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The Call of Wisdom

By David Robinson/ July 6, 2014

Series  Powerful Proverbs

Context  Westminster Chapel Toronto

Topic  Discipleship

Scripture  Proverbs 1

Wisdom is to rightly apply God's law to every situation. The wisdom of Proverbs is given for the individual, for the home, for the church, and for society at large.

Scripture:  Proverbs 1

Sermon Notes:

  1. Our age is inundated with information, but we need God’s wisdom for life decisions: e.g., what job to take, who to marry, how to train our children, etc.
  2. Solomon, son of David, wrote much of Proverbs.
  3. He obtained wisdom from God and His law.
  4. The king of Israel was to get wisdom by writing a copy of God’s law and studying it diligently (Deut. 17:18-20).
  5. To have wisdom is to know how to apply God’s Word in various situations.
  6. Proverbs is a book of wisdom, teaching, and instruction; a source of competence and expertise on social matters.
  7. Proverbs are rules that apply to specific circumstances.
  8. The book of Proverbs is for our learning, that we may not only know wisdom, but that we may become experienced at living it out.
  9. To be wise to see with insight.
  10. One who deals wisely is one who acts with prudence, one who not only sees the right thing, but does the right thing.
  11. Righteousness is the right order of things. God’s law tells us what righteousness is.
  12. The book of Proverbs is addressed to the simple, to youth, to the wise, and to public officials (Prov. 1:4-6; 20-23).
  13. Wisdom calls out to those in public positions of authority, such as the elders who would meet at the city gates. 
  14. The public declaration of wisdom is to guide and protect the simple and those waffling.
  15. Christ is the wisdom of God, the manifestation of truth.
  16. We are to shout out the wisdom of God boldly.
  17. Wisdom applies to the youth.  Fathers are to instruct and discipline children. Mothers are to teach God’s law.
  18. The teaching of Proverbs for our children covers money, alcohol, marriage, work, rest, etc.
  19. We find God’s answers by reading and studying Proverbs.
  20. Wise people need to continually study Proverbs to increase and fine-tune their learning.
  21. Proverbs are for the individual, for the home, for the church, and for society at large.
  22. The fear of the LORD is the prerequisite and foundation of wisdom. To fear the LORD is to trust and obey his Word (Deut 4:10; 5:29; 6:1-2).
  23. The wise will receive God’s instruction, obey it, and pass it on to the next generation.
  24. Under the new covenant God puts His fear in our hearts that we may receive wisdom (Jeremiah 32:38-40).

Application Questions

  1. How did the author of Proverbs obtain wisdom?
  2. What type of literature is Proverbs and what kind of issues does the book address?
  3. Identify the audience Proverbs is intended to instruct.
  4. What interpretive principles apply to reading Proverbs?
  5. How can we become skilled at understanding and applying God’s wise ordering of things?
  6. Are we trusting and obeying the Lord’s wisdom?
  7. What are we doing to pass on God’s wisdom and hope to the next generation?

Sermon Notes