Grace Fellowship ChurchGrace Fellowship ChurchPastor/TeacherPastor/TeacherJim RickardJim Rickard

www.GraceDoctrine.orgwww.GraceDoctrine.org

Tuesday,Tuesday,August 7, 2012August 7, 2012

DoxologyDoxology

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;Praise Him, all creatures here below;Praise Him, all creatures here below;Praise Him above, ye heavenly host;Praise Him above, ye heavenly host;

Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.—Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.—Amen.Amen.

Introduction to Introduction to the Book of Proverbsthe Book of Proverbs

Part 2Part 2

The First ObjectiveThe First Objectiveof Proverbs is to show a of Proverbs is to show a

person how to become clever person how to become clever and skillful at the greatest and skillful at the greatest

skill of all, the skill of living.skill of all, the skill of living.

The Second ObjectiveThe Second Objective is to impart understanding of is to impart understanding of

wisdom, vs. 2b, 6. wisdom, vs. 2b, 6.

““Understanding” - Understanding” - נה� ��ָי �נהִּב ��ָי - - ִּבBINAH, refers to BINAH, refers to

discernment. The person who discernment. The person who is truly wise is able to is truly wise is able to

separate, to discriminate, to separate, to discriminate, to read between the lines.read between the lines.

To be wise, we must pierce To be wise, we must pierce the meaning of proverbs, the meaning of proverbs,

satire, and riddles; thoughts satire, and riddles; thoughts that deal with the mysteries of that deal with the mysteries of

life experiences.life experiences.Cf. Prov 16:1-3, 9; 25:2-3Cf. Prov 16:1-3, 9; 25:2-3

Wisdom is the ability to Wisdom is the ability to understand a situation so as to understand a situation so as to

know how to respond in a know how to respond in a way that pleases God.way that pleases God.

Discernment is the ability to Discernment is the ability to see to the heart of something see to the heart of something

or to understand its true or to understand its true nature.nature.

Prov 1:2 confirms what God Prov 1:2 confirms what God said to Solomon, that he said to Solomon, that he would be wise so that he would be wise so that he

might discern good from evil, might discern good from evil, and so judge equitably.and so judge equitably.

1 Kings 3:11f.1 Kings 3:11f.

The Third ObjectiveThe Third Objective To impart moral insight, vs. 3. To impart moral insight, vs. 3.

“To receive discipline of “To receive discipline of insight, righteousness and insight, righteousness and justice and uprightness.”justice and uprightness.”

ל ַכ: לָׂש> ַכ: :”SAKHAL,- SAKHAL, “insight”: “insight - ָׂש>refers to skill, especially the refers to skill, especially the ability to understand history ability to understand history

and foresee future and foresee future consequences. The ability to consequences. The ability to

have insight into what is moral, have insight into what is moral, just and upright. just and upright.

““Righteousness” - TSEDHEQ Righteousness” - TSEDHEQ Here it means the idea of Here it means the idea of

“what is right.” It refers to “what is right.” It refers to God’s standard of right God’s standard of right

conduct. conduct.

““Justice” - MISHPAT Justice” - MISHPAT It involves dispensing justice.It involves dispensing justice.

““Uprightness” - MESHAR Uprightness” - MESHAR “Straightness, or evenness.” “Straightness, or evenness.”

Therefore, judgment which is Therefore, judgment which is “straight” means that which is “straight” means that which is correct, just, right and proper.correct, just, right and proper.

Isa 26:7,Isa 26:7,“The way of the righteous is “The way of the righteous is

smooth; O Upright One, make smooth; O Upright One, make the path of the righteous the path of the righteous

level.”level.”

True wisdom is never True wisdom is never exhibited apart from a moral exhibited apart from a moral framework of right standards.framework of right standards.

Proverbs was not written to Proverbs was not written to sharpen an individual’s ability to sharpen an individual’s ability to be crafty or cunning. There must be crafty or cunning. There must

be a moral component which be a moral component which transforms a person of evil devices transforms a person of evil devices

into a person of discretion, from into a person of discretion, from craftiness into prudence.craftiness into prudence.

The proverbs themselves The proverbs themselves are teachers, pointing are teachers, pointing

their students to whatevertheir students to whatever is righteous, just and is righteous, just and honest (or upright). honest (or upright).

Biblical wisdom yields fruit Biblical wisdom yields fruit in the wise, because it in the wise, because it

transforms their lives so that transforms their lives so that they live according to the they live according to the

standards of God Himself. standards of God Himself.

The responsibility of each The responsibility of each believer is to uphold rulership believer is to uphold rulership

over his own soul with over his own soul with honesty and righteousness.honesty and righteousness.

The Fourth ObjectiveThe Fourth Objective, , Identify the intended Identify the intended

recipients of wisdom, vs. 4. recipients of wisdom, vs. 4. “The naïve and youth” with “The naïve and youth” with

the backdrop of wise men and the backdrop of wise men and men of understanding.men of understanding.

The naïve are gullible, and do The naïve are gullible, and do not understand situations not understand situations

because they have not had because they have not had enough experience.enough experience.

““Naïve” - PETHI, suggests an Naïve” - PETHI, suggests an openness to influence and openness to influence and

instruction, whether good or instruction, whether good or bad, an attitude common bad, an attitude common

among the immature.among the immature.

These pithy sayings are These pithy sayings are designed to stick in the heart designed to stick in the heart of the naïve and will come of the naïve and will come back to their minds as they back to their minds as they

face situations. face situations.

If they obey what they know, If they obey what they know, even if they do not yet even if they do not yet

understand, they will act understand, they will act wisely.wisely.

Verses 4-5 also state that Verses 4-5 also state that wisdom is off limits to the wisdom is off limits to the

fool. fool.

He is not invited into the He is not invited into the sage’s classroom because he sage’s classroom because he will only despise the wisdom will only despise the wisdom

of the sage’s words.of the sage’s words.Prov 14:9; 18:2; 23:9Prov 14:9; 18:2; 23:9

Prov 14:9,Prov 14:9,“Fools make a mock at sin: “Fools make a mock at sin:

but among the righteous there but among the righteous there is favor.”is favor.”

Prov 18:2,Prov 18:2,“A fool does not delight in “A fool does not delight in understanding, but only in understanding, but only in revealing his own mind.”revealing his own mind.”

Prov 23:9,Prov 23:9,“Do not speak in the hearing “Do not speak in the hearing of a fool, for he will despise of a fool, for he will despise the wisdom of your words.”the wisdom of your words.”

Grace Fellowship ChurchGrace Fellowship ChurchTuesday, August 7, 2012Tuesday, August 7, 2012

Tape # 12-088Tape # 12-088

Introduction to Proverbs, Part 2 Introduction to Proverbs, Part 2The Objectives of the BookThe Objectives of the Book

Proverbs 1:2-4; 14:8; 18:2; 23:9; Isa 26:7Proverbs 1:2-4; 14:8; 18:2; 23:9; Isa 26:7

James H. Rickard Bible Ministries 2012James H. Rickard Bible Ministries 2012