Proverbs: The Wisdom of Christ
Tucker Presbyterian Church
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This podcast dives deep into the book of Proverbs, including considering its wisdom across the breadth of Scripture which is fulfilled in Christ. It alternates between 1) discussions of verses in Proverbs and 2) sermons on those same verses.
Tucker Presbyterian Church (www.tuckerpres.org)
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2 days ago
Podcast Ep. 7 - Proverbs 4
Proverbs 4
A Father’s Wise Instruction
[1] Hear, O sons, a father’s instruction,
and be attentive, that you may gain insight,
[2] for I give you good precepts;
do not forsake my teaching.
[3] When I was a son with my father,
tender, the only one in the sight of my mother,
[4] he taught me and said to me,
“Let your heart hold fast my words;
keep my commandments, and live.
[5] Get wisdom; get insight;
do not forget, and do not turn away from the words of my mouth.
[6] Do not forsake her, and she will keep you;
love her, and she will guard you.
[7] The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom,
and whatever you get, get insight.
[8] Prize her highly, and she will exalt you;
she will honor you if you embrace her.
[9] She will place on your head a graceful garland;
she will bestow on you a beautiful crown.”
[10] Hear, my son, and accept my words,
that the years of your life may be many.
[11] I have taught you the way of wisdom;
I have led you in the paths of uprightness.
[12] When you walk, your step will not be hampered,
and if you run, you will not stumble.
[13] Keep hold of instruction; do not let go;
guard her, for she is your life.
[14] Do not enter the path of the wicked,
and do not walk in the way of the evil.
[15] Avoid it; do not go on it;
turn away from it and pass on.
[16] For they cannot sleep unless they have done wrong;
they are robbed of sleep unless they have made someone stumble.
[17] For they eat the bread of wickedness
and drink the wine of violence.
[18] But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn,
which shines brighter and brighter until full day.
[19] The way of the wicked is like deep darkness;
they do not know over what they stumble.
[20] My son, be attentive to my words;
incline your ear to my sayings.
[21] Let them not escape from your sight;
keep them within your heart.
[22] For they are life to those who find them,
and healing to all their flesh.
[23] Keep your heart with all vigilance,
for from it flow the springs of life.
[24] Put away from you crooked speech,
and put devious talk far from you.
[25] Let your eyes look directly forward,
and your gaze be straight before you.
[26] Ponder the path of your feet;
then all your ways will be sure.
[27] Do not swerve to the right or to the left;
turn your foot away from evil. (ESV)
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4 days ago
Proverbs 3:13-35 Sermon Wisdom's Blessing: Peace and Life, Now and Forever (Rev. Erik Veerman)
Wisdom’s Blessing: Peace and Life, Now and Forever
Proverbs 3:13-35
Our sermon text is Proverbs 3:13-35. Before we look at these verses, I thought a quick review would be helpful.
So, if you would actually turn to Proverbs 1. You can find that on page 625 in the pew Bible.
One of the difficult things about Proverbs is how every chapter is about some aspect of wisdom. Because of that, some of the passages can appear redundant. It can also be hard to remember the differences. So, let’s briefly review.
Chapter 1 focused on 2 things. The first 7 verses revealed that wisdom has an ethical component. You can see that right there in verse 3 – “righteousness, justice, and equity.” Wisdom is not just knowing God and his law, but wisdom requires a heart and life commitment. Over time that will also yield a discernment between the wisdom of the world and the wisdom of God. That’s why wisdom requires fearing the Lord. You see that’s there in verse 7. To have knowledge and wisdom you need to first fear the Lord - an awe, honor, and worship of God. You can’t start anywhere else.
Then, the second half of chapter 1 was the flashing lights! Warning, danger ahead! If you follow the path of foolishness and evil, it will lead to anguish, distress, terror, and ultimately destruction. Remember that phrase there in the last verse - 33. But whoever listens to wisdom will dwell secure… without the dread of disaster. Heed the warning.
That brought, chapter 2. It answered the question, how do we get wisdom? Well, we need to seek the wisdom of God. That’s the first few verses of chapter 2. It requires diligence, prayer, and study. We can’t just sit back but need to pursue wisdom. And when we pursue wisdom from our heart, God will give us his wisdom in our heart. Look at chapter 2 verse 6 – “for the Lord gives wisdom.” That’s a beautiful promise. And once we have true wisdom, God will use it to protect and deliver us.
Then, last week, we started into chapter 3. The first 12 verses of chapter 3 are probably the most well-known in the book. If you are faithful to God’s covenant conditions – that means keeping his commandments, trusting and fearing him, honoring him in your life, then he will fulfill his amazing covenant promises – an abundant life of peace, healing, and prosperity. Those promises are ultimately spiritual and eternal, nonetheless, there are tangible near term blessings in this life.
In all of it, we’ve considered the person and work of Christ. We’re not shoehorning Jesus in here. No, on the contrary,
1.) it is only through Christ that we can truly fear the Lord in worship.
2.) The cross, though it is foolish to men, is the ultimate fulfillment of wisdom.
3.) Jesus’ life perfectly demonstrates the wisdom of God,
4.) he goes before us to deliver us from evil.
5.) And fifth, he is the covenant keeper on our behalf. Through him we can pursue God and his wisdom. And through him we will receive all the promises of God.
As we continue our Proverbs study, we’ll see more and more of Jesus - his life, his ministry, and salvation in him.
That brings us to the rest of chapter 3 verses 13 to the end of the chapter. It’s a continuation of the blessings of wisdom.
Reading of Proverbs 3:13-35
Prayer
A few weeks ago, we visited Washington DC. It was the first time we’ve been as a whole family. And if you’ve been there, you’ll know that there’s more to see than there is time. So, at one point we split up. Amy went with the girls to see the museum of Natural History. And of course, the boys and I wanted to see things that fly and go fast… so we went to the Air and Space Museum. However, after hearing about the precious gem collection, we kind of wished we had time for both. At least I did.
They were able to see the largest deep blue diamond in the world. Deep blue diamonds are very rare and very coveted. This one is called the Hope diamond. They say it’s priceless. It’s one of a kind with a weight of 45 carrots. A few years ago, a 13 carrot deep-blue diamond sold for 48 million dollars. So, doing the math, the Hope Diamond is likely worth hundreds of millions of dollars.
That’s a lot of value, but what I want to tell you today… the Hope Diamond is nothing compared to the value of wisdom. Wisdom is priceless. It’s blessing in our lives goes way beyond what we can think or imagine.
I’ve been thinking about these verses in chapter 3 as the mirror opposite of the second half of chapter 1. They both answer the same question: why we should pursue wisdom? but they come from opposite perspectives. Chapter 1 is the ultimate deterrent – if you don’t pursue wisdom – a downward tragedy. You will succumb to evil and those who propagate evil. But these verses in chapter 3 give us the ultimate prize. Fix your eyes on wisdom! …the beauty and the blessing of wisdom. You see, we need both motivators. We need the warning in chapter 1 and the blessing here in chapter 3.
I was able to get an outline in the bulletin this week. You can see that on the back
We’ll be looking at wisdom in 3 points:
1. Valuing the blessing of wisdom – verses 13 to 20
2. Embracing the blessing of wisdom – verses 21 to 26
3. Giving away the blessing of wisdom – verses 27 to 32
So valuing, embracing, and giving away the blessing of wisdom.
It’s all centered around the blessing of wisdom. If you look at verse 13, you’ll see that it starts with the word “blessed.” “Blessed is the one who finds wisdom.” That word blessed is repeated at the end of verse 18. It gives us a clue that the first few verses are about the blessing of wisdom. But then down in verse 33, the Lord blesses the dwelling of the righteous. Yet, another emphasis on blessing.
1. Valuing the blessing of wisdom (v13-20)
So first, valuing the blessing of wisdom. Maybe the Hope Diamond is not your thing. Maybe the most valuable commodity in the world to you is not gold, silver, or precious jewels as verses 13 and 14 mention. Maybe it’s that rare Bugatti sports car? Or that Leonardo Da Vinci painting? Or in Monaco, that famous palace overlooking the Mediterranean? You name it! But whatever it is… it’s nothing compared to wisdom. Look at how verse 15 describes wisdom: “nothing you desire can compare with her!” It kind of raises the stakes of our study of Proverbs!
Of all the things in the world to desire, wisdom is it. That’s not intuitive for us. We desire many things. Status in a career. Financial independence. Comfort in life. We want those things because we think they will give us peace and stability. But we sell ourselves short in those pursuits. There’s something greater. Wisdom. The wisdom that we’ve been talking about, that is. God’s wisdom.
Now, verse 16 is interesting. In her left hand, it says, are “riches and honor.” We’re tempted to think of earthly riches and honor. But the earlier description placed wisdom above riches, above any desire. So, these riches of wisdom go beyond external riches and honor. We see that in how Solomon describes the other blessings that she carries: “her ways are the ways of pleasantness,” “her path is peace.”
I think that’s particularly relevant today. We live in a world of strife. Polarization breaks families apart, neighbors apart. It splits churches. Can you even imagine the way of pleasantness or peace? Yet, this is the way of wisdom. This is the value of wisdom. Its blessings go way beyond this world.
But you ask, “how is this even possible? Because, you know, I can dream about a wisdom whose value transcends this world. It sounds exciting to think about. But let’s be honest. What hope is there?”
I hear you. And Solmon anticipated your question. Are these transcendent blessings of wisdom even possible? “Yes!” He says. You see, this wisdom is not conjured up by some human invention. It’s not a philosopher waxing eloq…
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Sep 19, 2023
Podcast Ep. 6 - Proverbs 3:13-35
Proverbs 3:13–35
Blessed Is the One Who Finds Wisdom
[13] Blessed is the one who finds wisdom,
and the one who gets understanding,
[14] for the gain from her is better than gain from silver
and her profit better than gold.
[15] She is more precious than jewels,
and nothing you desire can compare with her.
[16] Long life is in her right hand;
in her left hand are riches and honor.
[17] Her ways are ways of pleasantness,
and all her paths are peace.
[18] She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her;
those who hold her fast are called blessed.
[19] The LORD by wisdom founded the earth;
by understanding he established the heavens;
[20] by his knowledge the deeps broke open,
and the clouds drop down the dew.
[21] My son, do not lose sight of these—
keep sound wisdom and discretion,
[22] and they will be life for your soul
and adornment for your neck.
[23] Then you will walk on your way securely,
and your foot will not stumble.
[24] If you lie down, you will not be afraid;
when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.
[25] Do not be afraid of sudden terror
or of the ruin of the wicked, when it comes,
[26] for the LORD will be your confidence
and will keep your foot from being caught.
[27] Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due,
when it is in your power to do it.
[28] Do not say to your neighbor, “Go, and come again,
tomorrow I will give it”—when you have it with you.
[29] Do not plan evil against your neighbor,
who dwells trustingly beside you.
[30] Do not contend with a man for no reason,
when he has done you no harm.
[31] Do not envy a man of violence
and do not choose any of his ways,
[32] for the devious person is an abomination to the LORD,
but the upright are in his confidence.
[33] The LORD’s curse is on the house of the wicked,
but he blesses the dwelling of the righteous.
[34] Toward the scorners he is scornful,
but to the humble he gives favor.
[35] The wise will inherit honor,
but fools get disgrace. (ESV)
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Sep 17, 2023
Proverbs 3:1-12 Sermon The True Prosperity Gospel (Rev. Erik Veerman)
Proverbs 3:1-12
Our sermon text this morning is Proverbs 3:1-12.
These are arguably the most important words in the book of Proverbs. In a way, they give us the key to understanding every Proverb.
It’s easy to go out and cherry pick different proverbs for different occasions, but if you do that, you risk misunderstanding the specific proverbs and you’re likely to misapply them in your life. What these first 12 verses of chapter 3 do is set the stage for how to understand and apply all of Proverbs.
It may sound like I’m overstating it, but I think these verses are that important.
As I read, listen for similarities between what we read earlier in Deuteronomy 28 and these words.
Reading of Proverbs 3:1-12
Prayer
As I was thinking about these verses this week, I became suspicious that they were probably misunderstood. Particularly verses 9 and 10. It says, again, “Honor the LORD with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce; then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine.”
So I googled Proverbs 3:9-10.
I found it made the top 10 list of almost every single post about wealth and God. Here are some of the different ones I came across:
· 6 Keys to guarantee Biblical Wealth and Prosperity
· 22 Awesome Bible Verses about Prosperity
· Scriptures for Todays Advancing Entrepreneur
· Miraculous Bible Verses for a financial breakthrough
Listen to this quote: “when you give God the first and best of what you earn, He will multiply it back to you. He will open the windows of heaven and pour out a blessing that you cannot contain.” The author was speaking about material blessing.
People read that proverb and say, “yes! Lord, fill my barn with plenty. Give me an abundance of your good gifts.” It’s very appealing today. We live in a time of things and money and wealth. We consume and consume. Our social status is wrapped up in our cars and home and dress. We want financial prosperity. And so we read these two verses, and see them as the key to wealth and prosperity.
What I want to say shout “no!” No, that understanding is misguided. It misses the point.
But you say “wait! Pastor, don’t take the promises of prosperity away from this passage. Look at the other verses… verse 2, after all. It says we’ll have length of days and years of life… or verse 4 We’ll have good success… verse 8 our flesh will be healed. I want all of that and it sure sounds like God is promising to give it to me.”
Certainly, I don’t want to dismiss the promises of these verses. They are real and they are true. But approaching these verses from the mindset of what we get out of them is backwards. It’s fundamentally man-centered and near-sighted. When in actuality, these verses are God-centered and far-sighted.
So, then how should we approach these verses?
Well, first, we need to see Proverbs 3, not through our modern consumer eyes (we butcher Scripture all the time when we do that), but rather through the eyes of Solomon’s audience. And second, through God’s grander narrative of his promises in the Bible and how they are fulfilled.
In fact, the interesting thing about these verses is that both of those perspectives overlap. Solomon’s original audience, really the people of Israel, would have directly connected these verses to God’s promises and how he would fulfill them. Even though the word “covenant” is not used here in chapter 3 or anywhere in Proverbs, it’s the key to understanding it all.
By the way, God’s Covenant with his people essentially defines his relationship with them. It’s his commitment to them and their commitment to him.
The covenant language in these verses would have been overwhelmingly clear to the original audience. For one, there is a direct connection to Deuteronomy 28. Those verses highlights the covenant blessing that God promised his people if they would be faithful. There are clear parallels in the language between Deuteronomy 28 and Proverbs 3:1-12. You probably sensed that. But also, in Proverbs 3, the language of steadfast love and faithfulness is covenantal language. It’s God’s steadfast love for his people. That’s the word Hesed in the Hebrew. God’s covenant love. And finally, the repetition of the word LORD, all caps. Five times here. That is God’s Covenant name. There are some other indicators, but I think you get the point. The unifying theme of these verses is God’s covenant.
Let me summarize so far. These verses, and really all of Proverbs, need to be understood through God’s Covenant relationship with his people, not through a modern prosperity mindset. When when we begin with God and his covenant relationship with us, these promises go way beyond a man-centered and near-sighted understanding.
I hope that groundwork is helpful.
No, I want to say this. I’m not dismissing the near term benefits of obeying the Proverbs. I’m going to make that clear a little bit later, but I want you to hear that up front.
Ok, we’re going to take these verses in an interesting order. We’re going to start with the odd number verses. 1,3,5,7,9,11. Those contain God’s covenant conditions.
Second, we’ll take the even verses, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 – those are God’s covenant promises. Or in Deuteronomy 28 language, the covenant blessings.
Then third, we’ll end with God’s covenant faithfulness. Which is really interspersed throughout here but is especially present in verse 12. God’s covenant faithfulness in Christ. He is the one who fulfills both the covenant conditions and the promises.
So, God’s Covenant Conditions, God’s Covenant Promises, and God’s Covenant Faithfulness.
Covenant Conditions
When we come to the conditions, the odd number verses, one thing to note is all of the imperatives. I counted 14 commands here.
· Verse 1 - Do not forget my teaching… keep my commandments
· Verse 3 - Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you… Bind them around your neck, Write them on your heart
· Verse 5, trust in the Lord, lean not on your own understanding.
· There are a few others. Be not wise in your own eyes… honor and fear the Lord, etc
And what are these imperatives? These are God’s prerequisites in order for his people to receive his blessings. Now, stay tuned for point 3, God’s Covenant Faithfulness when we fail. But in the meantime, we need to recognize our responsibility.
And do you know what? None of these commands are about you. Yes, the commands are for you, but every single one of them redirects you away from yourself.
By the way, that’s the first problem with seeing these verses through the lens of material prosperity. In that understanding, it focuses on you and things, and not on God. Not only does the prosperity perspective begin from the wrong direction (the promises), it’s also fundamentally self-centered.
But these verses, these covenant conditions, direct us away from ourselves and instead to God, to his work, and to his commands.
Do you see that in the odd verses?
· Verse 1 directs us not to what we think is right or wrong, but to God’s standard of right and wrong.
· In Verse 3, we’re to wear God’s love and faithfulness like a necklace for everyone to see. It should be also be etched into our hearts – In other words, God’s love should be displayed on the outside (like a necklace) as well as on the inside (written on the tablet of our heart). In other words, your identity should be in God’s loving faithfulness. That’s yet another problem with connecting these verses to material prosperity. That view shifts the focus from your identity belonging to God to an identity that is dependent on your wealth and prosperity.
· And look at the two negative imperatives in 5 and 7. “Do not lean on your own understanding.” “Be not wise in your own eyes.” Those clearly direct us away from o…
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Sep 12, 2023
Podcast Ep. 5 - Proverbs 3:1-12
Proverbs 3:1–12
Trust in the LORD with All Your Heart
[1] My son, do not forget my teaching,
but let your heart keep my commandments,
[2] for length of days and years of life
and peace they will add to you.
[3] Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you;
bind them around your neck;
write them on the tablet of your heart.
[4] So you will find favor and good success
in the sight of God and man.
[5] Trust in the LORD with all your heart,
and do not lean on your own understanding.
[6] In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make straight your paths.
[7] Be not wise in your own eyes;
fear the LORD, and turn away from evil.
[8] It will be healing to your flesh
and refreshment to your bones.
[9] Honor the LORD with your wealth
and with the firstfruits of all your produce;
[10] then your barns will be filled with plenty,
and your vats will be bursting with wine.
[11] My son, do not despise the LORD’s discipline
or be weary of his reproof,
[12] for the LORD reproves him whom he loves,
as a father the son in whom he delights. (ESV)
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Sep 10, 2023
Proverbs 2 Sermon Seeking and Receiving the Wisdom of God (Rev. Erik Veerman)
Proverbs 2
Seeking and Receiving the Wisdom of God (Rev. Erik Veerman)
Our sermon text this morning is Proverbs chapter 2. You can find that on page 626.
One thing these opening chapters do is present the case for wisdom. Not human wisdom but God’s wisdom. In particular, the first 4 chapters answer the question: What, Why and how. What is wisdom and why and how should you pursue the wisdom of God?
We’ve already considered chapter 1. It defined wisdom for us and it gave us the foundation to wisdom. Wisdom begins with fearing the Lord. You can’t start anywhere else. Fearing the Lord is having him at the center of your life and giving him all the reverence, awe, and worship that he alone deserves as the eternal God. That’s the first part of the “how” question.
Then in the second half of chapter 1 – we were given the first part of the “why” question. Why wisdom? In those verses, Solomon gave his son a grave warning. If you don’t listen to the wisdom of God, the path you will be on will lead to anguish and destruction. He was saying, “Beware and listen up!” Now, to be sure, in the coming weeks, we’ll hear the positive answers to the “why” question, but we first needed a little wake up call.
Chapter 2, here, goes back to the “how” question. Yes, we start with the fear of the Lord, but how do we then get wisdom? How do we build on that foundation?
As I read, listen for the answer.
Reading of Proverbs 2
Prayer
Every single day, about 7 million new blog entries are posted. 7 million every day! Every week, about 550 thousand podcast episodes are released. Think about that. Half a million published every week. Let’s also consider books. Last year, about 2.2 million books were published.
As you know, some blogs and podcasts and books are entertainment, but most are informational or about opinions. They including thoughts on lifestyle and finance and travel and the latest social trends, or about news and commentary or, of course, about religion and politics. Millions and millions of all of that.
We have an almost insatiable desire to consume information.
Why is that? Well, there are many reasons, but part of it is a deep desire to make sense of the world. We want to be able to understand things so that we can navigate life. We want to formulate our own opinions and analyze other people’s opinions.
Almost everyone is searching for some kind of wisdom.
And that’s where Proverbs 2 comes in. Proverbs 2 instructs you on how to get God’s wisdom. His wisdom is not received through self-help books or podcasts (except for Proverbs podcasts!). To be sure, some of those resources can be helpful, but none of those are where you will find the wealth and source of God’s wisdom. No, there’s a greater source. There’s a greater treasure of knowledge and wisdom to pursue. And here’s what Proverbs 2 tells us: when you seek this treasure with all your heart, God will then give it to you.
I think that’s the beauty of this chapter. Wisdom is not just something you pursue. Yes, we each need to do that. But wisdom is also something that you must be given. And when wisdom is given to you, it will transform you. So, seeking and receiving wisdom.
Let me say, Seeking wisdom is not an intellectual pursuit. It’s not a pursuit where you are just trying to fill your mind with information. Yes, knowledge is important, but it’s not the goal. In the same way, receiving wisdom from God is not receiving head knowledge or the ability to remember and recall. No, getting wisdom is much deeper.
The thing about this chapter is that it’s rich with language that goes to our very being. It’s seeking and receiving at the very center of who we are. It’s heart and soul seeking and receiving. You’ll see that word “heart” there in verses 2 and 10. The call is to “incline your heart” to wisdom.
Now, to the original Hebrew audience, the word “heart,” as we’ve talked about before, had a very different connotation than it does today. Today, when we think about our heart, we primarily think about our feelings. But back then, your heart was about what you believe and cherish deep down. Feelings come and go, but a heart of understanding and wisdom is a foundation in your life. You are going to hear that kind of language worked out in different ways.
In fact, I’m going to use that word “heart” in my points. I’m referring to the original meaning.
· Point 1 is this: Seek God’s wisdom from your heart
· Second: Receive a heart of wisdom from God
· And Third: Reap the rewards of a heart of wisdom
So, seek, receive, and reap. Seek God’s wisdom from your heart, receive a heart of wisdom from God, and reap the rewards of a heart of wisdom.
1. Seek God’s wisdom from your heart
To begin, right in verse 1 we’re told where to search for wisdom... where to direct our attention. Solomon tells his son “If you receive my words and treasure up my commandments.” Solomon is referring to the words written here in Proverbs… and he includes the commandments. In other words, Solomon is directing his son to God’s law and his word. You see, outside of studying these Proverbs, the children would have been taught the law and the prophets. They would have studied God’s Word and even memorized it.
But let me ask this. If you are a student here. Grade school, middle school, high school, college… do you like to study? I think know the answer. Sometimes. Often though, you’re not interested in the subject. Right? But yet, in school, you have to study and learn even the topics you don’t like. So, what do you do? You jump through the hoops. You cram for the exam, and right after the test, poof. It disappears out of your mind. I have intimate knowledge about how to do that.
But that is the exact opposite of how to get wisdom. Look at the language.
· Verse 1, if you “receive my words.” That means, taking hold of them. It also says, “Treasure up my commandments.” When you treasure something, you are holding something dear.
· Verse 2. If your “ear is attentive to wisdom.” It’s not in one ear out the other. It’s like you are leaning forward, hanging on every word from God. And then there’s our word “heart.” “inclining your heart to understanding.” Your pursuit of wisdom is not about knowing information so you can pass the test. No, the call here is to have a heart for wisdom. “I want your wisdom, Lord. Give me a heart that yearns for wisdom.”
· And look at verse 4. “If you seek it like silver and search for it as hidden treasure.” Do you hear that sense of a deep longing and searching for wisdom?
I was thinking of Jesus’ parable of the hidden treasure. A man finds hidden treasure in a field, but he doesn’t own the land. He can’t take it. And so what does he do? He sells everything he has to buy the field so that the treasure would be his. That is the level of heart pursuit we should have for God’s wisdom.
Again, it’s not a mental exercise to fill your mind with knowledge so you can regurgitate it or demonstrate that you know things. No, our seeking of wisdom should be a deep yearning and longing for the wisdom of God… which he has given us in his Word. What does that require? It requires pursuing it. Filling our minds with God’s Word and commands. Memorizing them.
In fact, in the Hebrew, this chapter is written for memorization. Chapter 2 is a form of an acrostic. An Acrostic is when a text connects to the alphabet. There are 22 letters in the Hebrew alphabet and 22 verses here. The first 11 verses are full of the letter Aleph. That’s the first letter of the Hebrew alphabet. Verses 12-22 are full of the letter Lamed. Lamed is the 12th letter of the Hebrew alphabet. So, it’s a type of acrostic which indicates two things. First it communicates completeness – completeness in seeking and receiving wisdom. But second, it supports…
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Sep 5, 2023
Podcast Ep. 4 - Proverbs 2
Proverbs 2
The Value of Wisdom
[1] My son, if you receive my words
and treasure up my commandments with you,
[2] making your ear attentive to wisdom
and inclining your heart to understanding;
[3] yes, if you call out for insight
and raise your voice for understanding,
[4] if you seek it like silver
and search for it as for hidden treasures,
[5] then you will understand the fear of the LORD
and find the knowledge of God.
[6] For the LORD gives wisdom;
from his mouth come knowledge and understanding;
[7] he stores up sound wisdom for the upright;
he is a shield to those who walk in integrity,
[8] guarding the paths of justice
and watching over the way of his saints.
[9] Then you will understand righteousness and justice
and equity, every good path;
[10] for wisdom will come into your heart,
and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul;
[11] discretion will watch over you,
understanding will guard you,
[12] delivering you from the way of evil,
from men of perverted speech,
[13] who forsake the paths of uprightness
to walk in the ways of darkness,
[14] who rejoice in doing evil
and delight in the perverseness of evil,
[15] men whose paths are crooked,
and who are devious in their ways.
[16] So you will be delivered from the forbidden woman,
from the adulteress with her smooth words,
[17] who forsakes the companion of her youth
and forgets the covenant of her God;
[18] for her house sinks down to death,
and her paths to the departed;
[19] none who go to her come back,
nor do they regain the paths of life.
[20] So you will walk in the way of the good
and keep to the paths of the righteous.
[21] For the upright will inhabit the land,
and those with integrity will remain in it,
[22] but the wicked will be cut off from the land,
and the treacherous will be rooted out of it. (ESV)
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Aug 27, 2023
Proverbs 1:8-33 Sermon Warning: Danger Ahead (Rev. Erik Veerman)
Proverbs 1:8-33 - Warning: Danger Ahead
Our sermon text starts with Proverbs 1 verse 8 and goes to the end of the chapter. That is found on page 625 of the pew Bible.
Last week we ventured into the heart of Proverbs. Wisdom. What is wisdom and where do we begin.
As a reminder, there are three components to wisdom – knowledge, righteousness, and discernment. Knowing God and his commands; Reflecting God’s righteousness in your life, and growing in discernment of what is good and true and what is not.
And wisdom begins with fearing the Lord. For Solomon’s original readers, to fear God meant to pursue God and the terms of his covenant promises. It also meant to have a reverent awe of his being and glory and power. For us, that reverence and awe centers on Christ and salvation in him. Because it’s through him that we can fear the Lord in worship. In fact, that phrase “the fear of the Lord” is in the book of Proverbs 21 times. It’s very central to Proverbs. Listen for it in today’s reading.
As we come to God’s word, please stand in reverence of God and his very word.
Reading of Proverbs 1:8-33
Prayer
In 1994, I spent a couple of weeks at a camp in Sweden. I was with a group ministering to children from the Chernobyl area of Ukraine… This was about 8 years after the Chernobyl nuclear plant melted down. Sadly, because of the radiation exposure each one of them had some form of cancer. Some of them were not expected to live much longer.
The Chernobyl incident was a grave tragedy. The Soviet Union listed only 31 official deaths as a result of the meltdown, but the true number is in the thousands.
The sad part is that it all could have been avoided. The risks and the warnings were ignored or suppressed.
· For one, employees were not properly trained. Because of that, operators overlooked the warnings signs about the reactor’s instability.
· Several safety tests had been postponed several times.
· Then, the night of the meltdown, the automatic shutdown mechanism was deliberately disabled. Add to that, when the reactor core showed signs of heating beyond control, protocols were not followed to shut the reactor down.
· And get this, the scientists knew about several design flaws. They knew the implications of a meltdown. In fact, the main chemists and several engineers expressed grave warnings about a catastrophic accident. Yet the Soviet government and their culture of secrecy suppressed the concerns. The warnings fell on deaf ears.
The result was tragic.
Well, Proverbs 1:8-33 is an urgent warning. It’s saying, “listen to the voice of wisdom.” If you don’t, and instead listen to the voice of evil, your life is at grave risk. Like a nuclear reactor meltdown, there will be a chain reaction that leads to destruction and deadly fallout.
Think about this. Starting in Proverbs 1 verse 8 and going all the way through chapter 9, Solomon presents several life lessons about wisdom. They build on one another as Solomon makes the case to pursue wisdom and to avoid folly and evil. And where does Solomon begin? He begins with a warning. Up front, he wants to make clear the gravity of the situation. If you do not hear me… if you do not listen to the voice of wisdom, you will die.
I know that sounds harsh, but the beautiful thing about this chapter is the loving urgency in which the warning is conveyed. “Hear, my son, your father's instruction, and forsake not your mother's teaching.” Solomon is lovingly pleading with his son.
Now, before we jump into the details, let’s go back to something we considered a couple of weeks ago. The wisdom of Proverbs is wisdom for all of us. Every single one of us here. But it is especially written to the younger generation.
Children and teenagers here – God has given your parents the primary responsibility of teaching you God’s wisdom. Wisdom from the Word. They’re not the only ones in our church family leading you on your journey of wisdom and faith, but your parents have a special role, and they love you. In this opening verse, verse 8, God is calling you to listen to them.
Sometimes it feels like your parents are weighing you down. That sometimes their teaching and guidance feels unfair or harsh. I know this from experience. But kids, the truth is the opposite! Look at verse 10. When your parents are guiding you in truth and righteousness… Those instructions are (and here’s what it says) “a graceful garland for your head and pendants for your neck.” A garland of greens made into a king’s crown symbolized victory over enemies. That was usually reserved for those who fought in the battle. But this crown is for you, in your youth, as you listen to your parents’ wisdom. And the pendant around you neck symbolizes guidance and protection in life.
So, in other words, listening to your parents as they disciple you in God’s wisdom will be a tremendous blessing in your life. Having their wisdom will give you victory over your enemies and give you guidance in life.
But if you do not listen and follow their instruction, the path of your life will be difficult and will risk the grave consequences presented in this chapter.
This chapter is for all of us, but it’s especially for you to hear.
Well, that brings us to the warnings in this chapter.
We’ll consider them in 3 points. First, Beware the Dread of Disaster; second, Avoid the Enticement of Evil, and third, Hear the Warning of Wisdom.
· Let me say those again. Beware the Dread of Disaster – that’s what will result if the warning is not heard. We’re going to start with the end in mind.
· Second, Avoid the Enticement of Evil (that’s the focus of verses 10-19). How evil entices us.
· And third, Hear the Warning of Wisdom (verses 20-32 give us a warning from wisdom, herself).
Now, to be sure, we’re not going to end with these warnings. Yes, they are critical and we’ll spend most of our time on them. But we’re going to end with how we should respond to the warnings. That’s also emphasized here.
But let’s begin with the warnings.
Beware the Dread of Disaster
So first, beware the dread of disaster. Those words, “dread of disaster,” are the last three words of this chapter. You can see them there down at the end of verse 33. You may be thinking, “Why start with the end?” Well, here’s my reasoning. Having the end in mind is going to raise the stakes of the warning. And that’s the point of this chapter. The phrase, “dread of disaster” summarizes the results of ignoring wisdom and getting pulled into evil.
Listen to what happens to those who reject wisdom and instead follow the path of evil.
· Verse 18, They “lie in wait for their own blood,” it says, and they “ambush their own lives.” This is the self-destructive nature of evil.
· Verse 19 talks about how greed for unjust gain, “takes away the life of its possessor.”
· And down in verse 32… they will be “killed,” it says, because they turned away from wisdom. Their own complacency “destroys them” as Solomon warns.
Do you hear the dead of disaster in that? Death, murder, your life taken away and destroyed. We’re talking about the end of the line here. It’s what will ultimately result if you do not listen and instead venture down the path of folly and evil.
And it’s not going to be pretty on the way. Verses 26 and 27 capture that. Wisdom laughs and mocks at the life of the one who ignores her. And look at the words used to describe that life: Calamity, terror, distress, and anguish, all like a storm and whirlwind.
And down in verse 31, they will “eat the fruit of their way.” That’s shorthand for saying their evil ways will result in evil consequences.
None of the results are good. When you reject God’s wisdom, the result is self-destruction. You are setting your life on the path of death.
You see, the stakes cannot be higher. And this is the…
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Aug 22, 2023
Podcast Ep. 3 - Proverbs 1:8-33
Proverbs 1:8–33
The Enticement of Sinners
[8] Hear, my son, your father’s instruction,
and forsake not your mother’s teaching,
[9] for they are a graceful garland for your head
and pendants for your neck.
[10] My son, if sinners entice you,
do not consent.
[11] If they say, “Come with us, let us lie in wait for blood;
let us ambush the innocent without reason;
[12] like Sheol let us swallow them alive,
and whole, like those who go down to the pit;
[13] we shall find all precious goods,
we shall fill our houses with plunder;
[14] throw in your lot among us;
we will all have one purse”—
[15] my son, do not walk in the way with them;
hold back your foot from their paths,
[16] for their feet run to evil,
and they make haste to shed blood.
[17] For in vain is a net spread
in the sight of any bird,
[18] but these men lie in wait for their own blood;
they set an ambush for their own lives.
[19] Such are the ways of everyone who is greedy for unjust gain;
it takes away the life of its possessors.
The Call of Wisdom
[20] Wisdom cries aloud in the street,
in the markets she raises her voice;
[21] at the head of the noisy streets she cries out;
at the entrance of the city gates she speaks:
[22] “How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple?
How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing
and fools hate knowledge?
[23] If you turn at my reproof,
behold, I will pour out my spirit to you;
I will make my words known to you.
[24] Because I have called and you refused to listen,
have stretched out my hand and no one has heeded,
[25] because you have ignored all my counsel
and would have none of my reproof,
[26] I also will laugh at your calamity;
I will mock when terror strikes you,
[27] when terror strikes you like a storm
and your calamity comes like a whirlwind,
when distress and anguish come upon you.
[28] Then they will call upon me, but I will not answer;
they will seek me diligently but will not find me.
[29] Because they hated knowledge
and did not choose the fear of the LORD,
[30] would have none of my counsel
and despised all my reproof,
[31] therefore they shall eat the fruit of their way,
and have their fill of their own devices.
[32] For the simple are killed by their turning away,
and the complacency of fools destroys them;
[33] but whoever listens to me will dwell secure
and will be at ease, without dread of disaster.” (ESV)
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Aug 20, 2023
Proverbs 1:2-7 Sermon The Beginning of Wisdom: Fear the Lord (Rev. Erik Veerman)
Proverbs 1:2-7
The Beginning of Wisdom: Fear the Lord
Our sermon text this morning is Proverbs 1:2-7. You can find that on page 625…
Before we read, let me mention three things:
1. First, Amy, Coleman, and I started a podcast on Proverbs. It’s a weekly discussion about the upcoming verses that we’ll focus on in the sermon. The goal is to help us all engage with the text before Sunday. You can find links on our website, and it’s published on the standard podcast channels.
2. Second, in our app, you can submit any questions you have about Proverbs. We’ll plan to either talk about those in the podcast or in the sermon series.
3. And then third, just a reminder from last week. God spoke through King Solomon, son of King David to give us the wisdom of Proverbs. Solomon was the primary human author, but, as we considered, he was also a shadow of a greater king, a greater son of David – Jesus. Christ is the wisdom of God.
That brings us now to verses 2-7. They give us the purpose of Proverbs and the foundation to wisdom.
Prayer
Reading of Proverbs 1:2-7
Do you desire wisdom?
I think deep down each of us wants wisdom. We want to comprehend the meaning and purpose of our life… or we desire an ability to understand other people and social dynamics… or we want wisdom to sift through political and social theories and philosophies… or we just want wisdom to help us make day to day decisions. (that is probably the most common reason we desire wisdom)
Well, Proverbs is a book about wisdom. And its purpose is to help us with those very questions.
That’s one of the reasons I’ve been looking forward to our study of Proverbs. Every single day we are confronted with situations, beliefs, temptations, critiques… And how we think about those things, what we say and do, and the decisions we make affect ourselves and others.
We need wisdom. But not just any wisdom. No, we need God’s wisdom and Proverbs is part of God’s answer to give us that wisdom for life.
Last week, we talked a little bit about how the book of Proverbs fits within Scripture as a whole. And more specifically, how Proverbs fits within the different kinds of wisdom books in the Bible.
This morning I want to go a little deeper into the wisdom of Proverbs. The reason I want to do that is because these verses, 2-7, are the launching pad to the rest of the book. They set us on the path to gain wisdom. They answer the questions, what is wisdom? and how do we begin?
If you want to think about it this way, these verses are like your phone’s GPS map. Your destination is Godly wisdom. Verses 2-7 give you an overview of the route and the very first turn.
So, let’s jump in.
Something you probably noticed is the repetition of the word “to.” It’s there five times. Solomon was answering the question, “what is the purpose of this book?”
“Well, the purpose of the book,” he writes, is…
• Verse 2 – to know wisdom and insight
• Verse 3 – to receive instruction in wise dealing (in other words, how you live)
• Verse 4 – to give prudence and discretion
• Verse 6 – to understand a proverb and the words of the wise.
Let me summarize it this way: The purpose of Proverbs is to impart the wisdom of God. What’s really important is that we not just know God’s wisdom, but that we live God’s wisdom.
I opened with the question. Do you desire wisdom? But what Proverbs is asking: Do you desire to know and live God’s wisdom?
I’ve been using that word wisdom over and over. Last week, I provided a quick definition of wisdom. “Wisdom is having and exercising sound judgment. It’s applying truth and knowledge in life.” That’s fine as a summary. But let me give you a more comprehensive definition of wisdom and then connect it to these verses in chapter 1. Here it is:
Pursuing biblical wisdom is (1) seeking to know God, his Word and his commands, (2) desiring to humbly reflect God’s goodness and righteousness in everyday life situations, and (3) striving to discern what is true and right and good in the world, and what is not.
If you didn’t catch that, I’ll repeat each part as we go through it. And let me say, I’m intentionally using the words seeking, desiring, and striving because wisdom, as the book of Proverbs lays out, is the pursuit of those things. We each should be on the journey to grow in the wisdom of God.
Back to the first part of the definition. Biblical wisdom is seeking to know God, his Word and his commands. Having biblical wisdom requires that kind of knowledge and a desire for further knowledge. That point is sprinkled all through these verses. Verse 2 “to know wisdom and instruction.” It’s also there in verse 4 and 5 “knowledge and an increase in learning.” As we work through the first few chapters, we’ll clearly see that this knowledge is directly connected to knowing God’s Word and his commands. Then Verse 7… the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge. We’ll to come back to that in a bit, but notice for now how the call to seek knowledge includes knowing the Lord. So, biblical wisdom is first seeking to know God, his Word and his commands.
Number 2…. the second part of the definition. Biblical wisdom is also desiring to humbly reflect God’s goodness and righteousness in everyday life situations. Wisdom does not end with knowledge. No, in fact, a very large portion of Proverbs is ethical in nature. It’s the heart response to the knowledge of God and his commands. That’s partly captured in verses 3. “instruction in wise dealing.” And notice how it describes that dealing - “righteousness, justice, and equity.” Someone can know the Bible, but unless he or she is seeking to reflect God’s righteousness and goodness, that person doesn’t have wisdom. Furthermore, Proverbs is very focused on our life situation and decisions. And you can see that in verses 4 and 5. The words used are prudence, discretion, and guidance. Those are all tactical words for day-to-day decision making as we seek to honor God. To say it again, biblical wisdom is desiring to humbly reflect God’s goodness and righteousness in everyday life situations.
So, knowledge, righteousness, and the third part of the definition is about discernment: Biblical wisdom includes striving to discern what is true and right and good in the world, and what is not. Also scattered through these verses is that word “understand.” Verses 2, 5 , and 6. Understanding is discerning. It’s not just regurgitating what you are hearing. Understanding is being able apply that knowledge in life and in the world. At the end of verse 7 we’re introduced to the word “fools.” A fool despises wisdom and instruction. There’s an underlying contrast there. Part of wisdom includes being able to distinguish between goodness and folly and between truth and error. This goes beyond our personal pursuit of righteousness. Having biblical wisdom includes navigating the ideas, perspective, and ways of life in the world.
So knowledge, righteousness, and discernment.
Let me repeat that definition one more time. Pursuing biblical wisdom is (1) seeking to know God, his Word and his commands, (2) it’s desiring to humbly reflect God’s goodness and righteousness in everyday life situations, and (3) striving to discern what is true and right and good in the world, and what is not.
Do you desire this wisdom? It’s a lifetime journey. It’s my hope and prayer that by the end of our Proverbs study that you and I will be well on the path of wisdom. That we’ll have the framework, the categories, and the motivation… to know, understand, and apply God’s word in life.
One question you may have is this: How does Proverbs convey that wisdom? How is Proverbs structured to impart God’s wisdom to us?
Well, it’s a very interesting book as many of you have read. The first 9 chapters are the introduction. That’s quite a long introducti…
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Aug 13, 2023
Proverbs 1:1 Sermon Wisdom from the Son of David, King of Israel (Rev. Erik Veerman)
Proverbs 1:1
Wisdom From the Son of David, King of Israel
As you know, we’re starting a new sermon series in the book of Proverbs. We’ll focus on Proverbs 1:1 this morning. But don’t worry, we won’t be going 1 verse at a time. If we did, it would take us about 18 years to finish.
Just one verse this morning because we’ll be considering its background and how Proverbs fits within Scripture as a whole. Proverbs 1 can be found on page 625 in the church Bibles.
I remind you that this book, these words, this verse is God’s perfect, inspired, authoritative Word.
Reading of Proverbs 1:1
Prayer
This last Monday was my first day back after our summer vacation. It was an interesting day. I was summoned to the county courthouse for jury duty. As you know, that usually means you call the night before and either they say they don’t need you… or you show up and sit for an hour and are then released after various settlements.
Well, that didn’t happen this time. I was one of about 50 people interviewed as potential jurors for a criminal trial. At the end of the day, I was not selected as one of the jurors, but nonetheless went through the full process of selection.
We all sat in the courtroom with the judge, the prosecuting attorneys, the defense attorneys and the defendant, himself. They began by giving an overview of the trial and the charges. Then for 6 long hours we were asked question after question. Each one of us in front of all our peers. They wanted to know what we thought about justice, about the police, about guns, our views on sexual identity, and about the sex industry. I sat there overwhelmed at times by what was shared by other jurors… the hardships and difficult life situations that some of them have had to endure.
The reason we were peppered with all of these questions is because the trial involved murder, transgenderism, prostitution, and revenge.
Even though we were only given a glimpse of what happened, something was very apparent. Every single person involved in the trial, living and dead, had been caught up in a downward spiral of life choices – their own and others. They were caught up in layers of poor decisions and thoughts, of hatred and jealousy and revenge. To put it in the words of Proverbs - foolishness and wickedness and deceit that resulted in trouble and the snares of death. And there were eternal dimensions to this scandal. A life had been taken. The tangled web of folly and anger and prostitution resulted in a murder. Someone who could no longer hear the hope of Christ… or truth and rightness that is alone found in him.
I guess what I’m saying is that Proverbs became more real to me on Monday. Or, I should say, the importance of Proverbs. The reality and need for godly wisdom. The temporal and eternal value of pursuing what is good and right and true, but also the tragedy of choosing a path of foolishness and wickedness.
We have a lot to cover over these next few months. You probably have questions like “what is wisdom?” “Where do I begin to seek it?” “How should this wisdom be applied in life?” and “Will pursuing this wisdom always lead to peace and stability in this life?”
We’re going to get to those questions and many more as we go through Proverbs. Next week, we’ll spend more time defining wisdom, but in a nutshell, wisdom is having and exercising sound judgment. Wisdom is applying truth and knowledge in life.
This morning, as an introduction to Proverbs, I want us to consider three questions:
1. What is this book we call Proverbs?
2. How does Proverbs fit within the Scriptures as a whole?
3. Where do we find ultimate fulfillment in the Proverbs?
So, what is Proverbs? How does it fit within the Bible? Where do we find its fulfillment? Let’s take those one at a time.
1. What is this book we call Proverbs?
First, what is this book in the Bible that we call Proverbs? It’s a great question to start with.
Well, for one, the very title comes from the first verse. The proverbs of King Solomon.
A “proverb” (the word itself) is a brief saying that imparts some kind of insight for life… or some sort of ethical observation. A proverb is wisdom in a pithy and sometimes terse statement. Proverbs are usually constructed in a parallel form with two statements that relate. Sometimes the parallel presents a contrast, sometimes the parallel further explains or elaborates, or sometimes the parallel gives a reason or a result.
Let me give you some examples of well-known proverbs in the book:
• "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding." That’s Proverbs 3:5.
• Another one from Proverbs 10:12: "Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all offenses."
• Proverbs 12:15 says, "The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice."
• Here’s another that you’ve probably heard before: "A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger." That’s in 15:1
• Proverbs 16:18: "Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall."
• Or take this, Proverbs 22:6: "Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it."
The book is full of proverbial statements like these that direct us in life… which includes day-to-day decisions… interacting with others…. They penetrate to our life choices and how we live. The proverbs present warnings on one hand and blessings on the other. We’re given world view principles to know and rich insights to live by. Some of the proverbs reveal the consequences of what we say and do.
In short, Proverbs direct us which path to choose. The path of life.
Kids, I want you to hear me. This book of the Bible is especially written to you. We’re going to see that as we work through Proverbs. It’s important because as you get older, you will –
(1) experience more and more the turmoil and sin in the world. You’ll need to be able to see and identify evil for what it is… as well as goodness and truth.
(2) kids, you will also be tempted more and more. Ungodly ideas and unholy pleasures will seek to trap you and pull you in. And you need to be on guard for those.
(3) And third, related to that, the older you get, the more and more life decisions you will make. Proverbs directs you to choose the path of life and godliness and not the path of the wicked and foolish.
So, I especially ask that you to pay attention as we work through this important book of the Bible.
Ok, as we read in the first verse, the primary human author of Proverbs is King Solomon. I say primary because other authors are mentioned, including Agur son of Jakeh. He wrote chapter 30. Chapter 31 is attributed to King Lemuel, who wrote down proverbs that he received from his mother. In chapter 25, we’re told that the proverbs listed are proverbs of Solomon compiled by King Hezekiah’s men. Hezekiah was one of the great kings of Judah.
But who was King Solomon? As we read, he was the son of King David. Solomon inherited the throne of Israel from his father, David. David, of course, is the most well know Kings of Israel. He defeated the mighty Goliath and through God, established Israel as the dominant force in the region.
Solomon’s mother was Bathsheba. King David not only committed adultery with Bathsheba, but also he had her husband put on the font lines of the battlefield where he was killed. It was Nathan the prophet who confronted David with his heinous sin. And David repented and grieved over what he had done.
As far as Solomon, the most distinguishing characteristic is that he was the wisest man in all the earth. Solomon prayed for wisdom and God granted that prayer. God gave Solomon his wisdom. And one of the things that Solomon wanted to do was impart that wisdom to the kingdom which God had appointed him to lead. Solomon wanted the wisdom that God had given him to be known all throughout Israel. In fact, Solomon wan…
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Podcast Ep. 2 - Proverbs 1:2-7
Proverbs 1:2–7
[2] To know wisdom and instruction,
to understand words of insight,
[3] to receive instruction in wise dealing,
in righteousness, justice, and equity;
[4] to give prudence to the simple,
knowledge and discretion to the youth—
[5] Let the wise hear and increase in learning,
and the one who understands obtain guidance,
[6] to understand a proverb and a saying,
the words of the wise and their riddles.
[7] The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge;
fools despise wisdom and instruction. (ESV)
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Podcast Ep. 1 - Introduction
Proverbs 1:1 - [1] The proverbs of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel: (ESV)
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