Latest / HBCWestminster / Proverbs 3:21-35 Proverb's Promise of Peace 8.11.19

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Proverbs 3:21-35 Proverb's Promise of Peace 8.11.19 · HBCWestminster

• 0:00
  All right, well, Proverbs chapter 3, we're going to be talking about wisdom's promise of peace today. I don't know about you guys, but I've really liked this study in Proverbs so far, even just the first couple of chapters. One of the reasons I love the book of Proverbs is because it is one of the most practical and empirically verifiable books in the Bible.
• 0:28
  especially after you get past chapter nine, where you start getting into the single verse Proverbs, right? Where it's not necessarily connected like it has been in chapters one to three, but each verse is kind of a tidbit of wisdom, right? Even if you're a skeptic or a critic of the Bible, you can read large portions of the book of Proverbs and agree with what God says, right? Honestly, think about this, whether you're a Christian or not, listen to this and see if this is true or not.
• 0:57
  Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler, and whoever is led astray by it is not wise. You would say, like, that's true. What about this? Death and life are in the power of the tongue. A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. Right? And all the married people, give me a witness. Right? It's true. So even...
• 1:24
  Even if you want nothing to do with God, you can read the book of Proverbs and hear what God is saying and say, yeah, I actually agree with that. That's just one of the reasons why I love this book. And so far...
• 1:36
  from chapter 1 up to verse 20, which we covered last week, verse 20 of chapter 3, Solomon has personified wisdom as a woman who is calling out to people in the streets as they go about their business, and she's inviting them to listen to her voice and to order their lives according to the fear of God. And Solomon, over and over again, and especially in these first three chapters, says that those who heed wisdom's call,
• 2:05
  reap blessing, but those who shun her reap disaster. Now, before we even jump into this passage, I want to remind us of something incredibly important that we learned from the very first week of Proverbs, which is what is wisdom?
• 2:21
  Everyone has a definition for wisdom. Everyone, I think, has an idea of what wisdom is, but it's important to know how Proverbs defines wisdom. And so if you remember that first week in Proverbs chapter one, verses one to seven, we looked at like 10 different words, you know, wisdom and instruction, understanding and discernment. We looked at all these words and defined them. And that very first one was wisdom. And wisdom, according to the book of Proverbs, is skillful living.
• 2:53
  To be a wise person means that you are skilled at living life. I would encourage you, as we continue in this book series for the weeks to come, whenever you hear the word wisdom, think of a person who is skilled at living life. A wise person knows how to handle the complexities of life. So when tragedy strikes or something hard happens, or they're having relationship conflict, a wise person knows how to handle all that really, really well.
• 3:23
  This is why I think people who are older are often wiser than people who are younger. Because if you think of wisdom as a skill, living life as a skill, older people have practiced it longer than younger people have. So they're better, right? If you practice guitar every day, you're going to get good. If you practice once a week, you might get good. But not as good as the person who practices every day. And so for people who have been living longer, they're better at living life.
• 3:52
  And so they're considered by Proverbs to be wiser. They follow the commands of God and his wisdom for life. And so what I want to do is I want to read verses 13 to 20, which we covered last week, because this really is the introduction to our passage for this week. So I want to recap last week real quick, and then we'll jump into what this week's passage is about. So look at Proverbs 3, 13.
• 4:22
  Blessed is the one who finds wisdom and the one who gets understanding. For the gain from her is better than gain from silver and her profit better than gold. She is more precious than jewels and nothing you desire can compare with her. Long life is in her right hand. In her left hand are riches and honor. Her ways are ways of pleasantness and all her paths are peace.
• 4:47
  She's a tree of life to those who lay hold of her. Those who hold her fast are called blessed. Man, that sounds good to me, right? Look at verse 19. The Lord, by wisdom, founded the earth. By understanding, he established the heavens. By his knowledge, the deeps broke open and the clouds dropped down the dew. And so remember, as we look at the rest of chapter 3 today, remember that the one who finds wisdom is blessed.
• 5:16
  Wisdom is more valuable than a bigger paycheck because its dividends are greater. And remember too that the one who dispenses this wisdom to you and to me is none other than God Almighty. God Almighty. And I love verses 19 to 20 because when I read that, here's what I think. Solomon is encouraging us to gain wisdom, to line ourselves up with the will of God so that you can live life well. And he's saying, if you have...
• 5:43
  maybe any mistrust about how God says you should live your life, remember that it was God who formed the entire universe. And that takes a little bit of brilliance and wisdom. So God really knows what he's talking about. And so even if in the book of Proverbs, God says something that directly challenges your way of life, you can actually trust him because his plans for you are to bless you. In finding his wisdom applied to your life, you will be blessed.
• 6:12
  goes against how you may naturally live. And so in this week's passage, we're going to go from verses 21 to 35, finish out chapter 3, and Solomon describes the person who takes hold of this wisdom as both a possessor of peace and a maker of peace. And so let's look at that first one, possess peace. Look at verse 21.
• 6:40
  Solomon says, my son, do not lose sight of these. Now, what are these? Look up back to verse 13, which we just read. Blessed is the one who finds wisdom and the one who gets understanding. And so, my son, do not lose sight of wisdom and understanding. Now, remember that Solomon is writing the book of Proverbs kind of as a guidebook to his son.
• 7:07
  Like, I want you to live life well. Listen to me. Listen to my experience. Pay attention to what I'm telling you. And it's like in verse 21 when he says, my son, do not lose sight of these. He's saying, don't forfeit the wisdom that you've been taught. Don't give it up so easily because there are going to be times in your guys' lives and there are times in my life where either temptation or trial will seek to turn you from the path of wisdom and handle things on your own.
• 7:35
  And not pay attention to what God is saying. Temptation or trial. And Solomon says, don't depart from wisdom. Don't let it out of your sight for a moment. I think of a parent who has a really young kid who's just learning to crawl or walk. When your kid is that young,
• 7:57
  You don't just let them like go off and play and do whatever they want. You're like, you can walk, you're independent. Like, no, they're one, you know? But you don't let them out of your sight. And I've seen parents do this. They'll be talking with another adult, you know, and their kid is playing and they got like one eye on their kid and they're talking like, yeah, yeah, yeah. And as soon as the kid starts to get into something dangerous or starts to pull the tablecloth from the table with every glass piece of...
• 8:20
  you know, stuff you have on the table and it's all going to come crashing down. You're like, no, no, no, right? But you don't let the kid out of your sight for a moment. And Solomon is saying in the same way, consider wisdom like that parent considers the child. Don't let it out of your sight. Solomon is saying it's not just enough for you to hear these words. You need to keep them. Don't lose sight of wisdom.
• 8:43
  and understanding. And then he continues in verse 21. He says, As wisdom is cultivated in the heart, it adorns the life and makes it beautiful. Like a bride or a groom on their wedding day is the man or woman who chooses to clothe themselves in wisdom. You know, when I wrote that, I was thinking,
• 9:16
  you know, of my wife and our wedding day a couple of years ago. And man, I remember seeing her come to the aisle, right? So I'm up in the front with Danny and I remember seeing her come walking with her dad and I just, it blew me away. And I can still remember that so vividly, you know, how beautiful she was. And the person who clothes themselves in wisdom and who chooses to live according to this, you're like that.
• 9:48
  Like, that's the air about you. And now, for her, on her end, like, I looked good. And so if you're a guy thinking, I don't want to look like a bride, it's all right. But that's the person who lives according to wisdom. I was joking, by the way. If you're brand new with us, I'm not bragging. I'm just joking. You can laugh. It's all right. All right. Now, there is something I want to make really clear about wisdom.
• 10:21
  In the book of Proverbs, it's important that he connects wisdom and discretion with the adornment of your life. And here's why. This kind of idea, right, of clothing yourself in wisdom is not some sort of like spiritual kind of floaty, ethereal characteristic.
• 10:43
  Like that person is wise. Why? I don't really know. They're just like really spiritual. That's not wisdom. Wisdom shows itself on the ground level. It's life. Wisdom always shows its face. And so for someone to claim to be wise and yet to live foolishly, they have no idea what wisdom is. Because wisdom always shows itself in practical daily life. Now think about this for a second. Think about the people that you guys consider wise.
• 11:14
  Just pick a person whom you consider wise. How would you describe them? What would you think of them? Do they not conduct themselves with a certain dignity and a certain grace? Honestly, there's a dignity about them. Aren't they quick to listen and slow to speak? But when they do speak, it's like gold. Man, I have a few people in my life that...
• 11:42
  When I'm explaining my problems, they just sit there and listen. They aren't eager to speak, but when they do, it's like, oh my gosh, how did I not know that? You're incredibly wise. Their words are gold. People who are wise, are they not stable in times of difficulty? The person that you're picturing in your head, aren't they stable? They know how to live life well. Listen to what Charles Spurgeon said. He said this, and I love this. True religion is sanctified common sense.
• 12:27
  This is the wise person. Now, on the flip side, consider someone whom you know that is not wise. We don't describe them the same way, right? They are unstable.
• 12:44
  fleeting to and fro between impulses and their passions, and they're unable to stick to a path of life that's of any value. And I know this because this is my generation. Just like whatever you want to do, whatever feels good. Like you can kind of mess with God's commands a little bit, like bend the truth a little bit, right? But it's good, so just do it. And there seems to be a lack of consistency and a lack of discipline toward valuable living.
• 13:18
  Like they're not doing anything that's for the benefit of the long-term benefit of themselves or others. That's like the definition of an unwise person. And so the aura, if you will, the aura of a wise person is attractive. You see a wise person and you go, yes, like I want to handle conflict like you. I want to handle financial difficulty like you. I want to trust the Lord like you do, right? It's attractive to us. But the aura or the atmosphere around an unwise person only draws fools.
• 13:48
  It is only attractive to foolish people. And so for the unwise person, even with their facade of a pleasure-filled and free life, they produce nothing good or lasting. I love how James 3 contrasts the wisdom of the world with the wisdom of heaven. This is James chapter 3. Listen to this. It says, who is wise and understanding among you? It's like he's asking you. Are you wise? Are you understanding?
• 14:14
  By his good conduct, let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. There it is, right? Wisdom played out. Let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. This is not the wisdom that comes from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exists, there will be disorder and every vile practice. But listen to how he describes wisdom.
• 14:42
  Wisdom is practical. And so verses 21 through 22, he's saying keep this wisdom and this discretion. It will form...
• 15:11
  The image of your life. And it will bless you. And so next, from verses 24, 23, excuse me, to 26, he's going to give us this encouragement by describing the stability of the wise in the midst of hardship. So look at verse 23 with me. So he's saying, keep wisdom and discretion. Then you will walk on your way securely and your foot will not stumble.
• 15:40
  If you lie down, you will not be afraid. When you lie down, your sleep will be sweet. Do not be afraid of sudden terror or of the ruin of the wicked when it comes. For the Lord will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being caught. These verses don't promise that believers will be free from suffering or that the wise person will be free from suffering, right? And Danny...
• 16:06
  Touched on this a little bit last week, but it's this idea called the prosperity gospel, which is if you believe in Jesus, he wants you to be rich and healthy and have no problems. He just wants to fill your life with blessing and take all the hardship out. And it's not true. Think about Jesus, the son of God, not rich, suffered unjustly, right? People hated him for speaking the truth.
• 16:34
  And so your life will not be free from hardship. But he does describe the portion of the wise in the midst of darkness and difficulty. And he says their portion is peace. Because of their trust in the Lord and adherence to his word, the life of the wise man or woman is characterized by a consistency that is unavailable to those who shun God's word. I remember being in college, you know, 20 years old.
• 17:03
  And I was trying to figure out, like, what does it mean to be a Christian and to truly know God and to truly love God? And I would look to professors or people in the church whom I really respected and knew, and they displayed a consistency that I envied.
• 17:23
  because I was constantly bouncing back and forth between like, all right, I'm falling into sin, and then no, I'm not supposed to do that. I'm falling into sin. No, I'm not supposed to do that, right? Back and forth. But I would look at these people, and they just loved the Lord and served the Lord. And even in times of difficulty, there was a calmness about their spirit that I envied, because I didn't have that. They were wise. They'd walked with the Lord for so long, and I just hadn't. But for the wise person, their boat isn't rocked easily, because their confidence is put,
• 17:56
  Verse 24 says that the wise also receive rest from God. And even in the thick of trials and tears, they conduct themselves with a forward-thinking hope. And we know this is true. There are a couple people that come to mind when...
• 18:17
  And when we talk about the portion of peace for the wise, there are a couple people here at the church that come to mind. And these people both have either incurable or unexplained diseases. And they're just sick. And every time they go to the doctor, it's like either we can't do anything for you or we don't know what's wrong with you. One of these people is in the youth group. And it's pretty incredible to me to look at someone who wrestles with a disease.
• 18:49
  that isn't diagnosable and see them have hope and see them press on in life and endure without complaining and becoming bitter. It's amazing. And I know that if any one of us were to ask them, like, how do you do it? Honestly, how do you do it? They would say, man, it's the Lord. It's the hope of heaven that keeps me going.
• 19:19
  And because of heaven, I can have peace right now, even though God isn't giving me an answer as to why I'm suffering. I have peace. These people display Psalm 23, 4 very, very well. I love this verse because it's so real. In Psalm 23, David says, even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, what is it? I will fear no evil. Why? For you are with me.
• 19:51
  Your rod and your staff, they comfort me. And in this verse, David is saying, God, in all of your wisdom, you're having me walk through this valley of the shadow of death. I'm not running. I'm not hurrying up the process. I'm walking through it. And I don't know how long this valley is. It could be a long time until I come up at the other end. But I'm walking through the valley of the shadow of death. And yet, I'm not going to fear.
• 20:14
  Why? Because you're with me. It's not because I'm strong. It's not because I'm going to like white knuckle my way through my suffering or through my trials. It's because you are with me. Your rod and your staff, they comfort me. And so for the person who sticks close to the Lord and is filled with his wisdom, you don't need to be afraid of evil. Even though the shadow of death may fall upon you, God is with you. You can possess peace. So that's first, possess peace.
• 20:47
  Yeah, I'll keep going. All right. Second one is make peace. So not only does Solomon want us to possess inner peace in the midst of trials, but he also wants us to make peace. Look at verse 27. He says, do not withhold good from those to whom it is due when it is in your power to do it. In these next verses through the end of chapter three, Solomon is going to give us a number of tips.
• 21:16
  that we can employ or implement in our lives in order to make peace with those around us. And the first one, he says, don't withhold good from those to whom it is due when it is in your power to do it. And so he says, first, the peacemaker, if you want to be a peacemaker, don't withhold good. Knowing what is good or what is right and not doing it is not wisdom. In fact, the Bible, that's the Bible's definition of foolishness.
• 21:45
  that you know what to do and you still don't do it, right? Wisdom acts. It is active. Now, church, this is very important for us to understand. Don't equate abstinence from sin with goodness. Don't equate abstinence from sin with goodness. Passivity toward evil is not the same as activity toward goodness.
• 22:14
  And I think the American church often falls into this, where we define our own goodness as, well, I've never murdered anyone. I've never cheated on my spouse. I've never done these bad things. Therefore, I am good. And there was a, I watched this video of a professor who said something brilliant one time. And it was like really convicting, but it was brilliant. He said, the reason that you don't do really bad things is not because you're good.
• 22:45
  it's because you are too afraid to actually just make a bad decision because you're afraid of getting caught. And being afraid of getting caught is not the same as being good. I was like, oh my gosh, you're right. Like, that's me. For the believer, God calls you to so much more than just not sinning. He calls you to this vibrant, freedom-filled life where you can actually be free to chase after what is good.
• 23:19
  To be active and not just to sit back passively and like, yeah, when good comes to me, then I'll do some good, but to seek it out. Do good as a wise person. Listen to James chapter four. He says, so whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it for him, it is sin. Don't withhold good when you have the power to do it, when you have the influence to do it or the reputation to do that. Do good.
• 23:50
  Secondly, verse 28, he says, When I read verse 28, personally, I kind of sum it up like this. Be responsible, right? Do not say to your neighbor, go and come again tomorrow. I will give it when you have it with you. If you owe someone something, give it to them.
• 24:17
  Don't withhold it. Listen to what this one man, H.A. Ironside, said. Which Ironside? If anyone ever had a battleship of a name, H.A. Ironside. He said, To withhold another's due when able to pay evidences the fact that covetousness is in the heart and is being permitted to gain ascendancy over the life. So to withhold something you know you should give evidences covetousness in the heart.
• 24:48
  And so the peacemaker seeks to owe no one anything but love. Thirdly, verse 29, he says, do not plan evil against your neighbor who dwells trustingly beside you. The peacemaker, thirdly, preserves trust. And I think if you wanted to sum up verse 29 in a few words, don't be fake. Don't build a relationship with someone in which they...
• 25:16
  perceive you as a very trusting and trustworthy person when you don't actually love them. In fact, in your heart, you may be against them. And even if that sin only ever manifests itself as gossip, God says it's still evil. And so don't abuse the trust of someone who thinks that they can actually trust you. That same man, H.A. Ironside, he said this.
• 25:45
  Confidence misplaced has ruined many. Isn't that true? Confidence misplaced has ruined many. How dreadful the testimony if the one who has abused that confidence be a professor of Christianity. It is things like these that turn the ignorant to skepticism and ruin the influence of those who might, if faithful, be used in blessing to many. It's like you want a quicker way, or you want to know the quickest way to...
• 26:14
  break down a community and to completely smudge the reputation of Christ, start coming against each other, against people who thought they could trust you, right? Betrayal. So that's third. The peacemaker preserves trust of the relationships that they have with other people. Fourthly, verse 30. This one's pretty straightforward.
• 26:39
  He says, do not contend with a man for no reason when he has done you no harm. The peacemaker isn't contentious. He isn't looking for a fight. And that's kind of like a duh statement, right? The peacemaker doesn't want to fight. Like, yeah, that makes sense. But you know what's funny about this is I have encountered this a lot with youth students who are siblings.
• 27:05
  And if you guys have kids, multiple kids, you know that this is true. Man, when I was a kid, I was the instigator of fights and quarrels. I knew exactly how to press my siblings' buttons. I was a jerk. When I look back on it, I'm like, I can't believe they still like me. But I knew how to press their buttons. I was looking for a fight. I was looking to get a reaction out of them.
• 27:31
  And so even though we may read this like, I would never get in a physical fight, like, yeah, okay. But with your words, we can spark those up quickly. But the peacemaker doesn't want to contend with people just because it's fun, right? And with youth group students, sometimes I'm like, you need to be nicer right now because it's really bad. So be nice to your siblings, right? But the peacemaker isn't contentious. And even in the midst of conflict,
• 28:00
  They know how to handle it in such a way that cultivates flourishing or nourishes a flourishing environment for the other person and for them. They're not eager to get into a fight. So that's fourth. Do not contend with a man for no reason. And then lastly, this will be verses 31 to 35. Look at this. He says, do not envy a man of violence.
• 28:24
  and do not choose any of his ways. For the devious person is an abomination to the Lord, but the upright are in his confidence. The Lord's curse is on the house of the wicked, but he blesses the dwelling of the righteous. Toward the scorners he is scornful, but to the humble he gives favor. The wise will inherit honor, but fools get disgrace. The last characteristic of a peacemaker is that the peacemaker does not envy the wicked.
• 28:52
  He or she has discernment and knows that what may seem like success in the life of someone who is wicked is an illusion. God's face is against them, and any gain the wicked may have in this life when it's weighed against eternity means nothing. It means nothing. I love Psalm 73. Psalm 73 is, in my opinion, just one of the most honest psalms, and it runs deep with me, but it's a psalm of Asaph. And many of you guys know this psalm, but...
• 29:23
  In the beginning of the psalm, he says, God, truly I know that you are good to Israel. It's like he's reminding himself, like, God, I believe. And then he says, but, you ever have one of those moments? But, as for me, my foot had almost slipped. I stumbled because when I saw the prosperity of the wicked, it confused me. It's like saying, God, I believe in your word. I know that what you say is true.
• 29:57
  That you bless the righteous and you do not bless the wicked. And yet I'm looking out in the world and the most successful people are people who have no regard for you. And I don't get that. Why would they be blessed when the righteous person who is seeking after you seems to not be blessed?
• 30:19
  And he wrestles through this throughout the entire Psalm until the end. And he says, this was a weariness to me. As I was trying to contemplate this and figure all this out, it was a weariness to me until I went into the sanctuary of God and I discerned their end. Their end is destruction. And he says, God, even though I don't get this right now, even though my heart and my flesh may fail, God is the strength of my heart and my portion.
• 30:51
  forever. Like that's how he ends it. And so again, he's looking at the wicked and going, I wish that I had their life, like not a care in the world, massive paychecks, get whatever they want. I wish I could be like that. And then God says, no, you don't. Because your end is not like theirs. They may have everything they want in this life and they have nothing in the next. You may be wanting things in this life that you don't have. You have everything in the next life.
• 31:20
  So keep holding on. Don't envy the life of the wicked. And he ends with verse 35. He says, the wise will inherit honor, but fools get disgrace. He says, the legacy of the unwise is disgrace. And except by the intervention of God's grace, foolishness is perpetuated in the ancestry of the unwise. It is their inheritance. But the wise receive honor.
• 31:47
  From God. And church, when you think about that, like what more could you possibly want than God looking upon you and saying, you will be blessed. I honor you. There is no greater blessing than that from God Almighty. And so your inheritance as a believer, as a child of God is honor. So don't envy the foolish person because their inheritance is disgrace, which they will receive when God comes back to judge.
• 32:18
  And so make peace. Be a possessor of peace. That's what I think Proverbs chapter 3 is saying. It says, possess peace. Remember that the wisdom offered by God guards the wise even in the valley. And then make peace. Remember that true wisdom is an active, practical skill that seeks to do good to all. And in so doing, it generates a legacy of honor.
• 32:47
  And I was praying for you guys this week as I was studying this, and I would just hope and pray and almost kind of envision too, like Highland going out and seeking the Lord and seeking to line up our lives perfectly with the word of God. And every little area where we're not lined up, we'd go, man, God, forgive me. Like, give me the grace to line that back up because I want to possess the peace that you offer that surpasses all understanding when I'm in the valley.
• 33:11
  And I don't just want to live this life kind of obscurely and then get to heaven. I want to be active in good. I want to make peace. And I pray that we'd just be a kind of people who go out and do that. And remember that wisdom is played out in your homes and in your workplaces and in the car on the way to church, you know, and hanging out with friends from the neighborhood or whatever. Yeah, I just pray that we would possess peace and be peacemakers as well. Let's pray.
• 33:44
  God, thank you for these men and women, and I do pray that we would look at Proverbs not as just some kind of manual for gaining more knowledge, but rather as an invitation by you to step into a life where we walk closely with you and can display the peace that you offer to us. God, I pray that even this week you would...
• 34:13
  Create a hunger and a thirst in the souls of those we know who do not know you. A hunger and a thirst for righteousness. And God, use us to be the blessing in their lives that offers them your wisdom. God, let us possess peace and make peace. We pray this in Jesus' name. Amen.