A Word to the Wise (The Story of Solomon)
Stories • Sermon • Submitted
0 ratings
· 65 viewsWisdom that comes from God is far greater than any lessons from this world.
Notes
Transcript
Sermon Tone Analysis
A
D
F
J
S
Emotion
A
C
T
Language
O
C
E
A
E
Social
Topic: A Word to the Wise (The Story of Solomon)
Text:
Date: July 28, 2019
Series: Stories
Faith Community Bible Church
Introduction:
In 2014, The Huffington Post published a piece called 7 secrets of wise people and how to become one. Written by Catherine Pearson, this article makes an attempt for the world to obtain wisdom in their own strength and ability. She shares that there are 7 secrets to obtaining wisdom and become wise:
1. Wise people have a lot of experiences …
2. ... And they're sponges.
3. Wise people see what's right in front of them.
4. They meditate.
5. Wise people grow from crises.
6. They have a strong support network.
7. They're compassionate
While I would admit some of this is good, I believe that at best that article does a great job at putting the cart before the horse. There are some key components missing from her assessment on wisdom which I believe that many of us can relate to. When tend to place ourselves and our experience before anything that God can every provide which leads us to believe that we can obtain wisdom on our own. Let me tell you this, wisdom doesn’t come with age. (you make enough mistakes you will begin to know what you should and shouldn’t do). Wisdom comes from God and is far greater than any lessons you can learn from this world.
Main Point: Wisdom that comes from God is far greater than lessons from the world.
The Bible says it this way..
CSB
5 Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God—who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly—and it will be given to him. (Well Pastor Mike, I’ve been asked for wisdom for quite sometime and it just doesn’t seem to work for me. Well, he continues…) 6 But let him ask in faith without doubting. For the doubter is like the surging sea, driven and tossed by the wind. 7 That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord, 8 being double-minded and unstable in all his ways,h
Main Point: Wisdom that comes from God is far greater than lessons from the world.
Wisdom isn’t simply intelligence or knowledge or even understanding. It is the ability to use these to think and act in such a way that common sense prevails and choices are beneficial and productive.
Wisdom begins and ends with the fear of the Lord. It isn’t a fear of being struck by lightning or fear of being struck dead but it’s a deep, abiding, holy reverence and respect for the Lord and for His Word, the Bible. The Book of Proverbs has more to say about wisdom than any other book in the Bible. For example in Solomon, who was the wisest man on earth, at least until Christ came, said that “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.”
Wisdom begins with reverence for God and a fear for Him and His Word. That’s where wisdom begins. Where there is no fear of the Lord, there can never be any true wisdom.
The biblical definition of wisdom is the fear of the Lord as that’s where it begins and God is the source.
Main Point: Wisdom that comes from God is far greater than lessons from the world.
Using Wisdom says that sometimes I'm going to be uncomfortable, but God will be glorified and that most important.
We must use wisdom!
Our text talks to us today about a man by the name of Solomon. While 2 Chronicles as a whole shows us that God will continue to accomplish His purposes for all of humankind, even when His own people turn away from Him in rebellion.
The main character in our text is King Solomon.
He was the son of David and Bathsheba, the former wife of Uriah the Hittite whom David had killed to hide his adultery with Bathsheba while her husband was on the battle front. (Mind Blowing) *Regardless of your family history, God can still use you for his glory.
: the wisest man to ever live, builder of the temple, beautiful poet and national leader--he was a man who seemed to have it all. Yet, at the end of his life, he penned these words in :
“When I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun.”
Solomon was a complex man. He had his victories and defeats, just like us.
When he ascended to the throne, he sought after God, and God gave him opportunity to ask for whatever he wanted. Solomon humbly acknowledged his inability to rule well and unselfishly asked God for the wisdom he would need to rule God’s people justly. God gave him wisdom and wealth besides (; ). In fact, "King Solomon was greater in riches and wisdom than all the other kings of the earth" (). God also gave Solomon peace on all sides during most of his reign ().
There are many lessons we can learn from the life of Solomon.
First, when we seek God with all of our heart, He will be found (). Second, those who honor God will be honored by Him (; ). Third, God will equip us to accomplish the tasks He calls us to if we will rely on Him (; ; ). Fourth, the spiritual life is a marathon, not a sprint. A good start is not always enough to finish well (; ). Fifth, we can sincerely ask God to incline our hearts toward Him (), but we will wander off the path of righteousness if we choose to violate His revealed Word. Sixth, those closest to us will affect our spiritual lives (; ; ; ; ), and we must therefore be very careful of the company we keep. Seventh, life lived apart from God will be meaningless, regardless of education, fulfilled goals, the greatest of pleasure, and the greatest abundance of wealth ().
Moreover we learn from Solomon that Wisdom from God is far greater than lessons from the world. For those of us who desire to obtain wisdom from God, this text reveals to us four things that we can rest in (if you want to use wisdom or operate in it)
1. Wisdom will never be alone
Verse 1 says:
Solomon son of David strengthened his hold on his kingdom. The Lord his God was with him and highly exalted him.
When you desire wisdom, you will never be by yourself, because God is with you!
God commands our confident trust in Him. In a world that encourages us to believe in ourselves and to achieve all we deserve, it’s paramount to understand who and Whose we are. Society sets a bar to earn and accumulate. Accomplishments and accessories are lauded above humility and God-ordained purpose.
“Very often, people have a hard time taking God at His word,” wrote Jack Graham. “If God says it, that settles it, and there’s absolutely no reason to doubt it.” So, in place of worldly standards, the Old Testament admonishment of can serve as a benchmark in our everyday lives.
echoes the same sentiment, putting an extra emphasis on what not to have confidence in: “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.’”
You confidence can be in Him because he’s with you every step of the way.
Notice in the text it says, The Lord his God was with him and highly exalted him.
The Lord elevated Solomon in the eyes of the people. (What am I saying) When God is with you, there’s no way that you can remain on a level of complacency and lostness. Wisdom forces you to me better decision not to exalt yourself, but to exalt Jesus. You don't have to feel isolated in making wise choices (using wisdom) because you are never alone believer. God is with you.
Main Point: Wisdom that comes from God is far greater than lessons from the world.
First, those who desire wisdom will never be alone.
2. Wisdom make sacrifices
Not only will you never be alone, but second using wisdom means that you have to make sacrifices.
CSB
2 Then Solomon spoke to all Israel, to the commanders of thousands and of hundreds, to the judges, and to every leader in all Israel—the family heads. 3 Solomon and the whole assembly with him went to the high place that was in Gibeon because God’s tent of meeting, which the Lord’s servant Moses had made in the wilderness, was there. 4 Now David had brought the ark of God from Kiriath-jearim to the place he had set up for it, because he had pitched a tent for it in Jerusalem, 5 but he put the bronze altar, which Bezalel son of Uri, son of Hur, had made, in front of the Lord’s tabernacle. Solomon and the assembly inquired of him there. 6 Solomon offered sacrifices there in the Lord’s presence on the bronze altar at the tent of meeting; he offered a thousand burnt offerings on it.
Using wisdom means that sometimes, you will have to make some sacrifices. What are you willing to give up for Jesus? Who are you willing to walk away from for God to be glorified? What's holding you back from really doing what's right?
Solomon’s sacrifice was worship! V.3 talks about the tent of meeting (which the place where God met them) v.6 talks about how he offered 1000 burnt offering on the altar at the tent of meeting. Solomon worshipped God!
Under the Old Covenant, God accepted the sacrifices of dead animals. But because of Christ’s ultimate sacrifice, the OT sacrifices are no longer of any effect (, ). For those in Christ, the only acceptable worship is to offer themselves completely to the Lord.
Family, what are you offering to the Lord? What are you willing to sacrifice? Using wisdom means that sometimes, you will have to make some sacrifices. What are you willing to give up for Jesus? Who are you willing to walk away from for God to be glorified? What's holding you back from really doing what's right?
10 “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,
and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
We make the decisions that we make because we fear God.
I’m big on accountability ( I fear God)
I don't put myself in compromising situations (I fear God)
Let me tell you this… Many of us put God to the test. Because we don't see anything wrong with certain things, we place ourselves in bad situation and don't realize it before it’s too late. We must use wisdom. Well Pastor, where’s the line? That's the thing, I don't know where the line is, but I do know that wherever it is, I want to stay far away from it because I don’t want to be God to the test. USE WISDOM!
Main Point: Wisdom that comes from God is far greater than lessons from the world.
Make a sacrifice that will change you life!
3. Wisdom wants to obey God
Third, using wisdom means that you will know what to ask for.
7 That night God appeared to Solomon and said to him: “Ask. What should I give you?”
8 And Solomon said to God: “You have shown great and faithful love to my father David, and you have made me king in his place. 9 Lord God, let your promise to my father David now come true. For you have made me king over a people as numerous as the dust of the earth. 10 Now grant me wisdom and knowledge so that I may lead these people, for who can judge this great people of yours?”
This is mind blowing! Solomon could’ve asked for anything he wanted! He could’ve asked for live stock! He could’ve asked for land! He could’ve ask for anything! But he asked for wisdom. If it were you, what would be your big ask? (Ad Lib)
He sought God for what he needed. (We must seek God for what we need and not try to take matters into our own hands)
Because of what he asked for, we can only deduct that he wanted to obey God!
Listen, it’s wise to obey God.
24 Since I called out and you refused,
extended my hand and no one paid attention,
25 since you neglected all my counsel
and did not accept my correction,
26 I, in turn, will laugh at your calamity.
I will mock when terror strikes you,
27 when terror strikes you like a storm
and your calamity comes like a whirlwind,
when trouble and stress overcome you.
28 Then they will call me, but I won’t answer;
they will search for me, but won’t find me.
29 Because they hated knowledge,
didn’t choose to fear the Lord,
30 were not interested in my counsel,
and rejected all my correction,
31 they will eat the fruit of their way
and be glutted with their own schemes.
32 For the apostasy of the inexperienced will kill them,
and the complacency of fools will destroy them.
33 But whoever listens to me will live securely
and be undisturbed by the dread of danger.”
Listen family, when we reject God, we have no excuse when disaster happens!
Wisdom obeys God!
4. Wisdom will be blessed
Listen family, Wisdom that comes from God is far greater than lessons from the world. When you desire wisdom. When you use wisdom know that:
You will never be alone because God is with you.
You will have to make some sacrifices
You will have to be obey God
You will be blessed! Wisdom will be blessed.
CSB
11 God said to Solomon, “Since this was in your heart, and you have not requested riches, wealth, or glory, or for the life of those who hate you, and you have not even requested long life, but you have requested for yourself wisdom and knowledge that you may judge my people over whom I have made you king, 12 wisdom and knowledge are given to you. I will also give you riches, wealth, and glory, unlike what was given to the kings who were before you, or will be given to those after you.” 13 So Solomon went to Jerusalem from the high place that was in Gibeon in front of the tent of meeting, and he reigned over Israel.
The blessing in wisdom is that God can trust you with whatever he hands to you. That’s why he give you more because he knows that you are going to give him glory with it.
This puts the power and wealth of God on display.
Conclusion:
Wisdom that comes from God is far greater than lessons from the world.
God has an abundance of wisdom and it’s available for those who seek it. If you lack wisdom, all you have to do is ask God for it.
1 My son, if you accept my words
and store up my commands within you,
2 listening closely to wisdom
and directing your heart to understanding;
3 furthermore, if you call out to insight
and lift your voice to understanding,
4 if you seek it like silver
and search for it like hidden treasure,
5 then you will understand the fear of the LORD
and discover the knowledge of God.
6 For the LORD gives wisdom;
from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.
7 He stores up success for the upright;
He is a shield for those who live with integrity
8 so that he may guard the paths of justice
and protect the way of his faithful followers.
9 Then you will understand righteousness, justice,
and integrity—every good path.
10 For wisdom will enter your heart,
and knowledge will delight you.
11 Discretion will watch over you,
and understanding will guard you.
12 It will rescue you from the way of evil—
from anyone who says perverse things,
13 from those who abandon the right paths
to walk in ways of darkness,
14 from those who enjoy doing evil
and celebrate perversion,
15 whose paths are crooked,
and whose ways are devious.
16 It will rescue you from a forbidden woman,
from a wayward woman with her flattering talk,
17 who abandons the companion of her youth
and forgets the covenant of her God;
18 for her house sinks down to death
and her ways to the land of the departed spirits.
19 None return who go to her;
none reach the paths of life.
20 So follow the way of the good,
and keep to the paths of the righteous.
21 For the upright will inhabit the land,
and those of integrity will remain in it;
22 but the wicked will be cut off from the land,
and the treacherous ripped out of it.