Heed the call of wisdom
Deer Creek Community Study- Proverbs • Sermon • Submitted
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· 3 viewsAim: To look at the call to heed wisdom's call or suffer the consequences of you do not.
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What does it mean to “heed something?
What does it mean to “heed something?
Heed: (v) to pay attention to; to take notice of; (n) careful attention
Wisdom that is available to all at the asking (Jm1:5) and it, wisdom can accomplish much. Today the focus is on the call of wisdom, the warning of not heeding the call of wisdom.
We are not starting to look at wisdom, we have been at this a few weeks so far. We have previously looked at
Purpose of wisdom: to give instruction, knowledge and understanding (1:1-6)
Theme of proverbs: To know the fear of the Lord (1:7)
Parental advise (1:8-9)
Evil companions (1:10:19)
Solomon paints the picture of wisdom as a woman, in the Greek she is called “Sophia” which means wisdom.
The motif of wisdom being a woman is seen often in the proverbs, today is one of those instances.
So, this afternoon we will look at
Wisdom’s call (1:20-23)
Wisdom’s warning (1:24-31)
Wisdom’s summary (1:32-33)
Wisdom, drawing a conclusion
Wisdom’s plea
Wisdom’s plea
Q - What does the word plea mean, give me your thoughts?
Q - Have you ever had to plea for something or for someone?
Let’s look at just a few verses to start about Wisdom’s plea
20 Wisdom shouts in the street, She lifts her voice in the square; 21 At the head of the noisy streets she cries out; At the entrance of the gates in the city she utters her sayings:
22 “How long, O naive ones, will you love being simple-minded? And scoffers delight themselves in scoffing And fools hate knowledge? 23 “Turn to my reproof, Behold, I will pour out my spirit on you; I will make my words known to you.
Q: How does wisdom speak (v.20-21)?
she shouts publically; loudly, in open squares
She lifts her voice in full view
She cries out even in the noisy life
We too should be able to share, the speak the words of wisdom to others, regardless of location or timing, except we do want to do it in accordance to God’s will and God’s timing.
Wisdom is not hidden, but reaches out to all who will listen, turn with me to Pro8:1-5.
Pro8:1-5 “1 Does not wisdom call, And understanding lift up her voice? 2 On top of the heights beside the way, Where the paths meet, she takes her stand; 3 Beside the gates, at the opening to the city, At the entrance of the doors, she cries out: 4 “To you, O men, I call, And my voice is to the sons of men. 5 “O naive ones, understand prudence; And, O fools, understand wisdom.”
Q: Who is wisdom speaking to (vv.22)?
Naive ones, simple minded
The simple ones: the ones who love simplicity, the morally naive, easily influenced by others.
Scoffers, fools
The scorners who delight in their scorning. They are cynical, defiant and are prone to ridicule others.
Fools: These are the ones who hate knowledge, those whose hearts are so hardened that they even come to hate that which is good.
How about another example, turn with me to Eph4:17-19.
Eph4:17-19 “17 So this I say, and affirm together with the Lord, that you walk no longer just as the Gentiles also walk, in the futility of their mind, 18 being darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart; 19 and they, having become callous, have given themselves over to sensuality for the practice of every kind of impurity with greediness.”
Q: What is the call, the plea to do (v.23)?
To turn (repent) at my reproof (correction) -respond to her warning.
I will pour out my spirit (my essence, my wisdom) to you, and make my words (wisdom) known to you.
Wisdom stands ready to forgive nad to bless those who open their hearts and minds, much like God is for those who repent and turn.
Act3:19 “19 “Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord;”
I think you would agree that the grace of God is seen in wisdom’s plea, or the offer of grace made available to those who heed her call.
(Transition) The call, the opportunity to repent and return will not last forever, for God has fixed a day in which the world will have judgment delivered, so we should not delay. Let’s look why, let’s look at Wisdom’s warning.
Wisdom’s warning
Wisdom’s warning
It is wise to hear and apply wise words, not to refuse or to ignore them, for they are for your knowledge and for your protection.
May we look now at the next section of this Proverb? Join me in looking at (Pro1:24-31)
24 “Because I called and you refused, I stretched out my hand and no one paid attention; 25 And you neglected all my counsel And did not want my reproof;
26 I will also laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your dread comes, 27 When your dread comes like a storm And your calamity comes like a whirlwind, When distress and anguish come upon you.
28 “Then they will call on me, but I will not answer; They will seek me diligently but they will not find me, 29 Because they hated knowledge And did not choose the fear of the Lord.
30 “They would not accept my counsel, They spurned all my reproof. 31 “So they shall eat of the fruit of their own way And be satiated with their own devices.
Q: What did the people do when wisdom called (v.24)?
Refused the call, the outstretched hand, they did not pay attention.
Q: Have you had people who refused wisdom that you shared with them. Wisdom from experience, so that it could keep them from harm you went through?
Q: not only refused an outstretched hand they did what (v.25)?
The neglected counsel, did not want correction.
A biblical example is found in 2Chr36:15-16, no need to turn there I will just read the passage and move on.
2Chr36:15-16 “15 The Lord, the God of their fathers, sent word to them again and again by His messengers, because He had compassion on His people and on His dwelling place; 16 but they continually mocked the messengers of God, despised His words and scoffed at His prophets, until the wrath of the Lord arose against His people, until there was no remedy.”
Now look down to (vv.26-30) and you will see:
Wisdom will laugh at your calamity; will mock when dread comes (v.26)
Q: Have you ever suffered calamity or dread? Was it due to your own actions or the actions of others?
They call, cry out, but it is too late. Wisdom will not answer. Even when they seek diligently they will not find wisdom (v.28)
Why? Glad you asked, because they hated knowledge and did not choose to fear the Lord.
Q: What is fear of the Lord in chapter one? Can you remember, or maybe look back?
They rejected wise counsel, spurned reproof (correction) (v.30)
They will have the results of their foolish choices, their folly
They will eat the fruit of their own way (v.31)
Q: what do you think Solomon means by this?
They will be satiated/full with own devices (ways). For they will accept foolish counsel and not wise counsel. They will look for people to agree with their thinking vs. people who will speak the truth of God’s thinking
(Transition) choices have consequences and not choosing has consequences. Too many wait too long, wait til it is too late to do any good, to have and share wise counsel with others. To benefit from the value of wise counsel, we need to seek it, learn it, apply it while we still have time. Now may we consider the summary of this section.
Wisdom’s summary
Wisdom’s summary
Look with me at (vv.32-33)
32 “For the waywardness of the naive will kill them, And the complacency of fools will destroy them. 33 “But he who listens to me shall live securely And will be at ease from the dread of evil.”
Q: What do you notice in these two verses, are there words maybe we should define? (Waywardness, complacency)?
Destruction will come upon the simple and the fools (v.32)
Because they turn away from wisdom’s offer
They have allowed complacency to destroy them for lack of wisdom that is offered.
but,
Safety and security are found for those who are willing to hear, listen to, apply wisdom that is available. (v.33)
Are we willing to listen for and to wisdom, consider (Pro8:32-36) turn with me there, please.
32 “Now therefore, O sons, listen to me, For blessed are they who keep my ways. 33 “Heed instruction and be wise, And do not neglect it.
34 “Blessed is the man who listens to me, Watching daily at my gates, Waiting at my doorposts. 35 “For he who finds me finds life And obtains favor from the Lord.
36 “But he who sins against me injures himself; All those who hate me love death.”
Q: what are the instructions given in these verses?
Listen, heed, do not neglect, watch daily, find me (wisdom)!
Q: what are the results if you follow the instructions?
You are blessed, you life and obtain favor from the Lord
Q What are the consequences if you do not follow the instructions (v.36)?
Again ask the question are we willing to listen and to heed/apply the wisdom that is offered?
Today is the day of salvation, tomorrow maybe too late, we are not promised tomorrow and wisdom will not always be available, so be wise today, seek wisdom, heed wisdom by knowledge and by application today.
Consider part of our passage as we prepare to close
22 “How long, O naive ones, will you love being simple-minded? And scoffers delight themselves in scoffing And fools hate knowledge? 23 “Turn to my reproof, Behold, I will pour out my spirit on you; I will make my words known to you.
(Prayer)