Proverbs: Closing the Book

We've been studying Proverbs for a while now and I want to draw our study to a close. I think that while studying Proverbs, we've learned a lot and gained a lot of wisdom. I want to look a little bit more at one of the topics that we started our study with.

If you really want to gain knowledge, you must begin by having respect for the Lord. But foolish people hate wisdom and training.

Proverbs 1:7 (NIrV)

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.

Proverbs 1:7 (NIV)

We studied this at the beginning of our study. Proverbs has other things to say about the fear of the Lord or about respect for the Lord.

Anyone who shows respect for the Lord has a strong tower. It will be a safe place for his children. Respect for the Lord is like a fountain that gives life. It turns you away from the jaws of death.

Proverbs 14:26-27 (NIrV)

Discussion

• We can see a couple more things about the fear of the Lord in this passage.
• The fear of the Lord gives us protection.
  • It is a strong tower. Towers were defensive structures that allowed you to see an enemy approaching from far off and also give you an advantage in battling the enemy
  • It is a safe place. Knowing that we have a strong tower watching over us, we can be safe.
  • Proverbs has taught us a lot about how to recognize the wickedness around us and how to avoid it. Proverbs has provided us with warnings against the enemy as well as guidance to keep us on the right, safe path.
• The fear of the Lord gives us life
  • It is a fountain of life. The fear of the Lord is something that sustains us day by day.
  • It saves us from death. It guides us in the ways of life.
  • As we've studied, we've learned a lot of things that are valuable for our daily life including
    • learning how to control our tongue
    • Learning about being kind to the poor
    • Learning about what we should find happiness in
    • Learning about goals and priorities
    • Learning about being truthful
    All of these are things that are valuable for our daily life
• What are some of the things you have learned from our study of Proverbs?
• How have you benefitted from our study of Proverbs?

Lending to the Lord

Did you know that you can lend to the Lord? Even though God created everything and it all really belongs to Him, we can still do something where we are lending to the Lord. Let's read.

Anyone who is kind to poor people lends to the Lord. God will reward him for what he has done.

Proverbs 19:17 (NIrV)

Discussion

• The word translated kind here is chanan which means "to be gracious, show favour, pity"
• The poor mentioned here dal are "low, poor, weak, thin, one who is low." This may include
  • People who are looked down on by most people
  • People who don't have enough money
  • People who don't have enough to eat
  • People who don't have homes to live in
  • Can you think of anyone else who might fit this category?
• What are some ways that you can be kind to the poor?
• The Hebrew word translated lend is lavah which in addition to meaning to lend can also mean "to join, be joined."
• Thus, if you are kind to the poor, you are lending to God and joining with God in being kind to the poor.
• Looking other translations of the second half, many say "repay" rather than "reward." Either way, it is clear that you won't be left lacking because you have been kind to the poor, but you will be at peace and be well taken care of.
• What are some ways that you are already blessed with more than you need? Toys, books?
• Can you think of ways that you can be kind to the poor in areas where you are rich?
• It looks like there will be many opportunities to do this through our church this holiday season. Do you think we should do one or more of these?

Don't get your eyes pecked out!

Don't get your eyes pecked out! How's that for a title for tonight's Bible study? The Proverb we look at today gives us an idea of how much God wants children to respect and obey their parents.

Some make fun of their fathers. Others laugh about obeying their mothers. The ravens of the valley will peck their eyes out. Then the vultures will eat them.

Proverbs 30:17

Discussion

• Let's kind of work this proverb backwards. Vultures are known for eating the bodies of dead animals. Not a pretty thought is it?
• Ravens pecking your eyes out... that's not a pretty thought either. I would certainly hate for that to happen to me.
• Is this really going to happen to the people described in this proverb? Maybe so, maybe not.
• If I were to tell you "the chili that I ate for dinner was so spicy that it felt like my tongue was on fire" would you know what I meant?
  • Do you think my tongue might have really been on fire?
  • Do you think my tongue has ever really been on fire?
  • Do you think that I meant that the chili was really, really, really spicy?
  • By saying "it felt like my tongue was on fire" it vividly describes how spicy I thought the chili was
• In the same way, I think the last part of this proverb describes how much God hates the actions of those described in the first part of this proverb.
• So what was it they are guilty of in the first part of the proverb?
  • making fun of their fathers
  • not obeying their mothers
• In other words, they were not honoring, respecting, and obeying their parents!
• Does God think it is important that you honor, respect, and obey your parents?
• Didn't God make honoring your parents one of the Ten Commandments?
• Do you think God likes it when you don't obey or complain or don't listen to your parents?
• Do you want to do better at honoring, respecting, and obeying your parents?
• As we pray, maybe you can ask God to help you in that.

A Gentle Answer

Today, we look at a proverb about giving a gentle answer.

A gentle answer turns anger away. But mean words stir up anger.

Proverbs 15:1 (NIrV)

Discussion

• The Hebrew word translated answer here is ma`aneh which can also be translated as response. This proverb is equally true no matter which way you translate the word.
  • What might you give an answer to? a question, being asked something or asked to do something
  • What might you give a response to? Someone (a parent, boss, commander) telling you to do something, or even someone saying something to you
• The word translated gentle here rak means tender, soft, delicate, weak or gentle.
• If I were wearing a hat and asked you "Do you like my hat?" what would be a gentle answer to my question?
• The Hebrew word translated mean here is `etseb which implies that the mean words cause pain.
• If I were wearing a hat and asked you "Do you like my hat?" what would be a mean answer?
• Which answer do you think I would like better? Why?
• If you were being told to do something you didn't want to do, what would a gentle answer be?
• If you were being told to do something you didn't want to do, what would a mean answer be?
• If you were being asked to get ready for dinner and said "yes" and asked what else you could do, what kind of answer would that be?
• If you were asked to clean up your room and complained, what kind of answer would that be?
• If you don't want your parents to be upset with you when asked or told to do something, what kind of answer should you use?

You talk too much

Today, we're going to look at a Proverb about speech. Let's read.

Those who talk a lot are likely to sin. But those who control their tongues are wise.

Proverbs 10:19 (NIrV)

Discussion

• Have you ever been told you talk too much?
• Did it stop you from talking?
• This proverb says that if you talk alot you are likely to sin. Why do you think that is?
• When looking at other translations, the first part of this can read a little differently
  • Too much talk leads to sin. (New Living Translation>
  • When words are many, transgression is not lacking (ESV)
  • You will say the wrong thing if you talk too much (Contemporary English Version)
• What are some ways you can sin with your speech? Lying, saying mean things about people, provoking people to do bad things
• What do you think it means to control your tongue?
• The Hebrew word here chasak means to withhold or to restrain. Based on this, maybe we can say that controlling your tongue is withholding words (not saying something) or restraining (holding back) words.
• If say something without thinking about what you're saying, are you controlling your tongue?
• If you think before you speak, is that controlling your tongue?
• Would you agree that if you're not thinking before you speak, you are more likely to say something mean or to lie?
• Do you want to be wise and think before you speak?

A proverb about goals

Today's proverb is about goals - not soccer goals, but what you wish to accomplish.

He who seeks good finds goodwill, but evil comes to him who searches for it.

Proverbs 11:27

Discussion

• There are two things in this proverb we could be looking for "good" and "evil."
• Two different Hebrew words are represented here.
  • shachar which is translated seek in the first part of the proverb implies seeking diligently or to seek early. From reading more about the word, I would almost describe this kind of seeking as getting up early and opening things up and looking in them rather than just a casual glace around to try and find something.
  • darash the word that is translated searches means "to resort to, seek, seek with care, enquire, require"
  • My sense of the difference between the two is darash "Have you seen where I put my iPod?" and shachar is looking under the couch, under the table, in the bedroom, in the playroom, all over the house until you find the iPod.
• The good that is diligently sought is towb which is one of the words we considered when we studied proverbs about happiness. It implies things that are good, pleasant, and agreeable.
• Diligently seeking good leads to ratsown which was the same word used to describe God's delight in those that are truthful.
• The word for evil here is ra` is sometimes translated mischief but it is best defined as bad or evil.
• We see that evil will come to you if you ask, but you have to diligently seek good.
• Which do you think it's easier to find, good or evil?
• Which do you think it's better to find?
• Do you think you should set a goal of seeking out good?
• Do you think it is a one-time search or a continuous search?

A proverb about priorities

Today, we look at a proverb about priorities. A priority is something that is highest or higher in importance, rank, privilege, etc.

Better a little with the fear of the LORD than great wealth with turmoil.

Proverbs 15:16

Discussion

• Before we fully consider this proverb, what are some priorities in your life?
• In this proverb, we have here another contrast, although this time the "good" part is first.
• This proverb also contrasts the priorities of wealth and fearing God.
• When we think of wealth we should consider both having lots of money and lots of possessions
• It is important to consider what this verse says as well as not what it doesn't say
  • it does say that it's good to fear God even if you're poor
  • it does not say that if you fear God you will be poor
  • it does say that it's not so good to be rich and not be at peace
  • it does not say that if you are rich you won't be at peace
  • it also does not say that if you fear God you can't be rich
  • it also does not say that if you fear God that there won't be turmoil in your life
• From all of this, we can deduce that fearing God is more important than wealth
• We can also deduce that fearing God is more important that having turmoil or trouble in your life
• Thus, the wise mas (the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom) knows that proper respect for God should be a top priority

A Proverb about being truthful

Today we look at a proverb about being truthful.

The LORD detests lying lips, but he delights in men who are truthful.

Proverbs 12:22

Discussion

• This is another proverb with a contrast built in.
• In this proverb, what does the Lord detest?
• In this proverb, what does the Lord love?
• When we read that the Lord detests lying lips, from the Hebrew we see that they are tow`ebah to Him. This means they are "a disgusting thing" to Him.
• Have you ever tasted anything that was disgusting to you? Why didn't you like it?
• Why do you think the lying is disgusting to God?
• In the "good" part of this proverb, we find what God delights in. The Hebrew word for delight is ratsown which means something that's pleasing, acceptable, and satisfying to God
• Have you ever tasted anything that was pleasing to you? Why did you like it? How did it differ from something that was disgusting to you?
• The proverb says God delights in men who are truthful. The Hebrew word is 'emuwnah which means faithful in their promises.
• Why do you think God delights in men who are faithful?
• Which would you rather be: disgusting to God or pleasing to God?

A proverb about pride

Today, we are going to look at one verse. So let's read...

Before his downfall a man's heart is proud, but humility comes before honor.

Proverbs 18:12

Discussion

• Like many proverbs, we see a contrast built into this verse. Many proverbs basically read this is bad, while that is good.
• Let's first look the "bad" part of this proverb.
  • The word translated downfall here is sheber which means "breaking, fracture, crushing, breach, crash, ruin, shattering." That sounds painful doesn't it?
  • The word translated heart here is leb (which we've seem before) which means "inner man, mind, will, heart, understanding"
  • The word translated proud here is gabahh which means "to be high, be exalted"
  • Can you restate this in your own words?
  • How does "When a man thinks he's really great by himself, he gets crushed" work for you?
  • Think of the story of David and Bathsheba. David thought he deserved a pretty wife like Bathsheba because he was a great king. So David took her as his wife even though it was wrong for him to do so. God sent the prophet Nathan to tell David of his sin and the first son born to David and Bathsheba died. Though David and Bathsheba committed the sin of adultery, it was David's pride that led him into adultery.
  • Sometimes, the result of the bad part of this proverb isn't immediate. We know that anyone who thinks so highly of themself that they don't need Jesus will get their punishment for all eternity.
• Now, let's look at the "good" part of this proverb.
  • The word translated humility is `anavah which means "humility, meekness."
  • Dictionary.com defines "humility" as "the quality or condition of being humble; modest opinion or estimate of one's own importance, rank, etc."
  • Dictionary.com defines "meekness" as the state of being "humbly patient or docile, as under provocation from others"
  • The word translated honor here is kabowd which means "glory, honour, glorious, abundance"
  • Can you put this part of the proverb in your own words?
  • How about "Being humble leads to honor"?
• So to summarize
  • If you're proud and don't think you need Jesus, you get crushed
  • If you're humble and recognize you need Jesus, you get honored
• Which you you rather be?

Proverbs: The Ant and the Sluggard

Today, we're going to look at passage in Proverbs dealing with the ant and the sluggard. An ant - as you know - is known as a hard working insect. A sluggard is "a person who is habitually inactive or lazy." Let's read.

⁶ Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! ⁷ It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, ⁸ yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest. ⁹ How long will you lie there, you sluggard? When will you get up from your sleep? ¹⁰ A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest- ¹¹ and poverty will come on you like a bandit and scarcity like an armed man.

Proverbs 6:6-11

Discussion

• Why do you think the sluggard is told to consider the ant?
• What are some of the good traits of the ant?
  • It is wise
  • It is independent - it has no leader
  • it prepares for the future
• What is the result of the hard work for the ant? It has food for the future
• What does the sluggard like to do? sleep, do nothing
• What is the ultimate result for the sluggard? poverty, not having food for the future
• Who would you rather be like?
• What can you do to be more like the ant?

Proverbs about Integrity

Today we will be studying proverbs about integrity. Integrity is defined as "adherence to moral and ethical principles; soundness of moral character; honesty."

Those who do what is right are guided by their honest lives. But those who aren't faithful are destroyed by their trickery.

Proverbs 11:3 (NIrV)

• Based on this verse, what is integrity? doing what is right, living an honest life

Better a poor man whose walk is blameless than a fool whose lips are perverse.

Proverbs 19:1 (NIV)

• Based on this verse, what is integrity? being blameless

Anyone who does what is right lives without blame. Blessed are his children after him.

Proverbs 20:7 (NIrV)

• A person of integrity does right and lives a blameless life. Who else is blessed by a man of integrity?
• Do you want me to live a life of integrity?

Even a child is known by his actions, by whether his conduct is pure and right.

Proverbs 20:11 (NIV)

• Who does this verse say is judged by their integrity?
• Do you think you should live a pure and right life?

Proverbs about Happiness

Today, we transition to a more topical study of Proverbs. One of the beauties of Proverbs is that there is such a diverse variety of subject matter contained in it. You can find proverbs about many different topics scattered through the pages of this book.

Today, we will be reading some proverbs about happiness. One of the Hebrew words that gets translated happy is 'esher which means "happiness, blessedness." Another of the Hebrew words translated happy is sameach which means "joyful, merry, glad." One other word that gets translated happy is towb which means "good, pleasant, agreeable." Lets look at some of the verses where Proverbs tells us about happiness.

Blessed is the one who finds wisdom. Blessed is the one who gains understanding.

Proverbs 3:13 (NIrV)

• What leads to blessedness or happiness in this verse? wisdom

"My children, listen to me. Blessed are those who keep my ways.

Proverbs 8:32 (NIrV)

• What leads to happiness in this verse? Obedience

Anyone who hates his neighbor commits sin. But blessed is the person who is kind to those in need.

Proverbs 14:21 (NIrV)

• What leads to happiness is this verse? Being kind to others

If anyone pays attention to what he is taught, he will succeed. Blessed is the person who puts his trust in the Lord.

Proverbs 16:20 (NIrV)

• What leads to happiness in this verse? Trusting God

Blessed is the one who always has respect for the Lord. But anyone who is stubborn will get into trouble.

Proverbs 28:14 (NIrV)

• What leads to happiness in this verse? respecting the Lord

Where there is no message from God, the people don't control themselves. But blessed are those who obey the law.

Proverbs 29:18

• What leads to happiness in this verse? Obeying God's law
• So to review, what are the things we've just looked at that lead to happiness?
• Which of these things are you already doing?
• Which of these things do you need to work on more?
• Do you think that these things will make you happy?

Wisdom as an investment.

As we continue our study of Proverbs, we find that wisdom is an investment. Dictionary.com defines investment as "the investing of money or capital in order to gain profitable returns, as interest, income, or appreciation in value." In other words, an investment is something you spend money (or something else) for that you hope will be worth even more later. Let's read from Proverbs 3.

¹³ Blessed is the one who finds wisdom. Blessed is the one who gains understanding. ¹⁴ Wisdom pays better than silver does. She earns more than gold does. ¹⁵ She is worth more than rubies. Nothing you want can compare with her.

Proverbs 3:13-15 (NIrV)

Discussion

• What are some things that you have spent your own money (or gift cards) on?
• What are some things that you want to save your money for?
• People sometimes invest in precious metals such as gold and silver. Over time, they become more valuable. Which is more valuable: Wisdom or silver?
• What about wisdom or gold?
• Another valuable thing people invest in are precious gemstones like diamonds and rubies. Which is more valuable: Wisdom or rubies?
• Can you think of one thing that you really, really want?
• Which is better: Wisdom or the thing you really, really want?
• Do you think you've been learning wisdom from our study of Proverbs?
• Do you think it is a good investment?

More benefits of wisdom

As we continue our study of Proverbs, we are still learning of the benefits of wisdom.

⁷ Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil. ⁸ This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones. ⁹ Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; ¹⁰ then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine. ¹¹ My son, do not despise the LORD's discipline and do not resent his rebuke, ¹² because the LORD disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in.

Proverbs 3:7-12

Discussion

• In verse 7, "Do not be wise in your own eyes" is almost a restatement of "Lean not on your own understanding." We are reminded to "fear the Lord" which we know is the "beginning of wisdom" and to "shun evil" or not to walk in the paths of sinners.
• In verse 8, we read how wisdom brings health and nourishment. This helps emphasize that we need wisdom in all areas of life including eating and excercising.
• Verses 9 and 10 show us another area of life where wisdom comes in handy - wealth and possessions.
  • When we write our tithe check, we are doing so to honor God with our wealth.
  • The "firstfruits of all your crops" were how the Israelites provided for the priests (God's servants) before providing for themselves.
  • We don't give produce to our pastors, but our giving to the church is done faithfully regardless of any other bills we have to pay.
  • Though we don't have an overflowing barn or big vats of wine, most of the material blessing I have in life (house, cars, guitars) have come after I got serious about honoring God with my money.
  What are some other ways that you can think of that we could honor God with our wealth?
• Verses 11 and 12 speak of the Lord's discipline.
  • We've seen the Hebrew word for discipline - muwcar - before. It means discipline, chastening, correction.
  • The word for rebuke is towkechah which means rebuke, correction, reproof, punishment, chastisement.
  • Correction for when we do wrong is a good thing.
  • From the two words here translated discipline and rebuke, it seems to me that discipline is the more gentle of the two and rebuke is the more intense of the two.
  • Either way, we know that God does this because He loves us and that's a good thing!

Trust in the Lord

Today, in our study of Proverbs, we come to what is to me a very memorable passage. Let's read it and look at it in depth.

⁵ Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; ⁶ in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.

Proverbs 3:5-6

Discussion

• The Hebrew word translated trust is batach which means to trust or to have confidence in or to be secure in. We can trust in the Lord being confident that He will do what He says He will do. We can trust in the Lord knowing that we are secure as His children and that nothing can separate us from His love.
• The Hebrew word translated all is kol which all of, everything, the totality of. We are not to trust God just a little, but completely. After all, if we can be confident of and secure in Him, why shouldn't we trust Him completely?
• The Hebrew word translated heart is leb which means inner man, mind, will, heart, understanding. We are to trust God with all of our feelings (heart), our thoughts (mind), soul (inner man), decisions and desires (will) and our knowledge (understanding).
• The Hebrew word translated lean is sha`an which means to lean on for support or to trust.
• The Hebrew word translated understanding is biynah which means understanding, discernment, and intelligence. This Hebrew word has already popped up a number of times so far in Proverbs. We are not to lean on or trust in our own understanding but to trust in the Lord. That may seem a little strange since everything we've been reading so far is about passing wisdom and knowledge on from a father to s son. But we need to remember that wisdom comes from God and if our knowledge and understanding don't come from God, it can't be trusted.
• "In all of your ways," the Hebrew word kol pops up hear again and the Hebrew word translated ways is derek which we've seen before in Proverbs (even if I haven't pointed it out before). Derek can be translated way, road, distance, journey, manner. In other words, in every way we go, every road we travel, every distance we move, every journey we take, every manner we act in...
• The Hebrew word translated acknowledge is yada which means to know, to perceive and see, to distinguish
• "In all of your ways acknowledge Him" means that in every thing we do, every move we make, recognize that the God we can trust completely is there and act like it.
  • Do you sometimes do things when nobody is watching that you wouldn't do otherwise? Like play with something you've been told not to play with or eat a piece of candy you were told to save for later or take something that wasn't yours just because you wanted to play with it
  • If we acknowledge God in all of our ways, then we recognize that there is never a time when someone isn't watching us. Does that make you want to think different in times like what we've just discussed?
• The result of this is that He will make our paths straight
  • In Proverbs 1:15 we were told to not set foot on sinner's paths
  • In Proverbs 2:13 we saw how the wicked left the straight paths
  • In Proverbs 2:15 we saw how the wicked's paths are crooked
  • In Proverbs 2:9 we saw how wisdom leads us to what is right and just and fair - every good path
  Thus, if in all of our ways we acknowledge God, He will lead us away from sinful, wicked paths and lead us to what is right and just and fair. This sounds like a good way to go doesn't it?

Further benefits of wisdom

During our study of Proverbs, we are not going study every verse. As we continue on with the theme of a father passing on wisdom to his son, we skip to the beginning of Proverbs 3.

¹ My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart, ² for they will prolong your life many years and bring you prosperity. ³ Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. ⁴ Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man.

Proverbs 3:1-4

Discussion

• Again in the passage, we see Solomon adressing his son and reminding him to pay attention to wisdom.
• When we read in verse 1 "do not forget" the Hebrew word shakach can also be translated as to ignore. Thus, this admonition to not forget does double duty. Do not ignore wisdom now and don't forget it later. It's not just a one time thing, it's a continuing thing.
• When he says "keep my commands" that implies guarding them, watching over them, preserving them. You don't just keep a command and then be done with it, you keep it with you.
• When he says in verse 2 wisdom will bring you prosperity, the Hebrew word here is shalowm which means completeness (in number), soundness (in body), welfare (including health and prosperity), peace (including contentment and friendship).
• In verse 3 "love and faithfulness" refers to God's love and faithfulness. They will beautify your life (bind them around your neck) and you are to commit them to memory (write them on your heart).
• In verse 4, we see the ultimate result of being wise, favor with God and with man.
• Tomorrow, we are going to look at a passage that we would do well to write on our hearts.

Wicked men and wisdom

¹² Wisdom will save you from the ways of wicked men, from men whose words are perverse, ¹³ who leave the straight paths to walk in dark ways, ¹⁴ who delight in doing wrong and rejoice in the perverseness of evil, ¹⁵ whose paths are crooked and who are devious in their ways.

Proverbs 2:12-15

We continue our study of Proverbs and we come to a passage which is a warning about wicked men. Though not worded as a warning against associating with wicked, we are told that wisdom will save us from such men. Let's look at what the passage says about them.

Discussion

• When it says "Wisdom will save you" it implies snatching you away from or rescuing you from these wicked men. It seems to me to be an active verb. Picture, if you will, someone pulling you out of the way of a car that would otherwise have hit you. This is what it means here in saying wisdom will save you from the ways wicked or evil men. It's not just that these men are evil, but the way they live their life is evil.
• We also see in verse 12 that what they say and promise to people is perverse or foolish or deceitful.
• they leave the straight paths or the upright paths. In other words they if there's a right thing to do and a wrong thing to do, they don't do the right thing.
• They also walk in dark ways - they like to keep what they are doing hidden from others. This makes me think of the number of times we've read about the Hardy Boys being attacked by men who were hiding in dark places.
• In verse 14, we see that these men delight in doing wrong - doing evil things make them happy!
• They rejoice in the foolishness of bad things.
• Their paths are crooked - twisted, distorted - not the right way to go.
• They are devious is their ways. Devious implies that their ways are bent or turned away from the way they should go.
• Even at your age, I'm sure you can see evidence of other people making choices like the men describe here. Can you think of any examples?
• Do you think it's good to spend time around people like this?
• If wisdom saves you from the ways of these people, do you think you should spend time around people like this?
• In light of what we've read earlier about how wisdom calls out and they have rejected, what should we do for people like this?
• How can we pray for people like this and how can we pray for wisdom to save us?

The Lord gives wisdom

We continue with our study of Proverbs and today read how the Lord gives wisdom.

⁶ The Lord gives wisdom. Knowledge and understanding come from his mouth. ⁷ He stores up success for honest people. He is like a shield to those who live without blame. He keeps them safe. ⁸ He guards the path of those who are honest. He watches over the way of his faithful ones. ⁹ You will understand what is right and honest and fair. You will understand the right way to live. ¹⁰ Your heart will become wise. Your mind will delight in knowledge. ¹¹ Good sense will keep you safe. Understanding will guard you.

Proverbs 2:6-11 (NIrV)

Discussion

• It starts out with the obvious "The Lord gives wisdom."
• Where do knowledge and understanding come from? His mouth
• Where can we find record of what has come out of God's mouth?
• We also read of other things the Lord does for us:
  • He provides for us
  • He protects us
  • He guards us
  • He watches over us
• What does verse 9 tell we will understand?
  • what is right and honest and fair
  • the right way to live
  Are these things important to know?
• What will happen to our heart? it will become wise
• what will we delight in? knowledge
• What will keep us safe? Good sense
• What is that?
• What will guard us? understanding
• What is that? What we have learned/what we have come to understand

Wisdom: Hidden Treasure

We continue our series on Proverbs and come to a passage on asking and receiving wisdom. Let's read.

¹ My son, accept my words. Store up my commands inside you. ² Let your ears listen to wisdom. Apply your heart to understanding. ³ Call out for the ability to be wise. Cry out for understanding. ⁴ Look for it as you would look for silver. Search for it as you would search for hidden treasure. ⁵ Then you will understand how to have respect for the Lord. You will find out how to know God.

Proverbs 2:1-5 (NIRV)

Discussion

• This passage is structured like a big if - then argument. If you do this, then you this will happen.
• These are the if things mentioned here
  • accept my words - the Hebrew word translated accept means "to take, get, fetch, lay hold of, seize, receive, acquire, buy, bring, marry, take a wife, snatch, take away." With such a broad range of meanings, there's a variety of ways you might accept wisdom. What matters is that you make it yours!
  • Store up my commands inside you - this implies not just storing up, but hiding and treasuring God's commandments
  • Let your ears listen to wisdom - don't just listen to wisdom, but pay attention to wisdom
  • Apply your heart to understanding - means to stretch out, extend, or bend your heart. Perhaps even make changes to your heart for wisdom's sake
  • Call out for the ability to be wise - implies asking out loud for wisdom.
  • Cry out for understanding - again implies using your voice to ask for wisdom
  • Look for it as you would look for silver - silver was valuable as is wisdom. You are to look for wisdom as if it's something you require.
  • for it as you would search for hidden treasure - How would you go looking for a hidden treasure? You might use a treasure map. When you get to the spot marked "X," you might pull out your shovel and start to dig. You would dig until you found the treasure.
• If you do these things, "Then you will understand how to have respect for the Lord."
  • The fear (or proper respect) of God is the beginning of wisdom - it brings you wisdom
  • If you do all these things to seek after wisdom, you will respect God
  • which will bring you wisdom
  • which will cause you to seek more wisdom
  • which will...
  All of this goes in a circle which brings you more wisdom and more fear of God
• Which ultimately leads to knowing God better and better.
• How do you want to seek wisdom?

The results of rejecting wisdom

Today, as we continue our study of Proverbs, we see the results of rejecting wisdom. It's not good. Though we may not see all of the results in this world, we know what awaits the foolish in eternity.

²⁹ You hated knowledge. You didn't choose to have respect for the Lord. ³⁰ You wouldn't accept my advice. You turned your backs on my warnings. ³¹ So you will eat the fruit of the way you have lived. You will choke on the fruit of what you have planned. ³² "Childish people go down the wrong path. They will die. Foolish people are satisfied with the way they live. They will be destroyed. ³³ But those who listen to me will live in safety. They will not worry. They won't be afraid of getting hurt."

Proverbs 1:29-33

Discussion

• In this continuation of what we read yesterday, wisdom is telling the foolish the results of their foolishness. Just as we read in verse 7, we can see that not respecting God is foolishness
• we see in verse 30 how the foolish not only don't take wisdom's advice, but they turn their back on it - they completely reject it!
• Verses 31 and 32 describe some of the results of their foolishness.
  • they get what they deserve (v 31)
  • it won't really satisfy them (v 31)
  • they will go down the wrong path which leads to death (v 32)
  • they might be satisfied with their lives, but they'll be destroyed
  When you remember Proverbs 22:6 - which is the theme verse for our family Bible study - you see that we want you to go down the right path and not the foolish path
• This passage ends, like so many Proverbs, with a contrast. After showing the results of rejecting wisdom, it once again shows some of the benefits of wisdom
  • live in safety
  • not worry
  • won't be afraid of getting hurt
  Now, it doesn't say you won't get hurt if you are wise, but you won't be afraid of getting hurt. It's important to keep in mind that a wise person won't lead a perfect life, but a wise person will fear God and not fear what can happen to him. A wise person should remain focussed on God and not on the situation he's in.

Wisdom laughs at the foolish

Today as we continue our study of wisdom, we see that wisdom laughs at the foolish.

²⁴ But you turned away from me when I called out to you. None of you paid attention when I reached out my hand. ²⁵ You turned away from all my advice. You wouldn't accept my warning. ²⁶ So I will laugh at you when you are in danger. I will make fun of you when hard times come. ²⁷ I will laugh when hard times hit you like a storm. I will laugh when danger comes your way like a windstorm. I will make fun of you when suffering and trouble come. ²⁸ "Then you will call to me. But I won't answer. You will look for me. But you won't find me.

Proverbs 1:24-28

Discussion

• Wisdom is speaking here to people who have turned away from wisdom and rejected wisdom.
• When wisdom is laughing at these people, it is mocking them and kind of saying "Ha ha, I warned you that would happen."
• There are a few times that wisdom will be laughing:
  • in times of danger
  • during hard times
  • during really hard times (like a storm)
  • during suffering
  • during trouble
  Would you want to be laughed at in those times?
• In those times, these people will be looking for wisdom but won't be able to find it? after they rejected true wisdom, they'd be looking for wisdom in the wrong places.
• Do you think it's better to accept wisdom to begin with?

Wisdom wants your attention

Today, we continue our series in Proverbs. We will see how wisdom wants our attention. Wisdom wants us to pay attention to it and to be wise.

²⁰ Wisdom calls out in the street. She raises her voice in public places. ²¹ At the noisy street corners she cries out. Here is what she says near the gates of the city. ²² "How long will you childish people love your childish ways? How long will you rude people enjoy making fun of God and others? How long will you foolish people hate knowledge? ²³ Suppose you had paid attention to my warning. Then I would have poured out my heart to you. I would have told you what I was thinking.

Proverbs 1:20-23 (NIrV)

This week, since my younger son has an NIrV, we will be using scripture quotations from it

Discussion

• First of all, in this passage, we see wisdom personified. Even though we know that wisdom is not really a person, by treating it as if it was a person, we can describe it more easily.
• Wisdom is crying out. The Hebrew word here implies crying out with joy. Why do you think wisdom is crying out?
• Verse 20 also says that wisdom raises her voice. Why does wisdom have to raise it's voice?
• What are some things that try and drown out wisdom's voice?
The gates of the city were places where people gathered. Why was wisdom trying to make herself known there?
• Wisdom warns people of three things:
  • being childish
  • being rude to others
  • being foolish and hating knowledge
  Do you ever have problems with any of those? How so?
• If people had paid attention to wisdom, what would they have gained? they would gain wisdom in spirit and in speech

Proverbs: Don't be led astray

Today, we come to our first strong warning in Proverbs. Let's read.

¹⁰ My son, if sinners entice you, do not give in to them. ¹¹ If they say, "Come along with us; let's lie in wait for someone's blood, let's waylay some harmless soul; ¹² let's swallow them alive, like the grave, and whole, like those who go down to the pit; ¹³ we will get all sorts of valuable things and fill our houses with plunder; ¹⁴ throw in your lot with us, and we will share a common purse"- ¹⁵ my son, do not go along with them, do not set foot on their paths; ¹⁶ for their feet rush into sin, they are swift to shed blood. ¹⁷ How useless to spread a net in full view of all the birds! ¹⁸ These men lie in wait for their own blood; they waylay only themselves! ¹⁹ Such is the end of all who go after ill-gotten gain; it takes away the lives of those who get it.

Proverbs 1:10-19

We've talked already about how Proverbs also warns us of things NOT to do. In this passage, Solomon is warning against people who plan on attacking, beating up, and robbing some one and having everybody split the money they get.

Discussion questions

• What is the first thing recommended? (Verse 11) Don't give in
Next, in verse 14, we're told "don't go along with them." We're even told "do not set foot on their paths" or don't go anywhere near them. Do you think that's wise advice?
• In verse 18 and 19, who are these people really hurting? themselves
• So, if your friends were asking you to do something that would hurt someone else or take someone else from them, what would you do?

Proverbs: The Prize of Wisdom

Today, we continue our study of Proverbs. We will be looking at how wisdom is a prize to be proud of.

⁸ Listen, my son, to your father's instruction and do not forsake your mother's teaching.

⁹ They will be a garland to grace your head and a chain to adorn your neck.

Proverbs 1:8-9

In this passage, we read about what's to be desired or sought after - what is wise.We've already looked at verse 8, but verse 9 tells us a little more about the value of the wisdom that fathers and mothers pass on to their children.

Discussion questions

• A garland was something like a crown made of flowers or of a laurel leaves
• A chain might be something like a necklace or a medal hung around your neck
• This makes me think of athletes winning at the Olympics. They would have a laurel wreath (or garland) placed on their head and a medal hung around their neck
• These are things that you would be proud to wear. Can you think of anything that you would be proud to wear?
• Do you think "wearing" the wisdom and lessons passed on by your mother and father is a good thing?
• Do you think that "wearing" the wisdom and lessons passed on by your mother and father is fulfilling the commandment to honor your father and mother?
• That commandment promises "...that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you." Do you think this is can come from living wisely?
• Based on what we have studied today, what do you think you should do?

Proverbs: From the beginning

Today, we really are going to start from the beginning of Proverbs.

Prologue: Purpose and Theme

¹ The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel:

² for attaining wisdom and discipline; for understanding words of insight;

³ for acquiring a disciplined and prudent life, doing what is right and just and fair;

⁴ for giving prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the young-

5 let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance-

⁶ for understanding proverbs and parables, the sayings and riddles of the wise.

⁷ The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.

Proverbs 1:1-7

Discussion Questions

• Who wrote Proverbs? What do you know about him?
• What are some of the purposes he wrote Proverbs?
• attaining wisdom and discipline
• understanding words of insight
• acquiring a disciplined and prudent life, doing what is right and just and fair
• giving prudence to the simple, nowledge and discretion to the young
• verse 2 talks about attaing wisdom and discipline.
• The Hebrew word here translated wisdom is chokmah which can mean knowing how to fight well, knowing how to manage things well, or knowing how to make right decisions.
• The Hebrew word here translated discipline is muwcar and can mean discipline in the sense of being disciplined or corrected as in a parent disciplining or correcting their child.
• Thus we can see that Proverbs not only can teach you how to make good decisions but also show you the bad decisions you make
• verse 2 also talks about understanding words of insight
• The Hebrew word translated understanding is biyn which means to carefully consider and understand, to discern
• the words of insight could be talking about sayings or writings that help people to understand how to do things
• I get the sense from this phrase, that we are talking about school learning or being trained (maybe as an apprentice) how to do something
• verse 3 refers to wise behavior, doing what is right and fair to other people
• verse 4 talks about teaching people how to take care of themselves and giving the young knowledge and teaching them how to make wise choices
• verse 5 tells us that the proverbs can make a wise man wiser and someone who makes good decisions will be able to make better decisions. In other words, you can always get wiser!
• from verse 6, we see that the wisdom you obtain will help you to understand the proverbs better, which give you more wisdom, which help you understand the proverbs which...
• we've already looked at verse 7 which tells us that wisdom comes from having a proper respect of God!
• Do you want to be wise or be a fool?
• what things do you want to be wiser in?
• How do you think you can become wiser?

Proverbs: Where do we begin?

As we begin our study of Proverbs, you might think that we would start at the very beginning. You'd almost be correct. I want to start just a little bit after the beginning.

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.

Proverbs 1:7

Let's note two things quickly before starting to look at things in a little more depth.

• "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge..." Fear here means proper reverence shown towards God. When you consider God's great power and holiness and compare it to our relative powerlessness and sinfulness and how we rightfully should be punished for our sin, you realize why it's called fear. the beginning means a starting point for or the best part of something. The word for knowledge here can be translated as knowledge or discernment or wisdom. In short, we could say that wisdom comes from having a proper respect of God.
• We also see here a constrast in the second part of this verse. "Fools despise wisdom and discipline." All through Proverbs you will notice a lot of contrasts. The second point that we can see here can be summed up as Proverbs not only shows us what wisdom is, it also shows us what foolishness is.

Discussion Questions

• Based on what we've looked at the last two days, how would you define wisdom?
• Do you desire wisdom?
• Can you think of a situation where you had two (or more) choices? What was the wise choice? What was the foolish choice? Which did you choose?
• If you desire wisdom, should you desire what fools despise (hate)?
• What doesn't the fool like that you should desire?

Proverbs

Today, we begin our study of the book of Proverbs. What are proverbs? Dictionary.com gives a few definitions. The one that I think is most useful for us is "a wise saying or precept." The book of Proverbs in the Bible is a collection of wise sayings. Why do I want to take time and study Provers. I think we can see the answer in the first chapter.

Listen, my son, to your father's instruction and do not forsake your mother's teaching.

Proverbs 1:8

King Solomon wrote the book of Proverbs as a way of passing wisdom down to his son. Solomon, if you recall, asked God for wisdom and God granted it. Solomon became known as wisest man on earth. He didn't want just to keep his wisdom to himself, he wanted to pass it on to his son. As a father wanting to pass along Godly wisdom to my sons, I think it's going to be great to study Proverbs!

Discussion questions

• Dictionary.com defines wisdom as "the quality or state of being wise; knowledge of what is true or right coupled with just judgment as to action; sagacity, discernment, or insight." How would you define wisdom?
• Do you think it is good to have wisdom?
• Where do you think wisdom comes from?
• How do you think wisdom will be useful to you?

You may have noticed...

You may have noticed that our family Bible study blog hasn't been updated in a while. Much, I'm sure, to your relief, we haven't abandoned discipling our children. The last six months or so, we've been working our way through Training Hearts Teaching Minds: Family Devotions Based on the Shorter Catechism by Starr Meade. We've made it through question 28 (How is Christ exalted?). It's been a good study and I haven't had to spend as much time preparing. But, I think it's about time to take a break from that and we're about to start a study on Proverbs.

Becoming a theologian: God's Glory

The last of God's attributes that we will be examining as part of our study is God's glory. There are two different concepts in the Bible that are translated as glory: the honor and respect that God is due (remember our discussion of God's jealousy) and the appropriate outward expression of God's excellence. It is the second of these that we will be looking at today. Let's look at a few verses where God's glory is mentioned.

Then Moses said, "Now show me your glory."

Exodus 33:18

When Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the Testimony in his hands, he was not aware that his face was radiant because he had spoken with the LORD.

Exodus 34:29

An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.

Luke 2:9

The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp.

Revelation 21:23

• In Exodus, Moses asks to see God's glory. God passes by Moses but does not let Moses see His face. When Moses comes down from the mountain, Moses' face is glowing!
• In Luke, when the Shepherds saw the angels announcing the birth of Jesus, there was a bright glow around them, God's glory!
• In Revelation, it talks of the heavenly city not needing the sun, because God's glory is it's light.
• Do we get to see a visible glowing (or whatever) as God's glory? I don't know. Maybe we have and I was not aware of it.
• But, the Bible tells us that we were created to reflect God's glory, in other words, when people look at us, God wants them to see Him in us!
• Do you want to reflect God's glory?

Becoming a theologian: God's Beauty

Today we will be looking at God's beauty. By God's beauty, we don't mean that He is physically beautiful - since He is spirit not physical - but that He is the sum all of desirable qualities.

One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple.

Psalm 27:4

• The Hebrew word used here for beauty is no`am which means "kindness, pleasantness, delightfulness, beauty, favour"
• Of the English words here, only one is sometimes applied to physical beauty. All them can be used to describe good attributes of character.
• If we saw a picture of a mountain or a sunset, we might describe it a as being beautiful. But seeing the mountain or the sunset in person might make it seem even more beautiful.
• In the same way, reading about God in His Word, we might perceive of His beauty, but through having a relationship with Him and actively seeking Him, we might really know His beauty.
• In the Psalm, David is talking about wanting to spend all of eternity in Heaven with God where he can truly behold God's beauty.
• Do you want to know God's beauty?

Becoming a theologian: Gods' Blessedness

Today we will be looking at God's blessedness. When used in the New Testament to refer to God's blessedness, it means happiness. God is happy and delights fully in himself and in everything that reflects his character.

God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the sixth day.

Genesis 1:31

As a young man marries a maiden, so will your sons marry you; as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride, so will your God rejoice over you.

Isaiah 62:5

If the LORD delights in a man's way, he makes his steps firm;

Psalm 37:23

• What are some things that make God happy
• His Creation
• His people
• When people obey Him
• The Greek word makarios is used in 1 Timothy to refer to God and is translated as blessed. One context that this word can be used is in congratulations where someone has done something that they are really happy about or when someone has won something.
• What do you think God has to be happy about?
• What should we be happy about?
• When we show signs of God's character in our lives
• When we are obedient to God
• When we recognize God's gifts in our lives
• What are you happy about?

Becoming a theologian: God's Perfection

We're on the homestretch of our study of God's attributes. Today, we will be looking at God's perfection. When talking about God being perfect, we could also use the word complete. By this we mean that God posseses all the excellent qualities that He needs and does not lack in any desirable qualities.

Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Matthew 5:48

• The Greek word here is teleios which means
• brought to its end, finished
• wanting nothing necessary to completeness
• perfect
• By "brought to it's end, finished", we can infer that God is not growing, God is not getting better, because there's nothing for God to improve on.
• In baseball, if a pitcher throws a perfect game, he gets all 27 batters that he face out. He can't get any more batters out (in a 9 inning perfect game) because there are no more batters for him to face. There is no more room for improvement and he has brought the game to it's perfect end just like God is perfect.
• The second sense of this definition implies God's completeness and lack of nothing. If God needed anything, would He be perfect?
• This verse we read tells us to be perfect. Do you think you are perfect?
• Because of our sin, we are not perfect.
• It is interesting to me to note the tense of the verbs in this verse. When it tells us to "be perfect" it is in future tense - recognizing that we are not perfect now. When it says that God is perfect it is in present tense - meaning that it is true now.
• How do we become perfect?

Becoming a theologian: God's Omnipotence

Today we will be looking at God's omnipotence. Omnipotence means that God is all-powerful which means that He is able to do all of His will. Let's start by looking at several verses that speak to His omnipotence.

Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle.

Psalm 24:8

"Ah, Sovereign LORD, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you.

Jeremiah 32:17

Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."

Matthew 19:26

• Is there anything that God wills that He cannot do?
• Is there any thing that God wills that He is not capable of doing?
• Is there anything that God wills, that is impossible for Him to do?
• Is there anything that God cannot do?

a faith and knowledge resting on the hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the beginning of time,

Titus 1:2

if we are faithless, he will remain faithful, for he cannot disown himself.

2 Timothy 2:13

• There are things God cannot do because they are not in keeping with His character.
• He cannot lie
• He cannot sin
• He cannot deny Himself
• He cannot cease to exist
• He, because of who He is, cannot do these things, but anything that is according to His will and His plan He can do. The only thing that prevents Him from doing anything else is God himself.
• Let's consider the following things and tell me if God can do them or not:
• Raise a man from the dead
• Create heaven and earth
• Tell a lie
• Make a rock too big for Him to lift
• Make the sun shine
• Forgive our sins

Becoming a theologian: God's Freedom

Today, we will be looking at God's Freedom. After spending time yesterday talking about God's free will, discussing His freedom might seem redundant, but it is not. You can't have free will or make free choices if you aren't free to begin with.

Our God is in heaven; he does whatever pleases him.

Psalm 115:3

• Consider the following, suppose you were to freely decide (exercise your free will) that today you were going to cause an earthquake.
• You've made a free will decision to cause an earthquake. Right?
• Do you have the freedom to cause an earthquake?
• What is restraining you from causing an earthquake today?
• God, however, is not restrained from doing so.
• He does what He pleases, because He can.
• The only thing that restrains God is God himself (remember our discussion of His necessary will).
• Can God cause it to be dark when it should be light? Yes, He did so in Exodus as one of the plagues
• Can God turn water into wine? Yes, Jesus did so at the wedding in Cana
• God can do these things that nobody else can do because He has freedom to do so

Becoming a theologian: God's Will

Today, we will start looking at some of God's attributes of purpose. These attributes are the ones that deal with how God makes and carries out His decisions. Today we will be looking at God's will. We will be looking at the following aspects of God's will:

1. What do we mean by God's will?
2. God's necessary will
3. God's free will
4. God's secret will
5. God's revealed will

What do we mean by God's will?

Wayne Grudem in his Systematic Theology says "God's will is that attribute of God whereby He approves and determines to bring about every action necessary for the existence and activity of Himself and all creation."

In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will,

Ephesians 1:11

• God accomplishes all things according to His will.
• In other words, everything is accomplished according to His plan.
• Who is doing the accomplishing? God is

God's necessary will

God said to Moses, "I am who I am..."

Exodus 3:14a

• God's necessary will refers to what He must do because of who He is.
• Because of His righteousness and holiness, God can not tolerate sin. To do so would be to deny His nature.
• Because of God's truthfulness, we know that He cannot lie.
• Can you think of any other examples of things that God must (or cannot) do that are part of His necessary will?

God's free will

"You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being."

Revelation 4:11

• Did God have to create all of creation? No.
• God's free will refers to the things that He has done/will do because He wants to.
• To help understand the difference between necessary will and free will, let's consider the following. You boys are children and you are obligated or required to obey your parents. The things on this list are necessary because you are obedient children are part of your necessary will. The things that you do because you want to are part of your free will.
• Get dressed for the day. Necessary
• Clear your dishes Necessary
• Play with legos free
• Brush your teeth Necessary
• Play Star Wars Lego Wii free

God's Secret will

The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may follow all the words of this law.

Deuteronomy 29:29

• God's secret will means that we don't know everything that God wills. Some of His plans for us may be secret.
• When we consider God's wisdom and God's knowledge and know that we can't fully have His knowledge and wisdom, we can begin to imagine that there are some things we just can't know of God's will.
• There may be parts of His will for us that are secret because we might not obey if we knew.
• There may be parts of His will that we just don't need to know.
• There may be parts of His will that we don't need to know now, but will be revealed to us in the future

God's revealed will

• We can also see from the verse in Deuteronomy that God has revealed things to us and those belong to us.
• One of the main places where His will is revealed is the Bible
• Can you think of other places where His will is revealed?
• Let's compare some of these things to see if they are examples of His secret will or His revealed will.
• Worship God only Revealed
• Love the Lord, your God with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength revealed
• What are you getting for your next birthday Secret
• Why not all of our neighbors love God secret

Becoming a theologian: God's Wrath

We come today to look at God's wrath. In Grudem's Systematic Theology, he says God's wrath means that he intensely hates all sin. The two themes we will be looking at are:

1. God hates sin
2. God is slow to anger

The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness,

Romans 1:18

• This verse talks of the wrath of God against godlessness and wickedness. What are these?
• godlessness is "want of reverence towards God, impiety, ungodliness"
• wickedness is "a deed violating law and justice, act of unrighteousness"
• If people aren't properly respecting God, do you think He has a right to be angry?
• If people are violating His law, do you think God has a right to be angry?
• Do you remember ways that God has expressed His wrath?
• What did He do to Sodom and Gomorrah?
• When people touched the Ark of the Covenant (which was against the Law), what happened to them?
• Do you want God to take out His wrath on You?

God is slow to anger

¹⁸ 'The LORD is slow to anger, abounding in love and forgiving sin and rebellion. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation.' ¹⁹ In accordance with your great love, forgive the sin of these people, just as you have pardoned them from the time they left Egypt until now."

Numbers 14:18-19

• God is slow to anger. That doesn't mean He doesn't get angry, but it does show that He has patience with us.
• God still will punish sin. He doesn't let it slide
• Yet, because of His love, He does forgive our sin.
• Let's consider the following vague scenario:
• If you were to do something bad that Mom and Dad saw, would you expect us to get angry?
• If instead of getting angry, we lovingly pointed out what you did wrong and forgave you?
• If you did it again, would you expect us to get angry?
• And if we again corrected you and forgave you, but maybe in a firmer tone of voice than the first time, would you like that?
• If finally after a THIRD time, we punished you, do think that would be expected?
• Do you think that is like how God is "slow to anger"?

Becoming a theologian: God's Jealousy

As we continue with our study of God's attributes, we come to God's jealousy. Jealousy is a word that sometimes is a bad thing, but with God, it is a good thing. Jealousy as a bad thing is feeling resentment against someone because of that person's rivalry, success, or advantages. In God's case, it's not being satisfied when He doesn't get the honor that He is due. As we examine God's jealousy, we will look at these two points.

1. God is a jealous God
2. We should be jealous when things try and take our attention from God

God is a jealous God

You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God...

Exodus 20:5a

• Here in the Ten Commandments, God is explaining why we shouldn't have other gods or idols - because He is a jealous God
• If God is the only true God, then He alone should get glory, honor, and praise - not false gods or idols
• There are numerous places in the Bible that say we are not to have idols. There is mention of the punishment for having idols. God is very serious about this!

We should be jealous when things try and take our attention from God.

²I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy... ³But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent's cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ.

2 Corinthians 11:2-3

• In this passage the Apostle Paul is talking of being jealous.
• He is concerned that the Corinthians will be distracted from God. He definately does not want them to be led astray.
• What are some things that you can think of that can distract you from God?
• What are some things you can do to keep from letting those distract you from God?

Becoming a theologian: God's righteousness and justice

Today, we will be looking at God's righteousness and justice. In English, they may be two different words, but both in the Hebrew (Old Testament) and Greek (New Testament) they are just one word. Righteousness means doing what is morally upright; without guilt or sin. With respect to God, we know that He always does what is right and that He is the standard of what is right.

God always does what is right

He is the Rock, his works are perfect, and all his ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is he.

Deuteronomy 32:4

• This verse says that He is morally upright.
• If God does no wrong, then everything He does is right

God sets the standard of what is right

...I, the LORD, speak the truth; I declare what is right.

Isaiah 45:19b

• In this verse, we see that God says he declares what is right
• Can you think of somewhere where God declared what is right? The Ten Commandments

We should pursue righteousness

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

Matthew 5:6

• When you are thirsty what do you do?
• When you are hungry what do you do?
• Hunger and thirst are signs that something is lacking in our life and we must do something (eat or drink) about it
• If you are hungering and thirsting for righteousness, what are some things you would be doing?

Becoming a theologian: God's peace

Today, we will be examining God's peace. We can think of peace as being a lack of dissension or a lack of disorder. We will be looking at the following themes as we examine God's peace.

1. God is a God of order
2. God's peace upholds us
3. God wants us to live in peace with others.

God is a God of order

For God is not a God of disorder but of peace.

1 Corinthians 14:33a

• God is a God of peace or order.
• God's creation shows His peace and order. As we learn the laws of nature and science, we find they make sense and they couldn't if God was a god of disorder.
• We've read in Psalm 139 how all of the days of our life were written in God's book before one of them came to be. The fact that they all happen according to His plan is evidence of God's peace and order.

God's peace upholds us

And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:7

Then God's peace will watch over your hearts and your minds because you belong to Christ Jesus. God's peace can never be completely understood.

Philippians 4:7 (NIrV)

• We can never fully understand God's peace
• God's peace guards our hearts and minds
• God's peace keeps us connected to Christ
• If we're feeling separated from God or lost or disordered, it's because we have brought disorder into our lives by sin or by losing focus on what God wants for us.

God wants us to live at peace with others

If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.

Romans 12:18

• God wants us to live a peace with everyone
• The verse implies that it may not always possible. What are some reasons it may not be possible?
• We are not at peace - we have sinned and brought disorder into our lives
• Someone may have sinned against us, thus bringing disorder and separating us from them
• Others may not be seeking God's peace and thus it would be hard to live at peace with them
• What are some things that we can do to live at peace with others?
• Make sure that we are at peace with God. If we have sinned, we need to confess our sin and accept God's forgiveness.
• If we have sinned against someone (or them against us) we should seek out or grant forgiveness.
• We can pray for them that God will bring about peace
• We can do good for or to them to promote peace
• We should not think bad things of them

Becoming a theologian: God's Holiness

We continue our journey of looking at God's attributes and we come to looking at God's Holiness. Holiness is defined as the quality or state of being holy, but to understand that, we need to know what it means to be holy. The definition of holy is specially recognized as or declared sacred by religious use or authority; consecrated. In other words God is separated from sin. Today, we will look at three points.

1. God is separated from sin.
2. God is deveoted to His own glory
3. We should be holy

God is separated from sin

Exalt the LORD our God and worship at his holy mountain, for the LORD our God is holy.

Psalm 99:9

• The Hebrew word for holy is qadowsh
• It means clean, free from defilement.
• A lot of the Law (as contained in Leviticus) was concerned with avoiding things that unclean.
• Thus, one who kept the entirety of the Law could be said to be holy.

God is devoted to His own honor

And they were calling to one another: "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory."

Isaiah 6:3

• The angels don't just say that God is holy, they say He is "holy, holy, holy." By repeating it, they are emphasizing His holiness.
• The earth is full of His glory
• God set aside the Sabbath day and made it Holy.
• Everything God does gives testimony to His holiness and can bring Him glory and honor.

We should be holy

"Speak to the entire assembly of Israel and say to them: 'Be holy because I, the LORD your God, am holy.

Leviticus 19:2

You are to be holy to me because I, the LORD, am holy, and I have set you apart from the nations to be my own.

Leviticus 20:26

• We are commanded to be Holy
• God has set us apart from others that He can use us.
• By using us, He will bring glory and honor to himself
• Only through Christ, not on our own efforts, can we be holy
• Do you want to live a holy life and bring honor to God?
• You can do so by obeying Him and letting Him use you as He wishes.
• Studying the Bible regularly like we are helps us to know Him and to know what it is we should be doing.

Becoming a theologian: God's Mercy

Today, we will be looking at God's mercy. Mercy can be defined as the tendency to do good or compassion which causes a person to overlook injuries, or to treat an offender better than he deserves. As we examine God's mercy, we will look at three things.

1. God is merciful
2. Because of God's mercy, He forgives our sin
3. God wants us to be merciful to others.

God is merciful

For the LORD your God is a merciful God; he will not abandon or destroy you or forget the covenant with your forefathers, which he confirmed to them by oath.

Deuteronomy 4:31

As you know, we consider blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job's perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.

James 5:11

• There are many verses that talk of God's mercy and compassion towards us.
• God's mercy includes having compassion on us and taking care of our needs.
• God's mercy means He will never forget the promises that He made to us, no matter what we do.

Because of God's mercy, He forgives our sins

⁴But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, ⁵made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.

Ephesians 2:4-5

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

1 John 1:9

• Surely you remember that we are sinners (Romans 3:23) and that the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23), but God:
• made us alive in Christ,
• saved us, and
• cleansed us from all unrighteousness
• Does that sound like God is treating us better than we deserve?

God wants us to be merciful to others

Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

Luke 6:36

• In order to understand what it means for us to be merciful to others, let's look at this story from Matthew 18

²³"Therefore, the kingdom of heaven is like a king who wanted to settle accounts with his servants. ²⁴As he began the settlement, a man who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him. ²⁵Since he was not able to pay, the master ordered that he and his wife and his children and all that he had be sold to repay the debt. ²⁶"The servant fell on his knees before him. 'Be patient with me,' he begged, 'and I will pay back everything.' ²⁷The servant's master took pity on him, canceled the debt and let him go.

Matthew 18:23-27

• Did the king have mercy on his servant?
• Let's continue reading...

²⁸"But when that servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii. He grabbed him and began to choke him. 'Pay back what you owe me!' he demanded. ²⁹"His fellow servant fell to his knees and begged him, 'Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.'

Matthew 18:28-29

• The amount that the first servant had owed the king was a lot of money. The amount the second servant owed the first wasn't much by comparison
• If the first servant had mercy on the second, what would he do?
• Let's read on and see what happened...

³⁰"But he refused. Instead, he went off and had the man thrown into prison until he could pay the debt. ³¹When the other servants saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed and went and told their master everything that had happened.

³²"Then the master called the servant in. 'You wicked servant,' he said, 'I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. ³³Shouldn't you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?' ³⁴In anger his master turned him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed.

³⁵"This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart."

Matthew 18:30-35

• Did the first servant have mercy on the second?
• What happened when his lack of mercy was found out?
• What does this mean to you?
• Aren't you glad that God has mercy on you?

Becoming a theologian: God's love

Today we will be looking at God's love. As we examine God's love, we will be looking at three things.

1. God is the source of love
2. God's love for us is unconditional
3. God wants us to love Him and to love others

God is the source of love

⁷Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. ⁸Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.

1 John 4:7-8

• In verse 8 (which we've read before), we see that "God is love." The Greek word used here is agape. This word is used to describe
• The love Christians should have for other Christians
• The love men should have for God
• The love God has for men
• The love of God for Christ
• The love of Christ for men
• I would describe this as meaning godly love which includes affection, good will, and doing good to others.
• In verse 7 we see that "love comes from God." When we look at the Greek words here, we see that love comes out of God. Love comes "out of God" in much the same way as light comes "out of a flashlight" - a flashlight is a source of light and God is the source of love.

God's love for us in unconditional

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

John 3:16

In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ

Ephesians 1:4b-5a

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Romans 5:8

• John 3:16 is probably one of the most famous verses in the Bible. "God so loved the world." It doesn't just say God loved some of the world, does it?
• God loves us enough that He adopted us as His children.
• Furthermore, God loves us, even though we are sinners!
• If God loves you, even though you're a sinner, is there anything you can do to make Him NOT love you?

God wants us to love Him and love others

³⁰Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' ³¹The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these."

Mark 12:30-31

• Here Jesus is answering a question about what the greatest commandment is. What does He say?
• Who are we to love?
• What are some ways that you can show affection, good will and do good deeds towards God?
• What are some ways that you can show affection, good will, and do good deeds towards others?

Two final things to remember about love. 1 John 4:7-21 (some of which we read earlier) is a great passage to read and learn about love. Verse 19 gives us reminds us that 'We love because he first loved us.' And verse 21 gives us this commandment 'Whoever loves God must also love his brother.'

Becoming a theologian: God's goodness

Today we start looking at God's moral attributes. These are the attributes that deal with right and wrong. The first of these that we come to is God's goodness. As we look at God's goodness, let's look at these three things:

1. God is good
2. Everything God does is good
3. God wants us to do good.

God is good

"Why do you call me good?" Jesus answered. "No one is good—except God alone.

Luke 18:19

Praise the LORD. Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; His love endures forever.

Psalm 106:1

• What does it mean to be good?
• Who sets the standard for good?
• How do we know that God is good?

Everything God does is good

God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the sixth day.

Genesis 1:31

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

Romans 8:28

• After God had finished creation, what did He say?
• If God causes everything to work for our good, is anything that He does bad?
• What does it mean that everything is for our good?

God wants us to do good

For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Ephesians 2:10

• What were we created to do?
• If these good works are prepared in advance, do you suppose that we are capable of doing these good works?
• How can we do these good works? through Christ
• Do you want to do good?

Becoming a theologian: God's truthfulness

Today we will be looking at God's truthfulness. We will be looking at three things.

1. God is the only true God.
2. Everything about him is true.
3. As His children, He wants us to love and pursue the truth.

God is the only true God.

Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.

John 17:3

• Here is John 17, Jesus is in the Garden of Gethsemene and is praying. He knows that God is using Him to bring eternal life to people and that eternal life is knowing God.
• Sometimes people have idols or other Gods that they follow. Are those God's truly God?
• Do you remember the story of Elijah and the prophets of Baal? They each built altars and put sacrifices on them and called on their gods to send fire. Do you remember which god sent fire that completely destroyed the alter and all of the water thrown over it?

Everything about God is true

For the word of the LORD is right and true; he is faithful in all he does.

Psalm 33:4

• God's Word is true.
• Since we studied Psalm 119, do you know how many times God's Word is referred to as true or as truth? 5
• In Romans 3:4, Paul says "Let God be true..."
• We know that God is true and His word is true. Can you trust Him?

We should be truthful

25Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body.

Ephesians 4:25

• We are commanded to speak the truth.
• If you remember, one of the Ten Commandments is to not bear false witness against a neighbor. In other words, not to lie or tell something that is not the truth.
• If God's every Word is true and we are to be like Him, shouldn't our every word be true?
• Do you sometimes have trouble telling the truth?
• Do you think God wants you to tell the truth?
• Do you want to be more truthful so you can be like God?

Becoming a theologian: God's Wisdom

Today, as we continue looking at God's attributes, we come to wisdom. Dictionary.com defines it as "the quality or state of being wise; knowledge of what is true or right coupled with just judgment as to action; sagacity, discernment, or insight." As we look at God's wisdom, we will focus on three things:

1. God is wise
2. God knows best
3. God gives us wisdom

God is wise

His wisdom is profound, his power is vast. Who has resisted him and come out unscathed?

Job 9:4

• Job was a godly man to whom a lot of bad things happened. He struggled to figure out why the bad things were happening and yet he recognized that God was wise.
• The definition above refers to "knowledge of what is true or right." Where have we read about what is true and right?>
• From what we read in Psalm 119, many of the words in this definition are applied to God's word or coming from God Himself: true, right, just, judgment, discernment, and insight.

God knows best

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

Romans 8:28

• In all things God works for our good
• Though, like Job, we may not always see the good in what's happening to us, we know that God is working for our good.
• If God created us and created the world around us, you would certainly think He knows what is best

God gives us wisdom

If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.

James 1:5

So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?"

1 Kings 3:9

• The verse in James says that God gives us wisdom and does so generously!
• The verse in 1 Kings is where Solomon asked God for wisdom. God granted him wisdom and he became known as the wisest man on earth!
• If you ever think you need wisdom, ask God and He will give it to you

Becoming a theologian: God's knowledge

We continue on our exploration through God's communicable attributes and today we come to God's knowledge. God is all-knowing and a big word for this is omniscient. As we look at God's knowledge, we will examine four things.

1. God knows Himself
2. God knows everything that has happened and will happen.
3. God knows everything that can possibly happen.
4. God already knows all of this and doesn't need to learn it.

God knows Himself

The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. ¹¹For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man's spirit within him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.

1 Corinthians 2:10a-11

• We see here that God alone fully knows Himself.
• We also see that know man can know all of God's thoughts, but as we have established previously, that we can know God.
• Since we know that we have the Holy Spirit in us, we can begin to know and understand God.

God knows everything that has happened and will happen.

I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say: My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.

Isaiah 46:10

• We read here how God knows end from beginning and knows all time. God knows everything that has happened and will happen.
• We've read before in Psalm 139 how all the days of our life were written by God before one came to be.
• We can always remember what has happened. Sometimes, God gives us insight into what will happen through prophecy, dreams, or visions.

God knows everything that could possibly happen.

"Woe to you, Korazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! If the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.

Matthew 11:21

• When Jesus made this statement, Tyre and Sidon were a distant memory.
• Yet, Jesus speaks with authority that if Tyre and Sidon were to have seen the miracles they would have repented.
• This is one of those things that we can't emprically prove, but to me, if Jesus said so, it's good enough for me.

God already knows what he knows

And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered.

Matthew 10:30

• How many hairs are on your head?
• How would you find out? You would have to count
• God knows the number of hairs on your head, He doesn't have to count!

Becoming a theologian: God's invisibility

We continue on with our study of God's communicable attributes and today we come to God's invisibility. If something is invisible, we cannot see it. Though we may not see God, God reveals himself to us through visible, created things. Invisibility is another attribute that describes God's being.

No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, who is at the Father's side, has made him known.

John 1:18

Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

1 Timothy 1:17

• From these two verses, we can see (ha ha) two things:
1. No one has seen God.
2. No one can see God.
• Just as we discussed briefly yesterday, we personally have never seen God.
• Have you ever seen evidence of God? If so, what did you see?
• We know that God is omnipresent, which means that's He's everywhere, which implies that He is here with us. Do you see Him? Do you know that He is here.
• If you were invisible, how would you get someone know you were there?
• Knowing that God is invisible, what are some ways that we know He's there?
• How, you may ask, can we say that invisibility is communicable? Obviously, we can see each other. But what we see is our physical bodies. Yesterday, we talked about how we have spirits. Can you see someone else's spirit? Isn't that invisible?

Becoming a theologian: God is spiritual

Today, we turn our attention to some of God's communicable attributes. Communicable attributes are attributes that we may see not only in God, but also we may see evidence of in our lives. The first attributes we will look describe God's being - or in some way what God is made of. Today we will look at God's spirituality.

God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth.

John 4:24

Here in John 4, Jesus is talking to a Samaritan woman at the well. The Samaritans were descended from Israelites who had married people of other religions. Though the Samaritans may have practiced their religion similarly to the Jews of Jesus days, they had differences in how and where they worshipped God. Jesus is explaining to the Samaritan woman how God is to be worshipped. In this verse, Jesus tells the Samaritan woman both about God and about God's worshippers.

• God is spirit. The Greek word used here is pneuma which sometimes is used to refer to the Holy Spirit and more generally refers to the spirit or soul of someone/something. Other times it is even used to refer to the wind.
• From this little bit Jesus says about God, we can infer two things
1. God, the Father, does not have a physical body. We've already, from our study of the incommunicable attributes, learned how God cannot be measured and how he is omnipresent. That would be impossible if God had a physical body.
2. The Holy Spirit, as part of the trinity, is equal to God, the Father.
• Jesus goes on to say how God's worshippers should worship God in spirit and in truth. The Greek word used here for spirit is also pneuma. From this we can learn...
1. We are not just physical bodies. We posses a spirit or a soul.
2. From our spirit, we should worship God.
• Have you ever seen the wind? Or have you only seen the effects of the wind?
• Have you ever seen God? Or have you seen what God has done and is doing?
If God is spirit and he has given us a spirt, is this one way that we are created in the image of God?
• Do you want to worship God in spirit and in truth?