Corinthians 1:26-29 - God calls the lowly things to confound the
world. If God had called you, you’re probably lowly.
B. I do not believe this verse means that we ought to think we are stupid,
or ignorant.
1. We are to acknowledge before God that we don’t know the end result
of our actions.
2. Since we don’t know the end result of our actions, we must read and
study the Word of God, do what It says, and trust God that He will work out
the proper results.
3. This is called "walking by faith".
C. The way to not be wise in our own eyes, is to take advice from God’s
word.
1. We shouldn’t try to figure out what we want to do based on our own
reasoning.
2. We shouldn’t take the advice of our friends and relatives over the
Bible.
3. If their advice comes is backed up by the Bible, then that advice
would be okay to follow.
D. Fear the Lord - A reverential fear bred from an "agappa" love,
not "to be afraid".
E. Depart from evil - the right fear of the Lord will cause us to depart
from evil.
1. Note: Departing from evil is more than leaving wicked fleshly lusts,
but departing from our own thoughts.
2. Isaiah 55:8,9 - Our thoughts are not the thoughts of God.
IV. Verse 8, It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.
A. It’s physically good for us to obey God.
1. Compare the physical health of those that obey the principles of God’s
Word to those that disregard His commandments.
2. People who drink, smoke, commit adultery, and such will invariably
have poorer health than those who refuse to do such things.
B. "Navel" represents the bowels.
1. When the bowels are healthy, the body is healthy.
2. When the bodily systems of nourishment and excrement work correctly,
the entire body feels better.
3. A single sickness in the bowels (whether that sickness involves
nourishment or excrement) can easily kill the entire body, even the healthy
parts.
C. Marrow to thy bones.
1. Leviticus 17:11, 14, 17 - Life is in the blood.
2. Marrow is in the bones and is responsible for making blood.
3. If you have good marrow, you will have good blood, if you don’t have
good marrow, you won’t have good blood.
4. Doing what God said we ought to do works in our physical bodies to
give us peace and enjoyment of everyday activities.
5. This makes our bodies relaxed, so we have good marrow, which produces
good blood, which gives us good life.
V. Verse 9, Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits
of all thine increase: {10} So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy
presses shall burst out with new wine.
A. Remember Solomon is writing to his son, who will soon be the king of
Israel.
1. It would be good for even a king to give tithes and offerings to God.
2. I suppose Solomon offered tithes and offering to God.
3. Many years ago, I heard of a preacher who believed he should not give
tithes or offerings because, as he stated, the High Priest of Israel was not
required to give tithes or offerings to God.
4. I think that preacher was wrong, as the High Priest, and the other
priests of Israel, gave tithes and offerings to God.
a. Nehemiah 10:38 states, And the priest the son of Aaron shall be
with the Levites, when the Levites take tithes: and the Levites shall
bring up the tithe of the tithes unto the house of our God, to the
chambers, into the treasure house.
b. It is my belief that God will bless all those that give tithes and
offerings from their increase, as long as that increase is from a
legitimate source.
B. Honour the Lord.
1. Honor means placing great value upon.
2. This is more than just giving a part of our money to God, but
realizing He deserves it.
3. I Tim. 5:17 - If the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double
honor, then we surely should honor God with double honor.
4. Many preachers erroneously want to honored with this kind of double
honor, without realizing that love, peace, fellowship, and spiritual growth
from the church members is a much greater blessing.
C. There are two ways to honor God - To do this, we must already have given
our lives and spirits to the Lord.
1. Substance - Used 50 times in the Bible to reveal "that thing that
is ours, and is not an increase as the result of our labors".
a. We are not to believe and practice that God is interested only in
obtaining the tithe from us.
b. Substance includes: the strength of our youth, our time, our
thoughts, our bodies, our lives.
c. Gen. 12:5 - And Abram took Sarai his wife, and Lot his brother’s
son, and all their substance that they had gathered, and the souls that
they had gotten in Haran; and they went forth to go into the land of
Canaan; and into the land of Canaan they came.
d. Gen. 13:6 - And the land was not able to bear them, that they
might dwell together: for their substance was great, so that they could
not dwell together.
e. Job 1:3 – His substance also was seven thousand sheep, and
three thousand camels, and five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred she
asses, and a very great household; so that this man was the greatest of
all the men of the east.
f. Psalm 139:15 – My substance was not hid from thee, when I was
made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.
{16} Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book
all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as
yet there was none of them.
g. Luke 15:13 - And not many days after the younger son gathered all
together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his
substance with riotous living.
h. Hebrews 11:1 - Now faith is the substance of things hoped for,
the evidence of things not seen.
2. Increase - What is ours as a result of our labors. We must believe
"the tithe is the Lord’s".
D. Malachi 3:8-12 tells us that we have robbed God is we don’t give him
tithes and offerings.
1. Verse 10 declares that God will open the windows of heaven and pour
out a blessing so large we can’t receive it.
2. God’s shovel is much bigger than our shovel.
E. If all we expect are material blessings from God we will be sadly
disappointed.
1. Some of the blessings he gives are spiritual.
2. Some are the blessings of having good children who desire to serve the
Lord.
3. God does and will give spiritual blessings, but he desires us to know
where they come from and not to count on them too much.
F. When we give our tithes and offerings to the Lord, we must give them to
his body, the local church.
1. There is no such thing as a universal, invisible church.
2. There is such a thing as all God’s churches one day making up a
great assembly in heaven, where there will be separation between those in
the church and those out of the church.
3. Notice the Bible says "thy" substance in verse 9 when it
speaks about giving to God.
a. What we have is ours - God said so.
b. Notice the Bible says "thy" in verse 10, when it speaks
about God giving to us.
G. This passage says tithes and offerings, not just tithes, and not just
offerings.
1. We haven’t given any offering at all until we first give the tithe,
(10%).
2. Everything we give above 10% will be counted an offering by God.
H. Some believe the tithe is only in the Old Testament law, but they fail
to realize that Abraham gave tithes to Melchizedek before the law, Genesis
14:17-20.
I. Tithing goes against the natural thinking of man.
1. Man naturally thinks that 90% is not as great as 100%.
2. Only God can make 90% greater than 100%.
3. We think we will have less if we give away to God.
4. God will see to it that we have more if we honor Him with our
substance first.
J. Verse 10 is the result of verse 9.
1. Not an increase of outward riches to be treasured up for ourselves.
2. An increase of wealth that will be of benefit to others.
3. An increase that is the result of the labor of our own hands.
4. This increase will allow us to honor God the more. We’ll be able to
thank God the more, instead of asking Him, "Why don’t we have thus
and thus?"
5. Our wealth will not be a hindrance to God’s service. These men didn’t
seem to be afraid of loving the possessions God gave to them, yet they did
not worship those possessions, but willingly gave them in the service of
God.
a. Abraham - Genesis 13:2.
b. Job - Job 1:3.
6. One thing must be said about material possessions:
a. 1 Timothy 6:6 - But godliness with contentment is great gain.
b. Hebrews 13:5 - Let your conversation be without covetousness; and
be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never
leave thee, nor forsake thee.
c. Philippians 4:11 - Not that I speak in respect of want: for I
have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.
Verse 11,12 - An admonition to accept chastening in the proper
way
Verse 11, 12, My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be
weary of his correction: {12} For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a
father the son in whom he delighteth.
I. What a strange place to mention chastening?!! In the midst of blessing??
A. Don’t be surprised at the times when chastisement comes.
B. Be attuned to all chastening of God - both small and great.
II. Purpose of Chastening.
A. John 15:2 - Christ purgeth every branch that it might bring forth more
fruit.
B. Revelation 3:19 - As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten.
C. Quoted in Hebrews 12:5-8.
III. Concerning chastening:
A. Only saved people are chastened. God doesn’t chasten the devil’s
children, and the devil isn’t allowed to chasten God’s children.
1. Notice that the Lord loves those He corrects, just like the father
chastens the son he delights in, not the son he has given up on.
2. When God "gives up" on one of His children, He takes them
home.
B. Notice that chastening is correction - verse 11.
1. Hebrews 12:5-11 gives a further discussion of chastening.
2. We very seldom know when somebody else is being chastened.
C. Types of chastening.
1. Sickness and loss of wealth (all sorts of bad things) are not
necessarily chastening.
a. Sometimes, people get sick because there is a "bug" going
around. God knows all about this and controls it all.
b. While that is true, there is no doubt in my mind that a lot of
sickness is nothing more than the chastening hand of God.
c. I Corinthians 11:29,30 - Paul declares that many Corinthians are
weak and sick because they took the Lord’s wrong, and God chastened
them.
2. God could chasten us with health and an increase of wealth (all sorts
of good things).
a. He knows exactly what we need in order to bring our minds around to
His way of thinking.
b. But most folks will be chastened by God taking away good things and
giving bad things.
3. Death could also be a form of chastening.
a. When the death of one of His children will give Him more glory than
their living in rebellion, God will take them home.
b. All deaths are not the result of chastening.
c. Some die because it is their time to die.
d. Sometimes death comes as a blessing from God. (During a time of
great illness when there is no hope of recovery.)
D. We are not to weary of God’s chastening upon us.
1. Sometimes, children of God believe chastisement is like a fence that
hedges us in.
a. Sometimes, children of God would like to follow their fleshly
desires and participate in some form of wickedness.
b. When a child of God commits wickedness, God pricks his conscience
and makes him extremely uncomfortable with his sin.
c. A child of God cannot enjoy sin because he knows he will soon be
facing the chastening of God.
d. Sin breaks Godly fellowship and opens a door to more wickedness,
which the child of God is very uncomfortable with.
2. God wants us to patiently endure chastisement because the end of our
life will be much better than if we were not a child of God and did not have
to endure chastisement.
3. Especially compare verse 9-10 with verse 11-12.
a. Here are two opposites: one of blessings, the other of judgment.
b. It is no accident these two opposing thoughts are placed side by
side, in the midst of three points (verse 1-4, verse 5-8, and verse
13-17).
Proverbs 3:13-26
The "long term" blessings of obtaining wisdom
Verse 13-20
I. Verse 13, Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that
getteth understanding.
A. Note: Finding wisdom is right after being chastened.
1. Sometimes we don’t think we need wisdom until after God chastens us.
2. One thing for sure, we need the wisdom of God to be able to tell when we
are chastened and when we are not.
3. We also need the wisdom of God to know when to keep our nose out of
other peoples business.
B. Happy means blessed.
C. There must be a difference between wisdom and understanding.
1. Wisdom is said to be found.
2. Understanding is said to be gotten.
3. Wisdom is given by God, but it must be found (in the Bible); by a
diligent search of the Bible.
4. Understanding is also given by God, and must be gained through
education, either from educational institutions, or from the Bible.
II. Verse 14, For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of
silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold.
A. Merchandise.
1. Merchandise speaks of trading - or the profit gained from trading.
2. The verse speaks of giving worldly merchandise in order to gain
spiritual merchandise.
a. Many people believe it is better to have an expensive house and car,
and all the glittering items of this world, and spend their time gaining all
that earthly merchandise.
b. The truth is that peace in a home is better than all the money in the
world.
c. Proverbs 15:17 – Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, than
a stalled ox and hatred therewith.
d. Proverbs 17:1 - Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith,
than an house full of sacrifices with strife.
3. This means that we will not spend time trying to gain material
possessions in this world, but we will spend our time and energies seeking the
kingdom of God.
4. We ought to rest assured that God will provide all the necessities of
this life if we will only put his will first.
B. Make it our business.
1. Not a by-product of our lives, or a hobby.
2. Go into it as a businessman would, full steam ahead!
3. Many "Christians", not wanting to be labeled
"fanatical" or having excessive religion, are not really dedicated
to serving God.
4. They attempt to serve God enough to soothe their conscience, but not
enough to let it show to their friends or affect their livelihood.
C. Buy wisdom regardless of price.
1. Matthew 6:19-21 - Lay up treasure in heaven, not on this earth.
2. Matthew 16:24-26 - What shall a man give in exchange of his own soul.
a. How much silver and gold is your soul worth?
b. If you are lost, how much silver and gold would you exchange for an
eternity in the Lake of Fire?
c. If you are saved, how much silver and gold would you exchange for lost
eternal rewards?
3. Matthew 13:45,46 - The pearl of great price.
a. There are some who believe this pearl of great price is the local
church, but the Bible never states this is so.
b. There are some who believe this pearl is salvation, but who can sell
all they have to buy salvation?
c. The parable of the pearl of great price reveals the preciousness of
the inward parts of the Kingdom of God.
d. Wise saved people understand the preciousness of the inward parts of
the Kingdom of God, therefore they willingly and freely give up their lives
for the kingdom of heaven.
D. Satanic use of merchandise - Revelation 18:9-13.
1. Satan makes merchandise of everything on this earth except wisdom.
2. Satan has no wisdom because he has rejected everything the Bible
teaches.
3. Since he has no wisdom, he has no eternal merchandise (profit), only
destruction.
III. Verse 15, She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou
canst desire are not to be compared unto her.
A. Wisdom is more precious than wealth.
1. II Peter 3:10-13 states that this world and all its possessions will be
destroyed.
2. Proverbs 1:7 - Fear of God is the beginning of knowledge.
3. Ephesians 2:7 - We’ll learn more about God throughout eternity.
4. Hebrews 11:8-10 - Abraham was a man of great wealth, but did not count
that wealth as the inheritance, but looked for a city from God. Abraham dwelt
in tents - He did not settle down on this earth (even though he had riches.)
B. Without wisdom, we will not be able to keep material possessions.
C. Material possessions will not satisfy us, but true service to God will.
1. Luke 18:18-27 – The rich young rulers wealth kept him from salvation
and eternal happiness.
2. Luke 12:13-21 - This rich farmer counted his earthly wealth, but failed
to take care of his eternal soul, therefore died without enjoying the wealth
God gave to him.
D. All human desire cannot be compared to wisdom.
IV. Verse 16, Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand
riches and honour.
A. Here is an amazing thing – Wisdom holds the two things most desired by
humans.
1. Length of days speaks not only of a long earthly life, but also eternal
life.
2. Riches and honour is something that all humans desire, yet cannot fully
enjoy without God’s blessings.
3. I Kings 3:5-15.
a. Verse 9 – King Solomon asked God for wisdom, nothing else.
b. Verse 12 – God gave Solomon wisdom.
c. Verse 13 – God gave Solomon riches and honour.
d. Verse 14 – If Solomon would walk in the ways of God, God would give
him length of days.
B. All the things most desired by humans will be offered to them, if they
first seek Godly wisdom.
1. Wisdom doesn’t have length of days and riches and honor in a clinched
fist that must be pried open, but in an open hand, freely offered to anybody
who would first seek wisdom.
2. Every person wants to live a long time, and be healthy while they are
living.
3. Every person wants riches and honor.
a. This is why the gambling lotteries are so successful at raising money
for crooked politicians.
b. Most people want something for nothing, and paying a couple of dollars
for a chance at getting several million dollars appeals to most people.
c. They are so blinded they do not realize their chances of winning are
very slim, and their chances of throwing their money away is great.
d. These same people will never spend much time studying God’s Word so
they will put themselves into a position of gaining wisdom, so wisdom will
offer them long life, riches and honour.
C. Length of days.
1. Proverbs 3:1,2 – gained by following the commandments of God.
2. Ephesians 6:1-3 – Long life is gained by obeying father and mother.
3. Dying before your time will probably be avoided because God will
intervene.
4. Some, however, die because of the wicked actions of others.
a. Bro. Emerson’s boy got an overdose by some wicked person while in
military service.
b. Some are affected by a disease caused by sin that they did not commit.
(Venereal disease, AIDS, etc.)
D. Riches and honor.
1. Matthew 6:33 - God will add wealth to you (at least enough) if you seek
him (wisdom) first.
2. Many people have found destruction in their lives because they sought
wealth before wisdom.
3. I Kings 3:5-9 - Solomon asking for wisdom instead of wealth.
4. James 1:5-8 - If we lack wisdom, let us ask of God.
V. Verse 17, Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are
peace.
A. The real way to pleasure and peace is through wisdom.
1. Many believe the path to pleasure and peace is through wealth, but that
is wrong.
2. Many spend their lives working to retire so they can enjoy life, but
they are wrong.
3. Many spend their mental and physical energies trying to figure out how
to get rich, but never find pleasure and peace.
4. Many try to find pleasure and peace with illicit sex, but find tension,
disease, and loneliness instead.
B. Difference between two wisdoms.
1. See my notes on James 3:13-18 for a description of two kinds of wisdom.
a. James 3:14 states that worldly wisdom is earthly, sensual, devilish.
b. Godly wisdom is not "common sense", but "uncommon,
spiritual" sense.
c. James 3:17,18 states that Godly wisdom is pure, peaceable, gentle, and
easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and
without hypocrisy.
2. The wisdom of this world, which brings sadness and confusion and finally
death and destruction for those who trust her.
3. The wisdom of God, which brings pureness, gentleness, and peace to those
who trust her.
C. There is a lot of nervousness and tension in the world today.
1. Is this caused by not reading and studying the Word of God as we ought?
2. Are we "living more", and enjoying it less?
3. As we very busy, but not having time for the best things God has to
offer?
4. Do we take the time to "Be still and know that I am God", or
are we busy trying to get all we can out of life?
5. Are we trying to "get out of life all we can", or "trying
to give all to God while we are alive"?
6. Is there peace in our lives? Are we satisfied with our life?
7. Do we feel like we are doing a lot of unnecessary things?
8. Do we think we can get more out of life by doing less and serving God
more?
D. The answer is to study the word of God more, and pray more. Spend more
time with Him.
Verse 18, She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy
is every one that retaineth her.
VI. A blessing to us. (Can give us a fulfilled life) not like the modernists
say.
A. There is a difference in "laying hold" on wisdom and
"retaining" wisdom.
1. It is necessary to first "lay hold" on wisdom before being
able to "retain" wisdom.
2. "Laying hold" on wisdom indicates a time in a person’s
life when they discover for themselves the principles of wisdom.
3. "Retaining" wisdom indicates the continual life long use of
the principles of wisdom.
4. King Solomon "laid hold" on wisdom when God granted him
wisdom, but he did not "retain" wisdom into his old age as
revealed when he took strange wives and began to worship false gods.
5. All old people are not wise, not all young people are foolish.
B. Some believe the tree of life was removed from the Garden of Eden and
will not appear again until eternity when it appears in the New Jerusalem.
1. It is true that the "physical" tree of life was removed from
Eden and placed in the New Jerusalem.
2. It is also true that the spiritual fruits of the tree are available now
through a spiritual understanding of the Word of God.
C. For a fuller description of the tree of life see "tree of
life", ..\GENESIS\03V16-24.DOC (My comments on verse 22-24)
1. Fulfills wisdom in us.
2. Proverbs 11:30 - Fruit of righteousness is a tree of life.
a. Galatians 5:22,23 states, But the fruit of the Spirit is love,
joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness,
temperance: against such there is no law.
b. Ephesians 5:9,10 declares, (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all
goodness and righteousness and truth;) 10 Proving what is acceptable unto
the Lord.
3. Proverbs 13:12 - Fulfilled Hope is a Tree of life.
4. Proverbs 15:4 - A wholesome tongue is a tree of life.
D. Partaking of the wisdom of God is actually partaking in the absolute
happiness of God. We can be happy now.
1. There is an indestructible link between partaking of the tree of life
now and in eternity.
a. Revelation 2:7 – He that hath an ear, let him hear what the
Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat
of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.
b. Revelation 22:14 – Blessed are they that do his commandments,
that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the
gates into the city.
1.) These verses speak of a promise God gives to all overcomers,
indicating future blessings.
2.) There is no doubt the future promise of partaking on the tree of
life is true, yet Revelation 22:14 is speaking to all who read the book
of Revelation, not just a comment about future happiness.
2. We can be victorious now!!
3. We don’t have to live a defeated life and be discouraged.
4. We don’t have to doubt!!!
5. By simply doing according to the Word of God.
a. Not looking at whether friends or enemies approve.
b. Not noticing if people are for us or against us.
c. Always noticing whether God is for us or against us.
VII. Verse 19, The LORD by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding
hath he established the heavens.
A. There are those who believe heavenly wisdom does no earthly good; yet:
1. Hebrews 11:3 - worlds were framed by the Word of God.
a. The Word of God (spoken word) is wisdom, and wisdom is found in the
Bible, the written, living word of God.
b. Knowing that God created the world brings joy, evolution brings
sorrow.
2. Proverbs 8:23-31 – These verses reveal that wisdom was with God before
the creation of this world, therefore (verse 32) the sons of men should pay
attention to God’s wisdom and the principles of holiness.
a. Proverbs 8:32-36 reveal the foolishness of those that refuse to heed
the wisdom of God.
b. They are fools and bring destruction upon themselves.
c. Psalms 136:5 states,
d. The following verses are exactly the same, just in case we did not get
it the first time.
1.) Jeremiah 10:12 – He hath made the earth by his power, he hath
established the world by his wisdom, and hath stretched out the heavens by
his discretion.
2.) Jeremiah 51:15 – He hath made the earth by his power, he hath
established the world by his wisdom, and hath stretched out the heaven by
his understanding.
3. God established the universe by wisdom.
a. He created everything in such a way that it would last forever, if man
hadn’t sinned.
b. The orbits of the planets and stars prevent them from colliding with
each other, and destroying each other.
B. This causes us to know that God has control over all the universe and will
take care of all things, us included.
1. Psalm 50:10 – God owns the cattle on a thousand hills.
2. II Peter 3:7 - God is holding the world in reserve awaiting judgment.
3. Hebrews 12:1,2 - Let us be like Christ who endured the cross and all the
suffering in his flesh because he was looking ahead to the joy and glory
reserved for him.
4. I Peter 5:6 - God will exalt you in due time.
5. I Peter 5:10 - After you’ve suffered awhile.
6. II Corinthians 4:13-18 - (Verse 17) - Our light affliction.
VIII. Verse 20, By his knowledge the depths are broken up, and the clouds
drop down the dew.
A. This refers to God’s control of water, and all other natural elements.
1. In the days of Noah, Genesis 7:11 states, In the six hundredth year
of Noah’s life, in the second month, the seventeenth day of the month, the
same day were all the fountains of the great deep broken up, and the windows
of heaven were opened.
2. In the days of Moses, Exodus 15:5 declares, The depths have covered
them: they sank into the bottom as a stone.
3. Exodus 15:8 states, And with the blast of thy nostrils the waters
were gathered together, the floods stood upright as an heap, and the depths
were congealed in the heart of the sea.
4. Even the making of the oceans as a storage of the vast waters of the
earth is excellent wisdom.
B. Clouds drop down the dew.
1. Some declare the Bible to be in error for saying that the clouds drop
down the dew.
2. The dew is moisture which comes from the humidity in the air which lies
close to the earth.
3. The Bible calls this humidity a cloud, and in truth it is a cloud. The
"cloud" is not as high in the sky as the cloud the rain comes from.
4. All moisture comes from God.
5. Job 38:9 - God declared his wisdom to Job in making clouds which hold
water to give moisture to the earth in the form of rain.
The "short term" blessings of obtaining wisdom.
Verse 21-26,
I. Verse 21, My son, let not them depart from thine eyes: keep sound
wisdom and discretion:
A. Proverbs 4:20,21 - Another exhortation just like this one.
1. This exhortation is given immediately after God gives wisdom as stated
in the previous verses.
2. The practical application of this verse is that heavenly wisdom is
useful in this present world.
a. Just as God created this world by wisdom (verse 19) and established
the heavens by his understanding (verse 19), the practical application of
heavenly wisdom has earthly value.
b. Some are so filled with "heavenly wisdom" they are of no
earthly good.
B. Let wisdom not depart from thine eyes - frontlets.
1. What our eyes see is what we retain.
a. If we continue to look at heavenly wisdom, we will retain heavenly
wisdom.
b. If we look at this world without heavenly wisdom, we will loose
heavenly wisdom and gain earthly wisdom.
c. We should never take our eyes off spiritual, heavenly wisdom all the
days of our lives.
2. The word "let" indicates wisdom will slip away from us if we
make no effort to retain it.
3. The frontlet.
a. Exodus 13:11-16 - (verse 16) - All male first born animals are
sacrificed to God to remember the coming out of Egypt.
1.) Giving the first born animal to God is a constant reminder that
God provides daily necessities.
2.) Giving the first born animal to God with a willing heart reveal a
continual dependence on God for daily and eternal necessities.
b. Deuteronomy 6:3-9 - (verse 8) - The frontlet is to remember the love
of God. (See verse 4,5).
c. Deuteronomy 11:13-17 - (verse 18) - (verse 26-28) - The frontlet is
to remember the blessing of serving the Lord and the curse of forgetting
the Lord.
d. God wants us to continually remember his blessings.
e. If our eyes begin to wander from God’s wisdom (the study of His
Word), we will soon follow our eyes into sin.
4. We never get too old, or too sure of ourselves to forget these words.
As long as we live, we need to serve the Lord.
C. Keep sound wisdom and discretion.
1. The word "keep" indicates that sound wisdom and discretion
easily departs.
2. Sound wisdom means the abiding success of wisdom produces.
3. What is the difference between wisdom and discretion?
a. Wisdom is the practical application of Godly knowledge, beginning
with a heart knowledge of God.
b. Discretion is purpose, which will keep us from all wickedness and
lewdness.
D. Look at all the things keeping our eyes on God’s wisdom will do.
1. Verse 22-26 is what God’s wisdom will do for us.
a. Verse 22 – We will have real life in our souls, not the
life the world offers.
b. Verse 22 – Grace to our necks – God’s honor will be reflected
in our lives.
c. Verse 23 – The path of our life will be safe.
d. Verse 23 – God will keep us from falling into sin, rebellion, or
wickedness.
e. Verse 24 – When we are defenseless, we will not be afraid.
f. Verse 24 – We shall not worry when we lay down to sleep.
g. Verse 25 – We will not be afraid of desperate fear, because, even
though terrible things can happen to us, we know God will give us peace in
the midst of the storm.
h. Verse 25 – We will not be concerned that the anger of the Lord
will be upon us as it is upon the wicked.
i. Verse 26 – The LORD is our confidence: our wisdom, our faith, our
good works, or our friends, is not our confidence.
j. Verse 26 – God will keep our feet stable when we walk in slippery
places.
2. Verse 27-30 is what God’s wisdom will allow us to do for others.
3. Verse 31-35 is what God’s wisdom will keep us from.
II. Verse 22, So shall they be life unto thy soul, and grace to thy
neck.
A. Retaining sound wisdom by continually looking to Christ as he was before
the foundation of this world will be life unto our soul, and grace to our
necks.
1. Refer to verse 19, which refers to Proverbs 8:22-31.
2. The very thing we all desire, life to our souls and grace to our
necks, can be had only through Godly wisdom.
B. The "life" spoken of is not the kind of life world people
live.
1. There is a greater, more peaceful kind of life that this world knows
nothing about.
2. Many people seem to think that if you’re a "Christian",
you can’t have any fun, or really enjoy life -- this is not what God says.
a. They seem to believe you must take poison (get intoxicated, drunk)
to have a good time.
b. But look how sick they are the next morning.
c. They seem to think you must take fire into your bosom (commit
adultery) to have a good time.
d. But look at their diseased bodies, their destroyed families, and sin
consumed friends, and their destroying lifestyle.
C. Life unto thy soul. (Hope).
1. Daniel 6:10 - In Daniel’s old age, he stayed close to the Lord, and
the Lord stayed close to him in the lion’s den!
2. Don’t give up, just because you get old. Be a help to people around
you.
3. Faithfulness in old age is a result of faithfulness in youth.
D. Grace to thy neck - as an ornament of value.
1. God will keep your neck off the devil’s chopping block.
2. Others will see that your wisdom is from God.
3. Matthew 5:16 declares, Let your light so shine before men, that
they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
III. Verse 23, Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely, and thy foot
shall not stumble.
A. Then (but not until)
1. There will be no walking in safety until we have forced ourselves to
look straight ahead to the promises of God.
2. As long as we let our eyes drift away from God’s precious promises,
we have no guarantee that we will walk safely and our foot not stumble.
3. The guarantee of a safe walk and feet that don’t stumble come only
after we have applied the principles in verse 21 to our lives.
B. Walking safely is walking according to the Word of God.
1. Not necessarily talking about our physical life, but that having Godly
wisdom will teach us how to live in such a way as to preserve our lives for
the sake of Christ.
2. As we learn by praying and studying the Word of God, we see more and
more how God wants us to serve Him.
3. II Timothy 4:6-8 - Paul was confident of his place before God, even
though he was unsure of his place in this world.
4. According to Acts 26:19, Paul lived his life according to the word of
God and God’s call to him.
C. Foot shall not stumble - a promise.
1. This verse is not saying there won’t be hazards or dangers, but that
God will safely lead us around them.
2. I Corinthians 10:13 states, There hath no temptation taken you but
such as is common to man: but God [is] faithful, who will not suffer you to
be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a
way to escape, that ye may be able to bear [it].
3. This verse is not saying that Satan will not tempt you, or give you
trouble.
4. Revelation 12:10 declares, And I heard a loud voice saying in
heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and
the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which
accused them before our God day and night.
5. James 1:14,15 – We will be tempted and drawn away of our own lusts,
but God will with the temptation make a way to escape that we will be
able to bear it.
IV. Verse 24, When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou
shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet.
A. We can have sweet sleep when we follow the commands of God and trust him
for the needs of our daily life.
1. We don’t spend a lot of time staying awake worrying about those
needs.
2. We will have confidence in God to provide them for us.
B. Many older people have told me that they pray before they go to bed and
give themselves over to the Lord, and have a good nights sleep.
1. It is good practice for old and young alike to trust God for a good
nights sleep.
2. When your ways of full of wickedness, or filled with the cares of this
life, you will not sleep well.
3. Psalm 4:8 - lay down in peace and sleep, for God makes us safe.
V. Verse 25, Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of
the wicked, when it cometh.
A. The sudden fear that comes at night which awakens us from sleep.
1. I suppose everybody, at one time or another, wakes up with sudden
fear.
2. When this happens to us, we can have confidence that God knows and
will give us peace.
B. There is another kind of sudden fear.
1. The fear that we will suddenly have a heart attack will sometimes
bring on a heart attack.
2. The fear some of our children will be killed or permanently maimed.
3. The fear that our house will be burned down with us and our family in
it while we are asleep.
4. I suppose all of us have these kinds of fear, but we ought to have
confidence in God, knowing that He is able to keep us even if those things
come upon us.
C. The sudden destruction of the wicked from this earth to eternal
damnation.
1. Job 21:7-18 - The wicked may prosper while they life in this earth,
yet they are destroyed quickly and with severest finality.
2. Psalm 91:1-16 - The righteous who dwell with God (verse 1,2) won’t
be afraid at night (verse 5) or day (verse 6). He shall see the wicked
destroyed on every side (verse 7,8), but God shall keep his people (verse
9-16).
D. The righteous may think they will be involved in the destruction of the
wicked, but let us not fear.
1. God will keep us.
2. We need to believe that He will.
3. In order to believe God will keep us, we must study His Word, learn it
by heart, and believe it in our hearts.
VI. Verse 26, For the LORD shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy
foot from being taken.
A. The Lord is our confidence.
1. We do not have confidence in ourselves, for we know we are just
sinners saved by grace.
2. We are trusting the Lord to keep us from the destruction of the
wicked, and to give us confidence in Him to do it.
3. We are not trusting in our armies, or our own defenses, knowing that
our true defense is in the Lord.
4. Proverbs 21:31 states, The horse is prepared against the day of
battle: but safety is of the LORD.
B. Psalms 73.
1. Psalm 73:2 - Asaph’s foot had almost slipped when he took his eyes
off the promises of God, looking toward the prosperity of the wicked.
2. Psalm 73:4-12 - Asaph gives a description of the wicked, who seem to
live without fear of reprisal.
3. Psalm 73:13-16 - Asaph declares that he has followed the Lord in vain.
4. Psalm 73:17-28 - Asaph went to the house of the Lord (during a time of
great doubt) and found the answer.
5. Though we may ourselves doubt that we will be kept, though we
sometimes may doubt that our "trying to serve God" is worthwhile,
we’ll understand by going again to the House of God. God will keep our
feet from falling.
Proverbs 3:27-35
An admonition to do good.
Verse 27-30,
I. Verse 27, Withhold not good from them to whom it is due, when it is in
the power of thine hand to do it.
A. Verse 27-35 is the result of verse 21-26 as verse 19-20 is the result of
the wisdom of God as described in Proverbs 8:22-31.
1. Just as it was "natural" for God in his wisdom to create all
the universe, it is "natural" for us to do as verse 27-35 states,
when we use the spiritual wisdom God gives to us when we ask for it.
2. We never do as verse 27-35 states in our own strength, for we are unable
to do any good without the power of God working in us.
B. Can be applied to borrowing or giving praise where praise is due.
C. Withholding is not good.
1. Implies somebody asked.
2. Whether asked or not.
D. Reasons for withholding.
1. lack of love for them.
2. Too much love for our money, or material possessions.
3. Trying to show our authority over the one that desires what we have.
E. Withholding is not good.
1. Material things - Prov. 21:3 - Doing justice and judgment is more
acceptable than sacrifices.
2. Spiritual things - especially to pastors.
a. Luke 12:42 - giving portion of meat in due season.
b. Matt. 24:45 - Same as above.
3. We don't know if we'll be alive tomorrow or not.
a. James 4:14 - Our life is like a vapor, here and then it's gone.
b. Luke 12:18 - The rich fool (lost), who died, didn't think he'd die or
that he owed anything to anybody.
c. I Sam. 25 - Nabal didn't want to share with those that had helped him,
and he gave his life because of it.
F. This obligates us to:
1. Pay our just debts - light bills, water bills, etc,. Implies that in
order to set a Christian example, we ought not to buy more than we are able to
pay for. If we get in a tight, tell our creditors our problem. Always do all
we can to pay what we owe.
2. To pay wages to those who work for us - James 5:1-5. This wage was kept
back by fraud. God hears the prayers of those defrauded.
3. I Tim. 5:8 - To provide for our relations. One very important way we can
care for our relatives today is by visiting them. If you have relatives in a
nursing home be sure to visit them regularly. Whether it's your mom or dad,
grandparents, or uncle or aunt. They'll really appreciate the visit.
4. Rom. 13:7 - make payment to the proper official, whether God or man.
5. Luke 10:25-37 - The good Samaritan - be ready to administer all acts of
kindness and fellowship regardless of who they fall upon.
6. II Cor. 8:1-4 - The churches of Macedonia giving beyond their means to
help those of their brethren less fortunate than themselves. Note: II Thess.
3:10 - They (and us) are not to help those that won't work - they shall not
eat!!
7. HE GIVES TWICE WHO GIVES SPEEDILY!!!!
G. When it is in the power of thine hand to give it.
1. Sometimes it is not that we are able to give; sometimes we don't know
about it.
2. Perhaps if we did know, we couldn't do anything.
3. Maybe God intends somebody else to be a blessing this time.
4. Just make sure you're following the Lord in all those things.
II. Verse 28, Say not unto thy neighbour, Go, and come again, and to
morrow I will give; when thou hast it by thee.
A. Why would we not give to our neighbor when he is already with us?
1. If we compel our neighbor to return we are exercising power over him.
2. We don't like it when people exercise power over us, but often we don't
notice when we exercise power over others.
3. Not giving immediately implies that we really don't want to entrust our
material possessions to them.
4. We are not accommodating (helping) our neighbor by not giving
immediately.
B. We should consider our neighbor who has already traveled to our home, now
must go back home, and return another day.
1. This takes a lot of time from their day.
2. We wouldn't like it if somebody made us return another day when they
could help us right then.
3. They can't get near as much work done because they must spend the bigger
part of their day traveling.
III. Verse 29, Devise not evil against thy neighbour, seeing he dwelleth
securely by thee.
A. Do good to thy neighbor - do not contrive how to do him an ill turn
undiscovered, to prejudice him in his body, goods, or good name, and the
rather because he dwells securely by thee, and, having given thee no
provocation, entertains no jealously or suspicion of thee, and therefore is
off his guard.
B. Deut. 27:24 - cursed be he that smites his neighbor secretly.
C. Our proper duties to our neighbors:
1. Mark 12:31 - love thy neighbor as thyself (the second commandment).
2. Rom. 13:10 - Love worketh no ill to his neighbor.
3. Rom. 15:1,2 - Let us please our neighbor to please him to edification.
4. Gal. 5:14 - The law is fulfilled by loving our neighbor.
5. James 2:8 - Fulfilling the royal law is loving your neighbor.
IV. Verse 30, Strive not with a man without cause, if he have done thee no
harm.
A. Rom. 12:17-21 - (verse 18) - Live peaceable with all men.
B. Taking someone to court is the very last resort.
1. I Cor. 6:1-8 - People in the same church should not take each other to
court in order to settle a dispute between them.
2. In today's world, it may be okay for two members in the church to take
each other to court if it is required by their insurance companies.
a. I know a case like this over an automobile accident. They refused to
be enemies and joked about it, each hoping the other would win.
b. Another case a man's daughter was killed in an automobile accident.
The man involved, begged the girls dad to sue him. That was the only way the
insurance company would pay damages. The father refused, quoting this verse.
For him that was better.
C. Little is accomplished by striving. In the end result (at the judgment)
most of our striving in this life will be shown to be vain anyway.
1. Many times we imagine somebody has done us harm when in reality, they
haven't even thought of harming us.
2. Sometimes we make a "mountain out of a mole hill", imagining
all kinds of things that aren't so.
D. This verse does imply that there is a time for striving.
1. When a person has done you harm, it is necessary to strive with them
because of the harm they have done to you.
2. Striving with a person doesn't mean that you will hurt the person,
rather that you will show them how they have hurt you.
3. This is not saying it's okay to fist fight.
An admonition not to do bad.
Verse 31-35
Verse 31 tells us what to do, verse 32-35 tells us why.
I. Verse 31, Envy thou not the oppressor, and choose none of his ways.
A. See all of Ps. 37.
1. Did Solomon restate what his father David wrote?
2. It sure looks like it.
3. What a blessing for a father to look at his son and see him doing like
God wanted him.
4. III John 4, "I have no greater joy than to hear that my children
walk in truth."
B. Chose none of his ways.
1. Do not act like him.
2. Do not think like him.
3. Matt. 16:26 - "For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the
whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for
his soul?"
C. Men are judged finally, not by what men think of them, but by what God
thinks of them.
II. Verse 32, For the froward is abomination to the LORD: but his secret
is with the righteous.
A. Froward - perverse, tortuous, wrestler - an abomination to God.
1. Prov. 4:24 - We should not have a froward mouth.
2. Prov. 8:13 - God hates a froward mouth.
3. Prov. 10:31 - The froward tongue shall be cut out.
4. Prov. 11:20 - Those with a froward heart are an abomination to the
Lord.
5. Prov. 22:5 - Thorns and snares are in the way of the froward.
B. Secret is with the righteous - The secret of happiness in God's service
and of the wicked being destroyed.
1. Gen. 18:17 - Shall I hide from Abraham the thing that I do?
2. Ps. 37:38-40 - Destruction of the wicked and blessings for Godly.
3. Ps. 73:17-20 - Secret of wicked being destroyed is revealed in House
of God.
4. Ps. 25:14 - Secret with those that fear God - and he will show them
his covenant.
III. Verse 33, The curse of the LORD is in the house of the wicked: but
he blesseth the habitation of the just.
A. House of the wicked.
1. Under the curse of God.
2. Leanness of soul, even if body full of good food and pleasure of this
world.
3. The curse may work slowly, but it's a growing "cancer".
B. The habitation of the just.
1. Habitation is the dwelling place of the just.
2. Where ever the just dwell, God will bless that place.
3. May not be fancy, but God blesses it.
4. May be poor and lacking of this world's goods, but God is there and
they are happy in spite of their poverty.
IV. Verse 34, Surely he scorneth the scorners: but he giveth grace unto
the lowly.
A. Scorns the scorners.
1. Shows lost people make fun of saved people.
2. Ps. 2:4 - God sits in the heaven and laughs at the wicked.
B. Grace to the lowly.
1. In the midst of scorners (probably won't stop the scorners).
2. I Peter 2:19-25 - Suffering for our faults or good, is acceptable with
God.
3. I Peter 4:12-16 - Rejoice when people make fun of you for so they did
to Christ. We are called for this very purpose.
V. Verse 35, The wise shall inherit glory: but shame shall be the
promotion of fools.
A. Wise inherit glory.
1. Wise - because they're saved, not intelligent - I Cor. 1:26-29.
2. Inherit - not because they work, but given freely (This is grace.)
3. II Cor. 3:18 - They see God's glory and are changed to be more like
him.
B. Fools are preparing themselves for damnation.
1. This they deny.
2. Rev. 18:7 - False claims to being the bride of Christ.
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