WEBVTT

00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:06.740
 Well, there's a certain kind of person that I've found myself more and more over the last several years

00:00:06.740 --> 00:00:09.720
 just very compelled to be around.

00:00:10.439 --> 00:00:15.500
 This type of person seems to navigate his or her life just extremely well.

00:00:16.399 --> 00:00:20.240
 This person is not free of trials and tribulations.

00:00:20.379 --> 00:00:24.300
 In fact, maybe they have more than your average person,

00:00:24.300 --> 00:00:30.780
 and yet they seem to just have this fluid ease about the way that they deal and interact with life.

00:00:32.620 --> 00:00:34.740
 It's just really compelling for me.

00:00:35.200 --> 00:00:40.700
 You know, there's been many people recently on this pulpit, and we have leadership in this church,

00:00:41.240 --> 00:00:46.000
 people that just, I want to be around because they do life in a certain way.

00:00:47.560 --> 00:00:52.500
 And what's interesting about this is it doesn't require being a certain age.

00:00:52.500 --> 00:00:55.200
 Young and old can qualify for this.

00:00:55.479 --> 00:00:59.439
 Rich and poor, really scholarly academic types,

00:00:59.560 --> 00:01:03.280
 and the simple-minded people who just kind of, you know,

00:01:03.600 --> 00:01:06.299
 maybe they're not a brilliant scholar,

00:01:06.560 --> 00:01:11.740
 but yet they can still possess this type of life that's so compelling.

00:01:12.039 --> 00:01:16.560
 All shapes and sizes of people possess this kind of life.

00:01:17.659 --> 00:01:20.219
 And we could probably describe it in any number of ways.

00:01:20.219 --> 00:01:24.780
 There's a lot of ways, resourcefulness, certain giftedness of living,

00:01:25.200 --> 00:01:28.620
 maybe according to the world more of a street smartness,

00:01:29.359 --> 00:01:33.739
 full of common sense, full of life experience.

00:01:35.900 --> 00:01:37.539
 We're compelled to be near them, aren't we?

00:01:38.200 --> 00:01:39.159
 We want to know what they have.

00:01:39.219 --> 00:01:45.819
 We want to know what their secret is to living life in a way that just seems to make things go easier, smoothly.

00:01:45.819 --> 00:01:49.359
 They roll with the punches, you could say.

00:01:50.559 --> 00:01:51.959
 We want to know what is that secret?

00:01:52.099 --> 00:01:55.879
 How can they make this crazy, chaotic thing called life seem so easy?

00:01:56.739 --> 00:02:01.639
 How can the trials and tribulations they have encountered not render them unstable,

00:02:02.339 --> 00:02:05.500
 ineffective, bitter, fearful, anxious?

00:02:05.500 --> 00:02:12.379
 Well, friends, I think the common denominator in all of these people is wisdom.

00:02:13.599 --> 00:02:15.900
 But not just any kind of wisdom, right?

00:02:16.159 --> 00:02:20.319
 There's plenty of people in the world who are great businessmen and make tons of money

00:02:20.319 --> 00:02:23.360
 because they're wise in a certain business sense of that word.

00:02:23.740 --> 00:02:27.719
 There's salesmen that can push a product with such ease and grace

00:02:27.719 --> 00:02:29.860
 that you're lining up to buy that vacuum.

00:02:29.860 --> 00:02:36.600
 You can even be a wise thief, right?

00:02:36.660 --> 00:02:42.500
 If you have enough knowledge to not get caught and to get the things that you want and steal them,

00:02:42.640 --> 00:02:43.980
 you can be wise in one sense.

00:02:44.040 --> 00:02:46.500
 But that's not the wisdom I'm talking about this morning.

00:02:46.780 --> 00:02:48.940
 I'm talking about biblical wisdom.

00:02:50.120 --> 00:02:53.700
 This wisdom we see always has to do with righteous living.

00:02:53.699 --> 00:03:02.119
 It's a from-above wisdom, as James calls it, that is first pure and peaceable, gentle, open to reason,

00:03:02.699 --> 00:03:06.359
 full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.

00:03:07.280 --> 00:03:14.620
 It's a wisdom whose source is the Lord, and it's one-directional from Him to His people.

00:03:16.739 --> 00:03:20.399
 It's a wisdom that is to be received by grace.

00:03:20.400 --> 00:03:28.340
 I believe that it's this wisdom that the Bible teaches that allows God's people to navigate life well,

00:03:28.740 --> 00:03:32.300
 to live rightly before the Lord.

00:03:34.120 --> 00:03:38.640
 Now, this wisdom is the major concern of the book of Proverbs.

00:03:38.980 --> 00:03:42.180
 I invite you to open there this morning.

00:03:42.180 --> 00:03:51.719
 Let me read just the first introductory verses of chapter 1 to get us kind of a grounding for where we're headed,

00:03:52.260 --> 00:03:56.379
 and then we'll spend our time in the second chapter of Proverbs.

00:03:56.500 --> 00:04:00.400
 But this is how Solomon opens this book of wisdom.

00:04:00.860 --> 00:04:04.200
 The Proverbs of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel.

00:04:04.199 --> 00:04:06.739
 To know wisdom and instruction.

00:04:07.179 --> 00:04:09.219
 To understand words of insight.

00:04:09.479 --> 00:04:14.939
 To receive instruction and wise dealing in righteousness, justice, and equity.

00:04:15.479 --> 00:04:19.180
 To give prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the youth.

00:04:19.939 --> 00:04:22.259
 Let the wise hear and increase in learning.

00:04:22.519 --> 00:04:25.159
 And the one who understands obtain guidance.

00:04:25.860 --> 00:04:27.800
 To understand a proverb and a saying,

00:04:28.399 --> 00:04:30.219
 the words of the wise and their riddles.

00:04:30.220 --> 00:04:34.580
 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge.

00:04:35.120 --> 00:04:37.760
 Fools despise wisdom and instruction.

00:04:40.460 --> 00:04:42.540
 So we can now flip over to chapter 2,

00:04:42.660 --> 00:04:49.920
 and let me just say that we find in the first several chapters up through chapter 9 of Proverbs,

00:04:50.420 --> 00:04:54.600
 a lot of lectures from a father to his son,

00:04:54.940 --> 00:04:57.660
 teaching wisdom, instructing his son the way to go.

00:04:57.660 --> 00:05:03.020
 So parents, I think immediately you can relate to this urgency, I imagine.

00:05:03.420 --> 00:05:11.520
 In knowing that your children are going to go out into a world that's full of disorder and disarray and sin and wickedness and brokenness.

00:05:11.900 --> 00:05:13.380
 And you feel the urgency.

00:05:13.620 --> 00:05:16.460
 You want your children to know wisdom.

00:05:16.700 --> 00:05:18.760
 You want them to know the way to go.

00:05:18.960 --> 00:05:20.600
 So that they will be upright.

00:05:20.860 --> 00:05:22.320
 So that they will live their lives well.

00:05:22.319 --> 00:05:29.240
 You can feel the desire present in this passage from this father,

00:05:29.819 --> 00:05:32.040
 concerned with his own son's well-being.

00:05:33.579 --> 00:05:37.500
 You want to see your children walking rightly with the Lord, making good decisions.

00:05:38.819 --> 00:05:41.740
 That's the emotion I think we see as we come to this text.

00:05:41.740 --> 00:05:47.960
 But it's not just for fathers to sons or mothers to daughters or parents to children.

00:05:49.560 --> 00:05:55.040
 It's not just to show us how a parent should instruct a child.

00:05:55.319 --> 00:05:58.019
 It's not simply for the young in the room.

00:05:59.920 --> 00:06:02.480
 No, this passage is here for all of God's people.

00:06:02.480 --> 00:06:11.400
 This is the emotional and urgent appeal of a heavenly father to his spiritual children.

00:06:15.180 --> 00:06:22.140
 As God's children, this is the appeal I think that God makes for us today as we come to this passage.

00:06:22.340 --> 00:06:23.240
 It's this.

00:06:24.700 --> 00:06:31.960
 Since wisdom is so valuable, you should make it your priority to acquire it in abundance.

00:06:32.480 --> 00:06:35.360
 Stockpile it for a rainy day.

00:06:35.439 --> 00:06:37.120
 There's no expiration date of wisdom.

00:06:38.200 --> 00:06:42.400
 Invest your spiritual disciplines to cultivate it in your lives.

00:06:43.840 --> 00:06:47.180
 Gift it generously to other people so that they would be blessed too by wisdom.

00:06:48.660 --> 00:06:51.379
 Again, since wisdom is so valuable,

00:06:52.379 --> 00:06:56.259
 you should make it your priority to acquire it in abundance.

00:06:56.259 --> 00:07:05.759
 So let me read this text for us and pray and then we will dive in to see what it says.

00:07:06.300 --> 00:07:08.219
 This is Proverbs chapter 2.

00:07:08.220 --> 00:07:15.640
 My son, if you receive my words and treasure up my commandments with you,

00:07:15.700 --> 00:07:20.280
 making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding,

00:07:20.740 --> 00:07:24.180
 yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding,

00:07:24.180 --> 00:07:28.760
 if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures,

00:07:29.760 --> 00:07:34.160
 then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God.

00:07:34.160 --> 00:07:40.320
 For the Lord gives wisdom from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.

00:07:41.160 --> 00:07:43.580
 He stores up sound wisdom for the upright.

00:07:44.020 --> 00:07:46.480
 He is a shield to those who walk in integrity,

00:07:46.700 --> 00:07:51.140
 guarding the paths of justice and watching over the way of his saints.

00:07:52.540 --> 00:07:56.120
 Then you will understand righteousness and justice and equity,

00:07:56.960 --> 00:07:58.540
 every good path.

00:07:58.540 --> 00:08:04.379
 For wisdom will come into your heart and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul.

00:08:04.819 --> 00:08:06.420
 Discretion will watch over you.

00:08:06.540 --> 00:08:08.120
 Understanding will guard you,

00:08:09.240 --> 00:08:10.800
 delivering you from the way of evil,

00:08:11.540 --> 00:08:13.460
 from men of perverted speech,

00:08:14.040 --> 00:08:15.980
 who forsake the paths of uprightness,

00:08:16.360 --> 00:08:18.320
 to walk in the ways of darkness,

00:08:19.140 --> 00:08:21.580
 who rejoice in doing evil

00:08:21.580 --> 00:08:25.120
 and delight in the perverseness of evil.

00:08:25.120 --> 00:08:31.100
 Men whose paths are crooked and who are devious in their ways.

00:08:31.759 --> 00:08:33.960
 So you will be delivered from the forbidden woman,

00:08:34.120 --> 00:08:36.379
 from the adulteress with her smooth words,

00:08:36.700 --> 00:08:39.019
 who forsakes the companion of her youth

00:08:39.019 --> 00:08:41.360
 and forgets the covenant of her God.

00:08:42.700 --> 00:08:44.720
 For her house sinks down to death

00:08:44.720 --> 00:08:47.679
 and her paths to the departed.

00:08:48.299 --> 00:08:49.860
 None who go to her come back,

00:08:49.980 --> 00:08:52.840
 nor do they regain the paths of life.

00:08:52.840 --> 00:08:57.460
 So you will walk in the way of the good

00:08:57.460 --> 00:09:00.220
 and keep to the paths of the righteous.

00:09:00.560 --> 00:09:02.639
 For the upright will inhabit the land

00:09:02.639 --> 00:09:05.879
 and those with integrity will remain in it.

00:09:06.879 --> 00:09:09.240
 But the wicked will be cut off from the land

00:09:09.240 --> 00:09:12.780
 and the treacherous will be rooted out of it.

00:09:14.240 --> 00:09:14.980
 Let's pray.

00:09:14.980 --> 00:09:22.759
 Heavenly Father, we are so grateful for this morning.

00:09:22.899 --> 00:09:26.340
 We're so grateful that Your Word instructs us.

00:09:27.360 --> 00:09:29.779
 Father, I pray that we would all leave here

00:09:29.779 --> 00:09:31.100
 desiring wisdom more

00:09:31.100 --> 00:09:35.560
 after what Your Word instructs us to do this morning.

00:09:36.420 --> 00:09:37.659
 God, would You feed Your people.

00:09:38.720 --> 00:09:40.039
 Graciously be with us.

00:09:40.720 --> 00:09:41.940
 In Jesus' name, amen.

00:09:41.940 --> 00:09:42.080
 Amen.

00:09:42.080 --> 00:09:46.000
 So to go through this passage,

00:09:46.100 --> 00:09:49.300
 we're really just going to follow the Father's logic

00:09:49.300 --> 00:09:52.280
 in instructing His Son.

00:09:53.700 --> 00:09:54.900
 Along the way, we're going to see

00:09:54.900 --> 00:09:57.240
 the conditions of this appeal He's making,

00:09:57.340 --> 00:09:59.240
 and then we're going to see some benefits of that,

00:09:59.600 --> 00:10:02.040
 and then we're going to see the Father's conclusion

00:10:02.040 --> 00:10:04.759
 based on what He knows to be true.

00:10:04.759 --> 00:10:10.259
 So conditions, benefits, conclusion.

00:10:12.679 --> 00:10:15.120
 The conditions we see right up front,

00:10:15.220 --> 00:10:16.179
 verses 1 to 4.

00:10:17.840 --> 00:10:18.960
 Notice all the ifs.

00:10:20.139 --> 00:10:21.460
 If you receive my words.

00:10:21.899 --> 00:10:23.799
 Verse 3, if you call out for insight.

00:10:23.960 --> 00:10:26.080
 Verse 4, if you seek it like silver.

00:10:28.580 --> 00:10:29.559
 The Father's saying,

00:10:29.559 --> 00:10:32.279
 there's effort involved in what I'm trying to tell you.

00:10:32.599 --> 00:10:35.859
 My son, you've got to put forth some work here.

00:10:39.539 --> 00:10:41.579
 I think the progression kind of goes like this.

00:10:41.639 --> 00:10:43.619
 First, there needs to just be a desire.

00:10:45.399 --> 00:10:47.079
 We should ask ourselves right up front,

00:10:47.159 --> 00:10:48.479
 do I desire wisdom?

00:10:48.480 --> 00:10:55.019
 Is it in my heart of hearts to yearn for this good thing,

00:10:55.159 --> 00:10:57.500
 this biblical wisdom that instructs me

00:10:57.500 --> 00:10:59.820
 how to live rightly before God?

00:11:02.519 --> 00:11:04.600
 The Father makes the appeal in verse 2 saying,

00:11:05.019 --> 00:11:06.720
 making your ear attentive to wisdom

00:11:06.720 --> 00:11:08.580
 and inclining your heart to understanding.

00:11:10.259 --> 00:11:10.980
 See that?

00:11:11.139 --> 00:11:12.860
 It's listen to these instructions.

00:11:13.139 --> 00:11:14.700
 Listen to my words.

00:11:15.120 --> 00:11:16.340
 And He calls them commandments,

00:11:16.340 --> 00:11:20.320
 not because He's a mean kind of dictator father,

00:11:21.060 --> 00:11:23.320
 but He's received them from the living God.

00:11:24.019 --> 00:11:25.100
 They're God's commandments.

00:11:25.879 --> 00:11:27.759
 Through the Father to the Son.

00:11:30.879 --> 00:11:32.460
 Make your ear attentive to wisdom,

00:11:32.639 --> 00:11:33.860
 inclining your heart to understanding.

00:11:34.060 --> 00:11:35.080
 Stretch out your heart.

00:11:36.220 --> 00:11:37.120
 Desire wisdom.

00:11:38.860 --> 00:11:40.860
 And we see in verse 3 that there's a progression.

00:11:41.080 --> 00:11:43.200
 Now it's, yes, if you call out for wisdom.

00:11:43.320 --> 00:11:43.879
 Hear wisdom.

00:11:45.100 --> 00:11:46.120
 Where are you, wisdom?

00:11:46.120 --> 00:11:47.080
 Wisdom, I need you.

00:11:49.539 --> 00:11:51.080
 Raise your voice for understanding.

00:11:53.220 --> 00:11:55.259
 Oh, give me understanding.

00:11:58.940 --> 00:12:00.980
 Then it goes on even further in verse 4.

00:12:01.679 --> 00:12:02.200
 Seek it.

00:12:03.179 --> 00:12:03.560
 Right?

00:12:03.860 --> 00:12:05.299
 If you seek it like silver,

00:12:06.179 --> 00:12:07.759
 search for it as for hidden treasures.

00:12:09.259 --> 00:12:11.259
 See, wisdom is valuable.

00:12:11.539 --> 00:12:12.799
 It's like silver.

00:12:12.799 --> 00:12:13.679
 And at this point,

00:12:14.000 --> 00:12:16.059
 he's probably not saying the second best metal,

00:12:16.279 --> 00:12:17.819
 like, so then there's silver,

00:12:17.919 --> 00:12:18.740
 but then there's gold.

00:12:19.459 --> 00:12:20.139
 No, he's probably saying,

00:12:20.359 --> 00:12:22.479
 here's the most precious thing I can think of.

00:12:22.899 --> 00:12:23.620
 Seek it like that.

00:12:24.879 --> 00:12:25.759
 Seek it like silver.

00:12:25.759 --> 00:12:30.700
 It makes me think of Indiana Jones.

00:12:30.919 --> 00:12:33.100
 I've been thinking about these movies a lot this week.

00:12:33.960 --> 00:12:34.580
 You've got this,

00:12:35.019 --> 00:12:37.580
 Harrison Ford plays this archaeologist.

00:12:37.860 --> 00:12:39.919
 He's this professor at this university

00:12:39.919 --> 00:12:43.720
 where the students don't seem to be the brightest bulbs in the drawer.

00:12:43.720 --> 00:12:46.340
 And it seems like he does that

00:12:46.340 --> 00:12:50.460
 so that he can kind of sustain this side hobby of his

00:12:50.460 --> 00:12:53.580
 of seeking these artifacts.

00:12:54.720 --> 00:12:54.879
 Right?

00:12:54.940 --> 00:12:58.519
 And he's being chased by Nazis and tanks

00:12:58.519 --> 00:13:00.100
 and, you know,

00:13:00.200 --> 00:13:01.879
 all these crazy animals,

00:13:02.100 --> 00:13:04.240
 lions and these other guys with guns

00:13:04.240 --> 00:13:05.500
 and everybody wants him dead.

00:13:05.960 --> 00:13:08.360
 And he's trying to get these artifacts.

00:13:08.360 --> 00:13:08.800
 Right?

00:13:09.519 --> 00:13:13.860
 And he's even willing to face his most deepest fear.

00:13:14.919 --> 00:13:15.340
 Snakes.

00:13:16.000 --> 00:13:17.919
 There's a point where he gets lowered down

00:13:17.919 --> 00:13:19.580
 into the pit of these vipers.

00:13:20.300 --> 00:13:21.019
 He hates snakes.

00:13:21.100 --> 00:13:22.940
 He says it over and over throughout these movies.

00:13:23.180 --> 00:13:23.860
 It's kind of corny.

00:13:24.259 --> 00:13:25.180
 But he says,

00:13:25.259 --> 00:13:25.820
 I hate snakes.

00:13:25.879 --> 00:13:26.360
 I hate snakes.

00:13:26.560 --> 00:13:30.740
 But he's willing to go into a den of snakes

00:13:30.740 --> 00:13:33.340
 in order to find these religious artifacts.

00:13:35.060 --> 00:13:38.259
 That's the picture I think this proverb gives us

00:13:38.259 --> 00:13:40.399
 when we want to kind of capture

00:13:40.399 --> 00:13:41.679
 what it means to seek wisdom.

00:13:42.580 --> 00:13:43.500
 Seek it like that.

00:13:44.720 --> 00:13:46.379
 Seek to obtain it like that.

00:13:48.220 --> 00:13:49.259
 With ears.

00:13:49.659 --> 00:13:51.460
 With a heart inclined towards it.

00:13:51.639 --> 00:13:53.879
 With a mouth that cries out for it.

00:13:54.319 --> 00:13:57.559
 With arms and legs and eyes that search for it.

00:13:59.679 --> 00:14:00.919
 That's the conditions

00:14:00.919 --> 00:14:03.799
 of acquiring wisdom.

00:14:04.120 --> 00:14:04.860
 Of obtaining it.

00:14:05.659 --> 00:14:06.740
 You've got to put forth the effort.

00:14:06.740 --> 00:14:08.799
 You can't be the couch potato looking for it.

00:14:11.259 --> 00:14:13.500
 I feel it right, young people in the room,

00:14:14.299 --> 00:14:15.419
 to mention this.

00:14:15.560 --> 00:14:18.539
 That you're in a really good time of your life

00:14:18.539 --> 00:14:20.759
 to determine

00:14:20.759 --> 00:14:23.460
 to seek this out.

00:14:23.460 --> 00:14:27.920
 I think there's many of us

00:14:27.920 --> 00:14:29.720
 who would be able to say

00:14:29.720 --> 00:14:32.000
 with a hint of sorrow

00:14:32.000 --> 00:14:34.300
 that I wish I would have found wisdom sooner.

00:14:35.560 --> 00:14:37.540
 I wish I wouldn't have waited so long

00:14:37.540 --> 00:14:39.400
 to get right with this.

00:14:41.240 --> 00:14:42.460
 Don't let it slip by.

00:14:43.360 --> 00:14:44.759
 You've got it right before you.

00:14:45.240 --> 00:14:46.300
 You're in a great church.

00:14:47.300 --> 00:14:48.379
 You've got good parents.

00:14:49.060 --> 00:14:50.360
 You've got a lot of people that love you.

00:14:50.360 --> 00:14:54.080
 This is instruction for you.

00:14:57.379 --> 00:15:00.259
 So now let me keep moving us down here.

00:15:00.399 --> 00:15:01.779
 We come to verse 5

00:15:01.779 --> 00:15:06.320
 and we see the first of three major benefits

00:15:06.320 --> 00:15:08.620
 of seeking wisdom.

00:15:08.620 --> 00:15:10.659
 If you seek it,

00:15:10.799 --> 00:15:11.440
 if you incline it,

00:15:11.460 --> 00:15:12.060
 you're not understanding.

00:15:12.200 --> 00:15:13.039
 If you call out,

00:15:13.500 --> 00:15:14.060
 verse 5,

00:15:14.460 --> 00:15:14.799
 then

00:15:14.799 --> 00:15:17.220
 you will understand the fear of the Lord

00:15:17.220 --> 00:15:19.000
 and find the knowledge of God.

00:15:19.179 --> 00:15:19.460
 Well,

00:15:19.740 --> 00:15:22.039
 I thought we were just talking about wisdom.

00:15:22.840 --> 00:15:25.580
 Where's this knowledge of God stuff coming from?

00:15:26.200 --> 00:15:27.919
 Where's this fear of the Lord coming from?

00:15:27.919 --> 00:15:33.919
 What I find interesting here is

00:15:33.919 --> 00:15:36.000
 that if you're not seeking wisdom

00:15:36.000 --> 00:15:36.959
 in the right place,

00:15:37.219 --> 00:15:39.059
 you're never going to find it.

00:15:40.199 --> 00:15:41.120
 That's what this says.

00:15:41.419 --> 00:15:42.759
 You can't go to the world.

00:15:42.939 --> 00:15:44.759
 You can't turn on the news.

00:15:44.919 --> 00:15:46.740
 You're not going to search Wikipedia

00:15:46.740 --> 00:15:48.500
 and find the wisdom

00:15:48.500 --> 00:15:50.879
 that the Bible wants people to have.

00:15:51.599 --> 00:15:53.059
 You have to go to the source.

00:15:53.759 --> 00:15:54.620
 See that in verse 6?

00:15:54.839 --> 00:15:55.980
 For the Lord gives wisdom.

00:15:55.980 --> 00:15:58.659
 Benefit number one,

00:15:58.899 --> 00:16:00.019
 theological benefit.

00:16:01.399 --> 00:16:02.379
 God gives wisdom

00:16:02.379 --> 00:16:04.820
 to people who seek after it.

00:16:08.899 --> 00:16:09.899
 Real wisdom.

00:16:10.440 --> 00:16:11.399
 Lifelong wisdom.

00:16:12.220 --> 00:16:12.740
 Righteousness.

00:16:13.420 --> 00:16:14.519
 And justice and equity.

00:16:14.840 --> 00:16:15.399
 Good wisdom.

00:16:19.740 --> 00:16:21.480
 So you see that obtaining wisdom

00:16:21.480 --> 00:16:23.259
 is a spiritual endeavor.

00:16:23.259 --> 00:16:26.899
 You cannot find it apart from God

00:16:26.899 --> 00:16:28.740
 no matter how much you want,

00:16:29.139 --> 00:16:30.419
 no matter how much science

00:16:30.419 --> 00:16:31.460
 may tell you otherwise.

00:16:32.179 --> 00:16:33.939
 You cannot find true wisdom

00:16:33.939 --> 00:16:34.659
 apart from God.

00:16:38.899 --> 00:16:40.159
 I find it so amazing.

00:16:40.340 --> 00:16:42.799
 We see what this tells us here about God.

00:16:43.259 --> 00:16:44.139
 Here's the benefit.

00:16:44.259 --> 00:16:44.980
 If you seek wisdom,

00:16:45.080 --> 00:16:45.980
 you'll learn the fear of the Lord

00:16:45.980 --> 00:16:48.139
 and then look who God is in this.

00:16:48.220 --> 00:16:48.799
 It's glorious.

00:16:49.600 --> 00:16:50.439
 Verses 6 through 8.

00:16:50.440 --> 00:16:51.940
 For the Lord gives wisdom.

00:16:52.360 --> 00:16:53.800
 From His mouth come knowledge

00:16:53.800 --> 00:16:54.640
 and understanding.

00:16:55.300 --> 00:16:56.860
 He stores up sound wisdom

00:16:56.860 --> 00:16:57.660
 for the upright.

00:16:58.420 --> 00:16:59.260
 He is a shield

00:16:59.260 --> 00:17:01.060
 for those who walk in integrity,

00:17:01.520 --> 00:17:03.240
 guarding the paths of justice,

00:17:04.240 --> 00:17:05.360
 watching over the way

00:17:05.360 --> 00:17:06.200
 of His saints.

00:17:07.360 --> 00:17:09.100
 This is a really good God.

00:17:10.180 --> 00:17:11.940
 He really loves His people.

00:17:12.799 --> 00:17:13.960
 To do all of that

00:17:13.960 --> 00:17:15.380
 for those that incline their ear

00:17:15.380 --> 00:17:16.100
 to wisdom,

00:17:16.440 --> 00:17:17.299
 who search it out.

00:17:17.299 --> 00:17:19.480
 Friends, this is a God

00:17:19.480 --> 00:17:20.359
 worth worshiping,

00:17:20.700 --> 00:17:21.759
 devoting our lives to.

00:17:22.839 --> 00:17:23.740
 He's glorious.

00:17:25.039 --> 00:17:26.399
 He's really, really good.

00:17:31.599 --> 00:17:33.240
 I find it helpful

00:17:33.240 --> 00:17:36.440
 to imagine just for the briefest moment

00:17:36.440 --> 00:17:38.339
 the alternative

00:17:38.339 --> 00:17:40.500
 if God did not impart wisdom.

00:17:41.539 --> 00:17:42.700
 Where would we turn?

00:17:44.079 --> 00:17:45.419
 There's no wisdom trees

00:17:45.420 --> 00:17:46.240
 in our backyard.

00:17:47.140 --> 00:17:47.880
 We can't buy it

00:17:47.880 --> 00:17:49.080
 at the local 7-Eleven.

00:17:50.640 --> 00:17:52.080
 The old dead philosopher

00:17:52.080 --> 00:17:53.039
 isn't going to tell you

00:17:53.039 --> 00:17:53.660
 how to get it.

00:17:56.620 --> 00:17:58.420
 God must give wisdom.

00:17:59.420 --> 00:18:00.360
 The biblical wisdom

00:18:00.360 --> 00:18:01.620
 that leads to right living,

00:18:01.880 --> 00:18:03.240
 God alone provides.

00:18:03.240 --> 00:18:08.740
 I want to help us

00:18:08.740 --> 00:18:11.380
 with a commentator

00:18:11.380 --> 00:18:14.539
 who has defined

00:18:14.539 --> 00:18:15.940
 this fear of the Lord.

00:18:16.599 --> 00:18:18.079
 I think it's just so helpful.

00:18:19.460 --> 00:18:21.019
 This is what we're talking about

00:18:21.019 --> 00:18:23.079
 in verse 5

00:18:23.079 --> 00:18:23.660
 when it says,

00:18:24.059 --> 00:18:24.980
 understand the fear of the Lord.

00:18:25.420 --> 00:18:26.339
 He writes this,

00:18:27.579 --> 00:18:28.900
 the fear of the Lord

00:18:28.900 --> 00:18:31.920
 is the reverent confession

00:18:31.920 --> 00:18:35.460
 and reverential acknowledgement.

00:18:37.000 --> 00:18:38.519
 Here's the content of that.

00:18:38.680 --> 00:18:39.480
 That Yahweh

00:18:39.480 --> 00:18:40.880
 is the creator

00:18:40.880 --> 00:18:41.720
 and sustainer

00:18:41.720 --> 00:18:42.880
 of all life

00:18:42.880 --> 00:18:45.620
 and the true giver

00:18:45.620 --> 00:18:46.220
 of wisdom.

00:18:47.940 --> 00:18:49.040
 It's a confession

00:18:49.040 --> 00:18:49.759
 and acknowledgement

00:18:49.759 --> 00:18:51.600
 that God has wisdom

00:18:51.600 --> 00:18:52.259
 and he gives it.

00:18:52.660 --> 00:18:53.360
 He's the only one.

00:18:54.180 --> 00:18:54.740
 He goes on,

00:18:54.740 --> 00:18:56.539
 this fundamental confession

00:18:56.539 --> 00:18:58.579
 anchors the possibility

00:18:58.579 --> 00:19:00.940
 of coming to understand

00:19:00.940 --> 00:19:02.420
 all other elements of wisdom

00:19:02.420 --> 00:19:04.839
 that accrue

00:19:04.839 --> 00:19:07.259
 and to enjoy the blessings

00:19:07.259 --> 00:19:08.900
 that accrue from its possession.

00:19:11.559 --> 00:19:13.220
 So if you don't fear the Lord,

00:19:13.299 --> 00:19:14.380
 if you don't confess him

00:19:14.380 --> 00:19:15.759
 as the majestic creator

00:19:15.759 --> 00:19:16.420
 of all things,

00:19:17.319 --> 00:19:18.079
 forget about it.

00:19:18.220 --> 00:19:19.380
 You're not going to find wisdom.

00:19:21.140 --> 00:19:22.740
 Only the sustainer of life

00:19:22.740 --> 00:19:23.480
 knows all things

00:19:23.480 --> 00:19:24.220
 and can give it.

00:19:24.740 --> 00:19:28.339
 knowledge of God

00:19:28.339 --> 00:19:29.620
 is kind of similar to that.

00:19:29.720 --> 00:19:31.220
 It's not simply

00:19:31.220 --> 00:19:32.799
 an intellectual knowledge

00:19:32.799 --> 00:19:34.019
 that is being talked about

00:19:34.019 --> 00:19:34.779
 in verse 6 here.

00:19:35.700 --> 00:19:36.019
 Again,

00:19:36.160 --> 00:19:38.920
 it's this personal intimacy,

00:19:39.220 --> 00:19:40.960
 this relational knowledge

00:19:40.960 --> 00:19:42.400
 that leads again

00:19:42.400 --> 00:19:44.059
 to right living,

00:19:44.900 --> 00:19:45.279
 excuse me,

00:19:45.319 --> 00:19:45.839
 right living,

00:19:47.099 --> 00:19:48.519
 carrying out God's desires

00:19:48.519 --> 00:19:49.319
 for our lives.

00:19:49.319 --> 00:19:55.799
 There's one final benefit

00:19:55.799 --> 00:19:58.599
 that we see here

00:19:58.599 --> 00:20:00.859
 in 12 to 19.

00:20:01.539 --> 00:20:04.859
 Kind of got dual figures in it,

00:20:04.960 --> 00:20:06.619
 but it's all under this heading

00:20:06.619 --> 00:20:07.460
 from verse 12,

00:20:07.579 --> 00:20:08.639
 delivering you from

00:20:08.639 --> 00:20:10.539
 the way of evil.

00:20:11.980 --> 00:20:12.619
 Oh, excuse me,

00:20:12.659 --> 00:20:13.599
 I skipped over something.

00:20:14.079 --> 00:20:14.599
 Back up.

00:20:14.720 --> 00:20:15.899
 Forget everything I just said there.

00:20:15.900 --> 00:20:19.880
 Second benefit.

00:20:21.500 --> 00:20:22.660
 See in verse 9,

00:20:22.759 --> 00:20:25.860
 it's a practical benefit

00:20:25.860 --> 00:20:27.640
 for obtaining wisdom.

00:20:27.759 --> 00:20:28.680
 If you're seeking wisdom,

00:20:28.800 --> 00:20:29.200
 verse 9,

00:20:29.280 --> 00:20:30.560
 then you will understand

00:20:30.560 --> 00:20:31.500
 righteousness

00:20:31.500 --> 00:20:32.300
 and justice

00:20:32.300 --> 00:20:32.880
 and equity

00:20:32.880 --> 00:20:34.380
 every good path.

00:20:34.380 --> 00:20:36.700
 I don't know about you,

00:20:37.340 --> 00:20:38.180
 but life's hard.

00:20:38.980 --> 00:20:39.880
 Life's confusing.

00:20:40.740 --> 00:20:41.500
 Life's messy.

00:20:42.320 --> 00:20:43.240
 I need something

00:20:43.240 --> 00:20:44.220
 that's going to get me

00:20:44.220 --> 00:20:44.940
 to understand

00:20:44.940 --> 00:20:45.780
 every good path,

00:20:46.100 --> 00:20:47.440
 how to navigate

00:20:47.440 --> 00:20:48.660
 the complexities

00:20:48.660 --> 00:20:49.540
 of this life.

00:20:49.760 --> 00:20:50.440
 I need it.

00:20:51.160 --> 00:20:52.480
 I desperately need it.

00:20:53.580 --> 00:20:54.340
 If we're honest,

00:20:54.420 --> 00:20:54.860
 we all do.

00:20:56.120 --> 00:20:57.180
 That's what it says

00:20:57.180 --> 00:20:58.120
 if you seek wisdom,

00:20:58.240 --> 00:20:59.080
 if you prioritize

00:20:59.080 --> 00:21:00.640
 obtaining it in abundance,

00:21:01.220 --> 00:21:02.360
 you will understand

00:21:02.360 --> 00:21:02.840
 righteousness

00:21:02.840 --> 00:21:03.740
 and justice

00:21:03.740 --> 00:21:04.339
 and equity

00:21:04.339 --> 00:21:05.620
 every good path.

00:21:07.039 --> 00:21:07.980
 Why is that?

00:21:08.120 --> 00:21:09.500
 Why will pursuing wisdom

00:21:09.500 --> 00:21:11.039
 lead to understanding

00:21:11.039 --> 00:21:12.660
 every morally good path?

00:21:13.660 --> 00:21:14.180
 Again,

00:21:14.299 --> 00:21:16.359
 just like in the theological benefit,

00:21:16.480 --> 00:21:17.279
 we have our answer

00:21:17.279 --> 00:21:18.079
 in what follows

00:21:18.079 --> 00:21:19.160
 verses 10 and 11,

00:21:20.299 --> 00:21:21.019
 because wisdom

00:21:21.019 --> 00:21:21.940
 will come into your heart.

00:21:22.960 --> 00:21:24.059
 Knowledge will be pleasant

00:21:24.059 --> 00:21:24.900
 to your soul.

00:21:25.759 --> 00:21:27.039
 Discretion will watch over you.

00:21:27.160 --> 00:21:28.400
 Understanding will guard you.

00:21:30.099 --> 00:21:31.339
 That's why you'll understand

00:21:31.339 --> 00:21:32.039
 every good path,

00:21:32.099 --> 00:21:33.000
 because you'll have wisdom.

00:21:33.740 --> 00:21:35.279
 It'll be in your heart.

00:21:36.279 --> 00:21:37.240
 And knowledge,

00:21:37.579 --> 00:21:38.920
 that'll be pleasant too.

00:21:41.039 --> 00:21:42.400
 This seems to me

00:21:42.400 --> 00:21:43.839
 to be conversion language.

00:21:44.660 --> 00:21:45.920
 Language that's speaking

00:21:45.920 --> 00:21:48.000
 of a spiritual awakening

00:21:48.000 --> 00:21:49.400
 wrought by God.

00:21:49.400 --> 00:21:52.640
 I don't know how wisdom

00:21:52.640 --> 00:21:53.580
 will enter my heart

00:21:53.580 --> 00:21:54.220
 unless God,

00:21:54.300 --> 00:21:55.040
 the source of wisdom,

00:21:55.160 --> 00:21:55.720
 puts it there.

00:21:56.820 --> 00:21:57.360
 And I don't know

00:21:57.360 --> 00:21:58.600
 how knowledge of Him

00:21:58.600 --> 00:21:59.820
 and His good purposes

00:21:59.820 --> 00:22:00.780
 and His righteousness

00:22:00.780 --> 00:22:02.220
 will ever happen

00:22:02.220 --> 00:22:03.700
 unless He changes my heart

00:22:03.700 --> 00:22:04.980
 to desire those things to.

00:22:07.980 --> 00:22:09.460
 And I love what it says

00:22:09.460 --> 00:22:11.400
 after that.

00:22:13.900 --> 00:22:14.740
 I love it.

00:22:15.200 --> 00:22:16.420
 Discretion will watch over you.

00:22:16.540 --> 00:22:17.600
 Understanding will guard you.

00:22:17.599 --> 00:22:19.279
 Did you see that there's a connection

00:22:19.279 --> 00:22:20.059
 with verse 8?

00:22:21.799 --> 00:22:23.179
 We see God as a shield

00:22:23.179 --> 00:22:23.939
 and He's guarding

00:22:23.939 --> 00:22:24.839
 the paths of justice.

00:22:25.000 --> 00:22:26.319
 He's watching over the way

00:22:26.319 --> 00:22:26.879
 of His saints.

00:22:27.099 --> 00:22:28.459
 And then verse 11,

00:22:29.279 --> 00:22:30.699
 discretion will watch over you.

00:22:31.480 --> 00:22:32.779
 Understanding will guard you.

00:22:34.139 --> 00:22:35.679
 See, the writer here

00:22:35.679 --> 00:22:37.679
 makes no qualms

00:22:37.679 --> 00:22:38.439
 about saying,

00:22:38.899 --> 00:22:39.839
 God will guard you

00:22:39.839 --> 00:22:41.359
 and wisdom will guard you.

00:22:41.359 --> 00:22:42.439
 Because ultimately,

00:22:42.619 --> 00:22:43.939
 they're coming from

00:22:43.939 --> 00:22:45.799
 the same origin.

00:22:46.319 --> 00:22:47.199
 It's the same source.

00:22:47.659 --> 00:22:48.519
 God gives wisdom.

00:22:48.679 --> 00:22:49.259
 God guards.

00:22:50.279 --> 00:22:51.679
 He's making a very close connection.

00:22:51.819 --> 00:22:52.839
 You can't have

00:22:52.839 --> 00:22:55.459
 this practical benefit

00:22:55.459 --> 00:22:56.199
 of wisdom

00:22:56.199 --> 00:22:57.979
 without the foundational

00:22:57.979 --> 00:23:00.339
 and supreme theological benefit.

00:23:00.679 --> 00:23:01.899
 If you don't have God,

00:23:02.219 --> 00:23:02.519
 again,

00:23:02.659 --> 00:23:04.619
 you can't have morality.

00:23:04.979 --> 00:23:06.579
 You're not going to know justice

00:23:06.579 --> 00:23:09.000
 unless God instructs you in justice.

00:23:09.000 --> 00:23:11.940
 These benefits are closely linked.

00:23:12.900 --> 00:23:13.799
 You can't divorce them

00:23:13.799 --> 00:23:14.359
 from each other

00:23:14.359 --> 00:23:15.339
 and expect that you're

00:23:15.339 --> 00:23:17.799
 on the path of living

00:23:17.799 --> 00:23:20.220
 and on the way of wisdom.

00:23:22.140 --> 00:23:23.079
 So now,

00:23:23.660 --> 00:23:25.640
 now benefit 3

00:23:25.640 --> 00:23:28.259
 in verses 12 to 19.

00:23:28.779 --> 00:23:30.380
 It's the benefit of deliverance.

00:23:31.640 --> 00:23:32.099
 It's actually,

00:23:32.420 --> 00:23:35.220
 it really butts up against

00:23:35.220 --> 00:23:35.779
 verse 9

00:23:35.779 --> 00:23:37.180
 and this every good path

00:23:37.180 --> 00:23:39.080
 because not only is that

00:23:39.080 --> 00:23:40.299
 in a positive light

00:23:40.299 --> 00:23:41.060
 but then this,

00:23:41.160 --> 00:23:42.180
 this other benefit,

00:23:42.340 --> 00:23:43.740
 this delivering you

00:23:43.740 --> 00:23:44.779
 in verse 12

00:23:44.779 --> 00:23:45.460
 and you see that

00:23:45.460 --> 00:23:46.860
 same thing again

00:23:46.860 --> 00:23:47.600
 in verse 16.

00:23:47.880 --> 00:23:48.860
 So you'll be delivered.

00:23:51.259 --> 00:23:52.600
 The benefit of wisdom

00:23:52.600 --> 00:23:53.480
 is that

00:23:53.480 --> 00:23:55.220
 you'll be saved

00:23:55.220 --> 00:23:56.440
 from really bad,

00:23:56.620 --> 00:23:57.660
 destructive people

00:23:57.660 --> 00:23:58.580
 in the way of evil.

00:24:00.720 --> 00:24:01.560
 I remember

00:24:01.560 --> 00:24:02.880
 a men's meeting

00:24:02.880 --> 00:24:03.940
 at Crossway

00:24:03.940 --> 00:24:05.000
 a few years back

00:24:05.000 --> 00:24:07.319
 where the speaker

00:24:07.319 --> 00:24:09.460
 said these words

00:24:09.460 --> 00:24:10.680
 and they've stuck with me

00:24:10.680 --> 00:24:11.319
 because I think

00:24:11.319 --> 00:24:13.480
 they're sobering reality

00:24:13.480 --> 00:24:14.019
 of something

00:24:14.019 --> 00:24:14.539
 that's really,

00:24:14.740 --> 00:24:15.119
 really true.

00:24:15.960 --> 00:24:16.839
 He said this

00:24:16.839 --> 00:24:17.660
 almost at the outset.

00:24:19.400 --> 00:24:20.119
 You're only

00:24:20.119 --> 00:24:21.680
 one bad decision

00:24:21.680 --> 00:24:22.839
 away from

00:24:22.839 --> 00:24:24.660
 ruining your life.

00:24:24.660 --> 00:24:31.120
 It's hard to

00:24:31.120 --> 00:24:32.000
 wrap my mind

00:24:32.000 --> 00:24:32.420
 around that

00:24:32.420 --> 00:24:33.340
 and I don't want

00:24:33.340 --> 00:24:35.440
 to accept that

00:24:35.440 --> 00:24:36.240
 maybe sometimes

00:24:36.240 --> 00:24:36.580
 but

00:24:36.580 --> 00:24:38.360
 but these verses

00:24:38.360 --> 00:24:38.800
 here

00:24:38.800 --> 00:24:39.880
 they seem to

00:24:39.880 --> 00:24:42.060
 they caution

00:24:42.060 --> 00:24:43.140
 us

00:24:43.140 --> 00:24:43.940
 against something

00:24:43.940 --> 00:24:44.820
 that we need

00:24:44.820 --> 00:24:45.200
 to really

00:24:45.200 --> 00:24:46.460
 take heed of.

00:24:47.900 --> 00:24:48.740
 The benefit

00:24:48.740 --> 00:24:49.620
 of deliverance.

00:24:50.200 --> 00:24:50.720
 You see again

00:24:50.720 --> 00:24:51.840
 this dual purpose

00:24:51.840 --> 00:24:52.900
 there's evil men

00:24:52.900 --> 00:24:54.460
 in verses 12 to 15

00:24:54.460 --> 00:24:55.120
 and then you've got

00:24:55.120 --> 00:24:56.100
 this strange woman

00:24:56.100 --> 00:24:57.820
 in 16 through 19.

00:24:59.300 --> 00:25:00.500
 These evil men

00:25:00.500 --> 00:25:01.940
 notice that the first thing

00:25:01.940 --> 00:25:02.620
 said about them

00:25:02.620 --> 00:25:03.800
 is they're talking too

00:25:03.800 --> 00:25:05.960
 but their speech

00:25:05.960 --> 00:25:06.740
 is perverted.

00:25:08.519 --> 00:25:10.040
 It's not the speech

00:25:10.040 --> 00:25:11.700
 of good words

00:25:11.700 --> 00:25:12.420
 and insight

00:25:12.420 --> 00:25:13.880
 it's perversion.

00:25:15.000 --> 00:25:15.740
 These men go from

00:25:15.740 --> 00:25:16.620
 speaking a certain way

00:25:16.620 --> 00:25:17.620
 to acting a certain way.

00:25:17.740 --> 00:25:19.200
 They reject

00:25:19.200 --> 00:25:20.280
 paths of righteousness

00:25:20.279 --> 00:25:23.099
 to walk in ways

00:25:23.099 --> 00:25:23.559
 of darkness.

00:25:24.599 --> 00:25:25.799
 That's bizarre to me.

00:25:26.480 --> 00:25:27.000
 If you give me

00:25:27.000 --> 00:25:27.399
 the choice

00:25:27.399 --> 00:25:28.700
 between a lighted path

00:25:28.700 --> 00:25:29.980
 that has

00:25:29.980 --> 00:25:31.079
 no trip hazards

00:25:31.079 --> 00:25:32.180
 that has a

00:25:32.180 --> 00:25:33.139
 cleanly swept

00:25:33.139 --> 00:25:34.379
 ground

00:25:34.379 --> 00:25:35.299
 or you

00:25:35.299 --> 00:25:36.779
 give me a path

00:25:36.779 --> 00:25:37.559
 that's full of

00:25:37.559 --> 00:25:38.000
 darkness

00:25:38.000 --> 00:25:39.000
 and trip hazards

00:25:39.000 --> 00:25:39.599
 and

00:25:39.599 --> 00:25:40.899
 boogeymen

00:25:40.899 --> 00:25:41.299
 who go

00:25:41.299 --> 00:25:42.220
 thumping the night

00:25:42.220 --> 00:25:43.139
 I'm taking

00:25:43.139 --> 00:25:44.180
 the lighted path.

00:25:45.920 --> 00:25:46.779
 These guys

00:25:46.779 --> 00:25:47.519
 reject it.

00:25:47.519 --> 00:25:51.460
 They reject it.

00:25:54.319 --> 00:25:55.720
 They're morally

00:25:55.720 --> 00:25:56.500
 reprehensible

00:25:56.500 --> 00:25:57.240
 in their speaking.

00:25:58.299 --> 00:25:59.839
 They forsake wisdom.

00:26:00.660 --> 00:26:01.539
 They choose folly.

00:26:03.440 --> 00:26:04.259
 And by choosing

00:26:04.259 --> 00:26:05.299
 the paths of folly

00:26:05.299 --> 00:26:07.139
 they become folly.

00:26:07.599 --> 00:26:08.119
 See that

00:26:08.119 --> 00:26:09.660
 in verse 15?

00:26:10.079 --> 00:26:10.599
 Their paths

00:26:10.599 --> 00:26:11.019
 are crooked

00:26:11.019 --> 00:26:12.200
 and they themselves

00:26:12.200 --> 00:26:13.359
 then are devious.

00:26:13.920 --> 00:26:14.519
 They're bent

00:26:14.519 --> 00:26:15.259
 themselves

00:26:15.259 --> 00:26:16.319
 because they choose

00:26:16.319 --> 00:26:17.420
 bent paths.

00:26:17.519 --> 00:26:20.440
 It's all rooted

00:26:20.440 --> 00:26:21.259
 in a bad heart.

00:26:22.779 --> 00:26:23.700
 They've chosen

00:26:23.700 --> 00:26:24.500
 folly

00:26:24.500 --> 00:26:25.420
 and they rejoice

00:26:25.420 --> 00:26:26.879
 and shout joyfully

00:26:26.879 --> 00:26:27.619
 to do evil.

00:26:28.700 --> 00:26:29.279
 New Testament

00:26:29.279 --> 00:26:29.879
 I think would

00:26:29.879 --> 00:26:31.099
 call them

00:26:31.099 --> 00:26:32.160
 the people

00:26:32.160 --> 00:26:32.759
 the enemies

00:26:32.759 --> 00:26:33.900
 of the cross of Christ

00:26:33.900 --> 00:26:35.839
 in Philippians 3

00:26:35.839 --> 00:26:37.700
 where Paul says

00:26:37.700 --> 00:26:38.299
 that their God

00:26:38.299 --> 00:26:39.039
 is their bellies

00:26:39.039 --> 00:26:40.639
 they glory in their shame

00:26:40.639 --> 00:26:41.440
 and they have hearts

00:26:41.440 --> 00:26:42.180
 and minds

00:26:42.180 --> 00:26:43.440
 set on earthly things.

00:26:45.319 --> 00:26:46.379
 Same category

00:26:46.379 --> 00:26:46.879
 of people.

00:26:47.519 --> 00:26:55.599
 So I think it's

00:26:55.599 --> 00:26:56.240
 for this reason

00:26:56.240 --> 00:26:56.980
 that

00:26:56.980 --> 00:27:00.359
 wisdom has to

00:27:00.359 --> 00:27:01.240
 come into our hearts

00:27:01.240 --> 00:27:02.599
 to deliver us

00:27:02.599 --> 00:27:04.559
 from men like this.

00:27:05.319 --> 00:27:06.279
 There's many paths

00:27:06.279 --> 00:27:06.680
 of evil

00:27:06.680 --> 00:27:08.960
 but there's one way

00:27:08.960 --> 00:27:09.379
 of evil.

00:27:09.900 --> 00:27:10.440
 It's a way

00:27:10.440 --> 00:27:11.240
 that we cannot

00:27:11.240 --> 00:27:13.279
 turn to.

00:27:13.279 --> 00:27:16.559
 I think it's obvious

00:27:16.559 --> 00:27:17.119
 that we can

00:27:17.119 --> 00:27:18.980
 not take too much

00:27:18.980 --> 00:27:19.980
 time to reflect

00:27:19.980 --> 00:27:20.500
 and come up

00:27:20.500 --> 00:27:21.099
 with any number

00:27:21.099 --> 00:27:21.899
 of people

00:27:21.899 --> 00:27:24.240
 and philosophies

00:27:24.240 --> 00:27:24.859
 in this world

00:27:24.859 --> 00:27:25.299
 of ours

00:27:25.299 --> 00:27:27.000
 that endorse

00:27:27.000 --> 00:27:28.240
 this type of living

00:27:28.240 --> 00:27:30.119
 rejecting paths

00:27:30.119 --> 00:27:30.740
 of uprightness

00:27:30.740 --> 00:27:31.299
 for darkness.

00:27:33.019 --> 00:27:34.160
 The Father's appeal

00:27:34.160 --> 00:27:34.420
 is

00:27:34.420 --> 00:27:35.539
 Son,

00:27:35.660 --> 00:27:36.099
 stay away

00:27:36.099 --> 00:27:36.700
 from those.

00:27:36.700 --> 00:27:39.140
 And we see

00:27:39.140 --> 00:27:39.720
 similarly now

00:27:39.720 --> 00:27:41.019
 this strange woman

00:27:41.019 --> 00:27:41.600
 who appears

00:27:41.600 --> 00:27:43.319
 in 16 to 19

00:27:43.319 --> 00:27:46.299
 ESV says

00:27:46.299 --> 00:27:46.799
 forbidden

00:27:46.799 --> 00:27:48.120
 and adulterous.

00:27:48.319 --> 00:27:48.779
 You can see

00:27:48.779 --> 00:27:49.340
 probably there's

00:27:49.340 --> 00:27:50.140
 some footnotes

00:27:50.140 --> 00:27:51.860
 strange foreign woman.

00:27:52.860 --> 00:27:54.140
 Why is she strange?

00:27:54.299 --> 00:27:55.039
 What's foreign

00:27:55.039 --> 00:27:56.039
 about this woman?

00:27:56.160 --> 00:27:56.680
 Is it because

00:27:56.680 --> 00:27:57.779
 she's

00:27:57.779 --> 00:27:58.799
 Syrian

00:27:58.799 --> 00:27:59.920
 and not

00:27:59.920 --> 00:28:01.039
 an Israelite?

00:28:01.039 --> 00:28:01.839
 I don't think

00:28:01.839 --> 00:28:02.359
 that that's

00:28:02.359 --> 00:28:02.879
 what it's

00:28:02.879 --> 00:28:03.740
 speaking about

00:28:03.740 --> 00:28:04.799
 but morally

00:28:04.799 --> 00:28:05.759
 foreign.

00:28:06.740 --> 00:28:07.220
 She's

00:28:07.220 --> 00:28:08.700
 ethically

00:28:08.700 --> 00:28:10.039
 strange.

00:28:11.299 --> 00:28:12.079
 She in the same

00:28:12.079 --> 00:28:12.680
 way has

00:28:12.680 --> 00:28:13.619
 a speech

00:28:13.619 --> 00:28:15.359
 but her words

00:28:15.359 --> 00:28:16.039
 are not

00:28:16.039 --> 00:28:16.980
 perverted.

00:28:17.399 --> 00:28:18.000
 They're smooth.

00:28:18.159 --> 00:28:18.759
 They're flattering.

00:28:19.159 --> 00:28:19.759
 They're slick.

00:28:21.000 --> 00:28:22.019
 They make ears

00:28:22.019 --> 00:28:23.339
 feel nice.

00:28:25.319 --> 00:28:26.039
 This word

00:28:26.039 --> 00:28:26.359
 smooth

00:28:26.359 --> 00:28:27.240
 I find interesting.

00:28:27.399 --> 00:28:27.839
 It's taken

00:28:27.839 --> 00:28:28.460
 from the same

00:28:28.460 --> 00:28:28.980
 word that's

00:28:28.980 --> 00:28:29.659
 used to describe

00:28:29.659 --> 00:28:30.639
 the five stones

00:28:30.640 --> 00:28:31.360
 that David

00:28:31.360 --> 00:28:32.020
 picked out

00:28:32.020 --> 00:28:32.700
 of the brook

00:28:32.700 --> 00:28:33.700
 to sling

00:28:33.700 --> 00:28:34.340
 at Goliath.

00:28:35.460 --> 00:28:36.300
 Really good

00:28:36.300 --> 00:28:37.020
 that stones

00:28:37.020 --> 00:28:38.320
 are aerodynamic

00:28:38.320 --> 00:28:39.180
 and slick

00:28:39.180 --> 00:28:39.820
 and smooth.

00:28:40.500 --> 00:28:41.500
 Really bad

00:28:41.500 --> 00:28:43.380
 when people

00:28:43.380 --> 00:28:44.600
 have words

00:28:44.600 --> 00:28:45.100
 that are smooth.

00:28:46.860 --> 00:28:47.720
 They're deceitful.

00:28:48.620 --> 00:28:49.780
 They're ruinous.

00:28:52.500 --> 00:28:53.960
 Notice in verse 17

00:28:53.960 --> 00:28:55.100
 that this woman

00:28:55.100 --> 00:28:56.620
 is forsaking

00:28:56.620 --> 00:28:57.180
 the companion

00:28:57.180 --> 00:28:58.160
 of her youth.

00:28:58.700 --> 00:28:59.280
 Her spouse.

00:28:59.279 --> 00:29:00.940
 she's forgetting

00:29:00.940 --> 00:29:01.519
 the covenant

00:29:01.519 --> 00:29:02.200
 of her God.

00:29:02.779 --> 00:29:03.579
 She made vows

00:29:03.579 --> 00:29:04.180
 to her husband

00:29:04.180 --> 00:29:05.220
 in front of

00:29:05.220 --> 00:29:06.359
 God

00:29:06.359 --> 00:29:08.240
 and she's

00:29:08.240 --> 00:29:09.619
 forsaking them

00:29:09.619 --> 00:29:10.299
 in order to

00:29:10.299 --> 00:29:10.720
 welcome

00:29:10.720 --> 00:29:11.379
 this

00:29:11.379 --> 00:29:12.500
 adulterous

00:29:12.500 --> 00:29:13.160
 relationship.

00:29:15.000 --> 00:29:15.819
 But notice

00:29:15.819 --> 00:29:16.299
 her end

00:29:16.299 --> 00:29:17.619
 and notice

00:29:17.619 --> 00:29:17.980
 the end

00:29:17.980 --> 00:29:18.379
 of those

00:29:18.379 --> 00:29:19.220
 who go

00:29:19.220 --> 00:29:19.680
 with her.

00:29:20.399 --> 00:29:20.920
 For her house

00:29:20.920 --> 00:29:21.379
 sinks down

00:29:21.379 --> 00:29:21.759
 to death

00:29:21.759 --> 00:29:22.319
 and her paths

00:29:22.319 --> 00:29:23.000
 to the departed.

00:29:23.779 --> 00:29:24.399
 None who go

00:29:24.399 --> 00:29:24.680
 to her

00:29:24.680 --> 00:29:25.319
 come back

00:29:25.319 --> 00:29:27.000
 nor do they

00:29:27.000 --> 00:29:27.680
 regain the paths

00:29:27.680 --> 00:29:28.160
 of life.

00:29:31.080 --> 00:29:32.060
 It's a scary

00:29:32.060 --> 00:29:32.740
 situation

00:29:32.740 --> 00:29:33.340
 friends.

00:29:34.759 --> 00:29:35.539
 It's a way

00:29:35.539 --> 00:29:36.060
 of evil

00:29:36.060 --> 00:29:36.680
 that has

00:29:36.680 --> 00:29:38.120
 men and women

00:29:38.120 --> 00:29:38.600
 on it

00:29:38.600 --> 00:29:39.100
 who are

00:29:39.100 --> 00:29:40.140
 interested

00:29:40.140 --> 00:29:40.620
 in

00:29:40.620 --> 00:29:42.720
 choosing ways

00:29:42.720 --> 00:29:43.500
 that reject

00:29:43.500 --> 00:29:44.820
 God's goodness

00:29:44.820 --> 00:29:46.019
 His righteousness.

00:29:48.019 --> 00:29:48.860
 People who

00:29:48.860 --> 00:29:49.400
 at times

00:29:49.400 --> 00:29:50.180
 may be a lot

00:29:50.180 --> 00:29:50.920
 more compelling

00:29:50.920 --> 00:29:51.680
 to associate

00:29:51.680 --> 00:29:52.480
 with than we

00:29:52.480 --> 00:29:53.640
 may admit.

00:29:55.019 --> 00:29:55.640
 Avoid it.

00:29:55.640 --> 00:29:57.080
 wisdom

00:29:57.080 --> 00:29:57.820
 delivers you

00:29:57.820 --> 00:29:58.480
 from these

00:29:58.480 --> 00:29:59.800
 people.

00:30:00.420 --> 00:30:00.640
 Wisdom

00:30:00.640 --> 00:30:01.300
 delivers you

00:30:01.300 --> 00:30:01.860
 from the

00:30:01.860 --> 00:30:02.400
 way of

00:30:02.400 --> 00:30:02.759
 evil.

00:30:08.980 --> 00:30:09.800
 I think

00:30:09.800 --> 00:30:10.340
 it's helpful

00:30:10.340 --> 00:30:11.120
 in talking

00:30:11.120 --> 00:30:11.780
 about this

00:30:11.780 --> 00:30:12.580
 adulterous

00:30:12.580 --> 00:30:13.300
 briefly to

00:30:13.300 --> 00:30:13.860
 remind us

00:30:13.860 --> 00:30:14.180
 all

00:30:14.180 --> 00:30:15.860
 of Jesus'

00:30:16.120 --> 00:30:16.520
 words

00:30:16.520 --> 00:30:17.900
 in the

00:30:17.900 --> 00:30:18.460
 Gospel of

00:30:18.460 --> 00:30:18.840
 Matthew.

00:30:19.840 --> 00:30:20.180
 He says

00:30:20.180 --> 00:30:20.660
 that if you

00:30:20.660 --> 00:30:21.200
 even look

00:30:21.200 --> 00:30:22.259
 with lust

00:30:22.259 --> 00:30:22.580
 in your

00:30:22.580 --> 00:30:22.860
 heart,

00:30:22.859 --> 00:30:25.119
 you set

00:30:25.119 --> 00:30:25.579
 your eyes

00:30:25.579 --> 00:30:26.579
 on a

00:30:26.579 --> 00:30:26.979
 woman with

00:30:26.979 --> 00:30:27.219
 lust

00:30:27.219 --> 00:30:27.439
 in your

00:30:27.439 --> 00:30:27.599
 heart,

00:30:27.659 --> 00:30:27.799
 you've

00:30:27.799 --> 00:30:28.039
 already

00:30:28.039 --> 00:30:28.399
 committed

00:30:28.399 --> 00:30:28.979
 adultery.

00:30:29.939 --> 00:30:30.679
 First and

00:30:30.679 --> 00:30:31.059
 foremost,

00:30:31.199 --> 00:30:31.399
 it's a

00:30:31.399 --> 00:30:31.879
 hard issue.

00:30:34.279 --> 00:30:34.639
 Wisdom

00:30:34.639 --> 00:30:35.119
 delivers

00:30:35.119 --> 00:30:35.699
 from the

00:30:35.699 --> 00:30:36.219
 flattery

00:30:36.219 --> 00:30:36.559
 and the

00:30:36.559 --> 00:30:37.039
 seduction

00:30:37.039 --> 00:30:37.759
 of adultery.

00:30:39.119 --> 00:30:39.679
 So basically

00:30:39.679 --> 00:30:39.979
 in these

00:30:39.979 --> 00:30:40.399
 benefits,

00:30:40.579 --> 00:30:41.379
 we've seen

00:30:41.379 --> 00:30:42.459
 the progress,

00:30:42.619 --> 00:30:43.079
 the essence

00:30:43.079 --> 00:30:43.579
 of this

00:30:43.579 --> 00:30:44.619
 is get

00:30:44.619 --> 00:30:45.059
 wisdom

00:30:45.059 --> 00:30:47.219
 so you'll

00:30:47.219 --> 00:30:47.579
 know every

00:30:47.579 --> 00:30:48.199
 good path

00:30:48.199 --> 00:30:49.939
 so that

00:30:49.939 --> 00:30:50.240
 you'll be

00:30:50.240 --> 00:30:50.759
 saved from

00:30:50.759 --> 00:30:51.139
 evil.

00:30:51.140 --> 00:30:54.440
 Finally,

00:30:54.660 --> 00:30:55.220
 we look

00:30:55.220 --> 00:30:55.920
 at the

00:30:55.920 --> 00:30:56.620
 summary of

00:30:56.620 --> 00:30:57.259
 the Father's

00:30:57.259 --> 00:30:57.880
 instruction,

00:30:58.280 --> 00:30:59.040
 verses 20

00:30:59.040 --> 00:30:59.620
 to 22.

00:31:00.620 --> 00:31:01.100
 Let me

00:31:01.100 --> 00:31:01.500
 just read

00:31:01.500 --> 00:31:02.040
 these for

00:31:02.040 --> 00:31:02.220
 us.

00:31:02.259 --> 00:31:02.520
 So you

00:31:02.520 --> 00:31:03.020
 will walk

00:31:03.020 --> 00:31:03.240
 in the

00:31:03.240 --> 00:31:03.500
 way of

00:31:03.500 --> 00:31:03.920
 the good

00:31:03.920 --> 00:31:05.320
 and keep

00:31:05.320 --> 00:31:05.620
 to the

00:31:05.620 --> 00:31:06.000
 paths

00:31:06.000 --> 00:31:06.700
 of the

00:31:06.700 --> 00:31:07.020
 righteous.

00:31:08.080 --> 00:31:08.460
 For the

00:31:08.460 --> 00:31:09.160
 upright will

00:31:09.160 --> 00:31:09.860
 inhabit the

00:31:09.860 --> 00:31:10.300
 land and

00:31:10.300 --> 00:31:10.860
 those with

00:31:10.860 --> 00:31:11.400
 integrity

00:31:11.400 --> 00:31:12.380
 will remain

00:31:12.380 --> 00:31:12.780
 in it,

00:31:13.580 --> 00:31:14.240
 but the

00:31:14.240 --> 00:31:14.680
 wicked will

00:31:14.680 --> 00:31:15.060
 be cut

00:31:15.060 --> 00:31:15.400
 off from

00:31:15.400 --> 00:31:15.800
 the land

00:31:15.800 --> 00:31:16.080
 and the

00:31:16.080 --> 00:31:16.600
 treacherous

00:31:16.600 --> 00:31:16.980
 will be

00:31:16.980 --> 00:31:17.220
 rooted

00:31:17.220 --> 00:31:17.700
 out of

00:31:17.700 --> 00:31:17.880
 it.

00:31:21.140 --> 00:31:22.160
 There's

00:31:22.160 --> 00:31:24.120
 two ways

00:31:24.120 --> 00:31:26.720
 displayed here.

00:31:27.320 --> 00:31:27.940
 Only two.

00:31:29.500 --> 00:31:29.860
 The way

00:31:29.860 --> 00:31:30.540
 of moral

00:31:30.540 --> 00:31:31.240
 uprightness,

00:31:31.480 --> 00:31:31.840
 integrity,

00:31:32.440 --> 00:31:32.759
 wisdom,

00:31:33.759 --> 00:31:34.820
 the way

00:31:34.820 --> 00:31:35.980
 of wickedness

00:31:35.980 --> 00:31:37.060
 and treachery

00:31:37.060 --> 00:31:38.000
 and folly.

00:31:39.960 --> 00:31:40.600
 Proverbs

00:31:40.600 --> 00:31:41.920
 is not

00:31:41.920 --> 00:31:42.320
 ultimately

00:31:42.320 --> 00:31:43.200
 concerned about

00:31:43.200 --> 00:31:44.040
 who's going

00:31:44.040 --> 00:31:44.400
 to live

00:31:44.400 --> 00:31:44.740
 and who's

00:31:44.740 --> 00:31:44.960
 going to

00:31:44.960 --> 00:31:46.259
 be thrown

00:31:46.259 --> 00:31:46.540
 out.

00:31:46.620 --> 00:31:46.840
 I don't

00:31:46.840 --> 00:31:47.240
 believe.

00:31:47.460 --> 00:31:48.380
 It's much

00:31:48.380 --> 00:31:48.960
 more concerned

00:31:48.960 --> 00:31:49.460
 about who

00:31:49.460 --> 00:31:50.880
 will live

00:31:50.880 --> 00:31:52.340
 and who

00:31:52.340 --> 00:31:52.840
 will die.

00:31:54.640 --> 00:31:55.220
 I think

00:31:55.220 --> 00:31:55.600
 that's what

00:31:55.600 --> 00:31:56.079
 we see here

00:31:56.079 --> 00:31:56.380
 in verses

00:31:56.380 --> 00:31:57.059
 21 and

00:31:57.059 --> 00:31:57.500
 22.

00:31:58.019 --> 00:31:58.259
 The

00:31:58.259 --> 00:31:58.620
 righteous,

00:31:58.920 --> 00:31:59.019
 the

00:31:59.019 --> 00:31:59.460
 upright,

00:32:00.240 --> 00:32:00.500
 they'll

00:32:00.500 --> 00:32:00.860
 live.

00:32:03.299 --> 00:32:03.759
 The

00:32:03.759 --> 00:32:04.120
 wicked,

00:32:04.680 --> 00:32:05.160
 treacherous,

00:32:05.259 --> 00:32:05.500
 they'll be

00:32:05.500 --> 00:32:06.000
 cut off and

00:32:06.000 --> 00:32:06.240
 they'll be

00:32:06.240 --> 00:32:06.740
 rooted out.

00:32:07.680 --> 00:32:08.039
 They will

00:32:08.039 --> 00:32:08.360
 die.

00:32:10.420 --> 00:32:11.019
 That's why

00:32:11.019 --> 00:32:11.400
 wisdom

00:32:11.400 --> 00:32:12.240
 ultimately is

00:32:12.240 --> 00:32:12.759
 so important

00:32:12.759 --> 00:32:13.319
 because it's

00:32:13.319 --> 00:32:13.880
 a life and

00:32:13.880 --> 00:32:14.200
 death

00:32:14.200 --> 00:32:15.319
 situation

00:32:15.319 --> 00:32:16.620
 that we

00:32:16.620 --> 00:32:16.940
 face.

00:32:18.960 --> 00:32:24.700
 So why

00:32:24.700 --> 00:32:25.279
 seek wisdom

00:32:25.279 --> 00:32:25.740
 and devote

00:32:25.740 --> 00:32:26.380
 the effort

00:32:26.380 --> 00:32:26.740
 to it?

00:32:28.319 --> 00:32:29.000
 Our lives

00:32:29.000 --> 00:32:29.559
 are at stake.

00:32:30.579 --> 00:32:30.980
 Our lives

00:32:30.980 --> 00:32:31.460
 are at stake.

00:32:34.380 --> 00:32:35.019
 So we've

00:32:35.019 --> 00:32:35.299
 looked at

00:32:35.299 --> 00:32:35.900
 this father's

00:32:35.900 --> 00:32:37.039
 appeal to

00:32:37.039 --> 00:32:37.720
 his son for

00:32:37.720 --> 00:32:38.059
 wisdom.

00:32:39.420 --> 00:32:39.940
 It's not

00:32:39.940 --> 00:32:40.799
 son get

00:32:40.799 --> 00:32:41.120
 wisdom.

00:32:42.039 --> 00:32:42.400
 It's not

00:32:42.400 --> 00:32:43.360
 club him over

00:32:43.360 --> 00:32:43.980
 the head and

00:32:43.980 --> 00:32:46.059
 dumb kid get

00:32:46.059 --> 00:32:46.720
 wisdom already.

00:32:47.539 --> 00:32:48.079
 It's an

00:32:48.079 --> 00:32:48.600
 appeal, it's a

00:32:48.599 --> 00:32:49.299
 persuasive

00:32:49.299 --> 00:32:49.879
 argument.

00:32:51.019 --> 00:32:51.359
 He says,

00:32:51.719 --> 00:32:52.119
 you've got to

00:32:52.119 --> 00:32:52.559
 put forth

00:32:52.559 --> 00:32:53.299
 effort, you've

00:32:53.299 --> 00:32:53.819
 got to go get

00:32:53.819 --> 00:32:54.419
 wisdom my

00:32:54.419 --> 00:32:54.679
 son.

00:32:55.659 --> 00:32:56.379
 You hear the

00:32:56.379 --> 00:32:57.119
 emotion, the

00:32:57.119 --> 00:32:58.099
 urgency in my

00:32:58.099 --> 00:32:58.879
 voice.

00:33:00.959 --> 00:33:01.759
 You see the

00:33:01.759 --> 00:33:02.439
 benefits of

00:33:02.439 --> 00:33:02.759
 wisdom.

00:33:03.099 --> 00:33:04.019
 You see what

00:33:04.019 --> 00:33:05.019
 comes your way

00:33:05.019 --> 00:33:06.459
 when you seek

00:33:06.459 --> 00:33:07.539
 it and you find

00:33:07.539 --> 00:33:08.139
 the fear of the

00:33:08.139 --> 00:33:08.639
 Lord and you

00:33:08.639 --> 00:33:09.279
 know every good

00:33:09.279 --> 00:33:09.919
 path and you're

00:33:09.919 --> 00:33:11.099
 delivered from

00:33:11.099 --> 00:33:11.679
 this evil

00:33:11.679 --> 00:33:13.159
 and wickedness.

00:33:15.879 --> 00:33:16.319
 Friends,

00:33:17.399 --> 00:33:17.879
 wisdom is

00:33:17.880 --> 00:33:18.480
 priceless.

00:33:20.300 --> 00:33:21.380
 We cannot

00:33:21.380 --> 00:33:22.360
 esteem it too

00:33:22.360 --> 00:33:22.640
 highly.

00:33:24.000 --> 00:33:24.880
 We cannot

00:33:24.880 --> 00:33:25.620
 gather too

00:33:25.620 --> 00:33:26.240
 much of it.

00:33:26.640 --> 00:33:27.060
 It's not

00:33:27.060 --> 00:33:27.480
 going to weigh

00:33:27.480 --> 00:33:28.000
 us down.

00:33:30.000 --> 00:33:30.740
 It's going to

00:33:30.740 --> 00:33:31.320
 lighten us.

00:33:31.520 --> 00:33:31.860
 It's going to

00:33:31.860 --> 00:33:32.780
 free us to

00:33:32.780 --> 00:33:33.840
 live life well.

00:33:35.440 --> 00:33:36.140
 So let me

00:33:36.140 --> 00:33:36.680
 encourage you,

00:33:37.380 --> 00:33:38.200
 prioritize it

00:33:38.200 --> 00:33:38.420
 well.

00:33:39.680 --> 00:33:40.640
 Prioritize your

00:33:40.640 --> 00:33:41.540
 life so that you

00:33:41.540 --> 00:33:42.280
 might acquire

00:33:42.280 --> 00:33:43.040
 wisdom in

00:33:43.040 --> 00:33:43.400
 abundance.

00:33:44.100 --> 00:33:44.580
 It's that

00:33:44.580 --> 00:33:45.080
 valuable.

00:33:45.079 --> 00:33:46.839
 It deserves

00:33:46.839 --> 00:33:47.379
 that much of

00:33:47.379 --> 00:33:47.899
 our thinking

00:33:47.899 --> 00:33:48.339
 and our

00:33:48.339 --> 00:33:48.779
 lives.

00:33:52.899 --> 00:33:53.720
 I just have

00:33:53.720 --> 00:33:54.899
 three brief

00:33:54.899 --> 00:33:55.480
 points of

00:33:55.480 --> 00:33:56.179
 application to

00:33:56.179 --> 00:33:56.699
 close here.

00:33:57.259 --> 00:33:57.879
 First, I

00:33:57.879 --> 00:33:58.539
 realize that

00:33:58.539 --> 00:33:59.439
 there may be

00:33:59.439 --> 00:34:00.159
 some in this

00:34:00.159 --> 00:34:02.079
 room who do

00:34:02.079 --> 00:34:02.779
 not have a

00:34:02.779 --> 00:34:03.899
 relationship with

00:34:03.899 --> 00:34:04.879
 this God who

00:34:04.879 --> 00:34:05.480
 gives wisdom.

00:34:06.859 --> 00:34:07.639
 And maybe

00:34:07.639 --> 00:34:08.799
 you've been

00:34:08.799 --> 00:34:09.739
 hearing this talk

00:34:09.739 --> 00:34:10.840
 on wisdom and

00:34:10.840 --> 00:34:12.940
 you are compelled

00:34:12.940 --> 00:34:13.500
 to say, well,

00:34:13.500 --> 00:34:14.360
 wisdom sounds

00:34:14.360 --> 00:34:14.820
 pretty good.

00:34:14.900 --> 00:34:15.599
 My life doesn't

00:34:15.599 --> 00:34:17.019
 seem to work

00:34:17.019 --> 00:34:17.760
 out very often

00:34:17.760 --> 00:34:18.159
 and I don't

00:34:18.159 --> 00:34:18.559
 know how to

00:34:18.559 --> 00:34:19.280
 navigate things

00:34:19.280 --> 00:34:19.739
 and I seem

00:34:19.739 --> 00:34:20.300
 to be walking

00:34:20.300 --> 00:34:22.340
 this path with

00:34:22.340 --> 00:34:23.639
 evil men or

00:34:23.639 --> 00:34:24.699
 with this strange

00:34:24.699 --> 00:34:25.039
 woman.

00:34:26.800 --> 00:34:27.780
 Let me encourage

00:34:27.780 --> 00:34:28.380
 you then, my

00:34:28.380 --> 00:34:28.679
 friend.

00:34:29.760 --> 00:34:30.480
 Go to the

00:34:30.480 --> 00:34:30.900
 source of

00:34:30.900 --> 00:34:31.239
 wisdom.

00:34:32.179 --> 00:34:33.000
 Humble yourself

00:34:33.000 --> 00:34:34.119
 to fear the

00:34:34.119 --> 00:34:34.420
 Lord.

00:34:37.579 --> 00:34:39.619
 He will give

00:34:39.619 --> 00:34:41.380
 you a new

00:34:41.380 --> 00:34:42.639
 life, a new

00:34:42.639 --> 00:34:43.019
 heart.

00:34:43.500 --> 00:34:45.599
 New hope and

00:34:45.599 --> 00:34:46.260
 an ability to

00:34:46.260 --> 00:34:46.719
 live your life

00:34:46.719 --> 00:34:47.219
 with wisdom.

00:34:47.340 --> 00:34:47.719
 That's what

00:34:47.719 --> 00:34:50.840
 Jesus did when

00:34:50.840 --> 00:34:51.380
 He hung on the

00:34:51.380 --> 00:34:51.800
 cross.

00:34:53.320 --> 00:34:54.219
 He secured

00:34:54.219 --> 00:34:54.880
 wisdom for

00:34:54.880 --> 00:34:55.300
 His people.

00:34:56.980 --> 00:34:57.559
 He's good.

00:34:58.000 --> 00:34:58.639
 He's so good.

00:34:59.320 --> 00:34:59.960
 You can trust

00:34:59.960 --> 00:35:00.219
 Him with

00:35:00.219 --> 00:35:01.500
 everything and

00:35:01.500 --> 00:35:02.019
 you can bank

00:35:02.019 --> 00:35:02.519
 on the fact

00:35:02.519 --> 00:35:02.900
 that if you

00:35:02.900 --> 00:35:03.519
 come to Him

00:35:03.519 --> 00:35:04.019
 and you bow

00:35:04.019 --> 00:35:04.460
 your knee to

00:35:04.460 --> 00:35:05.599
 Him, He will

00:35:05.599 --> 00:35:06.019
 give you

00:35:06.019 --> 00:35:06.360
 wisdom.

00:35:07.199 --> 00:35:07.780
 You will know

00:35:07.780 --> 00:35:08.380
 how to navigate

00:35:08.380 --> 00:35:10.699
 this life and

00:35:10.699 --> 00:35:11.119
 you will be

00:35:11.119 --> 00:35:11.840
 welcomed into

00:35:11.840 --> 00:35:12.360
 the next.

00:35:12.360 --> 00:35:13.539
 with open

00:35:13.539 --> 00:35:13.920
 arms.

00:35:16.240 --> 00:35:17.039
 For those of

00:35:17.039 --> 00:35:18.039
 us brothers and

00:35:18.039 --> 00:35:18.780
 sisters in this

00:35:18.780 --> 00:35:20.039
 room, let me

00:35:20.039 --> 00:35:20.640
 just ask you

00:35:20.640 --> 00:35:21.320
 this question.

00:35:22.500 --> 00:35:23.140
 Will you

00:35:23.140 --> 00:35:24.079
 today prioritize

00:35:24.079 --> 00:35:26.180
 or reprioritize

00:35:26.180 --> 00:35:28.260
 the obtaining of

00:35:28.260 --> 00:35:28.740
 wisdom and

00:35:28.740 --> 00:35:29.280
 abundance?

00:35:29.280 --> 00:35:29.400
 this?

00:35:31.560 --> 00:35:32.280
 It's for the

00:35:32.280 --> 00:35:32.700
 sake of your

00:35:32.700 --> 00:35:33.200
 families,

00:35:33.460 --> 00:35:34.000
 marriages,

00:35:34.700 --> 00:35:35.200
 friends,

00:35:35.320 --> 00:35:35.940
 your coworkers,

00:35:36.380 --> 00:35:36.860
 your neighbors,

00:35:37.600 --> 00:35:38.120
 those people that

00:35:38.120 --> 00:35:38.540
 you haven't even

00:35:38.540 --> 00:35:39.120
 met yet.

00:35:40.760 --> 00:35:41.660
 For the sake of

00:35:41.660 --> 00:35:42.100
 the Lord,

00:35:42.760 --> 00:35:43.560
 tells you how to

00:35:43.560 --> 00:35:44.140
 live rightly

00:35:44.140 --> 00:35:45.960
 before Him

00:35:45.960 --> 00:35:47.200
 and before man.

00:35:48.400 --> 00:35:48.960
 Will you

00:35:48.960 --> 00:35:49.760
 prioritize it

00:35:49.760 --> 00:35:50.040
 today?

00:35:51.160 --> 00:35:51.880
 That's what this

00:35:51.880 --> 00:35:53.120
 text persuades us

00:35:53.120 --> 00:35:53.460
 to do.

00:35:53.460 --> 00:35:57.139
 Just one final

00:35:57.139 --> 00:35:58.119
 practical way that

00:35:58.119 --> 00:35:58.780
 I think we can do

00:35:58.780 --> 00:35:59.480
 that this morning.

00:36:00.960 --> 00:36:01.840
 I've been looking

00:36:01.840 --> 00:36:02.820
 forward to for a

00:36:02.820 --> 00:36:03.539
 while now the

00:36:03.539 --> 00:36:05.480
 resuming of our

00:36:05.480 --> 00:36:06.880
 sermon series on

00:36:06.880 --> 00:36:07.519
 the Sermon on the

00:36:07.519 --> 00:36:07.699
 Mount.

00:36:08.800 --> 00:36:10.480
 We have in this

00:36:10.480 --> 00:36:11.360
 scripture from

00:36:11.360 --> 00:36:12.340
 Matthew 5 through

00:36:12.340 --> 00:36:15.599
 7 the very

00:36:15.599 --> 00:36:17.679
 words of wisdom

00:36:17.679 --> 00:36:18.360
 incarnate.

00:36:18.360 --> 00:36:21.019
 Jesus tells us

00:36:21.019 --> 00:36:21.599
 how to live

00:36:21.599 --> 00:36:22.360
 rightly as

00:36:22.360 --> 00:36:23.519
 kingdom citizens.

00:36:24.539 --> 00:36:25.140
 And when we get

00:36:25.140 --> 00:36:25.660
 back there,

00:36:25.760 --> 00:36:26.099
 friends,

00:36:26.559 --> 00:36:27.360
 let's together

00:36:27.360 --> 00:36:28.559
 purpose to

00:36:28.559 --> 00:36:29.300
 listen to His

00:36:29.300 --> 00:36:29.780
 words,

00:36:30.180 --> 00:36:31.059
 to hang on

00:36:31.059 --> 00:36:31.260
 them,

00:36:31.760 --> 00:36:32.680
 to find life

00:36:32.680 --> 00:36:33.079
 in them.

00:36:34.340 --> 00:36:35.240
 He tells us

00:36:35.240 --> 00:36:36.099
 that the one who

00:36:36.099 --> 00:36:36.980
 obeys Him,

00:36:37.059 --> 00:36:37.660
 who listens to

00:36:37.660 --> 00:36:38.180
 His commands,

00:36:38.280 --> 00:36:38.800
 is the one who

00:36:38.800 --> 00:36:39.380
 builds his house

00:36:39.380 --> 00:36:40.019
 on a rock.

00:36:40.840 --> 00:36:41.200
 The one who

00:36:41.200 --> 00:36:41.960
 forsakes it

00:36:41.960 --> 00:36:42.820
 is build his

00:36:42.820 --> 00:36:44.120
 house on sand.

00:36:45.360 --> 00:36:46.260
 There's wisdom,

00:36:46.640 --> 00:36:47.360
 there's folly.

00:36:47.360 --> 00:36:49.320
 Jesus has the

00:36:49.320 --> 00:36:50.000
 words of wisdom.

00:36:51.700 --> 00:36:52.579
 Embrace them

00:36:52.579 --> 00:36:54.460
 because they have

00:36:54.460 --> 00:36:54.940
 life.

00:36:56.460 --> 00:36:57.220
 Let's pray.

00:37:00.800 --> 00:37:01.760
 Heavenly Father,

00:37:01.880 --> 00:37:02.519
 we thank You

00:37:02.519 --> 00:37:05.559
 for so kind

00:37:05.559 --> 00:37:07.820
 of a text

00:37:07.820 --> 00:37:08.460
 that would

00:37:08.460 --> 00:37:09.940
 call us

00:37:09.940 --> 00:37:11.539
 to love

00:37:11.539 --> 00:37:12.019
 and adore

00:37:12.019 --> 00:37:12.539
 and pursue

00:37:12.539 --> 00:37:13.019
 wisdom

00:37:13.019 --> 00:37:14.240
 with all of

00:37:14.240 --> 00:37:14.780
 our lives.

00:37:14.840 --> 00:37:15.320
 And we thank

00:37:15.320 --> 00:37:15.980
 You that You

00:37:15.980 --> 00:37:16.519
 didn't just

00:37:16.519 --> 00:37:17.840
 command us,

00:37:17.940 --> 00:37:18.619
 but You laid

00:37:18.619 --> 00:37:19.000
 out these

00:37:19.000 --> 00:37:20.179
 benefits for

00:37:20.179 --> 00:37:20.840
 us and You

00:37:20.840 --> 00:37:21.900
 told us what

00:37:21.900 --> 00:37:22.800
 ultimately is at

00:37:22.800 --> 00:37:23.179
 stake.

00:37:24.159 --> 00:37:24.780
 God, for each

00:37:24.780 --> 00:37:25.159
 of us,

00:37:25.219 --> 00:37:25.860
 would You grow

00:37:25.860 --> 00:37:26.699
 our desire for

00:37:26.699 --> 00:37:27.360
 wisdom more

00:37:27.360 --> 00:37:27.719
 and more

00:37:27.719 --> 00:37:28.960
 for a lifetime.

00:37:30.860 --> 00:37:31.340
 Particularly,

00:37:31.579 --> 00:37:32.079
 Lord, those

00:37:32.079 --> 00:37:33.139
 young people

00:37:33.139 --> 00:37:34.259
 who have an

00:37:34.259 --> 00:37:35.039
 opportunity to

00:37:35.039 --> 00:37:36.840
 live most of

00:37:36.840 --> 00:37:37.480
 their lives

00:37:37.480 --> 00:37:38.739
 from here on

00:37:38.739 --> 00:37:39.139
 out with

00:37:39.139 --> 00:37:39.539
 wisdom.

00:37:40.019 --> 00:37:40.440
 God, would You

00:37:40.440 --> 00:37:42.079
 just make it

00:37:42.079 --> 00:37:43.699
 possible to

00:37:43.699 --> 00:37:44.440
 acquire wisdom

00:37:44.440 --> 00:37:45.059
 from Your

00:37:45.059 --> 00:37:45.380
 mouth.

00:37:46.019 --> 00:37:46.320
 Give us

00:37:46.320 --> 00:37:46.880
 understanding,

00:37:47.000 --> 00:37:47.420
 we pray.

00:37:48.139 --> 00:37:48.619
 In Jesus'

00:37:48.860 --> 00:37:49.639
 name, amen.

00:37:49.639 --> 00:37:49.780
 Amen.