WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.899 Proverbs chapter 8 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:36.600 Hear, for I will speak noble things, and from my lips will come what is right. 00:00:37.159 --> 00:00:42.039 For my mouth will utter truth. Wickedness is an abomination to my lips. 00:00:42.659 --> 00:00:47.320 All the words of my mouth are righteous. There is nothing twisted or crooked in them. 00:00:48.000 --> 00:00:52.780 They are all straight to Him who understands, and right to those who find knowledge. 00:00:53.299 --> 00:00:59.240 Take my instruction instead of silver, and knowledge rather than choice gold. 00:00:59.240 --> 00:01:05.540 For wisdom is better than jewels, and all that you may desire cannot compare with her. 00:01:06.680 --> 00:01:11.560 I, wisdom, dwell with prudence, and I find knowledge and discretion. 00:01:12.219 --> 00:01:19.840 The fear of the Lord is hatred of evil, pride and arrogance, and the way of evil, and perverted speech I hate. 00:01:20.340 --> 00:01:25.280 I have counsel and sound wisdom. I have insight. I have strength. 00:01:25.280 --> 00:01:33.920 By me, kings reign, and rulers decree what is just. By me, princes rule, and nobles, all who govern justly. 00:01:34.260 --> 00:01:39.260 I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently find me. 00:01:39.740 --> 00:01:44.099 Riches and honor are with me, enduring wealth and righteousness. 00:01:44.099 --> 00:01:50.699 My fruit is better than gold, even fine gold, and my yield than choice silver. 00:01:51.419 --> 00:01:59.659 I walk in the way of righteousness, in the paths of justice, granting an inheritance to those who love me, and filling their treasuries. 00:02:00.199 --> 00:02:05.019 The Lord possessed me at the beginning of His work, the first of His acts of old. 00:02:05.819 --> 00:02:09.900 Ages ago I was set up, at the first, before the beginning of the earth. 00:02:09.900 --> 00:02:13.599 When there were no depths, I was brought forth. 00:02:13.819 --> 00:02:16.599 When there were no springs abounding with water. 00:02:17.200 --> 00:02:19.580 Before the mountains had been shaped. 00:02:20.020 --> 00:02:22.659 Before the hills, I was brought forth. 00:02:23.120 --> 00:02:28.219 Before He had made the earth with its fields, or the first of the dust of the world. 00:02:28.780 --> 00:02:31.620 When He established the heavens, I was there. 00:02:32.159 --> 00:02:34.400 When He drew a circle on the face of the deep. 00:02:34.400 --> 00:02:37.099 When He made firm the skies above. 00:02:37.360 --> 00:02:40.200 When He established the fountains of the deep. 00:02:40.439 --> 00:02:45.920 When He assigned to the sea its limit, so that the waters might not transgress His command. 00:02:46.340 --> 00:02:48.840 When He marked out the foundations of the earth. 00:02:49.280 --> 00:02:52.540 Then I was beside Him, like a master workman. 00:02:52.900 --> 00:02:56.920 And I was daily His delight, rejoicing before Him always. 00:02:57.319 --> 00:03:02.140 Rejoicing in His inhabited world, and delighting in the children of man. 00:03:02.139 --> 00:03:06.119 And now, O sons, listen to me. 00:03:07.099 --> 00:03:09.239 Blessed are those who keep my ways. 00:03:09.879 --> 00:03:13.019 Hear instruction, and be wise, and do not neglect it. 00:03:13.679 --> 00:03:20.479 Blessed is the one who listens to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting beside my doors. 00:03:21.099 --> 00:03:25.560 For whoever finds me, finds life, and obtains favor from the Lord. 00:03:26.039 --> 00:03:28.839 But he who fails to find me, injures himself. 00:03:29.259 --> 00:03:31.519 All who hate me, love death. 00:03:32.139 --> 00:03:35.359 This is God's holy and authoritative word. 00:03:35.360 --> 00:03:43.060 In last week's passage, chapter 7, verses 4 to 5. 00:03:43.060 --> 00:03:46.580 The father exhorted his son this way. 00:03:46.879 --> 00:03:52.099 Say to wisdom, you are my sister, and call inside your intimate friend. 00:03:52.500 --> 00:03:58.319 To keep you from the forbidden woman, from the adulteress with her smooth words. 00:03:59.080 --> 00:04:02.420 So the forbidden woman, which means literally strange woman. 00:04:02.900 --> 00:04:05.680 It's a reference to a woman that doesn't belong to your family. 00:04:05.759 --> 00:04:07.920 Someone that is not your wife, but your neighbor's wife. 00:04:07.919 --> 00:04:16.899 If you want to be protected from the seduction of the strange woman, he told us that we ought to make wisdom familiar to us. 00:04:17.240 --> 00:04:18.419 Wisdom, our family. 00:04:19.339 --> 00:04:24.879 And if you want to remain estranged from the adulteress, you have to make yourself familiar with the wisdom of God. 00:04:25.479 --> 00:04:27.939 And that's where Proverbs 8 picks up. 00:04:27.939 --> 00:04:32.459 It gives us a portrait of personified woman wisdom. 00:04:33.540 --> 00:04:37.959 As a contrast from the portrait of the forbidden woman from chapter 7. 00:04:39.019 --> 00:04:46.800 And the main exhortation of this passage is that we should court woman wisdom in order to find divine favor and eternal life. 00:04:46.800 --> 00:04:51.439 So in verses 1 to 11, we see the instruction of wisdom. 00:04:52.400 --> 00:04:54.819 She instructs her hearers to learn from her. 00:04:55.000 --> 00:04:58.460 And then in verses 12 to 31, we see the introduction of wisdom. 00:04:58.879 --> 00:05:01.900 She introduces herself and explains her value. 00:05:02.560 --> 00:05:06.939 And then finally in verses 32 to 36, we see the invitation of wisdom. 00:05:07.160 --> 00:05:09.819 Where we are exhorted to seek her diligently. 00:05:10.060 --> 00:05:12.900 So the instruction, the introduction, and the invitation. 00:05:12.899 --> 00:05:16.819 So let's look at the instruction of wisdom in verses 1 to 11. 00:05:17.939 --> 00:05:19.719 It says in verses 1 to 3, 00:05:20.120 --> 00:05:38.339 So on the one hand, we were told already in Proverbs chapter 2, 00:05:38.339 --> 00:05:43.219 that we should call out for insight and raise our voice for understanding. 00:05:43.859 --> 00:05:45.639 And that we were told to seek wisdom. 00:05:47.019 --> 00:05:50.759 So on the one hand, we are to call out for wisdom and raise our voice. 00:05:51.239 --> 00:05:59.379 But on the other hand, it's also true that wisdom herself calls out to us and raises her voice for us. 00:05:59.939 --> 00:06:08.059 So it depicts wisdom as using these elevated platforms beside the way as our podium from which to teach us. 00:06:08.699 --> 00:06:12.939 She stands at the crossroads, it says, where there is most foot traffic. 00:06:13.199 --> 00:06:15.300 Where people are deciding which way to go. 00:06:16.000 --> 00:06:21.259 And you can hear her, it says, beside the gates in front of the town at the entrance of the portals. 00:06:22.560 --> 00:06:25.939 In contrast with the forbidden woman, the forbidden woman was a lurker. 00:06:25.939 --> 00:06:32.160 If you remember from chapter 7, verse 12, she was lying in wait in every street corner, 00:06:32.399 --> 00:06:40.019 as if to pounce on unwitting, I guess, unwitting bystanders, people that would come by. 00:06:40.019 --> 00:06:46.500 And she also worked with traps and ambushes in the darkness of night, in the cover of night. 00:06:47.060 --> 00:06:49.560 Woman wisdom, however, has nothing to hide. 00:06:49.879 --> 00:06:52.959 So she walks out in the open, speaks forthrightly. 00:06:53.339 --> 00:06:57.019 She's at the city gates, the center of public commerce and politics, 00:06:57.620 --> 00:06:59.560 offering her insight to all who would listen. 00:06:59.560 --> 00:07:04.899 And her audience, it says in verses 4 to 5, is all of humanity. 00:07:04.899 --> 00:07:09.539 To you, O men, I call, and my cry is to the children of men. 00:07:09.799 --> 00:07:13.459 O simple ones, learn prudence, O fools, learn sense. 00:07:14.179 --> 00:07:19.159 This is an instance of the grammatical convention that I mentioned a few sermons ago, 00:07:19.299 --> 00:07:20.759 called the collective masculine. 00:07:21.699 --> 00:07:26.319 Old Testament Hebrew, New Testament Greek, just like English and many other modern languages, 00:07:26.839 --> 00:07:31.439 use the masculine noun and pronoun when it's referring to a group of both men and women. 00:07:31.439 --> 00:07:37.219 And as we have seen, the book of Proverbs often employs the male perspective 00:07:37.219 --> 00:07:41.879 because men were representative leaders in society and it's addressed to them. 00:07:42.540 --> 00:07:47.220 And this is why, for example, you find warnings about the adulterous woman in chapters 5 to 7, 00:07:47.339 --> 00:07:49.899 but no parallel warnings about the predatory man. 00:07:50.639 --> 00:07:54.459 But this does not mean that Proverbs is only applicable to men 00:07:54.459 --> 00:07:58.019 or that it has an implicit bias against women. 00:07:58.019 --> 00:08:03.159 Just as it warns specifically against the adulterous with her smooth words, 00:08:03.680 --> 00:08:08.899 it also warns specifically against men of perverted speech in Proverbs 2, verse 12. 00:08:09.799 --> 00:08:13.240 It personifies folly as a woman in chapter 9, 00:08:13.599 --> 00:08:17.279 but it also personifies wisdom as a woman throughout the book. 00:08:18.039 --> 00:08:23.199 It has an entire section dedicated to praising a woman who fears the Lord in chapter 31, 00:08:23.899 --> 00:08:26.319 who also appears to be schooled in wisdom. 00:08:26.319 --> 00:08:29.860 And so Proverbs is written for a general audience. 00:08:30.060 --> 00:08:34.159 It's written for the children of man that includes both men and women. 00:08:34.919 --> 00:08:38.679 But here, there is a more particular audience than just all of humanity. 00:08:39.720 --> 00:08:41.059 It says in verses 5 to 6, 00:08:41.139 --> 00:08:51.279 Proverbs employs a variety of terms to characterize the fool. 00:08:51.279 --> 00:08:57.839 Of those terms, the simple one is the mildest term. 00:08:58.799 --> 00:09:02.439 It refers to those who are naive or gullible, 00:09:03.039 --> 00:09:05.019 people who are easily duped. 00:09:05.799 --> 00:09:08.039 They are duped by evildoers in particular. 00:09:08.259 --> 00:09:11.179 And so they're still responsible for their naivete, 00:09:11.179 --> 00:09:18.479 but their gullibility is not morally neutral. 00:09:18.739 --> 00:09:20.279 They're still morally culpable. 00:09:21.059 --> 00:09:23.620 But of the range of words that are used to describe the fool, 00:09:23.719 --> 00:09:27.000 this one is the mildest. 00:09:27.239 --> 00:09:28.319 It's the least problematic. 00:09:28.559 --> 00:09:30.979 They're not settled in their foolish ways yet. 00:09:31.259 --> 00:09:33.259 You can still speak to them and exhort them. 00:09:33.339 --> 00:09:35.639 Hopefully, they will listen and gain prudence. 00:09:35.639 --> 00:09:37.840 That's what they need to learn, prudence or shrewdness. 00:09:38.539 --> 00:09:42.799 The term fool used here is the one that's most commonly used 00:09:42.799 --> 00:09:44.679 to refer to the fool in the book of Proverbs. 00:09:45.419 --> 00:09:48.259 It occurs 70 times in the entire Old Testament, 00:09:48.419 --> 00:09:50.519 and 67 of those times is in the Proverbs. 00:09:51.279 --> 00:09:52.779 It can have several nuances, 00:09:53.039 --> 00:09:56.679 but its basic root meaning is to be thick or fat. 00:09:57.360 --> 00:10:02.259 So it refers to someone who is thick-headed or obtuse, 00:10:02.259 --> 00:10:05.919 and for that reason, short-sighted and foolhardy. 00:10:06.620 --> 00:10:08.939 So then wisdom is particularly concerned 00:10:08.939 --> 00:10:12.720 with instructing the simple-minded and the thick-headed. 00:10:13.379 --> 00:10:15.600 If only they would learn prudence, 00:10:15.939 --> 00:10:18.019 if only they would learn sense, 00:10:18.779 --> 00:10:20.279 there is still hope for them. 00:10:21.679 --> 00:10:24.319 And so a woman calls out to them in verses 6 to 9, 00:10:24.320 --> 00:10:48.700 All of this is also a contrast 00:10:48.700 --> 00:10:53.940 with the smooth and wily nature of the forbidden woman. 00:10:55.560 --> 00:10:58.700 The words of the woman's wisdom are all noble, 00:10:59.000 --> 00:11:02.060 right, true, righteous, straight. 00:11:02.480 --> 00:11:05.600 There is no wickedness, nothing twisted or crooked. 00:11:06.259 --> 00:11:08.160 In contrast to the words of the forbidden woman, 00:11:08.240 --> 00:11:10.940 which were slippery, twisted, deceptive. 00:11:12.280 --> 00:11:13.960 Wisdom is a straight shooter. 00:11:14.960 --> 00:11:16.780 However, there is an important caveat. 00:11:16.779 --> 00:11:19.539 Her words are all straight, 00:11:20.039 --> 00:11:22.819 only to him who understands. 00:11:23.759 --> 00:11:25.600 Her words are right, 00:11:26.000 --> 00:11:28.600 only to those who find knowledge. 00:11:29.639 --> 00:11:31.659 To those who do not understand, 00:11:32.179 --> 00:11:36.459 to those who have not found knowledge, 00:11:37.220 --> 00:11:40.860 even wisdom's unvarnished truth appears false. 00:11:41.980 --> 00:11:46.059 Nowadays, a lot of people talk about cognitive biases. 00:11:46.059 --> 00:11:49.579 And there's one of the popular ones, 00:11:49.699 --> 00:11:50.939 the confirmation bias, right, 00:11:50.939 --> 00:11:53.579 the tendency to interpret new evidence 00:11:53.579 --> 00:11:57.439 as a confirmation of one's existing beliefs and theories. 00:11:58.379 --> 00:12:00.219 And as much as people like to think 00:12:00.219 --> 00:12:02.099 that they are cruelly rational and objective, 00:12:02.619 --> 00:12:03.959 humans often take new data 00:12:03.959 --> 00:12:07.079 and finagle it to fit their existing prejudices 00:12:07.079 --> 00:12:07.959 and preconceptions. 00:12:07.960 --> 00:12:10.940 And such is the case with the fool. 00:12:11.560 --> 00:12:13.519 The fool is immune to learning. 00:12:14.379 --> 00:12:16.139 He is impervious to instruction. 00:12:16.639 --> 00:12:18.379 He never comes to understand. 00:12:18.620 --> 00:12:19.660 He never learns. 00:12:20.420 --> 00:12:21.720 Look again at verse 5 00:12:21.720 --> 00:12:23.680 and the repetition of the word learn. 00:12:24.320 --> 00:12:26.360 O simple words, learn prudence. 00:12:26.720 --> 00:12:28.700 O fools, learn sense. 00:12:29.259 --> 00:12:31.540 The Hebrew word that is translated as learn here 00:12:31.540 --> 00:12:34.840 is the same word that is translated as understand in verse 9. 00:12:34.840 --> 00:12:37.660 And notably, in the book of Proverbs, 00:12:37.920 --> 00:12:42.860 this word is used only to refer to those who acquire wisdom. 00:12:43.800 --> 00:12:46.860 The moment you learn, you cease to be a fool 00:12:46.860 --> 00:12:50.320 because only the wise learn in Proverbs. 00:12:51.060 --> 00:12:53.180 The fool has no use for learning. 00:12:53.480 --> 00:12:54.800 Proverbs 12, 15 says, 00:12:54.799 --> 00:12:57.219 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, 00:12:57.379 --> 00:13:00.019 but a wise man listens to advice. 00:13:01.019 --> 00:13:03.719 Learning wisdom requires patience, 00:13:04.419 --> 00:13:05.859 self-discipline, humility. 00:13:06.500 --> 00:13:09.779 It demands change, a reformation. 00:13:10.539 --> 00:13:13.039 In contrast, folly comes easily 00:13:13.039 --> 00:13:15.679 because it requires no self-discipline, 00:13:16.000 --> 00:13:17.519 only self-indulgence. 00:13:18.019 --> 00:13:19.599 It demands no change. 00:13:20.859 --> 00:13:22.279 It preserves the status quo. 00:13:22.279 --> 00:13:25.939 And this is why wisdom is a hard sell. 00:13:27.019 --> 00:13:29.379 This is why woman wisdom needs to make 00:13:29.379 --> 00:13:31.159 this compelling sales pitch. 00:13:31.860 --> 00:13:33.539 She says in verses 10 to 11, 00:13:34.100 --> 00:13:36.399 Take my instruction instead of silver, 00:13:36.740 --> 00:13:38.699 knowledge rather than choice gold, 00:13:38.839 --> 00:13:40.399 for wisdom is better than jewels, 00:13:40.480 --> 00:13:42.639 and all that you may desire cannot compare with her. 00:13:43.279 --> 00:13:46.019 Wisdom has incomparable value. 00:13:47.100 --> 00:13:48.759 Think for a moment about the things 00:13:48.759 --> 00:13:50.120 that you desire in life, 00:13:50.120 --> 00:13:53.360 things you wish you had or hope to attain, 00:13:53.899 --> 00:13:55.240 perhaps traveling the world, 00:13:56.000 --> 00:13:57.360 maybe fame or fortune, 00:13:57.899 --> 00:13:58.799 a dream job, 00:13:58.919 --> 00:14:01.060 a spouse or a family or a car, 00:14:01.139 --> 00:14:02.399 a jewel or a laptop, 00:14:03.019 --> 00:14:03.960 whatever it might be, 00:14:03.980 --> 00:14:07.019 it does not compare with wisdom. 00:14:08.019 --> 00:14:11.019 So you must choose wisdom over all else. 00:14:11.159 --> 00:14:12.759 That's the exhortation of this passage 00:14:12.759 --> 00:14:15.740 because in her we find divine favor and eternal life. 00:14:17.100 --> 00:14:19.299 That's a nice transition to the second part of the passage, 00:14:19.419 --> 00:14:20.559 verses 12 to 31, 00:14:20.799 --> 00:14:23.220 which is the introduction of wisdom. 00:14:24.360 --> 00:14:26.360 She introduces herself to us 00:14:26.360 --> 00:14:28.220 and explains our true value. 00:14:28.220 --> 00:14:32.320 And usually when people are trying to sell you 00:14:32.320 --> 00:14:33.460 on the value of something, 00:14:33.860 --> 00:14:35.580 they often mention that the thing is, 00:14:35.840 --> 00:14:36.399 one, proven, 00:14:37.420 --> 00:14:39.879 and two, that it is time-tested, right? 00:14:40.340 --> 00:14:41.040 So we know that, 00:14:41.200 --> 00:14:41.820 have that phrase, 00:14:41.920 --> 00:14:42.960 proven and time-tested. 00:14:43.340 --> 00:14:45.680 First, they mention that it has proven benefits. 00:14:46.360 --> 00:14:48.740 This is the page with all the raving reviews 00:14:48.740 --> 00:14:49.600 and endorsements. 00:14:50.259 --> 00:14:50.940 And then second, 00:14:51.080 --> 00:14:52.600 they mention that it's time-tested, 00:14:52.960 --> 00:14:54.600 meaning it has been around for a while, 00:14:54.600 --> 00:14:56.620 it has outlasted its competition, 00:14:56.860 --> 00:14:59.360 it has demonstrated staying power, 00:15:00.060 --> 00:15:01.960 it's been around longer than its rivals, 00:15:02.100 --> 00:15:04.420 which means it has experienced a thing or two more, 00:15:04.600 --> 00:15:06.779 which makes it more reliable or trustworthy. 00:15:08.000 --> 00:15:09.960 And this is why people often prefer 00:15:09.960 --> 00:15:11.759 well-established brands, right, 00:15:11.879 --> 00:15:13.220 that have been around for a while. 00:15:14.019 --> 00:15:15.279 And that's why they say, 00:15:15.379 --> 00:15:17.300 well, we've been around since 1928 00:15:17.300 --> 00:15:19.720 or established in 1942 and so on. 00:15:20.560 --> 00:15:22.420 And similarly, in her self-introduction, 00:15:22.419 --> 00:15:25.519 woman wisdom tells us of her proven benefits 00:15:25.519 --> 00:15:27.459 in verses 12 to 21, 00:15:27.679 --> 00:15:29.799 and then about her ancient origin 00:15:29.799 --> 00:15:32.199 in verses 22 to 31. 00:15:33.299 --> 00:15:35.399 First, she tells us of her proven benefits. 00:15:36.139 --> 00:15:38.419 The second person pronouns of verses 4 to 11 00:15:38.419 --> 00:15:40.620 give way to the first person pronouns here, 00:15:41.159 --> 00:15:43.759 because wisdom is not talking for herself. 00:15:43.919 --> 00:15:45.019 She says in verse 12, 00:15:45.139 --> 00:15:48.179 I, wisdom, dwell with prudence, 00:15:48.599 --> 00:15:51.019 and I find knowledge and discretion. 00:15:51.019 --> 00:15:53.699 Her name is wisdom. 00:15:54.379 --> 00:15:57.279 Wisdom, this word is used in other parts of Scripture 00:15:57.279 --> 00:16:00.899 to refer to an expertise or a skill in something, 00:16:01.379 --> 00:16:06.139 such as arts, war, judgeship, or governance. 00:16:06.659 --> 00:16:08.740 So it's not merely bookish, 00:16:08.879 --> 00:16:10.179 kind of theoretical knowledge, 00:16:10.299 --> 00:16:11.759 it's applied knowledge. 00:16:12.079 --> 00:16:14.340 That's what wisdom is in Scripture. 00:16:15.039 --> 00:16:18.240 And wisdom, as it is used here in the book of Proverbs, 00:16:18.240 --> 00:16:19.560 is about life. 00:16:20.180 --> 00:16:22.419 So it's expertise in life. 00:16:22.539 --> 00:16:25.460 It's skill for living in proper relationship 00:16:25.460 --> 00:16:26.980 with God and with the world. 00:16:28.340 --> 00:16:31.080 It's expertise that enables one 00:16:31.080 --> 00:16:33.480 to navigate the complexities and difficulties 00:16:33.480 --> 00:16:35.299 and the realities of life. 00:16:36.639 --> 00:16:39.240 And woman wisdom discloses her close consorts. 00:16:40.039 --> 00:16:41.180 She says she dwells with, 00:16:41.399 --> 00:16:42.879 is accompanied by prudence, 00:16:42.879 --> 00:16:44.639 knowledge and discretion. 00:16:45.600 --> 00:16:47.480 Prudence is shrewdness, 00:16:47.559 --> 00:16:49.379 which is the corrective to naivete. 00:16:50.039 --> 00:16:52.100 Knowledge is the building block of wisdom. 00:16:52.379 --> 00:16:54.200 It's you apply the knowledge 00:16:54.200 --> 00:16:55.360 in order to have wisdom. 00:16:55.879 --> 00:16:57.340 It's the corrective to ignorance. 00:16:58.100 --> 00:17:00.460 Discretion is the quality of being careful 00:17:00.460 --> 00:17:01.620 or considerate. 00:17:02.120 --> 00:17:04.079 It's the corrective to carelessness 00:17:04.079 --> 00:17:05.660 or impulsiveness. 00:17:05.660 --> 00:17:09.000 And so she continues her introduction 00:17:09.000 --> 00:17:09.980 in verse 13 this way, 00:17:10.100 --> 00:17:12.160 The fear of the Lord is hatred of evil 00:17:12.160 --> 00:17:13.960 and pride and arrogance 00:17:13.960 --> 00:17:14.940 and the way of evil 00:17:14.940 --> 00:17:16.940 and perverted speech I hate. 00:17:17.700 --> 00:17:19.840 This echoes the thesis statement 00:17:19.840 --> 00:17:20.860 of the book of Proverbs 00:17:20.860 --> 00:17:22.360 found in chapter 1, verse 7, 00:17:22.820 --> 00:17:24.120 that the fear of the Lord 00:17:24.120 --> 00:17:26.019 is the beginning of knowledge. 00:17:26.900 --> 00:17:27.880 And the fear of the Lord 00:17:27.880 --> 00:17:29.440 is another name for wisdom. 00:17:30.340 --> 00:17:31.920 Notice the structure of verse 13. 00:17:32.040 --> 00:17:34.400 It tells us about two things 00:17:34.400 --> 00:17:35.080 that are hated. 00:17:35.660 --> 00:17:38.300 Evil and then pride and arrogance. 00:17:39.380 --> 00:17:41.240 Wisdom tells us that she herself 00:17:41.240 --> 00:17:43.160 hates pride and arrogance 00:17:43.160 --> 00:17:45.100 in the way of evil and perverted speech. 00:17:45.700 --> 00:17:46.880 And she tells us that 00:17:46.880 --> 00:17:47.900 the fear of the Lord 00:17:47.900 --> 00:17:49.540 is hatred of evil. 00:17:50.080 --> 00:17:50.880 So structurally, 00:17:51.060 --> 00:17:52.400 wisdom and fear of the Lord 00:17:52.400 --> 00:17:53.160 are parallel, 00:17:53.400 --> 00:17:55.420 which suggests that to have wisdom 00:17:55.420 --> 00:17:57.660 is to fear the Lord. 00:17:58.660 --> 00:18:00.279 So that means you can't have wisdom 00:18:00.279 --> 00:18:03.220 apart from relating to God 00:18:03.220 --> 00:18:04.060 in a proper way. 00:18:04.059 --> 00:18:06.379 To fear the Lord 00:18:06.379 --> 00:18:07.500 is to relate to Him 00:18:07.500 --> 00:18:09.079 and respond to Him 00:18:09.079 --> 00:18:10.240 with reverent obedience 00:18:10.240 --> 00:18:12.019 and humble submission. 00:18:13.079 --> 00:18:15.119 Proverbs chapter 15, verse 33 00:18:15.119 --> 00:18:15.980 confirms this. 00:18:16.119 --> 00:18:16.319 It says, 00:18:16.440 --> 00:18:17.399 The fear of the Lord 00:18:17.399 --> 00:18:19.579 is instruction in wisdom 00:18:19.579 --> 00:18:22.899 and humility comes before honor. 00:18:22.899 --> 00:18:25.599 This is why wisdom 00:18:25.599 --> 00:18:27.500 militates against pride. 00:18:28.599 --> 00:18:30.899 A human being cannot simultaneously 00:18:31.740 --> 00:18:33.240 have a high view of God 00:18:33.240 --> 00:18:35.039 and a high view of himself. 00:18:35.039 --> 00:18:38.759 Just as one can only take 00:18:38.759 --> 00:18:39.920 in the soaring height 00:18:39.920 --> 00:18:42.059 and the grandeur of a mountain 00:18:42.059 --> 00:18:43.019 by looking up, 00:18:44.059 --> 00:18:47.079 we cannot rightly appreciate God 00:18:47.079 --> 00:18:48.119 and relate to God 00:18:48.119 --> 00:18:52.240 unless we assume a position of lowliness, 00:18:52.740 --> 00:18:53.940 a posture of humility, 00:18:54.220 --> 00:18:56.399 and look up to Him in submission. 00:18:57.119 --> 00:18:59.680 To be wise is to fear the Lord. 00:18:59.680 --> 00:19:02.299 And woman wisdom 00:19:02.299 --> 00:19:03.960 continues to demonstrate our value 00:19:03.960 --> 00:19:04.880 by telling us about 00:19:04.880 --> 00:19:05.720 our proven benefits 00:19:05.720 --> 00:19:07.140 in verses 14 to 16. 00:19:07.759 --> 00:19:08.500 I have counsel 00:19:08.500 --> 00:19:09.519 and sound wisdom. 00:19:09.840 --> 00:19:10.660 I have insight. 00:19:10.779 --> 00:19:11.420 I have strength. 00:19:11.920 --> 00:19:13.140 By me, kings reign 00:19:13.140 --> 00:19:14.060 and rulers decree 00:19:14.060 --> 00:19:14.759 what is just. 00:19:15.100 --> 00:19:16.519 By me, princes rule 00:19:16.519 --> 00:19:17.259 and nobles 00:19:17.259 --> 00:19:18.700 all who govern justly. 00:19:20.900 --> 00:19:22.500 It's by woman wisdom 00:19:22.500 --> 00:19:24.019 that kings, rulers, 00:19:24.240 --> 00:19:25.560 princes and nobles govern. 00:19:25.559 --> 00:19:28.079 During this pandemic, 00:19:28.319 --> 00:19:29.700 I have developed 00:19:29.700 --> 00:19:30.859 a newfound respect 00:19:30.859 --> 00:19:32.559 for our governing authorities 00:19:32.559 --> 00:19:36.619 because even as a pastor 00:19:36.619 --> 00:19:38.579 of a small local church, 00:19:38.759 --> 00:19:39.879 I've had to wrestle 00:19:39.879 --> 00:19:41.519 with both the spiritual 00:19:41.519 --> 00:19:43.079 and physical consequences 00:19:43.079 --> 00:19:44.019 of every decision 00:19:44.019 --> 00:19:45.299 that I, along with the eldership, 00:19:45.319 --> 00:19:45.859 have to make 00:19:45.859 --> 00:19:48.960 to consider how certain words 00:19:48.960 --> 00:19:49.759 and phrases 00:19:49.759 --> 00:19:50.759 are going to land 00:19:50.759 --> 00:19:52.480 on some people differently, 00:19:53.319 --> 00:19:55.059 to anticipate cheers, 00:19:55.059 --> 00:19:56.579 both cheers and jeers 00:19:56.579 --> 00:19:58.200 from different sectors 00:19:58.200 --> 00:19:58.919 of people 00:19:58.919 --> 00:19:59.819 with various views 00:19:59.819 --> 00:20:00.399 and opinions, 00:20:01.159 --> 00:20:01.980 different political, 00:20:02.200 --> 00:20:02.619 theological, 00:20:02.899 --> 00:20:04.019 and spiritual sides 00:20:04.019 --> 00:20:04.619 of the spectrum. 00:20:05.539 --> 00:20:06.279 I've had to make 00:20:06.279 --> 00:20:07.639 many decisions on the fly 00:20:07.639 --> 00:20:08.379 from a place 00:20:08.379 --> 00:20:09.179 of uncertainty 00:20:09.179 --> 00:20:11.159 but nevertheless 00:20:11.159 --> 00:20:12.279 have to live 00:20:12.279 --> 00:20:13.720 with the certain consequences 00:20:13.720 --> 00:20:14.899 of those decisions. 00:20:16.019 --> 00:20:17.980 And that's the case for me 00:20:17.980 --> 00:20:19.399 who's just a small 00:20:19.399 --> 00:20:20.339 local church pastor. 00:20:21.259 --> 00:20:22.460 I can't imagine 00:20:22.460 --> 00:20:23.720 being a mega church pastor 00:20:23.720 --> 00:20:24.900 with thousands of people 00:20:24.900 --> 00:20:25.500 in their church. 00:20:27.920 --> 00:20:28.980 I can't imagine 00:20:28.980 --> 00:20:29.740 being a president 00:20:29.740 --> 00:20:31.559 with billions of people 00:20:31.559 --> 00:20:32.980 under his authority. 00:20:33.740 --> 00:20:35.640 I'm sure the complexities 00:20:35.640 --> 00:20:36.779 and weight of things 00:20:36.779 --> 00:20:37.980 that they deal with 00:20:37.980 --> 00:20:39.579 are orders of magnitude 00:20:39.579 --> 00:20:40.819 greater than what I face. 00:20:41.759 --> 00:20:42.720 And that requires 00:20:42.720 --> 00:20:44.160 great wisdom. 00:20:45.519 --> 00:20:46.380 And so woman wisdom 00:20:46.380 --> 00:20:47.059 tells us, 00:20:47.740 --> 00:20:48.980 you know how these rulers 00:20:48.980 --> 00:20:50.019 do what they do. 00:20:50.019 --> 00:20:52.500 Not the ones 00:20:52.500 --> 00:20:53.200 that do it badly 00:20:53.200 --> 00:20:53.879 but ones that 00:20:53.879 --> 00:20:54.859 who do it with justice. 00:20:56.160 --> 00:20:56.619 Do you know 00:20:56.619 --> 00:20:57.660 what enables them 00:20:57.660 --> 00:20:59.299 to govern justly? 00:21:00.200 --> 00:21:00.639 She says, 00:21:00.720 --> 00:21:01.759 by me. 00:21:03.420 --> 00:21:05.139 All those who rule 00:21:05.139 --> 00:21:06.299 and govern justly, 00:21:06.359 --> 00:21:08.000 they govern by me, 00:21:08.139 --> 00:21:08.960 says Lady Wisdom. 00:21:10.960 --> 00:21:12.559 And woman wisdom's words 00:21:12.559 --> 00:21:13.400 become increasingly 00:21:13.400 --> 00:21:14.660 personally and intimate 00:21:14.660 --> 00:21:15.619 in verse 17. 00:21:15.920 --> 00:21:16.700 Personally and intimate 00:21:16.700 --> 00:21:17.319 in verse 17. 00:21:17.420 --> 00:21:19.019 I love those who love me 00:21:19.019 --> 00:21:20.660 and those who seek me 00:21:20.660 --> 00:21:22.059 diligently find me. 00:21:22.139 --> 00:21:22.819 This is the language 00:21:22.819 --> 00:21:23.740 of courtship 00:21:23.740 --> 00:21:24.759 and covenant. 00:21:25.460 --> 00:21:25.940 Woman wisdom 00:21:25.940 --> 00:21:27.519 is inviting her suitors 00:21:27.519 --> 00:21:27.980 to come. 00:21:28.960 --> 00:21:29.519 Because already 00:21:29.519 --> 00:21:30.599 in Proverbs chapter 4 00:21:30.599 --> 00:21:32.160 we were told, 00:21:32.460 --> 00:21:33.700 do not forsake her 00:21:33.700 --> 00:21:34.859 and she will keep you. 00:21:35.139 --> 00:21:35.740 Love her 00:21:35.740 --> 00:21:37.279 and she will guard you. 00:21:37.339 --> 00:21:38.700 We are to set our love, 00:21:38.839 --> 00:21:40.059 our loyal affections 00:21:40.059 --> 00:21:41.500 on the wisdom of God. 00:21:43.099 --> 00:21:44.779 And verses 18 to 21 00:21:44.779 --> 00:21:45.720 give us the reason 00:21:45.720 --> 00:21:47.240 why we should do this. 00:21:48.079 --> 00:21:48.339 It says, 00:21:48.339 --> 00:21:49.500 Riches and honor 00:21:49.500 --> 00:21:50.319 are with me, 00:21:50.839 --> 00:21:51.720 enduring wealth 00:21:51.720 --> 00:21:52.279 and righteousness. 00:21:52.859 --> 00:21:54.299 My fruit is better 00:21:54.299 --> 00:21:54.919 than gold, 00:21:55.059 --> 00:21:56.359 even fine gold, 00:21:56.519 --> 00:21:57.419 and my yield 00:21:57.419 --> 00:21:58.339 than choice silver. 00:21:58.899 --> 00:22:00.179 I walk in the way 00:22:00.179 --> 00:22:00.839 of righteousness 00:22:00.839 --> 00:22:01.579 in the paths 00:22:01.579 --> 00:22:02.139 of justice, 00:22:02.339 --> 00:22:03.299 granting an inheritance 00:22:03.299 --> 00:22:04.379 to those who love me 00:22:04.379 --> 00:22:06.079 and filling their treasuries. 00:22:07.240 --> 00:22:08.720 Earlier in verse 10, 00:22:09.059 --> 00:22:10.299 woman wisdom said, 00:22:10.779 --> 00:22:11.699 take my instruction 00:22:11.699 --> 00:22:13.019 instead of silver 00:22:13.019 --> 00:22:14.559 in knowledge 00:22:14.559 --> 00:22:15.980 rather than choice gold. 00:22:15.980 --> 00:22:17.539 But then here 00:22:17.539 --> 00:22:18.860 she promises riches 00:22:18.860 --> 00:22:19.680 and wealth 00:22:19.680 --> 00:22:21.779 to those who choose her. 00:22:23.420 --> 00:22:24.019 Paradoxically, 00:22:24.240 --> 00:22:26.400 it is by pursuing wisdom 00:22:26.400 --> 00:22:28.000 instead of riches 00:22:28.000 --> 00:22:30.200 that one acquires riches 00:22:30.200 --> 00:22:31.920 as the reward of wisdom. 00:22:32.480 --> 00:22:34.059 If you make wisdom 00:22:34.059 --> 00:22:35.200 your highest aim, 00:22:35.319 --> 00:22:36.480 it enriches you. 00:22:36.779 --> 00:22:38.039 But if you make wealth 00:22:38.039 --> 00:22:39.420 your highest aim, 00:22:39.500 --> 00:22:40.460 it corrupts you. 00:22:40.460 --> 00:22:42.279 This is because 00:22:42.279 --> 00:22:43.340 God has so ordered 00:22:43.340 --> 00:22:43.860 the world 00:22:43.860 --> 00:22:45.000 that wise living 00:22:45.000 --> 00:22:46.519 and honest hard work 00:22:46.519 --> 00:22:47.400 ordinarily, 00:22:48.079 --> 00:22:48.980 generally speaking, 00:22:49.100 --> 00:22:50.360 produces prosperity. 00:22:51.140 --> 00:22:52.000 So even in English, 00:22:52.100 --> 00:22:53.220 we have proverbial sayings 00:22:53.220 --> 00:22:54.600 like honesty pays 00:22:54.600 --> 00:22:56.620 or cheats never prosper. 00:22:57.319 --> 00:22:57.900 Of course, 00:22:58.039 --> 00:22:58.559 these sayings 00:22:58.559 --> 00:22:59.500 admit exceptions, 00:22:59.840 --> 00:23:00.880 but these exceptions 00:23:00.880 --> 00:23:02.279 prove the general 00:23:02.279 --> 00:23:03.640 applicability of the rule. 00:23:03.640 --> 00:23:06.200 But woman wisdom 00:23:06.200 --> 00:23:07.240 isn't merely 00:23:07.240 --> 00:23:08.880 promising material wealth 00:23:08.880 --> 00:23:10.060 since she says 00:23:10.060 --> 00:23:11.400 in verses 19 to 20, 00:23:11.820 --> 00:23:13.180 my fruit is better 00:23:13.180 --> 00:23:13.820 than gold, 00:23:14.460 --> 00:23:15.520 even fine gold, 00:23:15.660 --> 00:23:16.300 and my yield 00:23:16.300 --> 00:23:17.360 than choice silver. 00:23:18.000 --> 00:23:18.960 I walk in the way 00:23:18.960 --> 00:23:19.820 of righteousness 00:23:19.820 --> 00:23:20.820 in the path 00:23:20.820 --> 00:23:21.700 of justice. 00:23:22.540 --> 00:23:23.120 Ultimately, 00:23:23.280 --> 00:23:23.880 she promises 00:23:23.880 --> 00:23:25.200 something far better, 00:23:26.180 --> 00:23:26.700 righteousness. 00:23:28.020 --> 00:23:29.020 And in verse 35, 00:23:29.100 --> 00:23:29.420 she says, 00:23:29.520 --> 00:23:30.660 for whoever finds me 00:23:30.660 --> 00:23:31.640 finds life 00:23:31.640 --> 00:23:33.500 and obtains favor 00:23:33.500 --> 00:23:34.380 from the Lord. 00:23:35.360 --> 00:23:36.160 Wisdom promises 00:23:36.160 --> 00:23:37.320 divine favor 00:23:37.320 --> 00:23:38.920 and life itself. 00:23:39.720 --> 00:23:40.240 And these are 00:23:40.240 --> 00:23:41.360 the proven benefits 00:23:41.360 --> 00:23:43.080 of wisdom. 00:23:44.060 --> 00:23:45.259 And in verses 00:23:45.259 --> 00:23:46.720 22 to 31, 00:23:47.300 --> 00:23:48.960 then woman wisdom 00:23:48.960 --> 00:23:49.860 further communicates 00:23:49.860 --> 00:23:50.800 her worth 00:23:50.800 --> 00:23:51.800 by speaking 00:23:51.800 --> 00:23:52.700 of her ancient 00:23:52.700 --> 00:23:54.259 and divine origin. 00:23:55.120 --> 00:23:56.160 She says in verses 00:23:56.160 --> 00:23:57.220 22 to 23, 00:23:57.460 --> 00:23:59.220 the Lord possessed me 00:23:59.220 --> 00:23:59.820 at the beginning 00:23:59.820 --> 00:24:00.440 of His work, 00:24:00.440 --> 00:24:01.900 the first of His acts 00:24:01.900 --> 00:24:02.279 of old. 00:24:02.740 --> 00:24:03.440 Ages ago, 00:24:03.519 --> 00:24:04.180 I was set up 00:24:04.180 --> 00:24:04.840 at the first 00:24:04.840 --> 00:24:05.740 before the beginning 00:24:05.740 --> 00:24:06.440 of the earth. 00:24:07.240 --> 00:24:08.120 If you're using 00:24:08.120 --> 00:24:09.299 the English standard version, 00:24:09.400 --> 00:24:10.120 there's a footnote 00:24:10.120 --> 00:24:10.860 next to the word 00:24:10.860 --> 00:24:11.360 possessed, 00:24:12.000 --> 00:24:12.580 which says 00:24:12.580 --> 00:24:13.820 that the word possessed 00:24:13.820 --> 00:24:14.920 can be rendered 00:24:14.920 --> 00:24:16.160 fathered 00:24:16.160 --> 00:24:17.440 or begot. 00:24:18.019 --> 00:24:19.180 So that's because 00:24:19.180 --> 00:24:20.299 the Hebrew word 00:24:20.299 --> 00:24:21.200 behind the translation 00:24:21.200 --> 00:24:22.180 can mean a wide 00:24:22.180 --> 00:24:22.900 range of things, 00:24:22.980 --> 00:24:24.259 just like many English words 00:24:24.259 --> 00:24:25.259 have a wide range 00:24:25.259 --> 00:24:25.620 of meanings. 00:24:26.240 --> 00:24:26.840 And this means 00:24:26.840 --> 00:24:27.519 that we need to rely 00:24:27.519 --> 00:24:28.279 on the context 00:24:28.279 --> 00:24:29.320 to determine its meaning. 00:24:29.319 --> 00:24:30.399 And in certain 00:24:30.399 --> 00:24:31.599 specific contexts, 00:24:31.839 --> 00:24:32.799 like Genesis 4, 00:24:32.919 --> 00:24:33.500 verse 1, 00:24:33.720 --> 00:24:34.720 Deuteronomy 32, 00:24:34.919 --> 00:24:35.500 verse 6, 00:24:36.139 --> 00:24:37.039 Psalm 139, 00:24:37.099 --> 00:24:37.679 verse 13, 00:24:38.059 --> 00:24:38.980 this word that's used 00:24:38.980 --> 00:24:40.319 here clearly refers 00:24:40.319 --> 00:24:41.419 to conceiving 00:24:41.419 --> 00:24:43.079 or begetting a child. 00:24:44.019 --> 00:24:44.480 And I think 00:24:44.480 --> 00:24:45.319 that's what it means 00:24:45.319 --> 00:24:45.599 here. 00:24:46.000 --> 00:24:46.619 It's confirmed 00:24:46.619 --> 00:24:48.279 by verses 24 to 25, 00:24:48.379 --> 00:24:48.879 which say, 00:24:49.279 --> 00:24:50.179 When there were 00:24:50.179 --> 00:24:51.059 no depths, 00:24:51.259 --> 00:24:52.779 I was brought forth. 00:24:53.700 --> 00:24:54.879 Before the hills, 00:24:55.039 --> 00:24:56.559 I was brought forth. 00:24:56.659 --> 00:24:57.839 The word brought forth 00:24:57.839 --> 00:24:58.720 repeated twice. 00:24:58.879 --> 00:24:59.899 There literally means 00:24:59.899 --> 00:25:00.859 birthed. 00:25:01.339 --> 00:25:02.519 So it's continuing 00:25:02.519 --> 00:25:03.319 that metaphor 00:25:03.319 --> 00:25:04.319 of begetting, 00:25:04.859 --> 00:25:05.419 fathering. 00:25:07.059 --> 00:25:07.939 So verse 23, 00:25:08.059 --> 00:25:08.279 again, 00:25:08.379 --> 00:25:08.539 says, 00:25:08.659 --> 00:25:10.419 Ages ago I was set up. 00:25:10.599 --> 00:25:11.639 That literally means 00:25:11.639 --> 00:25:12.099 woven. 00:25:12.980 --> 00:25:13.799 And these verses 00:25:13.799 --> 00:25:15.000 then have a close parallel 00:25:15.000 --> 00:25:16.319 in Psalm 139, 00:25:16.379 --> 00:25:17.019 verse 13. 00:25:17.579 --> 00:25:18.619 For you formed 00:25:18.619 --> 00:25:20.119 my inward parts, 00:25:20.279 --> 00:25:21.259 you wove me 00:25:21.259 --> 00:25:22.959 in my mother's womb. 00:25:24.059 --> 00:25:25.119 This is all referring 00:25:25.119 --> 00:25:26.079 to the same idea. 00:25:26.079 --> 00:25:28.039 The Bible has no hint 00:25:28.039 --> 00:25:28.839 whatsoever 00:25:28.839 --> 00:25:30.659 of the pagan ideas 00:25:30.659 --> 00:25:32.359 of gods procreating 00:25:32.359 --> 00:25:33.199 with one another 00:25:33.199 --> 00:25:34.220 and with other humans 00:25:34.220 --> 00:25:35.619 to bring about 00:25:35.619 --> 00:25:36.279 other gods 00:25:36.279 --> 00:25:36.960 and demigods. 00:25:37.039 --> 00:25:37.779 It has no hint 00:25:37.779 --> 00:25:38.500 of that at all. 00:25:39.059 --> 00:25:39.480 However, 00:25:39.639 --> 00:25:40.740 it uses the language 00:25:40.740 --> 00:25:41.679 of begetting here 00:25:41.679 --> 00:25:42.740 to convey the fact 00:25:42.740 --> 00:25:43.379 that wisdom 00:25:43.379 --> 00:25:44.960 has a divine origin. 00:25:45.819 --> 00:25:46.619 She was birthed 00:25:46.619 --> 00:25:47.220 from God. 00:25:48.059 --> 00:25:49.159 And this makes her 00:25:49.159 --> 00:25:50.699 qualitatively different 00:25:50.699 --> 00:25:52.199 from the created world. 00:25:53.439 --> 00:25:53.899 The world, 00:25:53.900 --> 00:25:55.300 the earth was made, 00:25:55.380 --> 00:25:56.460 it says in verse 26, 00:25:56.820 --> 00:25:58.960 but wisdom was begotten. 00:26:00.060 --> 00:26:01.540 When we make something, 00:26:01.960 --> 00:26:02.880 whether it's a meal 00:26:02.880 --> 00:26:04.519 or furniture 00:26:04.519 --> 00:26:05.300 or webpage 00:26:05.300 --> 00:26:06.820 or even a sculpture 00:26:06.820 --> 00:26:08.360 that resembles us, 00:26:08.500 --> 00:26:09.460 we make something 00:26:09.460 --> 00:26:10.300 that is fundamentally 00:26:10.300 --> 00:26:11.759 different from us. 00:26:12.040 --> 00:26:13.180 We make things 00:26:13.180 --> 00:26:13.960 that do not share 00:26:13.960 --> 00:26:14.480 our nature. 00:26:15.100 --> 00:26:16.440 But when you beget something, 00:26:16.780 --> 00:26:17.980 you beget something 00:26:17.980 --> 00:26:19.000 that fundamentally 00:26:19.000 --> 00:26:20.280 shares your nature. 00:26:20.860 --> 00:26:22.100 Dogs beget dogs, 00:26:22.240 --> 00:26:22.380 right? 00:26:22.500 --> 00:26:23.560 Cats beget cats. 00:26:23.559 --> 00:26:24.859 and humans 00:26:24.859 --> 00:26:25.779 beget humans. 00:26:26.819 --> 00:26:27.720 And so it's significant 00:26:27.720 --> 00:26:28.519 that wisdom 00:26:28.519 --> 00:26:29.519 is begotten, 00:26:29.899 --> 00:26:30.819 not created. 00:26:32.179 --> 00:26:32.779 And as such, 00:26:32.879 --> 00:26:33.759 she predates 00:26:33.759 --> 00:26:34.879 all love creation. 00:26:35.460 --> 00:26:36.519 The Lord fathered her 00:26:36.519 --> 00:26:37.220 at the beginning 00:26:37.220 --> 00:26:37.960 of His work, 00:26:38.559 --> 00:26:39.319 the first 00:26:39.319 --> 00:26:40.319 of His acts of old. 00:26:40.919 --> 00:26:41.679 Ages ago, 00:26:41.759 --> 00:26:42.419 she was woven 00:26:42.419 --> 00:26:43.259 at the first 00:26:43.259 --> 00:26:44.539 before the beginning 00:26:44.539 --> 00:26:45.119 of the earth. 00:26:45.679 --> 00:26:46.399 And she continues 00:26:46.399 --> 00:26:47.919 in verses 24 to 26, 00:26:48.039 --> 00:26:49.440 when there were no depths 00:26:49.440 --> 00:26:50.299 I was brought forth, 00:26:50.639 --> 00:26:51.819 when there were no springs 00:26:51.819 --> 00:26:52.940 abounding with water, 00:26:52.940 --> 00:26:54.380 before the mountains 00:26:54.380 --> 00:26:55.160 had been shaped, 00:26:55.160 --> 00:26:56.320 before the hills 00:26:56.320 --> 00:26:57.620 I was brought forth, 00:26:58.019 --> 00:26:59.340 before He had made 00:26:59.340 --> 00:26:59.799 the earth 00:26:59.799 --> 00:27:00.779 with its fields, 00:27:01.120 --> 00:27:01.740 or the first 00:27:01.740 --> 00:27:02.539 of the dust 00:27:02.539 --> 00:27:03.620 of the world. 00:27:04.600 --> 00:27:05.960 Before the sea depths 00:27:05.960 --> 00:27:06.920 below were made, 00:27:07.019 --> 00:27:07.860 before the mountains 00:27:07.860 --> 00:27:09.059 up above were made, 00:27:09.140 --> 00:27:10.360 before anything on earth 00:27:10.360 --> 00:27:11.120 between the two 00:27:11.120 --> 00:27:11.600 were made, 00:27:12.120 --> 00:27:13.400 before even the first 00:27:13.400 --> 00:27:14.100 of the dust 00:27:14.100 --> 00:27:14.539 of the world 00:27:14.539 --> 00:27:15.519 from which human beings 00:27:15.519 --> 00:27:16.019 were made, 00:27:17.120 --> 00:27:18.240 wisdom was there. 00:27:18.240 --> 00:27:21.019 So when we look 00:27:21.019 --> 00:27:21.660 at the earth, 00:27:21.900 --> 00:27:23.200 it looks as though 00:27:23.200 --> 00:27:24.299 the seas and the mountains 00:27:24.299 --> 00:27:25.259 had been there forever. 00:27:26.299 --> 00:27:26.620 And yet, 00:27:26.740 --> 00:27:28.440 even before they were made, 00:27:28.980 --> 00:27:30.059 wisdom was already 00:27:30.059 --> 00:27:31.279 begotten by God. 00:27:32.460 --> 00:27:33.420 And she not only 00:27:33.420 --> 00:27:34.680 predates all of creation, 00:27:34.859 --> 00:27:35.700 she was present 00:27:35.700 --> 00:27:36.940 for all of God's work 00:27:36.940 --> 00:27:37.480 in creation 00:27:37.480 --> 00:27:39.240 and even participated 00:27:39.240 --> 00:27:39.779 in it. 00:27:40.279 --> 00:27:42.099 She says in verses 27 to 31, 00:27:42.099 --> 00:27:43.219 When He established 00:27:43.219 --> 00:27:43.679 the heavens, 00:27:43.879 --> 00:27:45.000 I was there. 00:27:45.559 --> 00:27:46.879 When He drew a circle 00:27:46.879 --> 00:27:47.819 on the face of the deep, 00:27:47.879 --> 00:27:48.639 making the horizon. 00:27:48.939 --> 00:27:50.119 When He made firm 00:27:50.119 --> 00:27:51.019 the skies above. 00:27:51.199 --> 00:27:52.059 When He established 00:27:52.059 --> 00:27:53.339 the fountains of the deep. 00:27:53.639 --> 00:27:54.359 When He assigned 00:27:54.359 --> 00:27:55.459 to the sea its limits 00:27:55.459 --> 00:27:56.199 so that the waters 00:27:56.199 --> 00:27:57.099 might not transgress 00:27:57.099 --> 00:27:57.639 His command. 00:27:58.139 --> 00:27:59.059 When He marked out 00:27:59.059 --> 00:27:59.799 the foundations 00:27:59.799 --> 00:28:00.599 of the earth. 00:28:01.000 --> 00:28:02.859 Then I was beside Him 00:28:02.859 --> 00:28:04.939 like a master workman 00:28:04.939 --> 00:28:05.959 and I was daily 00:28:05.959 --> 00:28:06.579 His delight, 00:28:06.719 --> 00:28:08.139 rejoicing before Him always, 00:28:08.539 --> 00:28:09.319 rejoicing in His 00:28:09.319 --> 00:28:10.240 inhabited world 00:28:10.240 --> 00:28:11.159 and delighting in 00:28:11.159 --> 00:28:12.059 the children of man. 00:28:13.059 --> 00:28:14.439 When God established 00:28:14.439 --> 00:28:15.279 and separated 00:28:15.279 --> 00:28:15.980 and filled 00:28:15.980 --> 00:28:17.359 and ordered the cosmos, 00:28:17.779 --> 00:28:18.899 wisdom was right there 00:28:18.899 --> 00:28:19.539 beside Him. 00:28:20.099 --> 00:28:21.019 She emphasizes 00:28:21.019 --> 00:28:22.579 her participation in it 00:28:22.579 --> 00:28:23.000 by saying, 00:28:23.119 --> 00:28:23.759 I was there, 00:28:23.839 --> 00:28:24.939 I was beside Him. 00:28:25.559 --> 00:28:26.399 And this is confirmed 00:28:26.399 --> 00:28:27.759 by Proverbs 3, 00:28:27.859 --> 00:28:28.579 19 to 20, 00:28:28.659 --> 00:28:29.139 which says that 00:28:29.139 --> 00:28:29.480 Lord, 00:28:30.019 --> 00:28:31.079 by wisdom, 00:28:31.419 --> 00:28:32.359 founded the earth. 00:28:35.219 --> 00:28:35.519 And, 00:28:35.779 --> 00:28:39.519 this too, 00:28:39.619 --> 00:28:41.539 highlights wisdom's value. 00:28:41.539 --> 00:28:42.819 that's the point 00:28:42.819 --> 00:28:43.460 of this section. 00:28:44.339 --> 00:28:45.339 Because in the book 00:28:45.339 --> 00:28:46.039 of Proverbs, 00:28:46.420 --> 00:28:49.279 the elder is described 00:28:49.279 --> 00:28:50.519 as being superior 00:28:50.519 --> 00:28:51.299 to youth. 00:28:52.099 --> 00:28:53.039 And the reason why 00:28:53.039 --> 00:28:53.879 Proverbs describes 00:28:53.879 --> 00:28:54.720 the elders that way 00:28:54.720 --> 00:28:56.159 is because a longer life 00:28:56.159 --> 00:28:57.799 usually confers 00:28:57.799 --> 00:28:58.879 broader experiences 00:28:58.879 --> 00:29:01.180 and deeper understanding 00:29:01.180 --> 00:29:01.960 and learning. 00:29:01.960 --> 00:29:03.880 And that's why 00:29:03.880 --> 00:29:04.960 Proverbs 16, 00:29:05.140 --> 00:29:05.900 verse 31 says, 00:29:05.980 --> 00:29:07.279 gray hair is a crown 00:29:07.279 --> 00:29:07.779 of glory. 00:29:08.799 --> 00:29:10.000 Following that logic, 00:29:10.299 --> 00:29:11.000 woman wisdom 00:29:11.000 --> 00:29:12.539 should be heeded 00:29:12.539 --> 00:29:14.880 because she has been there 00:29:14.880 --> 00:29:16.400 from before the beginning 00:29:16.400 --> 00:29:17.180 of creation. 00:29:17.180 --> 00:29:19.460 She was there 00:29:19.460 --> 00:29:20.759 as a witness of, 00:29:20.880 --> 00:29:21.740 even participant 00:29:21.740 --> 00:29:22.820 of God's work 00:29:22.820 --> 00:29:23.720 in creation. 00:29:23.840 --> 00:29:24.420 She has seen 00:29:24.420 --> 00:29:26.420 all of human history 00:29:26.420 --> 00:29:26.960 unfold. 00:29:28.480 --> 00:29:29.740 So she has something 00:29:29.740 --> 00:29:30.960 that Job didn't have. 00:29:31.259 --> 00:29:31.980 If you remember 00:29:31.980 --> 00:29:33.519 in Job's encounter 00:29:33.519 --> 00:29:34.100 with God, 00:29:34.200 --> 00:29:35.200 in the book of Job, 00:29:35.299 --> 00:29:36.539 Job is complaining 00:29:36.539 --> 00:29:36.980 to God 00:29:36.980 --> 00:29:38.100 and accusing God 00:29:38.100 --> 00:29:39.460 of injustice 00:29:39.460 --> 00:29:41.539 because he, 00:29:41.700 --> 00:29:42.720 for as far as he can tell, 00:29:42.799 --> 00:29:43.560 was obedient, 00:29:43.799 --> 00:29:44.420 he was righteous, 00:29:44.420 --> 00:29:45.900 he was blameless 00:29:45.900 --> 00:29:47.940 and yet God allows him 00:29:47.940 --> 00:29:51.860 to undergo experience 00:29:51.860 --> 00:29:53.060 unimaginable suffering 00:29:53.060 --> 00:29:55.039 and he loses 00:29:55.039 --> 00:29:56.539 all of his prosperity, 00:29:56.740 --> 00:29:57.320 his crops 00:29:57.320 --> 00:30:00.420 and all of his progeny, 00:30:01.140 --> 00:30:02.180 his children as well. 00:30:02.960 --> 00:30:04.200 And so he accuses God, 00:30:04.320 --> 00:30:05.320 points his finger at God 00:30:05.320 --> 00:30:08.420 and Job thinks 00:30:08.420 --> 00:30:10.019 he is in the right 00:30:10.019 --> 00:30:10.720 when he does this 00:30:10.720 --> 00:30:12.840 but God finally answers him 00:30:12.840 --> 00:30:14.120 in Job chapter 38, 00:30:14.119 --> 00:30:15.059 verses 2-4 00:30:15.059 --> 00:30:16.339 with a simple question. 00:30:17.539 --> 00:30:18.419 Who is this 00:30:18.419 --> 00:30:20.299 that darkens counsel 00:30:20.299 --> 00:30:22.619 by words without knowledge? 00:30:24.179 --> 00:30:25.279 Where were you 00:30:25.279 --> 00:30:27.439 when I laid the foundation 00:30:27.439 --> 00:30:28.099 of the earth? 00:30:29.059 --> 00:30:29.639 Tell me 00:30:29.639 --> 00:30:31.039 if you have understanding. 00:30:32.539 --> 00:30:34.419 And once God recounts 00:30:34.419 --> 00:30:35.919 all his work of creation, 00:30:36.659 --> 00:30:38.179 Job backtracks 00:30:38.179 --> 00:30:39.959 and forfeits entirely 00:30:39.959 --> 00:30:41.379 his claim to answer 00:30:41.379 --> 00:30:42.459 back to God at all 00:30:42.460 --> 00:30:44.079 in Job chapter 42, 00:30:44.180 --> 00:30:44.720 verse 3, 00:30:45.400 --> 00:30:46.340 I have uttered, 00:30:46.340 --> 00:30:46.740 he says, 00:30:46.880 --> 00:30:47.579 I have uttered 00:30:47.579 --> 00:30:49.259 what I did not understand, 00:30:49.840 --> 00:30:51.680 things too wonderful for me 00:30:51.680 --> 00:30:53.640 which I did not know. 00:30:54.200 --> 00:30:55.519 I had heard of you 00:30:55.519 --> 00:30:57.120 by the hearing of the ear 00:30:57.120 --> 00:30:58.940 but now my eyes see you, 00:30:59.340 --> 00:31:00.940 therefore I despise myself 00:31:00.940 --> 00:31:03.340 and repent in dust and ashes. 00:31:05.019 --> 00:31:07.319 Job realizes at that moment, 00:31:07.319 --> 00:31:09.839 he understands that he 00:31:09.839 --> 00:31:14.319 has an infinitesimally small part 00:31:14.319 --> 00:31:16.119 of the created world. 00:31:16.819 --> 00:31:19.419 He understands so little 00:31:19.419 --> 00:31:21.259 and that his life 00:31:21.259 --> 00:31:23.599 is an infinitesimally small piece 00:31:23.599 --> 00:31:25.119 of the whole puzzle. 00:31:26.259 --> 00:31:27.480 And so he concedes 00:31:27.480 --> 00:31:28.700 that he was presumptuous 00:31:28.700 --> 00:31:30.279 to try to counsel God. 00:31:31.639 --> 00:31:33.179 Woman wisdom, however, 00:31:33.180 --> 00:31:35.500 is far superior to Job. 00:31:37.060 --> 00:31:38.560 She can answer that question 00:31:38.560 --> 00:31:38.980 and say, 00:31:39.140 --> 00:31:40.140 I was there 00:31:40.140 --> 00:31:42.500 when God laid the foundation 00:31:42.500 --> 00:31:43.180 of the earth. 00:31:44.660 --> 00:31:45.799 And for that reason, 00:31:45.860 --> 00:31:46.740 we ought to value 00:31:46.740 --> 00:31:48.220 and cherish her counsel 00:31:48.220 --> 00:31:49.259 because she has been 00:31:49.259 --> 00:31:49.920 through it all. 00:31:50.360 --> 00:31:51.640 She's been around the block. 00:31:53.160 --> 00:31:54.620 This is who she is 00:31:54.620 --> 00:31:55.779 and why we should cherish her, 00:31:55.840 --> 00:31:56.860 the introduction of wisdom. 00:31:58.060 --> 00:31:59.060 And after this, 00:31:59.160 --> 00:32:00.940 we see in verses 32 to 36, 00:32:00.940 --> 00:32:04.019 the invitation of wisdom. 00:32:04.740 --> 00:32:06.019 And like a nurturing mother, 00:32:06.140 --> 00:32:07.960 she addresses us as sons 00:32:07.960 --> 00:32:08.920 and encourages us 00:32:08.920 --> 00:32:09.820 to seek her favor 00:32:09.820 --> 00:32:10.680 and learn from her. 00:32:11.640 --> 00:32:13.160 And she goes back and forth 00:32:13.160 --> 00:32:14.360 between telling us to listen 00:32:14.360 --> 00:32:15.720 and the promising blessing 00:32:15.720 --> 00:32:17.160 in verses 32 to 34. 00:32:17.820 --> 00:32:19.980 Now, O sons, listen to me. 00:32:20.500 --> 00:32:21.400 Blessed are those 00:32:21.400 --> 00:32:22.299 who keep my ways. 00:32:22.779 --> 00:32:24.620 Hear instruction and be wise 00:32:24.620 --> 00:32:25.640 and do not neglect it. 00:32:25.960 --> 00:32:27.059 Blessed is the one 00:32:27.059 --> 00:32:28.240 who listens to me, 00:32:28.240 --> 00:32:31.019 watching daily at my gates, 00:32:31.259 --> 00:32:33.059 waiting beside my doors. 00:32:33.720 --> 00:32:34.880 Watching and waiting 00:32:34.880 --> 00:32:36.859 convey just eager anticipation. 00:32:37.620 --> 00:32:38.579 We are to be vigilant 00:32:38.579 --> 00:32:39.599 and diligent 00:32:39.599 --> 00:32:41.319 in our pursuit of wisdom, 00:32:42.039 --> 00:32:42.960 biding our time, 00:32:43.120 --> 00:32:44.720 waiting with bated breath, 00:32:45.099 --> 00:32:47.079 watching for her door to open 00:32:47.079 --> 00:32:48.120 in order to seize 00:32:48.120 --> 00:32:49.859 any and every opportunity 00:32:49.859 --> 00:32:51.480 to learn from wisdom. 00:32:52.819 --> 00:32:54.000 And in the same way, 00:32:54.519 --> 00:32:56.039 verses 30 to 31, 00:32:56.039 --> 00:32:59.139 wisdom was beside God constantly 00:32:59.139 --> 00:33:01.680 and was filled with delight daily, 00:33:02.359 --> 00:33:04.220 rejoicing before Him always. 00:33:04.659 --> 00:33:05.420 We are now told 00:33:05.420 --> 00:33:06.599 to emulate her example 00:33:06.599 --> 00:33:07.899 by watching daily 00:33:07.899 --> 00:33:09.339 at wisdom's gates, 00:33:09.859 --> 00:33:11.859 waiting beside her doors. 00:33:13.759 --> 00:33:15.859 And verses 35 to 36 00:33:15.859 --> 00:33:16.899 provide the reason 00:33:16.899 --> 00:33:17.779 why we should do this. 00:33:17.779 --> 00:33:19.339 For whoever finds me 00:33:19.339 --> 00:33:20.079 finds life 00:33:20.079 --> 00:33:21.480 and obtains favor 00:33:21.480 --> 00:33:22.159 from the Lord, 00:33:22.359 --> 00:33:24.180 but he who fails to find me 00:33:24.180 --> 00:33:25.440 injures himself, 00:33:25.440 --> 00:33:26.539 all who hate me 00:33:26.539 --> 00:33:27.759 love death. 00:33:28.960 --> 00:33:30.160 Finding wisdom 00:33:30.160 --> 00:33:31.840 leads to life 00:33:31.840 --> 00:33:33.620 because it comes 00:33:33.620 --> 00:33:34.360 with favor 00:33:34.360 --> 00:33:35.000 from the Lord. 00:33:35.940 --> 00:33:36.680 In contrast, 00:33:36.820 --> 00:33:37.980 the failure to find wisdom 00:33:37.980 --> 00:33:38.860 leads to injury 00:33:38.860 --> 00:33:39.779 and death. 00:33:41.059 --> 00:33:41.580 This is 00:33:41.580 --> 00:33:43.740 an incredible promise 00:33:43.740 --> 00:33:45.759 and a striking portrait 00:33:45.759 --> 00:33:47.180 of woman wisdom 00:33:47.180 --> 00:33:49.100 who represents 00:33:49.100 --> 00:33:49.840 the wisdom 00:33:49.840 --> 00:33:50.680 of God's Word. 00:33:51.500 --> 00:33:52.299 If we heed 00:33:52.299 --> 00:33:53.299 the wisdom of God 00:33:53.299 --> 00:33:54.059 revealed to us 00:33:54.059 --> 00:33:54.940 in the book of Proverbs, 00:33:54.940 --> 00:33:55.519 it's saying that 00:33:55.519 --> 00:33:56.180 it will impart 00:33:56.180 --> 00:33:57.340 life to us. 00:33:58.140 --> 00:33:59.320 But this promise 00:33:59.320 --> 00:34:00.120 and portrait 00:34:00.120 --> 00:34:00.960 of woman wisdom 00:34:00.960 --> 00:34:02.880 goes beyond this book 00:34:02.880 --> 00:34:04.759 and points to a person. 00:34:06.700 --> 00:34:07.920 Wisdom described herself 00:34:07.920 --> 00:34:08.840 this way in verse 14. 00:34:08.920 --> 00:34:09.500 I have counsel 00:34:09.500 --> 00:34:10.400 and sound wisdom. 00:34:10.519 --> 00:34:11.139 I have insight. 00:34:11.260 --> 00:34:12.000 I have strength. 00:34:12.460 --> 00:34:14.579 These four exact attributes 00:34:14.579 --> 00:34:15.619 are attributed 00:34:15.619 --> 00:34:16.720 to God Himself 00:34:16.720 --> 00:34:18.280 in Job chapter 12 00:34:18.280 --> 00:34:18.960 verse 13. 00:34:19.519 --> 00:34:19.840 It says, 00:34:19.840 --> 00:34:24.960 Not only this, 00:34:25.079 --> 00:34:26.320 wisdom describes herself 00:34:26.320 --> 00:34:27.700 as fathered by God, 00:34:28.160 --> 00:34:29.120 begotten by Him 00:34:29.120 --> 00:34:30.579 verses 22 to 25, 00:34:30.880 --> 00:34:32.360 existing from before 00:34:32.360 --> 00:34:33.660 the creation of the cosmos. 00:34:34.740 --> 00:34:34.960 And so, 00:34:35.079 --> 00:34:36.000 this depiction 00:34:36.000 --> 00:34:36.840 of woman wisdom 00:34:36.840 --> 00:34:37.460 in Proverbs 00:34:37.460 --> 00:34:38.440 points to 00:34:38.440 --> 00:34:39.420 and is ultimately 00:34:39.420 --> 00:34:40.400 fulfilled by 00:34:40.400 --> 00:34:41.280 the eternal 00:34:41.280 --> 00:34:42.320 Son of God, 00:34:43.300 --> 00:34:44.100 Jesus Christ, 00:34:44.500 --> 00:34:45.380 who is described 00:34:45.380 --> 00:34:46.960 in 1 Corinthians 1.24 00:34:46.960 --> 00:34:48.260 as the wisdom of God, 00:34:48.260 --> 00:34:49.480 who is described 00:34:49.480 --> 00:34:51.760 in Hebrews 1.5 00:34:51.760 --> 00:34:53.200 Hebrews 5.5 00:34:53.200 --> 00:34:54.420 and 1 John 5 00:34:54.420 --> 00:34:55.860 as the begotten one. 00:34:57.440 --> 00:34:58.680 It says of Jesus 00:34:58.680 --> 00:35:00.660 in John 1.1-4, 00:35:00.760 --> 00:35:01.440 In the beginning 00:35:01.440 --> 00:35:02.480 was the Word 00:35:02.480 --> 00:35:03.120 and the Word 00:35:03.120 --> 00:35:04.000 was with God 00:35:04.000 --> 00:35:04.460 and the Word 00:35:04.460 --> 00:35:05.260 was God. 00:35:05.780 --> 00:35:06.900 He was in the beginning 00:35:06.900 --> 00:35:07.620 with God 00:35:07.620 --> 00:35:09.180 and all things 00:35:09.180 --> 00:35:10.520 were made through Him 00:35:10.520 --> 00:35:11.980 and without Him 00:35:11.980 --> 00:35:12.760 was not anything 00:35:12.760 --> 00:35:13.960 made that was made. 00:35:14.360 --> 00:35:14.960 In Him 00:35:14.960 --> 00:35:16.260 was life 00:35:16.260 --> 00:35:17.480 and the life 00:35:17.480 --> 00:35:18.780 was the light 00:35:18.780 --> 00:35:19.280 of man. 00:35:20.699 --> 00:35:22.440 Eternal pre-existence, 00:35:23.039 --> 00:35:24.240 instrument of creation, 00:35:24.740 --> 00:35:25.800 giver of life. 00:35:26.019 --> 00:35:27.099 We can superimpose 00:35:27.099 --> 00:35:28.240 Christ on all 00:35:28.240 --> 00:35:29.019 the characteristics 00:35:29.019 --> 00:35:30.179 of woman wisdom 00:35:30.179 --> 00:35:31.099 described in 00:35:31.099 --> 00:35:32.039 Proverbs 8. 00:35:33.740 --> 00:35:35.059 And this really 00:35:35.059 --> 00:35:35.820 is given 00:35:35.820 --> 00:35:36.940 climactic expression 00:35:36.940 --> 00:35:39.440 in Colossians 1.15-20 00:35:39.440 --> 00:35:40.099 which we read 00:35:40.099 --> 00:35:41.440 for the assurance 00:35:41.440 --> 00:35:41.980 of pardon. 00:35:42.599 --> 00:35:43.460 There it described 00:35:43.460 --> 00:35:44.380 Jesus as 00:35:44.380 --> 00:35:45.320 the firstborn 00:35:45.320 --> 00:35:46.460 of all creation. 00:35:47.099 --> 00:35:47.559 Meaning, 00:35:47.680 --> 00:35:48.539 not that Jesus 00:35:48.539 --> 00:35:50.280 is the first thing 00:35:50.280 --> 00:35:51.200 that God created 00:35:51.200 --> 00:35:52.660 because He's uncreated. 00:35:52.760 --> 00:35:53.539 He's begotten. 00:35:54.360 --> 00:35:54.820 However, 00:35:55.320 --> 00:35:56.599 the verse itself, 00:35:56.760 --> 00:35:57.619 Colossians 1.15 00:35:57.619 --> 00:35:58.280 explains it. 00:35:58.420 --> 00:35:59.519 For by Him 00:35:59.519 --> 00:36:00.740 all things were created. 00:36:01.380 --> 00:36:02.019 The reason why 00:36:02.019 --> 00:36:02.619 Jesus is called 00:36:02.619 --> 00:36:03.360 the firstborn 00:36:03.360 --> 00:36:04.079 of all creation 00:36:04.079 --> 00:36:04.840 is because 00:36:04.840 --> 00:36:05.599 He is the one 00:36:05.599 --> 00:36:06.320 through whom 00:36:06.320 --> 00:36:07.260 all of creation 00:36:07.260 --> 00:36:09.180 was brought forth, 00:36:09.260 --> 00:36:09.820 was created. 00:36:10.640 --> 00:36:11.260 And likewise, 00:36:11.460 --> 00:36:12.140 that same passage 00:36:12.139 --> 00:36:13.039 described Jesus 00:36:13.039 --> 00:36:14.159 as the firstborn 00:36:14.159 --> 00:36:15.039 from the dead 00:36:15.039 --> 00:36:16.500 for the same reason 00:36:16.500 --> 00:36:17.299 because it is 00:36:17.299 --> 00:36:18.199 through Jesus 00:36:18.199 --> 00:36:19.839 that all of God's 00:36:19.839 --> 00:36:20.739 people are brought 00:36:20.739 --> 00:36:22.339 forth from death 00:36:22.339 --> 00:36:23.359 and are born again 00:36:23.359 --> 00:36:25.099 into eternal life. 00:36:25.539 --> 00:36:26.579 And that happens 00:36:26.579 --> 00:36:27.619 because Jesus 00:36:27.619 --> 00:36:29.400 died on the cross 00:36:29.400 --> 00:36:30.659 for the sins 00:36:30.659 --> 00:36:31.539 of His people 00:36:31.539 --> 00:36:33.379 and He was raised 00:36:33.379 --> 00:36:33.960 from the dead 00:36:33.960 --> 00:36:35.119 promising new life 00:36:35.119 --> 00:36:35.679 and that's why 00:36:35.679 --> 00:36:36.440 He can promise 00:36:36.440 --> 00:36:38.639 in 2 Corinthians 5.17 00:36:38.639 --> 00:36:38.960 Therefore, 00:36:39.119 --> 00:36:39.859 if anyone 00:36:39.859 --> 00:36:41.299 is in Christ, 00:36:41.300 --> 00:36:43.480 He is a new creation. 00:36:44.400 --> 00:36:45.980 The old has passed away. 00:36:46.400 --> 00:36:46.980 Behold, 00:36:47.180 --> 00:36:49.140 the new has come. 00:36:50.460 --> 00:36:51.080 That's why 00:36:51.080 --> 00:36:51.720 He promises 00:36:51.720 --> 00:36:52.960 in Revelation 21.5 00:36:52.960 --> 00:36:53.680 that He's making 00:36:53.680 --> 00:36:55.840 all things new. 00:36:57.019 --> 00:36:57.460 And so, 00:36:57.560 --> 00:36:58.440 this is the promise 00:36:58.440 --> 00:36:59.160 that is in 00:36:59.160 --> 00:37:00.260 Jesus Christ. 00:37:00.440 --> 00:37:01.600 If some of you, 00:37:01.700 --> 00:37:02.440 maybe you are not 00:37:02.440 --> 00:37:03.000 yet a follower 00:37:03.000 --> 00:37:03.440 of Jesus, 00:37:04.820 --> 00:37:06.060 maybe you feel 00:37:06.060 --> 00:37:06.900 dead inside, 00:37:08.140 --> 00:37:09.019 maybe you know 00:37:09.019 --> 00:37:09.620 what it means 00:37:09.620 --> 00:37:10.539 when Scripture speaks 00:37:10.539 --> 00:37:11.400 of being dead 00:37:11.400 --> 00:37:12.179 in our sins 00:37:12.179 --> 00:37:13.199 and trespasses. 00:37:14.000 --> 00:37:15.179 You are living 00:37:15.179 --> 00:37:16.840 without the abundant life 00:37:16.840 --> 00:37:17.360 that God 00:37:17.360 --> 00:37:18.960 has given. 00:37:20.019 --> 00:37:20.860 But Christ 00:37:20.860 --> 00:37:22.219 came to restore 00:37:22.219 --> 00:37:22.820 all of that. 00:37:22.860 --> 00:37:23.739 He came to bring 00:37:23.739 --> 00:37:24.800 new life. 00:37:26.199 --> 00:37:26.820 I found 00:37:26.820 --> 00:37:27.920 a compelling 00:37:27.920 --> 00:37:30.320 description 00:37:30.320 --> 00:37:31.440 of what Jesus, 00:37:31.599 --> 00:37:32.440 how Jesus lived 00:37:32.440 --> 00:37:33.219 and what He did 00:37:33.219 --> 00:37:34.779 from a writing 00:37:34.779 --> 00:37:36.279 by a German theologian, 00:37:36.420 --> 00:37:37.239 Jürgen Moltmann. 00:37:37.239 --> 00:37:39.639 Because we often 00:37:39.639 --> 00:37:40.299 think of when 00:37:40.299 --> 00:37:40.959 Jesus is coming, 00:37:41.139 --> 00:37:42.000 He's performing 00:37:42.000 --> 00:37:43.019 miracles and signs 00:37:43.019 --> 00:37:43.519 and wonders, 00:37:43.639 --> 00:37:44.739 things that defy 00:37:44.739 --> 00:37:45.979 nature. 00:37:46.500 --> 00:37:47.359 But He puts it 00:37:47.359 --> 00:37:47.979 this way instead, 00:37:48.099 --> 00:37:48.799 that when Jesus 00:37:48.799 --> 00:37:49.839 expels demons 00:37:49.839 --> 00:37:50.939 and heals the sick, 00:37:51.159 --> 00:37:52.019 He's driving 00:37:52.019 --> 00:37:53.039 out of creation 00:37:53.039 --> 00:37:53.799 the powers 00:37:53.799 --> 00:37:54.559 of destruction 00:37:54.559 --> 00:37:56.000 and is healing 00:37:56.000 --> 00:37:56.859 and restoring 00:37:56.859 --> 00:37:58.079 created beings 00:37:58.079 --> 00:37:58.739 who are hurt 00:37:58.739 --> 00:37:59.339 and sick. 00:37:59.919 --> 00:38:01.079 The Lordship of God 00:38:01.079 --> 00:38:01.799 to which the 00:38:01.799 --> 00:38:02.739 healing's witness 00:38:02.739 --> 00:38:04.619 restores creation 00:38:04.619 --> 00:38:05.339 to health. 00:38:05.340 --> 00:38:07.380 Jesus' healings 00:38:07.380 --> 00:38:07.900 are not 00:38:07.900 --> 00:38:09.240 supernatural miracles 00:38:09.240 --> 00:38:10.500 in a natural world. 00:38:11.200 --> 00:38:12.039 They are the only 00:38:12.039 --> 00:38:13.760 truly natural thing 00:38:13.760 --> 00:38:14.720 in a world 00:38:14.720 --> 00:38:15.720 that is unnatural, 00:38:16.320 --> 00:38:16.960 demonized, 00:38:17.180 --> 00:38:17.940 and wounded. 00:38:19.340 --> 00:38:20.559 Jesus comes 00:38:20.559 --> 00:38:21.720 to restore 00:38:21.720 --> 00:38:23.620 the natural order, 00:38:23.800 --> 00:38:24.400 the goodness 00:38:24.400 --> 00:38:25.100 of creation 00:38:25.100 --> 00:38:25.900 that was there 00:38:25.900 --> 00:38:26.840 when God 00:38:26.840 --> 00:38:27.680 first created 00:38:27.680 --> 00:38:28.760 by wisdom, 00:38:29.000 --> 00:38:29.740 through the Word, 00:38:29.860 --> 00:38:30.920 through Jesus Christ. 00:38:31.820 --> 00:38:33.160 And ultimately, 00:38:33.159 --> 00:38:34.940 death itself 00:38:34.940 --> 00:38:35.659 is unnatural. 00:38:36.559 --> 00:38:36.980 It was not 00:38:36.980 --> 00:38:37.599 meant to be. 00:38:37.659 --> 00:38:38.379 We were created 00:38:38.379 --> 00:38:39.179 to live forever 00:38:39.179 --> 00:38:39.759 with God. 00:38:40.279 --> 00:38:40.940 And so God 00:38:40.940 --> 00:38:42.159 sends Jesus, 00:38:42.259 --> 00:38:42.639 His Son, 00:38:42.719 --> 00:38:43.679 to die for our sins, 00:38:43.719 --> 00:38:44.460 to pay the penalty 00:38:44.460 --> 00:38:45.000 of death, 00:38:45.379 --> 00:38:46.679 to absorb our penalty, 00:38:46.679 --> 00:38:47.639 and to be raised 00:38:47.639 --> 00:38:48.619 from the dead 00:38:48.619 --> 00:38:49.859 in resurrection power 00:38:49.859 --> 00:38:51.359 so that that life 00:38:51.359 --> 00:38:52.219 and that power 00:38:52.219 --> 00:38:53.819 may rest with us, 00:38:53.839 --> 00:38:54.480 all of those 00:38:54.480 --> 00:38:55.699 who put their trust 00:38:55.699 --> 00:38:56.079 in Him, 00:38:56.460 --> 00:38:57.579 and that may be restored, 00:38:57.659 --> 00:38:58.399 that may be restored 00:38:58.399 --> 00:38:59.119 to new life, 00:38:59.460 --> 00:38:59.819 that we may be 00:38:59.819 --> 00:39:00.619 new creations, 00:39:00.619 --> 00:39:02.460 as this passage 00:39:02.460 --> 00:39:03.099 speaks of.