Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction

Introduction

Introduction

I need wisdom.

Where do I acquire wisdom?

Last week we established that the first step towards wisdom, as well as the foundation for all wisdom, was the fear of God.

You may still wonder where wise counsel can be acquired.

“I understand that I need to fear God, but I want direction in the midst of my decisions.

Where do I get that?”

Today, I would like to offer a few places in which we can gain wisdom.

During my second year of seminary, I worked as a builder.

Our part of building the home was roughing in all the exterior and interior walls.

As we started a job, we would arrive at an empty lot with nothing but a concrete basement.

We would start our framing by building the foundation for the rest of the house.

We would make a border around the whole house with 2x10’s and then we would span the empty basement with joist.

On top of these joist we would nail ¾ inch plywood.

This became the foundation on which the rest of the house would be built.

That is like the fear of God.

The first step towards wisdom and the foundation for acquiring all wisdom is the fear of God.

But, what is built on top of that?

What other sources do we have for wisdom?

Purpose Statement.

Fearing God is the foundation for all wisdom.

All other avenues for acquiring wisdom must be filtered through divine revelation.

Gain Wisdom Through Guided Observation

One of the methods by which we can acquire wisdom is through guided observation.

I’ll explain in a moment why I include the idea of “guided.”

There are a number of different passages in Proverbs that offer wisdom through this means, but let’s look at just two of them for sake of illustration.

Learn From the Ant.

In chapter 6 of Proverbs, Solomon exhorts the sluggard to observe the ant “and be wise” ().

Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise.

Without having any chief, officer, or ruler, she prepares her bread in summer and gathers her food in harvest.

()

Solomon is hoping that the sluggard goes and observes the ant, and in so doing avoids the destruction that comes with laziness and no work.

“When will you arise from your sleep?

A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and want like an armed man” ( ESV).

Learn from the Fool and Woman Folly.

We find in a second example of wisdom acquired through observation.

In this instance, the Father and son are observing a naïve young man who is walking through the streets.

For at the window of my house I have looked out through my lattice, and I have seen among the simple, I have perceived among the youths, a young man lacking sense, passing along the street near her corner, taking the road to her house in the twilight, in the evening, at the time of night and darkness.

( ESV)

This young man follows the impulses of his physical and visual desires and the Father and son observe the ramifications of his decisions.

“All at once he follows her, as an ox goes to the slaughter, or as a stag is caught fast till an arrow pierces its liver; as a bird rushes into a snare; he does not know that it will cost him his life” ().

Through the observation of each of these experiences, wise lessons were offered; specifically in these context that laziness will result in poverty and loss and that following after your sexual desires will result in your destruction.

Observation has its limits.

Observing nature and observing others around you can result in a great deal of wisdom, but there is an important caveat we must consider.

These observations must be filtered through divine revelation.

Observation is not, in and of itself, an authoritative source for wisdom.

There are limits to wisdom gained through observation.

The ant is given as an example in one specific context.

We are not supposed to model our behavior after everything the ant does.

This specific context and lesson were offered by a wise person to one who needed to learn that specific lesson.

The wise person used the ant as an illustration to assist the sluggard in learning an important lesson.

Observations can be taken too far.

And this is why I say that guided observation is useful in the acquiring of wisdom.

There are potential dangers when we are left alone in our observations.

Observations may be taken further than is helpful and as a result unwise conclusions may be drawn.

It is true that you can observe that the hard work of the ant pays off, but you could also observe that forced labor seems appropriate and that those who are at the top should be served by those at the bottom.

You might also observe from the ant that if another species or colony threaten your territory or food, you should kill them.

Of course, if we were to do that, we would be drawing unhelpful, unbiblical, and unwise conclusions.

Negative outcomes don’t always mean wrong decision.

If we were to draw conclusions based on observation alone, we could as well conclude at times that a certain decision was wrong based on its negative outcome.

Therefore, any potential wisdom that is drawn from observation must be filtered through divine revelation.

Gain Wisdom Through Heeding Instruction

From the Home.

“Listen to advice and accept instruction, that you may gain wisdom in the future” ( ESV).

We are offered two primary realms in which to receive instruction.

First, the home is the primary place for instruction.

“Hear, my son, your father’s instruction, and forsake not your mother’s teaching” ( ESV).

“My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments” ( ESV).

Hear, O sons, a father's instruction, and be attentive, that you may gain insight, for I give you good precepts; do not forsake my teaching.

When I was a son with my father, tender, the only one in the sight of my mother, he taught me and said to me, "Let your heart hold fast my words; keep my commandments, and live.

( ESV)

There are many others that convey this same sentiment.[1]

From the Wise.

The second realm in which we are to find wisdom is from the wise.

“Incline your ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply your heart to my knowledge, for it will be pleasant if you keep them within you” ( ESV).

So then, we are directed to acquire wisdom from the wise.

But, who are the wise?

Often the older are considered wise.

Age typically allows for more experiences and opportunities by which to gain wisdom.

Therefore most cultures acknowledge that older people are likely more wise.

This seems to be the assumption that Paul makes when he directs Titus to have the older men and women “teach what is good, and so train the young women” ().

The older men were directed to “urge the younger men to be self-controlled.

Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works” ().

So then, typically we would like to assume that older people are wiser.

But, older doesn’t necessarily equal wiser.

For instance, if one never comes to fear the Lord, they would never be able to offer godly wisdom.

If someone never benefits from observations, experiences, and instruction throughout their life, they may have very little wisdom to offer.

We find an example of this in Job.

The first two chapters of Job outline the horrible experiences he suffered.

At the end of chapter two, three of his friends come to him to comfort him.

Before we look any further and conclude they weren’t wise, let’s at least acknowledge the fact that they came to their friend in the midst of his pain and “sat with him on the ground seven days and seven nights, and no one spoke a word to him, for they saw that his suffering was great” ( ESV).

Now moving beyond that amazing instance of care for Job, the next 29 chapters consists of a back and forth conversation between Job and his three friends.

They offer their opinions as to why Job is going through such a horrible experience.

He then justifies to them why he thinks they are wrong.

It is not until chapter 32 that we find my point.

Apparently a fourth friend has been present throughout all this time.

Elihu, the Buzite, responds in chapter 32.

"I am young in years, and you are aged; therefore I was timid and afraid to declare my opinion to you.

I said, 'Let days speak, and many years teach wisdom.'