Proverbs 1:2

December 12, 2018

Proverbs 1:1-6

Intro.

If you remember we have already covered the first verse of Proverbs, 1. Proverb, 2. Parents 3. Product. Proverbs was written by the wises man ever. God said there wouldn’t be a man his equal in wisdom! Of course God has preserved these in His word, so they are not just from the wisest man ever, but God who is Omniscient. You cannot top that. Albert Einstein, Plato, Isaac Newton, Leonardo Da Vinci, Aristotle, Confucius, Galileo, Voltaire… these men do not hold a candle to Solomon. I don’t care what man says, God said, "Wisdom and knowledge [is] granted unto thee; and I will give thee riches, and wealth, and honour, such as none of the kings have had that [have been] before thee, neither shall there any after thee have the like." 2Ch 1:12 Proverbs "embody the philosophy of Heaven for the benefit of people living on earth." John Phillips.

In this section, we can see the purpose for the book of Proverbs. Understanding the purpose will help us to know what we are to get out of it.

I. The Purpose (2-3) Why? #

A. To Inform (2) “to know” #

1. Wisdom #
2. Wisdom is the discernment, or discretion to know how to use something. #
3. 4 people in a plane, President, smartest man in the world, Preacher and a high school student, Pilot jumps out, only 3 parachutes left, President, smartest man in the world… #
4. Proverbs is written so we can know wisdom! #
5. Instruction #

a) Instructions are given to people who carry responsibility.

b) Recipe - doesn’t mean you have it memorized, but you know where to find the information!

c) The reason we can continue to read the book of Proverbs over and over again, is because it gives us recipes, and we need reminded how to run our life, business, family, or country.

B. To Identify (2) “to perceive” #

  • Attain awareness, view, observe, and understand

    1. Good from Bad

      a) That identification process is important! The quicker we get at it, the better our life will be!

      b) Fighter pilots train spotting bad planes and good plans very quickly to be able to shoot down the enemy!

    2. Our ability to perceive, or identify good from bad is something that needs practiced over and over!

C. To Ingest (3) “to receive” #

  1. Wisdom - use what you know, discernment

  2. Justice - impartiality, reasonable,

  3. Judgment - sensible conclusion

  4. Equity - equal, considering all

II. The Pupil (4-5) To Whom? #

A. The Ignorant (4) “simple” #

  1. Simple - ignorant

    a) Simple is used 14x in the book of proverbs, it means those ignorant, ignorant is un-educated, or lacking learning.

    b) Ignorant is not meant to be insulting. Many good people simply don’t have the access to a good education. They would be considered ignorant, or simple people.

    c) Fool - Someone who has access to education, and squanders it, and that would be insulting.

    d) Scorner - One who doesn’t like instruction, will not listen or learn from it.

  2. Subtility - acute awareness, refinement

    a) In Peru I became acutely aware of theft, and security!

    b) Keen awareness in life of right, wrong, and best things to do!

B. The inexperienced (4) “young” #

  1. Experience helps understanding!

    a) Experience traveling the world, observation

    (1) If you travel, and if you observe... there is great amount
    that can be learned from that experience.

    b) Experience ‘school of hard knocks’

    (1) This is not always the best method for learning!

(2) I don't have to 'experience\' being hit by a bus to learn
    that it is bad! I don't have to 'experience\' poison ivy, or
    drugs or alcohol to know they are bad.

(3) Solomon wants to educate the inexperienced, or young to help
    them understand life, and avoid the costly mistakes others
    have made!

  2. Knowledge - information

  3. Discretion - use of that information

C. The Intelligent (5) “wise" #

  1. Even a wise man will spend time in the book, because he will learn!

  2. So the Book of Proverbs, and the Bible in whole is not simply for the Ignorant, Inexperienced, but the Intelligent will also take an interest in the Book, and increase learning!

D. The Interested (5) “understanding” #

  1. Anyone with any understanding should take an interest in increasing that wisdom and knowledge they have.

III. The Profit (6) #

  • What is this going to profit me? What can I take away from this?

A. Interpretation & Understanding #

1. a Proverb #

a) Proverbs requires some thought, and the Holy Spirit to unlock the truths written in them!

1Cor. 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

b) Proverbs "embody the philosophy of Heaven for the benefit of people living on earth.” John Phillips.

c) In studying the Proverbs, you will get them one by one.

d) Practical application of those proverbs to your life, is wiser still!

2. Words of the Wise #

a) Place the words of the wise in your heart with understanding, and live them out!

b) Wisdom doesn’t have an expiration date!

3. Dark Sayings - a puzzle ; hence a trick, conundrum, sententious maxim #
4. A saying that has it’s meaning obscure, and requires a key to unlock it. Much like a riddle. #
Tags: Preaching Outlines Proverbs