Title Slide: Wisdom's Rescue Squad
"Wisdom's Rescue Squad" • Sermon • Submitted
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· 7 viewsGodly wisdom aids us not only prevents us from foolish decisions - but enables us to rescue others as well. Such rescues are not optional - we are obligated to do so though sadly, not everyone will listen.
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Slide 2: Orientation Day ()
Slide 2: Orientation Day ()
Whether a new student, employee, or volunteer, before starting a newbie will go through orientation. However it’s done - formal or informal — one one one or in a large auditorium - orientation serves to help you adjust to your new surroundings. Sometimes, you are introduced to the go-to people who take you under their wings. Hopefully selected carefully, they will come to be your advisors or mentors to learn from.
As we enter the third section of Proverbs today, taking us under their wings are the sayings of the wise.
Read Verses 17-21
Slide 3: The Sayings of the Wise (4)
Slide 3: The Sayings of the Wise (4)
Like it’s own little book, these few chapters form an ancient orientation handbook. Who are they for? Given that a handful of the thirty sayings speak to royal conduct, the evidence leans toward the audience being persons of responsibility new leaders, commanders, or royalty. But in a broad category their target audience would be public servants.
But who are the wise? We don’t really know. Some posit Solomon modified wisdom found outside of Israel to fit Israel’s needs- perhaps Egypt. Still others think experts in God’s law were trying to make relevant applications. A minority of holdouts say the wise are God’s prophets advising the public servants. Regardless we don’t know who they are or when their wisdom originated. Yet as inspired Scripture, these 30 sayings are no less true.
Compared to some of the other Proverbs - we are missing answers the questions we have. We don’t know who they are. Some think that Solomon made use of wisdom found outside of Israel - like Egypt. OthersWe don’t know when or their wisdom or when their wisdom was shared
But we do know why they were written: The first reason: An echo of our earlier sermon studies — Verse 19 - So that in the performance of their duties, your trust may be in the Lord. Otherwise, trust will fall elsewhere either on another person or even self. Fearing the Lord trumps every other reason. But a second reason: Verse 21: so that you can give sound answers to him who sent you… In other words - the one who masters these sayings in knowledge and practice will become an advisor or mentor to others — the humble go to person for others to gain wisdom.
Though we only have time in our fall series to cover one of them, all of us can benefit from their poetic wisdom. In time, we’ll come back to some of them. Very carefully worded with links to Israel’s history, each saying is meant to be sipped and savored rather than gulping all thirty down in one sitting. Today, we start with the 25th saying from Proverbs 24.
We don’t know who the wise are? Some think that Solomon made use of wisdom found outside of Israel - like Egypt and modified it to fit Israel’s needs. Still others think are experts in God’s law trying to make relevant applications, while a minority of holdouts say the wise are rooted in God’s prophets. Regardless we don’t know who they are or when their wisdom originated. OthersWe don’t know when or their wisdom or when their wisdom was shared
We don’t know who they are. Some think that Solomon made use of wisdom found outside of Israel - like Egypt and modified it to fit Israel’s needs. Still others think they could be from experts in the law trying to make relevant applications, while a minority of holdouts say the wise are rooted in God’s prophets. Regardless we don’t know who they are or when their wisdom originated. OthersWe don’t know when or their wisdom or when their wisdom was shared
As inspired Scripture, they are no less true even if we are missing answers to questions we might have. The majority of them read as if written for today.
Slide 4: Wisdom’s Rescue Squad -
Slide 4: Wisdom’s Rescue Squad -
SLOWLY Read
SLOWLY Read
Slide 5: The Link to (in Context)
Slide 5: The Link to (in Context)
Before jumping ahead to it’s application today — As with any Proverb , we want to try and understand this Proverb in it’s original context. Otherwise speeding ahead, we are likely to get it wrong. We start again with . Every proverb in this book has its link back to . There, the first seven verses serves as both editor and filter - justifying why it was given space to be included. As a big picture - every proverb begins under the umbrella promoting one to Fear of the Lord. From there, looking back at all the reasons for studying Proverbs, this rescue squad proverbs is linked to . --doing what is right and just and fair regarding our treatment of others. That was God’s concern when he gave — “Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord.” That was similarly Jesus concern in the Gospels when giving the Second greatest Commandment to Love you neighbor as yourself.
Slide 6: Understanding the Saying in Context
Slide 6: Understanding the Saying in Context
Sitting down at orientation - if you as public servant, leader, or royal bears responsibility for the lives of others, this 25th saying would come as a real eye opener. That one’s responsibility for others is serious business. This is saying is broken down into three proverbs.
In other words, it is related to having the best interest of others before self. If you are a public servant or leader or ruler of some sort, this saying offers wisdom of high importance in it’s three proverbs.
Slide 7: 1st Proverb: “If you falter in times of trouble, how small is your strength.”
Slide 7: 1st Proverb: “If you falter in times of trouble, how small is your strength.”
Our interpretation is shaped by who it was written for-the public servants in training. Otherwise we quickly take it out of context and limit this proverb to our own individual troubles. When it comes to these public servants though - this Proverb reveals that one’s strength is not about title, power or authority over others, but the true test is how the servant responds when trouble hits their community. The weak falter in their duty - they put themselves first or even remain content while others them suffer. Or overwhelmed - they do almost nothing. But the wise public servant will do the opposite. In the face of trouble, the strong will respond with wisdom and action for the betterment of others.
Consider the line of Israel’s Kings in the Bible… those who did right in the eyes of the Lord were strong and those who did wrong - living for themselves were weak. Another classic example is the Apostle Paul. Again and again as a strong leader, Paul faces crisis head on. His letters boldly speak encouragement and wisdom to Christ’s church when under attack. He goes to great lengths to rally support for the church in Jerusalem that is in crisis mode. Without a doubt, the leaders in orientation would also be given examples.
But continuing on, the next two proverbs in this saying orient the public servant as to show how far one should go.
The next two proverbs in this saying parallel the first orienting the leader as to show how far one should go.
Slide 8: 2nd Proverb: “Rescue those being led away to death; hold back those staggering toward slaughter.”
Slide 8: 2nd Proverb: “Rescue those being led away to death; hold back those staggering toward slaughter.”
This 2nd Proverb offers a parallel line — one that sharpens its impact on the responsibility public leaders in that day had.
To understand it, one has to look carefully at the words being used. Take the first phrase, rescue those being lead away to death. The word for death is just that - a physical death. Public servants are being oriented to understand they are their brother’s and sister’s keeper. When one rescues — they are putting themselves at risk. They are risking reputation, material well being or perhaps even risking their own lives. But the rescue of others is not optional here - it is commanded. The root phrasing of being led away has to do with righting injustice. It’s Joseph - making wise decisions to store up reserves in Egypt before famine strikes. It’s Jesus interrupting a stoning of a condemned woman when the jury had their own sins to deal with.
But the second phrase goes even further. “Hold back those staggering toward slaughter.” Today we attribute this word slaughter to a horror movie or a real life genocide. But keeping the word in Scriptures context the word for slaughter is used by the prophets as the result of God’s judgement when a nation and its leaders refuse to repent. Time and time again, Israel ignored God. At the root of it was her leaders. Her leaders failed to call the people back to repentance. There was a high price to pay. God frequently used other nations and invading forces to enact such punishments. We see this repeated in the Book of Judges. In , we see the opposite when King Josiah goes to great lengths to lead his people into repentance and avoid slaughter when God’s Law was found. Under this proverb, the public servants were to be on watch and steer others to the path of glorifying God. Ignorance is no excuse.
Slide 9: “If you (as public servant say,) “But we knew nothing about this, does not he who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not he who guards your life know it? Will he not repay each person according to what he has done?”
Slide 9: “If you (as public servant say,) “But we knew nothing about this, does not he who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not he who guards your life know it? Will he not repay each person according to what he has done?”
Verse 12 holds this moral duty of directing others to the right path, they can’t plead ignorance. It’s their duty and responsibility to know and to act wisely and promote godly wisdom in response to save them. What a far cry from where we are today. That ideal is lost. It’s a matter of the heart — and God will repay you public servant according to what you have done. That sure changes the glory picture of authority and leadership doesn’t it?
Except it’s not limited to the orientation of public servants in Israel’s day or even ours. We are targeted within this proverb as well. Repeating these words in the Gospels and again in John’s Revelation Vision - Jesus made this 25th saying about you and me - the everyday believer becomes part of Jesus Rescue Squad.
Rescue those being led away to death… Injustice and those being persecuted, Genocides against entire races or categories of people, policies that promote euthanasia for the sick or disabled, addressing the skyrocketing suicide attempts in our youth, feeding the hungry.
But even more so - Hold back those staggering toward slaughter. The difficult thing is many don’t even realize the path they are on and where that path ends. But when we look to Jesus,
It’s the positive response of Jesus in to the righteous believers who looked after the sick and poor that in caring for the least of these, they were feeding and dressing Jesus.
As Jesus addressed his disciples about his coming death in — “For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what he has done.”
It’s the words of Jesus as quoted by John in - Behold, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done.”
Note carefully the difference. By changing one little word — Jesus transforms this Proverb from one of fearful consequences - repaying what was done - into a positive - rewarding according to what was done. This isn’t about earning our salvation. It’s what comes next after grace.
It’s our gratitude response after being saved. That I am not my own — Christ makes me wholeheartedly willing and ready from now on to live for him. Though once written for orienting public servants to wise practices - we too are called to be part of God’s rescue squad — Contentment with our own righteousness in Christ is not an option. Ignorance is not an option either.
From last week’s message on grace and the solas of the Reformation when I was gone - it’s our expected response to being saved. That I am not my own — Christ makes me wholeheartedly willing and ready from now on to live for him- the responsibility once advised to public servants in a wisdom saying becomes ours to follow passionately rather than sit contented with how things are going.
Slide 10: The Story of Johanna Veenstra
Slide 10: The Story of Johanna Veenstra
As our bulletin cover spotlights, 100 ago, Johanna Veenstra became the first Christian Reformed missionary to serve outside of North America. The CRC Home Missions history goes back to 1894 in Zuni New Mexico to the Navajo and the streets of New York’s Jewish districts. But Johanna, an ordinary woman growing up in New Jersey, became passionate for the spread of the Gospel around the world. She had no idea what her legacy or impact would be. In Nigeria - treking from village to village on foot and by bike, and later by motorcycle - she engaged in medical work and evangelism for almost 13 years until her death at a mission hospital in 1933. The roots of the Christian Reformed Church of Nigeria is credited to her - Today numbering 210,000 Professing brothers and sisters in Christ. God’s success through her passionate work to prevent both death and slaughter sparked what today has become Resonate Global Missions. The rescue squad continues with us today.
Slide 11 Regardless of age or income, it’s God having equipped you and supporting you as he calls you into the unknown...
Slide 11 Regardless of age or income, it’s God having equipped you and supporting you as he calls you into the unknown...
Applied to our lives, this means we can’t falter or shrink back or rest contented on the sidelines.
In our families, our communities, our congregations, we serve as prayer warriors.
We can’t sit idly by silent when our government - whether national, state, or local — including school districts steer our society into promoting a wisdom that is definitely not godly wisdom. It’s the letter or phone call we make or local meeting we attend. It’s putting up with all the annoying election ads until its our turn to stand in line to vote.
Locally, It’s the opportunity to plug into opportunities and mentor a child in Fruitport Schools or promote the ministries of West Michigan Christian Schools by volunteering at their resale store — the same goes for Love in Action.
Here you can teach or grow deeper in God’s Word in class, serving in the food ministries, pushing shopping carts or an artist’s paint brush — all the building blocks of furthering trust connections with our community — just like a few dozen of you did at Trunk or Treat.
It’s the offerings supporting our church ministries — today’s 2nd offering supporting Resonate Global in honor of 100 years of mission work — and next week’s second offering for World Hunger Sunday.
In our families, our communities, our congregations, and the world. It’s our level of complicity to not speaking up when our government leaders and public servants and school districts are steering us in the wrong way and teaching and promoting a wisdom that is not God wisdom..
It’s worshipping Him faithfully and soaking in his word and being open to be used by him doing what is right and just and true - calling you into the unknown to continue in Jesus footsteps as his rescue squad..
Let’s pray.
Regardless of age or income, it’s God having equipped you and supporting you as he calls you into the unknown as part of his rescue squad. Let’s pray.
does not he who weighs the heart perceive it?
does not he who guards your life know it
Will he not reward each person according to what he has done?
As our bulletin cover spotlights, 100 ago, Johanna Veenstra became the first Christian Reformed missionary to serve outside of North America. The CRC Home Missions history goes back to 1894 in Zuni New Mexico to the Navajo and the streets of New York’s Jewish districts. But Johanna, an ordinary woman growing up in New Jersey, became passionate for the spread of the Gospel around the world. She had no idea what challenges awaited her in Nigeria. Treking from village to village on foot and by bike, and later by motorcycle - she engaged in medical work and evangelism for almost 13 years until her death at a mission hospital from appendicitis in 1933. The roots of the Christian Reformed Church of Nigeria is credited to her. God’s success through her passionate and persistent work sparked what today has become Resonate Global Missions. Compared to the Christian Reformed Church in North America’s 300,000 members - our Nigerian sister denomination numbers over 210,000 professing members. Many a website or the Calvin College Archives has more to share about her story. And in a New Testament Gospel context, these few verses from Proverbs hold true still today as part of God’s Rescue Squad that continues with us today.
Slide 6: The Old Testament Reading
Slide 6: The Old Testament Reading
Next week, it is the offering we take for World Renew and World Hunger Sunday to save the lives of others we don’t even know.