Sermon Tone Analysis

Scripture Reading

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)

1.1.

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.

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...

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...

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.

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:

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.

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?

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...

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.

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

Look then further at verse 20:

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...

The Psalmist in Psalm 143:2, wrote these words:

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...

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.