Wisdom for Life (Part 2)
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Scripture Reading
Scripture Reading
19 Wisdom makes one wise man more powerful
than ten rulers in a city.
20 There is not a righteous man on earth
who does what is right and never sins.
21 Do not pay attention to every word people say,
or you may hear your servant cursing you—
22 for you know in your heart
that many times you yourself have cursed others.
23 All this I tested by wisdom and I said,
“I am determined to be wise”—
but this was beyond me.
24 Whatever wisdom may be,
it is far off and most profound—
who can discover it?
25 So I turned my mind to understand,
to investigate and to search out wisdom and the scheme of things
and to understand the stupidity of wickedness
and the madness of folly.
26 I find more bitter than death
the woman who is a snare,
whose heart is a trap
and whose hands are chains.
The man who pleases God will escape her,
but the sinner she will ensnare.
27 “Look,” says the Teacher, “this is what I have discovered:
“Adding one thing to another to discover the scheme of things—
28 while I was still searching
but not finding—
I found one upright man among a thousand,
but not one upright woman among them all.
29 This only have I found:
God made mankind upright,
but men have gone in search of many schemes.”
Introduction
Introduction
Solomon has been pondering wisdom, and he’s been giving important advice to his students in terms of living wise lives in this world.
He’s spoken about the power of God
He’s spoken about the sovereign providence of God in all things.
Last week, we saw how he taught about the man who fears God avoiding all extremes, not being over-wise, and not being over-wicked...
Now, having just spoken about the man who fears God, he goes on to speak about a wise man.
We are going to consider just a few verses this morning in terms of living with practical wisdom in the world.
1. The Power of Wisdom (vv.19-20)
1. The Power of Wisdom (vv.19-20)
1.1. Power over the Powerful
1.1. Power over the Powerful
As Solomon begins his evaluations again of wisdom in this world, he starts out by describing the great power that there is available to the man who is wise.
19 Wisdom makes one wise man more powerful
than ten rulers in a city.
In the day of Solomon, men of high standing would rule over the various cities.
The rulers of a city were those who were more greatly esteemed than most.
They were those with experience in life, and as a result of their own experience and stature as people, they were placed in a position of leadership within the city.
Now those leaders of the city would have had great power - and 10 leaders combined would certainly have wielded a good deal of power and influence over others.
But in this instance, Solomon states that the man with wisdom is far more powerful than ten rulers in the city.
The question may be asked here - is Solomon referring here to wisdom purely from a human perspective, rather than a wisdom that flows from the fear of God.
Or is he referring here to a proper wisdom in the fear of God.
It one sense, it could be either of those.
Even a man with worldly wisdom is in a powerful position to lead multitudes of people in a sound manner.
There are many powerful leaders in the history of the world who have led their nations without knowing God or caring for Him.
And so in a sense, this may apply to them.
But how much more so will it not apply to the man who truly does fear God, and whose wisdom is not a mere worldly wisdom, but rather a wisdom that is from above?!
And I do believe that this is the wisdom that Solomon is speaking of here - a Godly wisdom in the fear of the Lord.
Just the previous verse - (v.18) Solomon spoke about the man who fears God being able to avoid all extremes.
So now he speaks about the power of a truly wise man.
We recall the words of Solomon in Proverbs 9:10...
10 “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,
and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
If mere worldly wisdom grants some measure of power to a person in their leadership, how much more so wisdom through the fear of the Almighty!?
Further on in the book of Proverbs, we read of the power of the wise man (the man who fears the Lord) to attack cities and nations...
22 A wise man attacks the city of the mighty
and pulls down the stronghold in which they trust.
When there is brute power, people think that they are untouchable.
What Solomon says is, that with wisdom, your power will be greater.
Your influence over people will be greater.
Your influence over people in a sound way, in a wise way, will be greater.
5 A wise man has great power,
and a man of knowledge increases strength;
Also in Proverbs, Solomon wrote a section in chapter 8 that spoke about wisdom personified.
In that section, wisdom is heard to say these words:
14 Counsel and sound judgment are mine;
I have understanding and power.
Very clearly, there is a greater benefit in possessing wisdom than there is in holding a position or place of power.
This begs the question: why do people so often utilize brute force, or exercise the power of their position over others in an oppressive kind of manner rather than in wisdom?
Very probably a key reason that they do this is because brute force, physical might, is available on tap, and seems to be so effective.... at least temporarily.
Wisdom, on the other hand, and in particular Godly wisdom - the fear of God wisdom, takes time, effort and perseverance to develop and cultivate in ones life.
So, let us ask ourselves, are we characterized as those who would utilize force in our sphere of influence, or do we utilize wisdom in our sphere of influence?
Another way of asking this would be to ask if we are characterized by doing things in our own strength and power, or do we rely on the wisdom through God’s spirit within us in order to influence those around us.
This power through wisdom doesn’t only apply to leading a nation.
This has application to any and every leadership position, and every area where we are to exercise some kind of influence over the lives and minds of others.
Men, are you leading your wife and children through brute force, making sure that they submit, or else?
Women, are you leading your children through brute force, making sure they live in the fear of mom, rather than applying wisdom in your leadership?
Bosses, managers, anyone with any position of authority, how are you leading those who are under you?
Is it in humility with wisdom?
But I want to take this a step further here this morning in terms of this wisdom making us powerful.
If we consider this wisdom to be true wisdom, wisdom in the fear of God, then the reason that there is power through wisdom is precisely because the person fears God and lives in right relationship to God.
One of the key aspects relating to this Godly wisdom is a recognition of the place of man with respect to the place of God.
True wisdom is the fear of God - knowing who God is, and living in the fear of God.
Already Solomon has addressed the aspect of fearing God back in chapter 5.
2 Do not be quick with your mouth,
do not be hasty in your heart
to utter anything before God.
God is in heaven
and you are on earth,
so let your words be few.
Godly wisdom comes from a posture of humility.
Godly wisdom comes as the man on earth recognises and acknowledges the power of God Almighty who rules and reigns from the heavens.
And when a man truly understands who God is… in all His glory and magnificence, and then lives in the fear of the Lord - a high and exalted view of God, then there is power.
This truth comes out in a wonderful practical way in the Old Testament in the dealings of God with the nation Israel.
As Israel was led out of captivity from Egypt, it was done with a display of the power of God.
If I had to ask you, was Israel delivered from captivity in Egypt because of their own great power which was greater than that of Egypt?
Not at all: they were delivered by the mighty hand of God.
When the armies of the Egyptians pursued the Israelites in the wilderness following their deliverance / escape from Egypt, the Israelites didn’t suddenly develop some great power and ability to conquer the armies of the Egyptians.
In fact they were quite powerless.
But God delivered them by His mighty hand, by parting the waters of the Red Sea.
Not only that, but God many times thereafter would grant victory into the hands of the Israelites as they battled against the surrounding nations, not because they were a superior nation, but because they served a superior God - indeed the ALMIGHTY God.
Think about Israel crossing the Jordan River, and coming towards Jericho, as they are about to begin conquering that land.
Do you think they conquered Jericho through their own great strength?
13 Now when Joshua was near Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with a drawn sword in his hand. Joshua went up to him and asked, “Are you for us or for our enemies?”
14 “Neither,” he replied, “but as commander of the army of the Lord I have now come.” Then Joshua fell facedown to the ground in reverence, and asked him, “What message does my Lord have for his servant?”
15 The commander of the Lord’s army replied, “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy.” And Joshua did so.
Who was leading the attack on Jericho?
It was certainly not an attack entirely on the strength of an army.
And when the Israelites launched that attack on Jericho, was it in their own power?
No, the walls of Jericho came crashing down, because the Israelites listened to God - they obeyed His voice through Joshua.
If we look at the life of David, did He come out and conquer Goliath because he was intrinsically better or stronger than the giant?
Not at all - as he came to the battle line, his entire perspective was that the Philistine army was defying God Almighty - that God would deliver the nation of Israel.
No person could come and defy the Almighty God of Israel and think that they could conquer.
When David spoke to Saul who was then king at the battle line, he reasoned like this...
36 Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, because he has defied the armies of the living God. 37 The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.”
Saul said to David, “Go, and the Lord be with you.”
The battles of the Israelites were won as they placed their trust in God, rather than in themselves.
As they lived in obedience to God, rather than following their own paths of wisdom.
7 The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him,
and he delivers them.
Friends, we need to recognise that the fear of God, true wisdom, grants power not because of intrinsic power, but because God is the One acting on behalf of His own - those who fear Him.
1.2. Power over Sin
1.2. Power over Sin
Look then further at verse 20:
20 There is not a righteous man on earth
who does what is right and never sins.
In one sense, this may be a strange statement, almost placed in the middle of nowhere.
But I believe that it has direct reference to the preceding verse.
The reason that this wisdom, the fear of God, is so essential, is because there is not a righteous man on earth who does what is right and never sins.
Solomon has been developing his perspective for the supremacy of God in all things
And here be brings in this very important truth regarding the falleness of man in the world.
Certainly, Solomon’s theology is at this point completely aligned with that of the Apostle Paul.
In Romans 3:12, Paul said...
12 All have turned away,
they have together become worthless;
there is no one who does good,
not even one.”
The Psalmist in Psalm 143:2, wrote these words:
2 Do not bring your servant into judgment,
for no one living is righteous before you.
He recognised that there is no person in all the world who is righteous before God, and thus who is in right relationship with God.
Solomon said in Proverbs 20:9...
9 Who can say, “I have kept my heart pure;
I am clean and without sin”?
There is no person in this world who can claim purity before our all-holy and pure God.
This power that Solomon speaks of in verse 19 has a more particular application for us in verse 20, as we consider the fallen nature of man.
If there is one place that we as people greatly lack power, but so desperately need it, it is in the area of dealing with sin and confronting sin in our lives.
If we are going to live as wise people in the world, we need to firstly recognise our own falleness in light of God’s power and holiness.
In fact, until we recognise and understand the plague and effects of sin in our lives, the remedy for that sin can never be known and appreciated.
It is only by the grace of God and His working by His Spirit that we may come to understand our fallen nature
Understanding our fallen nature leads us to humility before our holy God.
Understanding our fallen nature leads us to deep conviction and repentance before our Holy God.
Understanding our fallen nature leads us to a child-like faith and trust in the Saviour, Jesus Christ.
This is the rebirth.
This is what it means to be born again.
And dear friends, this is only possible by the powerful working of God as we trust in Him.
You will recall the account of the rich man who came to Jesus and wanted to inherit eternal life.
After God told him that he must sell all His possessions, and give to the poor and then follow Jesus, the man walked away despondent...
And we read these words that followed...
23 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24 Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”
25 When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, “Who then can be saved?”
26 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
Salvation is possible because we serve a great and gracious God.
1 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. 4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.
Wisdom is to live always in the knowledge of the fact that God is Almighty, and there is salvation only through trust and faith in Him.
But we must recognise also, that if we are to continue in this world and in this life living with victory over sin, it will only be through the fear of God and humbling ourselves before Him daily.
We live our lives in a world in which a battle is being waged against our souls.
Satan is at work, with all the forces of darkness, seeking to bring people out of relationship with God, and bring them into submission to Him.
We fool ourselves to think that we have the power to overcome Satan in our own strength!!
We need to live our lives trusting in Christ, daily submitting ourselves to Him.
It is only in the power of Christ, that we receive wisdom.
It is only in our knowledge of Him, and our submission to Him, that we will be filled with a knowledge of Him.
In Ephesians 1:17, Paul says....
17 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.
The Spirit that we receive is the Spirit of wisdom and revelation concerning the very truths of God so that we may live wise lives in this world.
Develop this thought...
2. The Prudence of Wisdom (vv.21-22)
2. The Prudence of Wisdom (vv.21-22)
Having spoken of the power of wisdom in life, Solomon goes on to speak about the prudence of wisdom within a particular context - that is in what people say to you...
21 Do not pay attention to every word people say,
or you may hear your servant cursing you—
Solomon is concerned for the person who would listen to every word that others are saying, so that they can hear if what is said is good or bad.
Perhaps they would then happen to overhear something said about them.
Or perhaps they are listening specifically to hear what people say, so that they can see if the person is saying good or evil about them.
But the reality is, that when you do this, you certainly risk hearing someone cursing you, or speaking evil of you, and this will lead you to some kind of unwise response.
I would ask you the question this morning: If you hear someone speaking evil against you, how do you respond?
If a person misjudges or mis-characterizes you, how do you respond to those words that are spoken.
A natural response when someone would speak evil of us, is that we would be hurt.
How often haven’t you become dejected, miserable, hurt, angered, because of the words?
Very often in the moment, we are not prepared to respond with kind words.
9 Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.
How easy is it for us to live those words?
It is exceedingly difficult!
Our natural response is to respond with some words of our own that are hardly gracious.
Why do we respond like this?
One of the reasons is because we take these things to heart.
And not only do we take these things to heart, but we believe we’re a lot bette
We believe that what people say about us is truth, and that what they say about us carries significant weight and relevance.
We begin to believe and take to heart what people say, rather than what God says!
Alternatively, we believe that what they say about us is completely unjustified and unwarranted, and we want to ensure that their wrong perceptions are corrected.... OR ELSE!!
Solomon’s advice here is that we should not “pay attention” to these words...
Part of that paying attention is taking the words to heart…
Hanging on to them as if they are absolute truth...
Why should we not pay attention to them?
The answer is in verse 22...
22 for you know in your heart
that many times you yourself have cursed others.
Think for a moment, if you can honestly say that you’ve never spoken evil or wrong, you’ve never spoken critical words of others in the quiet of your bedroom.
How often have you perhaps spoken ill of another person to your spouse.
How often have you, following a heated debate with your friend, your spouse, your parents, your co-workers, your boss etc… gone away and said something about them under your breath.
Spoken evil of them under your breath.
We’ve all done it!!
2 We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check.
Charles Bridges:
If we recall our conversation at the end of the day, how many breaches of the law of love ! how seldom are our words free from that, which we should not like to have repeated! If it does not amount to cursing, yet it is something said to the disparagement of another— and said with a sort of gratification, which we do not feel in the same degree, when we are speaking in another's praise. Why is this, but from the "root of bitterness?" Oh ! the infinite evil of an unbridled tongue—an unloving heart! (p.172)
The problem is that we tend to think that it’s okay when we do it to others, but not when others do it to us.
We think that they’re being mean and unreasonable.
About our own words, we think “well it was just a moment of anger”, “I didn’t really mean the words”
Let us learn from this that we must not take the words of others to heart.
And we must refrain from the desire to know what every single person is thinking about us or saying about us.
It’s only going to lead to hurt and pain; to anger and frustration.
What we must learn further from this, however, is that we must be cautious in our words to others and about others.
Words can and do bring much harm and destruction, and we need to be very cautious to only say those things that will bring benefit and help, that will bring grace.
29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.
We need to remember that the words that we speak may very well be taken to heart by another person.
While we’re not responsible for their responses, we certainly will be responsible for our words.
36 But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken.
Application and Conclusion
Application and Conclusion
We must live wisely, fearing God, so that we may have the power to overcome sin.
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might.
11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.
12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.
13 Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.
14 Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,
15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
16 in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
18 With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints,
33 Who will bring a charge against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies;
34 who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us.
35 Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
36 Just as it is written,
“For Your sake we are being put to death all day long;
We were considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”
37 But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us.
38 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers,
39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.