WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.100 Good morning, church. 00:00:03.359 --> 00:00:04.500 My name is Matthew Capone, 00:00:04.560 --> 00:00:07.540 and I'm the pastor here at Cheyenne Mountain Presbyterian Church, 00:00:07.540 --> 00:00:10.120 and it's my joy to bring God's word to you today. 00:00:10.820 --> 00:00:12.580 Special welcome if you're new with us. 00:00:13.099 --> 00:00:16.100 We'd love for you to go to our website at cmpca.net, 00:00:16.140 --> 00:00:19.120 and there will be a pop-up immediately for our digital visitor card. 00:00:19.620 --> 00:00:20.879 We encourage you to fill that out. 00:00:20.940 --> 00:00:23.000 That gives us a chance to connect with you 00:00:23.000 --> 00:00:25.719 and to help you connect with our community here. 00:00:26.800 --> 00:00:28.699 Whether you are new or not, 00:00:28.699 --> 00:00:31.119 I remind you, as I do every week, 00:00:31.219 --> 00:00:34.259 that while we can see numbers, we can't always see names, 00:00:34.299 --> 00:00:37.920 and while you can see me, I can't see you. 00:00:38.000 --> 00:00:40.879 And so I encourage you to make a comment in the comment box 00:00:40.879 --> 00:00:42.480 at the bottom right of the Facebook video. 00:00:42.619 --> 00:00:44.100 You can say something as simple as, 00:00:44.200 --> 00:00:45.439 hello, everyone, or good morning. 00:00:45.899 --> 00:00:47.799 You can share who you're watching with 00:00:47.799 --> 00:00:49.340 or where you're watching from, 00:00:49.859 --> 00:00:52.340 and that will give us a sense of who's here with us 00:00:52.340 --> 00:00:55.120 and also a sense of gathering together 00:00:55.120 --> 00:00:57.299 even as we're separated during this time. 00:00:58.700 --> 00:01:01.080 Today, we're going to start a series for this summer 00:01:01.080 --> 00:01:02.060 in the book of Proverbs. 00:01:02.540 --> 00:01:04.920 And the book of Proverbs is a book in the Old Testament, 00:01:05.100 --> 00:01:08.079 which is the part of the Bible that was written before Jesus came. 00:01:08.680 --> 00:01:11.120 And it's a book that contains Proverbs. 00:01:11.420 --> 00:01:14.260 You probably know that Proverb is a short saying 00:01:14.260 --> 00:01:15.379 that teaches a truth. 00:01:15.780 --> 00:01:17.600 We have these in our culture today. 00:01:17.740 --> 00:01:19.300 You'll hear people say things like this, 00:01:19.780 --> 00:01:20.700 time is money. 00:01:21.400 --> 00:01:23.100 Or you might hear someone say, 00:01:23.260 --> 00:01:25.260 measure twice, cut once. 00:01:25.260 --> 00:01:28.420 And those are short, pithy sayings 00:01:28.420 --> 00:01:30.160 that capture a lot of truth, 00:01:30.240 --> 00:01:32.140 something that people generally agree about. 00:01:32.800 --> 00:01:33.620 Time is money. 00:01:33.920 --> 00:01:35.480 When you spend time on something, 00:01:35.600 --> 00:01:37.120 sometimes you can save that by spending money. 00:01:37.660 --> 00:01:39.080 Measure twice, cut once. 00:01:39.300 --> 00:01:40.380 Planning really matters. 00:01:41.080 --> 00:01:42.200 And if you plan well, 00:01:42.240 --> 00:01:43.740 you won't have to do something over again. 00:01:44.500 --> 00:01:47.280 Now, the book of Proverbs includes these types of sayings, 00:01:47.420 --> 00:01:48.700 and it's not less than that, 00:01:48.740 --> 00:01:50.000 but it's actually much more than that. 00:01:50.000 --> 00:01:51.519 It's a book about wisdom. 00:01:52.159 --> 00:01:55.519 And wisdom is the study of how to live well in this world. 00:01:56.060 --> 00:01:57.659 That's what we're gonna be looking at this morning, 00:01:57.700 --> 00:01:58.400 at the very beginning, 00:01:58.480 --> 00:02:00.620 the introduction to the book of Proverbs. 00:02:00.719 --> 00:02:01.680 Before we jump in, though, 00:02:01.700 --> 00:02:02.939 I wanna point out one thing 00:02:02.939 --> 00:02:05.140 as we're going through this book together as a community. 00:02:05.700 --> 00:02:07.560 The book of Proverbs is a community book. 00:02:08.020 --> 00:02:09.180 It's a group project. 00:02:09.780 --> 00:02:11.680 It's wisdom is something that we work on together. 00:02:11.800 --> 00:02:13.680 And it just so happens that the book of Proverbs 00:02:13.680 --> 00:02:15.520 has 31 chapters in it, 00:02:15.780 --> 00:02:17.740 which is the maximum number of days 00:02:17.740 --> 00:02:19.600 in any month on the calendar. 00:02:20.400 --> 00:02:22.420 So one thing that my family and I did growing up, 00:02:22.480 --> 00:02:23.460 and actually is a practice 00:02:23.460 --> 00:02:26.120 that's been in the church for quite some time, 00:02:26.640 --> 00:02:29.219 is the practice of reading the chapter of Proverbs 00:02:29.219 --> 00:02:30.659 that goes along with the calendar day. 00:02:30.760 --> 00:02:33.600 So for example, if it's the 1st of June, 00:02:33.680 --> 00:02:35.680 you'd read the first chapter of the book of Proverbs. 00:02:35.780 --> 00:02:37.640 If it's the 5th of July, 00:02:37.719 --> 00:02:39.860 you'd read the fifth chapter of the book of Proverbs. 00:02:40.260 --> 00:02:41.600 I encourage you all to consider that, 00:02:41.660 --> 00:02:43.939 doing that as individuals or families during this time. 00:02:44.040 --> 00:02:45.719 It's a wonderful Bible reading program, 00:02:45.719 --> 00:02:49.259 and it's a great way to let the Proverbs sink in. 00:02:49.500 --> 00:02:51.340 Proverbs are something that we have to chew on 00:02:51.340 --> 00:02:53.879 and think about over a long period of time. 00:02:54.099 --> 00:02:56.139 And so I just wanna commend that to you as we begin. 00:02:57.520 --> 00:02:59.180 During this time of quarantine, 00:02:59.379 --> 00:03:00.379 one of the things I've done 00:03:00.379 --> 00:03:02.000 is I signed up for Disney Plus, 00:03:02.400 --> 00:03:05.379 and I've been slowly working through the Star Wars series, 00:03:05.560 --> 00:03:06.639 starting at episode one. 00:03:07.280 --> 00:03:08.639 And if you're familiar with Star Wars, 00:03:08.699 --> 00:03:10.539 of course, you know that the beginning of every movie, 00:03:10.680 --> 00:03:12.759 there's the scrolling text that goes by 00:03:12.759 --> 00:03:15.639 to give you the background information you need to know 00:03:15.639 --> 00:03:17.419 before you enter into the story. 00:03:18.239 --> 00:03:19.780 That's what we're gonna see this morning 00:03:19.780 --> 00:03:20.699 in the book of Proverbs. 00:03:20.859 --> 00:03:22.479 We're going to be looking in chapter one, 00:03:22.799 --> 00:03:23.939 verses one through seven, 00:03:24.159 --> 00:03:25.679 and it's the introduction to the book. 00:03:25.759 --> 00:03:27.639 It's going to give us the paradigm and the framework 00:03:27.639 --> 00:03:30.159 that we need to tackle everything else 00:03:30.159 --> 00:03:32.919 that's going to follow in all 31 of these chapters. 00:03:33.879 --> 00:03:34.979 And so as we come to this, 00:03:35.019 --> 00:03:36.639 we're gonna simply ask a couple of questions. 00:03:36.759 --> 00:03:38.319 First of all, what is wisdom? 00:03:38.319 --> 00:03:40.840 And second, how do we get it? 00:03:42.239 --> 00:03:44.959 What is wisdom and how do we get it? 00:03:45.919 --> 00:03:48.479 It's with those that we're gonna turn to Proverbs chapter one. 00:03:48.599 --> 00:03:51.319 I invite you to turn with me either on a web browser, 00:03:51.560 --> 00:03:53.359 on your computer, you can turn on your phone, 00:03:53.900 --> 00:03:55.599 turn in your Bible, however you do it. 00:03:56.539 --> 00:03:58.199 Remember that this is God's word. 00:03:59.039 --> 00:04:01.780 And Proverbs chapter 30, verse five, 00:04:01.879 --> 00:04:04.699 tells us that every word of God proves true. 00:04:04.699 --> 00:04:08.939 He is a shield to those who take refuge in him. 00:04:09.759 --> 00:04:12.199 Since for that reason that we read now, 00:04:12.599 --> 00:04:13.659 starting at verse one, 00:04:14.979 --> 00:04:18.680 the Proverbs of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel, 00:04:19.719 --> 00:04:21.680 to know wisdom and instruction, 00:04:22.379 --> 00:04:24.639 to understand words of insight, 00:04:25.259 --> 00:04:27.719 to receive instruction in wise dealing, 00:04:28.500 --> 00:04:30.919 in righteousness, justice, and equity, 00:04:31.339 --> 00:04:33.219 to give prudence to the simple, 00:04:33.220 --> 00:04:36.520 knowledge and discretion to the youth. 00:04:37.740 --> 00:04:38.260 Verse five, 00:04:39.080 --> 00:04:41.720 let the wise hear and increase in learning 00:04:41.720 --> 00:04:44.900 and the one who understands obtain guidance. 00:04:45.620 --> 00:04:48.260 To understand a proverb and a saying, 00:04:48.980 --> 00:04:51.300 the words of the wise and their riddles. 00:04:52.560 --> 00:04:55.860 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge. 00:04:56.880 --> 00:04:59.840 Fools despise wisdom and instruction. 00:04:59.839 --> 00:05:02.560 I invite you to pray with me 00:05:02.560 --> 00:05:05.079 as we come to this portion of God's word. 00:05:09.459 --> 00:05:11.759 Our Father in heaven, we praise you 00:05:11.759 --> 00:05:14.599 and we thank you that you promise us 00:05:14.599 --> 00:05:17.059 in James chapter one, verse five, 00:05:17.159 --> 00:05:20.219 that you give wisdom to those who ask. 00:05:20.979 --> 00:05:23.559 We thank you that one of the ways you've given us wisdom 00:05:23.559 --> 00:05:24.959 is through the book of Proverbs. 00:05:24.959 --> 00:05:29.039 And we come now asking for that wisdom and that help, 00:05:29.299 --> 00:05:31.719 that you would send your spirit now to be with us, 00:05:32.180 --> 00:05:35.339 that you would speak to us through your word, 00:05:35.819 --> 00:05:38.319 that you would use it to change us, 00:05:38.759 --> 00:05:40.939 and that you'd grow us up in wisdom. 00:05:42.179 --> 00:05:44.679 We ask most importantly that we would know and see 00:05:44.679 --> 00:05:48.539 and understand Jesus as the ultimate embodiment 00:05:48.539 --> 00:05:50.639 and teacher and guide for us, 00:05:50.699 --> 00:05:51.699 that we can have wisdom, 00:05:51.699 --> 00:05:53.599 but we can only have it in him. 00:05:54.719 --> 00:05:56.000 We ask these things, 00:05:56.159 --> 00:05:58.379 not because we have earned them or deserve them, 00:05:58.839 --> 00:06:01.060 but because we can ask them in Jesus' name. 00:06:01.819 --> 00:06:02.120 Amen. 00:06:05.079 --> 00:06:07.980 The story is often told of a king, 00:06:08.099 --> 00:06:09.879 and some of you may have heard this story before, 00:06:10.000 --> 00:06:12.620 who is presented with a very challenging situation. 00:06:12.620 --> 00:06:14.800 There's two women, 00:06:14.939 --> 00:06:17.280 two prostitutes who live in the same house together, 00:06:17.280 --> 00:06:20.120 and they both give birth to children 00:06:20.120 --> 00:06:21.840 within several days of one another. 00:06:22.319 --> 00:06:23.819 And so they both have these newborns, 00:06:23.840 --> 00:06:25.500 and there's a tragedy that strikes. 00:06:26.480 --> 00:06:28.879 One of them accidentally lays on top of her newborn 00:06:28.879 --> 00:06:29.600 while she's sleeping, 00:06:29.699 --> 00:06:30.639 and the newborn dies. 00:06:31.759 --> 00:06:34.100 Well, no one else is in the house when this happens, 00:06:34.259 --> 00:06:36.500 and the claim is that one of the women, 00:06:36.500 --> 00:06:37.699 the woman whose child dies, 00:06:37.840 --> 00:06:40.560 switches her child with the one who is living. 00:06:41.360 --> 00:06:43.000 And so there's a dispute between them. 00:06:43.240 --> 00:06:44.139 One mother says, 00:06:44.259 --> 00:06:46.680 hey, that child, the live child's actually mine. 00:06:47.300 --> 00:06:48.839 But the other mother claims the same. 00:06:48.899 --> 00:06:50.879 And so both of them are claiming 00:06:50.879 --> 00:06:52.699 that the child who's alive belongs to them, 00:06:52.699 --> 00:06:53.840 and they have to go to this king 00:06:53.840 --> 00:06:55.220 to have the dispute settled. 00:06:56.280 --> 00:06:58.139 Well, there's an incredible challenge, right? 00:06:58.160 --> 00:06:58.879 There's no witnesses. 00:07:00.639 --> 00:07:02.899 Both of the children are around the same age, 00:07:03.439 --> 00:07:06.779 and both women are claiming that it's theirs. 00:07:06.779 --> 00:07:11.359 And so what do you do in that kind of situation? 00:07:11.679 --> 00:07:15.000 Well, this king is a king of great wisdom, 00:07:15.539 --> 00:07:17.059 and so he comes up with a solution. 00:07:17.199 --> 00:07:19.079 He says, well, since we can't agree 00:07:19.079 --> 00:07:20.619 about who this child belongs to, 00:07:20.759 --> 00:07:22.619 I just say we cut the child in half, 00:07:23.059 --> 00:07:24.819 and one half be given to each woman. 00:07:26.079 --> 00:07:27.899 At that point, one of the women says, 00:07:28.000 --> 00:07:29.459 yes, that sounds like a great plan. 00:07:29.579 --> 00:07:30.179 Let's do that. 00:07:30.439 --> 00:07:31.699 And the other one says, no, 00:07:32.000 --> 00:07:33.619 there's no way we can do that. 00:07:33.659 --> 00:07:35.279 Just give the other woman the child 00:07:35.279 --> 00:07:36.539 so that that doesn't have to happen. 00:07:37.819 --> 00:07:39.799 And at that point, the king realizes 00:07:39.799 --> 00:07:41.519 the truth of the situation, right? 00:07:41.579 --> 00:07:44.179 The mother who says, just cut the child in half, 00:07:44.619 --> 00:07:46.719 that's the mother who's not the real mother. 00:07:47.659 --> 00:07:49.919 And the one who says, whatever needs to be done 00:07:49.919 --> 00:07:53.319 for this child to stay alive, that's the true mother. 00:07:53.439 --> 00:07:54.779 And so he resolves the dispute, 00:07:54.919 --> 00:07:57.079 and everyone in the kingdom marvels 00:07:57.079 --> 00:07:58.399 at the wisdom of this king. 00:08:00.119 --> 00:08:02.779 Now, the reason that story probably sounds familiar 00:08:02.779 --> 00:08:04.699 to many of you is it's a story from the Bible. 00:08:04.699 --> 00:08:08.019 It's a story that shows up in 1 Kings 3 00:08:08.019 --> 00:08:10.099 about a man named Solomon. 00:08:10.219 --> 00:08:12.879 He was the third king in the kingdom of Israel. 00:08:13.759 --> 00:08:16.300 And he's the king who had an opportunity 00:08:16.300 --> 00:08:18.399 to receive whatever he asked for. 00:08:19.039 --> 00:08:20.120 And earlier in the chapter, 00:08:20.259 --> 00:08:22.000 God comes to him and says, what do you want? 00:08:23.099 --> 00:08:25.379 And of all the things that Solomon could ask for, 00:08:25.459 --> 00:08:27.699 he tells God, what I want is I want wisdom. 00:08:29.099 --> 00:08:30.800 And so God, impressed by this, 00:08:30.839 --> 00:08:32.279 says you could have asked for many things. 00:08:32.279 --> 00:08:35.259 You could have asked for riches, for wealth, for honor. 00:08:36.159 --> 00:08:37.600 But since you've asked for wisdom, 00:08:37.779 --> 00:08:38.759 I'll give you that, 00:08:39.439 --> 00:08:40.980 and I'll give you everything else as well. 00:08:41.039 --> 00:08:43.159 And in fact, not only will I give you wisdom, 00:08:43.639 --> 00:08:46.399 but I will make you the wisest man who's ever lived. 00:08:46.879 --> 00:08:48.980 The wisest man of anyone who's come before you, 00:08:49.179 --> 00:08:52.259 and the wisest man of anyone who's come after you. 00:08:53.259 --> 00:08:55.159 It's this king, King Solomon, 00:08:55.279 --> 00:08:57.679 that we meet at the very beginning here in chapter one. 00:08:57.679 --> 00:08:59.459 We're told these are the Proverbs of Solomon, 00:08:59.859 --> 00:09:01.239 the son of David, king of Israel. 00:09:01.359 --> 00:09:02.419 And so we know right away 00:09:02.419 --> 00:09:03.679 that we have an authoritative voice. 00:09:04.319 --> 00:09:05.839 This is someone that we should listen to. 00:09:06.259 --> 00:09:07.799 It would be as if you had a book 00:09:07.799 --> 00:09:09.319 that you picked up about investments, 00:09:09.659 --> 00:09:12.379 and you realize this is a book written by Warren Buffett. 00:09:12.479 --> 00:09:15.599 Well, I should probably listen to what he has to say. 00:09:15.679 --> 00:09:16.959 He's a good investor. 00:09:17.719 --> 00:09:19.179 He's one of the greatest investors. 00:09:19.819 --> 00:09:21.740 Here's Solomon, a man who's wise, 00:09:22.459 --> 00:09:23.699 man of the greatest wisdom. 00:09:24.479 --> 00:09:26.479 So there's tremendous credibility there. 00:09:26.480 --> 00:09:29.920 Now, the story from 1 Kings 3 00:09:29.920 --> 00:09:33.560 doesn't just tell us that Solomon has wisdom 00:09:33.560 --> 00:09:34.600 and he has credibility, 00:09:34.940 --> 00:09:37.980 but it gives us an example of what wisdom is. 00:09:38.960 --> 00:09:42.320 Wisdom goes beyond simply just knowing right from wrong, 00:09:42.519 --> 00:09:46.320 and it gets into the skill of working between those two. 00:09:47.340 --> 00:09:48.860 Solomon knew what was right. 00:09:49.100 --> 00:09:49.899 He wanted justice. 00:09:50.379 --> 00:09:52.120 He wanted the mother, the true mother, 00:09:52.120 --> 00:09:53.460 to have the live child. 00:09:53.460 --> 00:09:57.120 And yet wanting those things and knowing those things, 00:09:57.480 --> 00:09:58.320 knowing the right goal, 00:09:58.440 --> 00:10:00.480 knowing right from wrong wasn't enough. 00:10:00.580 --> 00:10:03.100 There was a skill that was necessary 00:10:03.100 --> 00:10:04.660 to navigate that situation. 00:10:04.800 --> 00:10:07.400 And so that highlights one aspect of wisdom for us 00:10:07.400 --> 00:10:09.900 as we're asking this question about what is wisdom. 00:10:10.220 --> 00:10:13.900 Wisdom is commonly defined as skill in the art of living. 00:10:15.500 --> 00:10:17.759 Skill in the art of living. 00:10:17.759 --> 00:10:21.100 Some people have added skill in the art of righteous living 00:10:21.100 --> 00:10:22.860 or godly living. 00:10:23.039 --> 00:10:25.819 It's operating well in God's world. 00:10:25.939 --> 00:10:28.120 It's operating well in the gray areas. 00:10:28.279 --> 00:10:30.919 It's saying, I know what's right and what's wrong, 00:10:31.259 --> 00:10:34.720 and there's this space in between that I need to navigate. 00:10:36.080 --> 00:10:38.799 In fact, that's a situation for many of us. 00:10:39.019 --> 00:10:42.120 Justice Solomon, it wasn't enough for him to know what was right. 00:10:42.200 --> 00:10:43.200 He needed to act within it. 00:10:43.259 --> 00:10:44.100 It's the same for us. 00:10:44.100 --> 00:10:45.500 So often we know what's right and wrong, 00:10:45.960 --> 00:10:48.580 and yet we're presented with very challenging situations. 00:10:49.180 --> 00:10:51.460 For example, you might be someone who's single 00:10:51.460 --> 00:10:53.080 and you want to be married. 00:10:53.379 --> 00:10:55.200 Well, you know right from wrong, right? 00:10:55.220 --> 00:10:56.320 You know there are certain boundaries. 00:10:56.480 --> 00:10:57.440 You know if you're a Christian, 00:10:58.120 --> 00:11:00.620 God has commanded you to only marry other Christians. 00:11:01.420 --> 00:11:02.720 And yet within those boundaries, 00:11:02.720 --> 00:11:04.540 how do you make sure you're actually 00:11:04.540 --> 00:11:06.820 pursuing a relationship that's good? 00:11:07.100 --> 00:11:08.680 How do you choose the right partner? 00:11:10.600 --> 00:11:12.340 Well, you need wisdom, right? 00:11:12.340 --> 00:11:14.440 On the one hand, you could have standards 00:11:14.440 --> 00:11:16.540 and requirements that are unrealistic. 00:11:17.920 --> 00:11:19.820 And so you could end up being single, 00:11:20.480 --> 00:11:21.280 wishing you were married. 00:11:22.259 --> 00:11:24.840 On the other hand, your standards could be too low, right? 00:11:24.879 --> 00:11:26.540 You might marry another Christian, 00:11:26.680 --> 00:11:27.940 but it's a foolish choice, 00:11:28.120 --> 00:11:31.360 and you end up married, wishing you were single. 00:11:33.519 --> 00:11:35.560 And so how do you navigate that kind of decision? 00:11:35.720 --> 00:11:37.060 Well, you need wisdom. 00:11:38.540 --> 00:11:40.360 We could say the same about conflict. 00:11:40.360 --> 00:11:41.960 Do you know that sometimes you have to have 00:11:41.960 --> 00:11:43.860 hard conversations with other people? 00:11:44.300 --> 00:11:45.860 Sometimes you have to engage in conflict. 00:11:46.000 --> 00:11:49.100 Well, how do you decide when it's time to overlook 00:11:49.100 --> 00:11:50.680 something that someone's done against you? 00:11:51.220 --> 00:11:52.980 And how do you decide when it's time to confront it? 00:11:53.000 --> 00:11:55.659 And when you do confront it, how do you confront it? 00:11:55.720 --> 00:11:59.019 Do you do it in a way that's strong and strident? 00:11:59.519 --> 00:12:01.620 Do you do it in a way that's gentle and indirect? 00:12:02.580 --> 00:12:04.539 Do you do it in a way that's direct and clear? 00:12:04.740 --> 00:12:06.379 How do you navigate that kind of situation? 00:12:06.379 --> 00:12:09.799 Well, you need wisdom. 00:12:11.200 --> 00:12:14.279 Maybe you're someone who knows that God has called his people 00:12:14.279 --> 00:12:15.159 to care for the poor. 00:12:16.700 --> 00:12:19.700 And yet you also know there are wise and helpful ways 00:12:19.700 --> 00:12:22.500 of doing that and unwise and unhelpful ways of doing that. 00:12:22.559 --> 00:12:25.320 In fact, that's an issue for us here in Colorado Springs. 00:12:25.360 --> 00:12:28.480 As you drive around and you're parked at a traffic light, 00:12:28.559 --> 00:12:30.840 you may look on the median and see some of those signs 00:12:30.840 --> 00:12:32.720 that are around our town that say, 00:12:32.720 --> 00:12:34.940 please don't give money to panhandlers. 00:12:35.720 --> 00:12:38.940 Give the money, but give it to one of the agencies 00:12:38.940 --> 00:12:39.879 that helps them. 00:12:40.340 --> 00:12:41.639 That's a statement of wisdom. 00:12:42.240 --> 00:12:45.379 That's a way of saying, hey, we all know our goal here. 00:12:45.480 --> 00:12:47.300 We know that we want and are called by God 00:12:47.300 --> 00:12:48.259 to care for the poor. 00:12:49.600 --> 00:12:52.019 And yet in that, we have to navigate it well. 00:12:52.879 --> 00:12:55.360 We need incredible wisdom. 00:12:55.879 --> 00:12:58.000 And so our goal is good in many situations, 00:12:58.000 --> 00:13:00.240 but we need to have strategies and tactics. 00:13:00.240 --> 00:13:02.200 We need to have a plan. 00:13:03.700 --> 00:13:07.620 Wisdom is the study of how to have those strategies 00:13:07.620 --> 00:13:08.480 and those tactics. 00:13:08.659 --> 00:13:10.519 That's what we see here in verses two and three. 00:13:11.240 --> 00:13:14.379 The purpose of this book is to know wisdom and instruction, 00:13:15.000 --> 00:13:16.879 to understand words of insight, 00:13:17.000 --> 00:13:19.879 and to receive instruction in wise dealing. 00:13:20.180 --> 00:13:22.220 All those situations that I just described 00:13:22.220 --> 00:13:25.120 would be situations that require wise dealing. 00:13:26.460 --> 00:13:28.820 They'd be situations that require wisdom. 00:13:28.820 --> 00:13:33.879 And so wisdom helps us navigate the path of life. 00:13:36.180 --> 00:13:38.260 It's our first answer here to what is wisdom. 00:13:38.360 --> 00:13:40.240 It helps us navigate the path of life. 00:13:41.200 --> 00:13:42.940 It doesn't just do that, however. 00:13:43.020 --> 00:13:45.379 It also helps us to stay on the path. 00:13:45.480 --> 00:13:48.580 That's what we see here, the second half of verse three. 00:13:49.540 --> 00:13:52.620 Wisdom is not just this skill in navigating certain situations, 00:13:52.620 --> 00:13:56.120 but there is a component to it about right versus wrong. 00:13:56.120 --> 00:13:58.740 We're receiving instruction here in wise dealing, 00:13:58.899 --> 00:14:00.179 but also, this is verse three, 00:14:00.279 --> 00:14:03.100 in righteousness, justice, and equity. 00:14:04.080 --> 00:14:07.960 So wisdom is involved in knowing what's right and what's wrong. 00:14:08.620 --> 00:14:10.279 It's about navigating the path. 00:14:10.460 --> 00:14:13.960 It's also about staying on the path. 00:14:14.519 --> 00:14:16.279 It's not just good life advice. 00:14:16.279 --> 00:14:18.919 And so we will find a variety of types of advice 00:14:18.919 --> 00:14:21.079 about a variety of situations in the book of Proverbs. 00:14:21.179 --> 00:14:23.339 Some of them will just be how to be wise with your money, 00:14:24.339 --> 00:14:25.959 how to be wise in relationships. 00:14:26.519 --> 00:14:28.919 Some of it will be about avoiding what's wrong. 00:14:29.740 --> 00:14:32.240 We're going to receive many warnings in this book 00:14:32.240 --> 00:14:34.959 from staying out of situations that might lead to temptation. 00:14:36.559 --> 00:14:38.539 And so wisdom helps us to know 00:14:38.539 --> 00:14:40.620 when we put ourselves in a situation 00:14:40.620 --> 00:14:43.079 that isn't necessarily sinful in and of itself, 00:14:43.120 --> 00:14:44.980 but could easily and quickly lead to sin. 00:14:44.980 --> 00:14:48.539 And on the other hand, it's going to help us to know 00:14:48.539 --> 00:14:50.240 how to put ourselves in situations 00:14:50.240 --> 00:14:53.440 that are going to lead to more and more righteousness. 00:14:55.779 --> 00:14:58.460 Wisdom is something that helps us understand 00:14:58.460 --> 00:15:01.639 how to fill the space between what's right and wrong. 00:15:02.379 --> 00:15:04.779 And it's also something that helps us to stay away, 00:15:05.200 --> 00:15:06.920 far away from what's wrong. 00:15:08.060 --> 00:15:11.100 We then see that wisdom here is for everyone. 00:15:11.340 --> 00:15:14.560 Verse four, it's for the simple and for the youth. 00:15:15.580 --> 00:15:18.000 But it's also verse five for the wise. 00:15:18.820 --> 00:15:23.080 And so everyone needs to learn what's here in this book. 00:15:23.680 --> 00:15:27.340 We'll also see, and this is in verses two and six, 00:15:27.420 --> 00:15:29.800 that there's a skill even to reading the book of Proverbs. 00:15:30.360 --> 00:15:32.300 We'll talk about this more as we continue, 00:15:32.500 --> 00:15:34.879 but verse two, understand words of insight. 00:15:35.420 --> 00:15:37.320 Verse six, understand a proverb and a saying, 00:15:37.440 --> 00:15:38.720 the words of the wise and their riddles. 00:15:38.800 --> 00:15:41.019 In other words, there's a good and helpful 00:15:41.019 --> 00:15:42.799 and wise way to read Proverbs, 00:15:42.960 --> 00:15:44.659 and there's a foolish way to read them. 00:15:45.199 --> 00:15:46.699 And so our goal as we go along 00:15:46.699 --> 00:15:49.100 is going to be to read them in a way that's wise, 00:15:49.199 --> 00:15:51.879 that interprets them as they're meant to be read. 00:15:51.879 --> 00:15:56.179 And so that gives us our first answer here. 00:15:56.259 --> 00:15:56.840 What is wisdom? 00:15:56.980 --> 00:15:59.879 Wisdom is the skill, skill in the art of living. 00:16:00.080 --> 00:16:02.220 It's navigating the path of right, 00:16:02.679 --> 00:16:04.820 and it's staying far away from what's wrong. 00:16:05.820 --> 00:16:08.639 It's critical in all areas of our life. 00:16:08.720 --> 00:16:10.120 And so that raises our next question. 00:16:10.279 --> 00:16:13.019 If wisdom is so important, so critical 00:16:13.019 --> 00:16:15.899 to navigating what God has given us, 00:16:15.899 --> 00:16:17.240 how do we get it? 00:16:19.340 --> 00:16:20.720 How do we get wisdom? 00:16:20.899 --> 00:16:22.500 Well, thankfully, the author of Proverbs 00:16:22.500 --> 00:16:23.799 doesn't leave us to wonder. 00:16:23.939 --> 00:16:24.980 We're told, verse seven, 00:16:25.679 --> 00:16:28.480 the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge. 00:16:29.379 --> 00:16:32.539 Fools despise wisdom and instruction. 00:16:33.419 --> 00:16:34.659 Now, if you're familiar with the Bible, 00:16:34.759 --> 00:16:35.620 you know that this phrase, 00:16:35.740 --> 00:16:37.899 the fear of the Lord appears over and over, 00:16:38.159 --> 00:16:40.360 and that raises the question of what it actually means. 00:16:40.559 --> 00:16:42.559 First of all, we know what it doesn't mean. 00:16:42.559 --> 00:16:47.239 The fear of the Lord is not this great fear 00:16:47.239 --> 00:16:50.439 of God's wrath and destruction and punishment. 00:16:50.659 --> 00:16:54.479 We know that because we're told in 1 John 4, verse 18, 00:16:54.579 --> 00:16:56.419 that perfect love casts out fear. 00:16:56.979 --> 00:16:58.879 And the fear that's being talked about in that passage 00:16:58.879 --> 00:17:00.599 is the fear of judgment. 00:17:01.279 --> 00:17:03.079 The reason that it's not the fear of judgment 00:17:03.079 --> 00:17:04.679 is because the fear of the Lord 00:17:04.679 --> 00:17:06.259 is for people who belong to God. 00:17:07.079 --> 00:17:09.059 And people who belong to God 00:17:09.059 --> 00:17:12.740 know that Jesus has paid the penalty for their sin. 00:17:12.799 --> 00:17:15.039 And so they don't have to fear that punishment. 00:17:16.220 --> 00:17:19.099 However, there is a real type of fear. 00:17:19.659 --> 00:17:22.119 And so if we know that's what it doesn't mean, 00:17:22.619 --> 00:17:24.379 we have to look into what the fear of the Lord 00:17:24.379 --> 00:17:25.259 actually does mean. 00:17:25.339 --> 00:17:27.460 This phrase appears almost 20 times 00:17:27.460 --> 00:17:28.319 in the book of Proverbs. 00:17:28.399 --> 00:17:29.019 And when it appears, 00:17:29.119 --> 00:17:31.480 there seems to be several things that are emphasized. 00:17:31.799 --> 00:17:34.359 First of all, the fear of the Lord 00:17:34.359 --> 00:17:38.319 includes this hatred of and turning away from evil. 00:17:39.059 --> 00:17:41.839 We see that in Proverbs 3, verse 7, 00:17:42.399 --> 00:17:44.619 as well as chapter 8, verse 13. 00:17:44.779 --> 00:17:47.899 People who fear the Lord love what God loves 00:17:47.899 --> 00:17:49.559 and they hate what God hates. 00:17:50.839 --> 00:17:52.740 There's another element to the fear of the Lord 00:17:52.740 --> 00:17:54.099 though that's emphasized even more. 00:17:54.179 --> 00:17:56.559 In fact, we see it in this verse, verse 7. 00:17:56.720 --> 00:17:58.500 Fools despise wisdom and instruction, 00:17:59.339 --> 00:18:02.019 which means that people who fear the Lord, what? 00:18:03.139 --> 00:18:04.899 Well, they love wisdom and instruction. 00:18:06.139 --> 00:18:07.799 So people who fear the Lord 00:18:07.799 --> 00:18:09.019 are people who are humble. 00:18:10.200 --> 00:18:11.220 They're teachable. 00:18:12.079 --> 00:18:14.859 They desire to learn and be taught by God. 00:18:15.359 --> 00:18:17.619 In fact, one of the characteristics of the fool, 00:18:17.899 --> 00:18:19.059 as it states here in verse 7, 00:18:19.419 --> 00:18:20.940 is they're not open to being taught. 00:18:22.139 --> 00:18:23.099 And so the book of Proverbs, 00:18:23.359 --> 00:18:25.279 learning wisdom, growing in wisdom, 00:18:25.579 --> 00:18:27.559 requires an acknowledgement, an admission, 00:18:27.680 --> 00:18:30.079 a confession that we're not as wise as we need to be. 00:18:30.079 --> 00:18:35.919 And that the wisdom we need is wisdom that comes from God. 00:18:37.059 --> 00:18:40.759 One definition of fear of the Lord that I find helpful is this. 00:18:40.839 --> 00:18:43.939 It's simply a way of talking about one's attitude toward God, 00:18:44.500 --> 00:18:49.240 an attitude of submission, respect, dependence, and worship. 00:18:49.240 --> 00:18:52.180 So that submission and that respect, 00:18:52.460 --> 00:18:53.900 that submitting to what God says, 00:18:53.980 --> 00:18:56.120 it's that loving of what's good and hating what's evil. 00:18:56.819 --> 00:18:57.640 It's a dependence, 00:18:57.900 --> 00:19:00.480 knowing that God's the one who provides what we need, 00:19:00.519 --> 00:19:01.640 and it's worship as well. 00:19:01.779 --> 00:19:04.960 Fear of the Lord is recognizing God's worthiness and his holiness. 00:19:06.299 --> 00:19:08.019 That's what leads us to worship him, 00:19:08.120 --> 00:19:10.319 and that's what leads us to follow him. 00:19:10.380 --> 00:19:13.120 And so we can describe a God-fearing person in this way, 00:19:13.220 --> 00:19:14.819 someone who fears God, 00:19:15.299 --> 00:19:17.299 believes that God really does know what's best. 00:19:17.299 --> 00:19:23.299 A person who fears God makes it their goal to stay far away from sin. 00:19:24.180 --> 00:19:26.680 They're not trying to get away with as much as possible. 00:19:26.779 --> 00:19:29.559 They're not trying to get as close to the line as they can 00:19:29.559 --> 00:19:30.500 without doing what's wrong. 00:19:30.579 --> 00:19:34.139 Instead, they're pursuing wholeheartedly what's good and what's right. 00:19:35.480 --> 00:19:37.680 And they do it because of their love for God, 00:19:38.200 --> 00:19:39.720 and also because their knowledge 00:19:39.720 --> 00:19:41.940 that even though we don't have fear of God's punishment, 00:19:42.639 --> 00:19:44.119 God disciplines his children. 00:19:44.119 --> 00:19:48.979 People who fear the Lord are more concerned with what God thinks 00:19:48.979 --> 00:19:50.039 than what other people think. 00:19:50.099 --> 00:19:53.079 And so when there's peer pressure to do something 00:19:53.079 --> 00:19:54.939 that God doesn't approve of, 00:19:55.039 --> 00:19:56.199 the man or the woman, 00:19:56.419 --> 00:19:58.159 the boy or the girl who fears the Lord, 00:19:58.599 --> 00:19:59.500 will stand strong 00:19:59.500 --> 00:20:02.879 because their fear of the Lord is greater 00:20:02.879 --> 00:20:04.399 than the fear of man. 00:20:06.139 --> 00:20:07.719 Now, if that's the fear of the Lord, 00:20:07.819 --> 00:20:08.519 second, we have to know, 00:20:08.719 --> 00:20:11.179 how does the fear of the Lord relate to wisdom? 00:20:11.180 --> 00:20:15.060 And this is a point that can be challenging for many of us 00:20:15.060 --> 00:20:16.220 because as we think about wisdom, 00:20:16.340 --> 00:20:17.120 we have to acknowledge, 00:20:17.340 --> 00:20:19.640 as we talk about skill in these various areas, 00:20:19.779 --> 00:20:21.299 there are people who don't know God, 00:20:21.360 --> 00:20:22.360 who don't fear the Lord, 00:20:22.420 --> 00:20:24.140 who seem to have that type of skill. 00:20:24.680 --> 00:20:27.440 There are people who don't fear the Lord, 00:20:28.140 --> 00:20:30.880 who seem to know the right words to say at the right time. 00:20:31.759 --> 00:20:33.580 There are people who don't fear the Lord, 00:20:33.680 --> 00:20:36.060 who seem to know how to manage money well. 00:20:36.059 --> 00:20:40.500 And so how can we say that without the fear of the Lord, 00:20:40.579 --> 00:20:41.359 there's no wisdom? 00:20:43.119 --> 00:20:45.200 Well, I want you to think about it this way. 00:20:45.279 --> 00:20:46.039 Many years ago, 00:20:46.299 --> 00:20:49.379 I led a small group of high school guys 00:20:49.379 --> 00:20:50.679 at the church I was at at the time, 00:20:50.859 --> 00:20:52.559 and I had a running joke with them. 00:20:53.419 --> 00:20:54.240 I would tell them, 00:20:54.299 --> 00:20:56.159 you know, when you're out and about, 00:20:56.500 --> 00:20:57.419 when you're a young man, 00:20:57.559 --> 00:20:58.299 when you're dating, 00:20:58.740 --> 00:21:00.159 you have to make sure 00:21:00.159 --> 00:21:02.359 if you're dating a woman that she fears the Lord. 00:21:03.199 --> 00:21:04.119 And I would tell them, 00:21:04.219 --> 00:21:06.219 there's one way that you figure this out. 00:21:06.259 --> 00:21:06.919 It's very important. 00:21:07.439 --> 00:21:09.500 The first date, you just ask them. 00:21:10.339 --> 00:21:11.399 You just straight up say, 00:21:11.740 --> 00:21:12.619 do you fear the Lord? 00:21:14.139 --> 00:21:15.339 Now, that was a joke 00:21:15.339 --> 00:21:17.359 because that's a terrible idea. 00:21:17.919 --> 00:21:18.979 It's one of the last things 00:21:18.979 --> 00:21:20.000 you want to do on a first date. 00:21:20.059 --> 00:21:21.119 It's way too intense. 00:21:21.519 --> 00:21:23.559 It's not a helpful way of determining 00:21:23.559 --> 00:21:25.399 if someone actually loves God, right? 00:21:25.419 --> 00:21:27.240 You look at what they do and not what they say. 00:21:27.779 --> 00:21:30.359 And so it was a joke in between us, 00:21:30.439 --> 00:21:32.000 and they love to bring it up to me 00:21:32.000 --> 00:21:32.980 and ask me about it 00:21:32.980 --> 00:21:34.259 and mention it from time to time. 00:21:34.940 --> 00:21:37.000 But there was a sense in which it wasn't a joke. 00:21:37.579 --> 00:21:39.359 I was making a serious point to them, 00:21:39.400 --> 00:21:40.000 which was this. 00:21:40.380 --> 00:21:42.359 It doesn't matter how beautiful 00:21:42.359 --> 00:21:43.660 or attractive someone is. 00:21:43.880 --> 00:21:46.440 It doesn't matter how skillful they are, 00:21:46.500 --> 00:21:46.920 what they do. 00:21:46.980 --> 00:21:49.220 It doesn't matter how pleasant they are to be around. 00:21:50.180 --> 00:21:51.640 If they don't fear God, 00:21:52.440 --> 00:21:53.480 you're not dating them. 00:21:53.539 --> 00:21:54.480 They're not dating material. 00:21:55.660 --> 00:21:58.619 None of those other things are relevant in any way. 00:21:58.619 --> 00:21:59.599 Those things matter 00:21:59.599 --> 00:22:03.159 only if you know that this is someone 00:22:03.159 --> 00:22:05.759 who shares your love and commitment to God. 00:22:07.119 --> 00:22:09.419 The same is true for wisdom. 00:22:10.939 --> 00:22:15.119 It doesn't matter how wise someone might appear to be. 00:22:15.379 --> 00:22:17.299 It doesn't matter what skill they might have 00:22:17.299 --> 00:22:18.699 in relationships with other people. 00:22:18.779 --> 00:22:21.039 It doesn't matter how good they are at managing money. 00:22:21.299 --> 00:22:23.699 It doesn't matter if they have their anger under control 00:22:23.699 --> 00:22:25.839 and their emotional life is well-ordered. 00:22:25.839 --> 00:22:28.240 If they don't fear the Lord, 00:22:28.720 --> 00:22:30.859 they are not wise 00:22:30.859 --> 00:22:34.359 in the way that the Bible speaks about wisdom. 00:22:37.059 --> 00:22:38.919 If you don't fear the Lord, 00:22:39.579 --> 00:22:42.159 everything else is irrelevant, right? 00:22:42.199 --> 00:22:43.299 You're not dating that person. 00:22:44.259 --> 00:22:46.359 If someone doesn't fear the Lord, 00:22:46.599 --> 00:22:48.039 everything else is irrelevant. 00:22:48.599 --> 00:22:49.899 They are not wise. 00:22:51.099 --> 00:22:53.720 And this is for several reasons. 00:22:53.720 --> 00:22:55.940 Many of you know, 00:22:56.559 --> 00:22:58.160 some of you live in this area, 00:22:58.240 --> 00:22:59.819 that on the Broadmoor Bluffs part of town, 00:22:59.920 --> 00:23:00.940 on Broadmoor Bluffs Drive, 00:23:01.019 --> 00:23:03.940 there are houses that have had to be torn down. 00:23:04.640 --> 00:23:06.779 And the reason these houses had to be torn down 00:23:06.779 --> 00:23:09.100 is that they were standing on an area 00:23:09.100 --> 00:23:10.920 that was susceptible to landslides. 00:23:12.220 --> 00:23:13.940 And so while these houses 00:23:13.940 --> 00:23:16.120 might be beautiful from the outside, 00:23:16.940 --> 00:23:19.559 while they might have many wonderful elements to them, 00:23:19.559 --> 00:23:23.500 the foundation makes it a house 00:23:23.500 --> 00:23:24.279 not that's beautiful, 00:23:24.279 --> 00:23:26.179 but that's incredibly dangerous. 00:23:27.079 --> 00:23:29.779 Having a landslide as the foundation of your house 00:23:29.779 --> 00:23:31.639 is a recipe for disaster. 00:23:32.179 --> 00:23:33.700 And so there might be many elements 00:23:33.700 --> 00:23:35.379 of a great house there. 00:23:35.899 --> 00:23:37.599 We might have granite countertops. 00:23:38.000 --> 00:23:40.539 There might be gorgeous crown molding in the house. 00:23:40.619 --> 00:23:42.159 The paint might've been done 00:23:42.159 --> 00:23:44.079 in a way that's wonderful and impressive. 00:23:44.519 --> 00:23:45.960 There might be an amazing layout. 00:23:46.039 --> 00:23:47.319 It might be well furnished. 00:23:47.319 --> 00:23:49.079 We might enter that house 00:23:49.079 --> 00:23:50.919 and feel welcome and hospitality. 00:23:52.759 --> 00:23:55.740 And yet if the foundation is falling apart, 00:23:56.559 --> 00:23:57.700 nothing else matters. 00:23:58.899 --> 00:24:02.439 That house is actually destructive. 00:24:02.659 --> 00:24:03.279 It's dangerous. 00:24:04.779 --> 00:24:07.799 There might be some external elements of wisdom 00:24:07.799 --> 00:24:09.299 in someone's life. 00:24:10.220 --> 00:24:13.000 But if their foundation is not built 00:24:13.000 --> 00:24:14.220 on the fear of the Lord, 00:24:14.319 --> 00:24:15.980 on the love of God and obedience, 00:24:15.980 --> 00:24:17.880 that worship and respect 00:24:17.880 --> 00:24:19.180 and submission and dependence, 00:24:19.920 --> 00:24:23.240 there might be some appearance of wisdom, 00:24:23.360 --> 00:24:25.420 but there is no true wisdom there. 00:24:25.519 --> 00:24:28.579 They are actually headed to a place of destruction. 00:24:32.420 --> 00:24:34.339 And the same is true of wisdom. 00:24:34.480 --> 00:24:36.900 No matter how competent you are in life, 00:24:37.900 --> 00:24:39.680 outside of the fear of the Lord, 00:24:39.680 --> 00:24:41.680 you are not wise. 00:24:41.680 --> 00:24:42.240 Wise. 00:24:46.480 --> 00:24:50.519 There were warnings as early as 1974 00:24:50.519 --> 00:24:54.019 that this was not a smart area of town 00:24:54.019 --> 00:24:55.140 to be building houses in. 00:24:56.200 --> 00:24:57.920 And yet builders continued, right? 00:25:00.000 --> 00:25:02.240 They continued in spite of the warnings, 00:25:02.799 --> 00:25:05.120 not paying them any heed. 00:25:06.299 --> 00:25:08.960 The warning here from the book of Proverbs is for us. 00:25:08.960 --> 00:25:12.740 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of the wisdom. 00:25:13.680 --> 00:25:15.299 And if that's not our foundation, 00:25:16.480 --> 00:25:18.360 then nothing else matters. 00:25:20.680 --> 00:25:22.440 Now, as you're listening, you may be thinking, 00:25:22.799 --> 00:25:25.980 okay, it sounds like I can live a great life now. 00:25:26.519 --> 00:25:28.779 It's just that something in the future won't end well. 00:25:29.539 --> 00:25:31.059 There will be a time in this life 00:25:31.059 --> 00:25:32.920 where I can still use these principles 00:25:32.920 --> 00:25:34.920 that maybe are taught in the book of Proverbs. 00:25:35.019 --> 00:25:37.220 I can still figure out how to have good relationships. 00:25:37.220 --> 00:25:40.120 I can figure out how to be successful in business. 00:25:40.700 --> 00:25:42.160 And I can just disagree 00:25:42.160 --> 00:25:44.660 about whether the foundation is good or not. 00:25:44.720 --> 00:25:45.500 I don't fear the Lord, 00:25:45.640 --> 00:25:47.120 but I can still live a wise life. 00:25:48.259 --> 00:25:50.680 Well, it's actually worse than that. 00:25:51.579 --> 00:25:53.120 It's not just that these houses 00:25:53.120 --> 00:25:54.720 had dangerous foundations 00:25:54.720 --> 00:25:57.759 that one day could lead to disaster and destruction. 00:25:58.500 --> 00:26:00.220 It's also that that disastrous foundation 00:26:00.759 --> 00:26:03.279 threatened the houses even while they were standing. 00:26:03.279 --> 00:26:07.240 One family described their experience this way. 00:26:07.339 --> 00:26:09.619 Cracks began to appear in the house. 00:26:11.000 --> 00:26:12.859 Then as the foundation was sort of shifting, 00:26:12.980 --> 00:26:13.559 they got to a point 00:26:13.559 --> 00:26:16.639 where they couldn't open doors or windows. 00:26:17.619 --> 00:26:18.200 In other words, 00:26:18.259 --> 00:26:20.039 the wrong foundation affected everything. 00:26:20.180 --> 00:26:22.019 It's not that there was this beautiful house 00:26:22.019 --> 00:26:23.079 with a bad foundation, 00:26:23.599 --> 00:26:26.220 but there was a house with a bad foundation, 00:26:26.359 --> 00:26:28.639 and so it was compromised in every way. 00:26:28.640 --> 00:26:31.320 It was dangerous in every way. 00:26:31.920 --> 00:26:33.480 There was a hole that began to develop 00:26:33.480 --> 00:26:35.280 in the basement of this house. 00:26:36.800 --> 00:26:38.800 The same is true for us as well. 00:26:38.900 --> 00:26:40.360 If we don't fear God, 00:26:40.759 --> 00:26:43.220 but we fear man, 00:26:43.740 --> 00:26:46.620 the structure of our lives 00:26:46.620 --> 00:26:48.820 will be compromised in every way. 00:26:51.100 --> 00:26:53.460 And this can happen in a variety of situations. 00:26:53.600 --> 00:26:54.380 If we don't fear God, 00:26:54.440 --> 00:26:55.620 but fear man, for example, 00:26:55.619 --> 00:26:57.500 there will come a time 00:26:57.500 --> 00:26:59.519 where we won't be able to stand for what's right. 00:27:00.099 --> 00:27:01.039 We won't be able, 00:27:01.219 --> 00:27:03.119 we won't be capable of choosing wisdom 00:27:03.119 --> 00:27:06.039 because we care more about what others think 00:27:06.039 --> 00:27:07.939 than what we know we need to do. 00:27:09.699 --> 00:27:13.119 We'll also be vulnerable to the foolishness around us. 00:27:13.179 --> 00:27:15.099 I've highlighted that there are people 00:27:15.099 --> 00:27:16.559 who are not Christians 00:27:16.559 --> 00:27:18.039 who have some aspects of wisdom, 00:27:19.039 --> 00:27:20.839 and yet they live in a culture 00:27:20.839 --> 00:27:22.219 that's filled with foolishness. 00:27:22.299 --> 00:27:23.899 And so we might see certain areas 00:27:23.900 --> 00:27:25.220 that reflect wisdom, 00:27:25.300 --> 00:27:26.860 but there's always going to be areas 00:27:26.860 --> 00:27:28.240 of incredible foolishness. 00:27:28.340 --> 00:27:28.920 For example, 00:27:29.560 --> 00:27:30.180 in our culture, 00:27:30.280 --> 00:27:31.780 you might be able to receive 00:27:31.780 --> 00:27:33.019 the advice you need 00:27:33.019 --> 00:27:35.380 to be wise in certain ways about money. 00:27:37.400 --> 00:27:39.220 And yet if you don't fear the Lord, 00:27:40.060 --> 00:27:41.780 you will receive only foolishness 00:27:42.300 --> 00:27:43.740 or mostly foolishness 00:27:43.740 --> 00:27:45.580 when it comes to sexuality. 00:27:47.720 --> 00:27:48.920 Even worse than that, 00:27:49.480 --> 00:27:51.600 maybe you have some appearance of wisdom 00:27:51.599 --> 00:27:52.639 in dealing with money, 00:27:53.059 --> 00:27:55.799 but you really won't be wise in your money. 00:27:55.879 --> 00:27:57.459 You'll have it for the wrong end. 00:27:58.759 --> 00:28:01.139 You won't be able to shake the anxiety 00:28:01.139 --> 00:28:02.219 that surrounds it. 00:28:03.179 --> 00:28:05.079 And you won't understand the balance 00:28:05.079 --> 00:28:07.059 that you can only learn from Jesus 00:28:07.059 --> 00:28:07.859 when he says, 00:28:08.079 --> 00:28:09.919 do not store up treasure on earth 00:28:09.919 --> 00:28:12.099 where moth and rust destroy, 00:28:13.059 --> 00:28:15.279 but store it up in heaven 00:28:15.279 --> 00:28:17.000 where they cannot destroy. 00:28:17.000 --> 00:28:20.640 So the fear of the Lord 00:28:20.640 --> 00:28:22.559 is the beginning of wisdom. 00:28:23.539 --> 00:28:24.980 It's the true foundation 00:28:24.980 --> 00:28:27.400 and it's the only foundation. 00:28:28.400 --> 00:28:32.079 Without a true and right fear of God, 00:28:33.079 --> 00:28:34.960 the structures of our life 00:28:34.960 --> 00:28:37.640 will be compromised in every way. 00:28:39.680 --> 00:28:41.940 And so we must have wisdom. 00:28:41.940 --> 00:28:46.660 We can only get it from this fear. 00:28:49.759 --> 00:28:51.759 Now, in the Old Testament, 00:28:51.920 --> 00:28:52.460 as I mentioned, 00:28:52.539 --> 00:28:53.880 that was written before the time 00:28:53.880 --> 00:28:55.220 that Jesus came. 00:28:55.640 --> 00:28:57.580 And it's a book that tells us 00:28:57.580 --> 00:28:59.220 it comes in verse one from Solomon 00:28:59.220 --> 00:29:00.620 who we discussed earlier. 00:29:01.900 --> 00:29:03.799 But we as people who live 00:29:03.799 --> 00:29:05.200 after the writing of the New Testament, 00:29:05.360 --> 00:29:07.220 people who live after Jesus came, 00:29:07.360 --> 00:29:09.920 have the privilege of knowing even more 00:29:09.920 --> 00:29:12.019 than the original readers of this book did. 00:29:12.120 --> 00:29:13.580 We know Jesus' words 00:29:13.580 --> 00:29:16.039 in Matthew chapter 12, verse 42, 00:29:16.220 --> 00:29:17.120 where he tells us 00:29:17.120 --> 00:29:18.600 that the queen of the south 00:29:18.600 --> 00:29:20.860 will rise up at the judgment 00:29:20.860 --> 00:29:22.519 with this generation and condemn it. 00:29:23.060 --> 00:29:25.340 For she came from the ends of the earth 00:29:25.340 --> 00:29:26.720 to hear the wisdom of Solomon 00:29:26.720 --> 00:29:27.940 and behold, 00:29:28.080 --> 00:29:30.140 something greater than Solomon is here. 00:29:31.300 --> 00:29:33.100 Jesus is referencing another story 00:29:33.100 --> 00:29:33.940 from the Old Testament 00:29:33.940 --> 00:29:35.120 about a time that a queen 00:29:35.120 --> 00:29:36.820 came to King Solomon 00:29:36.820 --> 00:29:38.220 to ask him all her questions. 00:29:38.220 --> 00:29:39.579 That's the queen of the south 00:29:39.579 --> 00:29:40.400 that's referenced here. 00:29:41.140 --> 00:29:41.539 And he's saying, 00:29:41.700 --> 00:29:42.460 look, this woman traveled 00:29:42.460 --> 00:29:43.299 from the ends of the earth 00:29:43.299 --> 00:29:44.180 to hear from Solomon, 00:29:44.860 --> 00:29:46.480 who was the wisest man. 00:29:46.700 --> 00:29:47.519 I, Jesus, 00:29:48.460 --> 00:29:49.860 am even wiser 00:29:49.860 --> 00:29:51.519 and greater than Solomon. 00:29:52.759 --> 00:29:54.640 And so how much more 00:29:54.640 --> 00:29:56.880 should you come to me 00:29:56.880 --> 00:29:58.079 for wisdom? 00:29:58.720 --> 00:30:00.819 We learn in John chapter one, 00:30:00.900 --> 00:30:01.339 for example, 00:30:01.360 --> 00:30:02.440 that the world is created 00:30:02.440 --> 00:30:03.420 through Jesus. 00:30:04.059 --> 00:30:05.160 And so it shouldn't surprise us 00:30:05.160 --> 00:30:06.240 in any way 00:30:06.240 --> 00:30:07.759 that he has all wisdom. 00:30:08.240 --> 00:30:09.240 If wisdom is the skill 00:30:09.240 --> 00:30:10.599 of operating in this world, 00:30:10.940 --> 00:30:12.039 the one who made it 00:30:12.039 --> 00:30:12.920 should be the one 00:30:12.920 --> 00:30:13.940 who's able to tell us 00:30:13.940 --> 00:30:15.480 how to function well within it. 00:30:16.680 --> 00:30:17.660 He's also the one 00:30:17.660 --> 00:30:18.240 who enables 00:30:18.240 --> 00:30:19.200 and empowers 00:30:19.200 --> 00:30:20.440 our fear of the Lord. 00:30:21.559 --> 00:30:22.599 If fear of the Lord 00:30:22.599 --> 00:30:24.220 is not fear of punishment, 00:30:25.220 --> 00:30:26.039 then we need someone 00:30:26.039 --> 00:30:27.640 to take our punishment for us. 00:30:28.799 --> 00:30:29.819 Jesus allows us 00:30:29.819 --> 00:30:31.559 to have that true fear 00:30:31.559 --> 00:30:32.160 of the Lord 00:30:32.160 --> 00:30:33.700 because he's the one 00:30:33.700 --> 00:30:34.860 who takes our punishment. 00:30:36.400 --> 00:30:37.420 And so we're able 00:30:37.420 --> 00:30:39.300 to have the fear of the Lord 00:30:39.300 --> 00:30:39.920 that looks like 00:30:39.920 --> 00:30:40.620 the relationship 00:30:40.620 --> 00:30:42.120 of a child to their parent, 00:30:42.220 --> 00:30:43.180 looking to them for wisdom, 00:30:43.380 --> 00:30:44.340 fearing their displeasure, 00:30:44.500 --> 00:30:45.400 knowing their punishment, 00:30:45.720 --> 00:30:47.180 but never having to worry 00:30:47.180 --> 00:30:48.100 about their relationship 00:30:48.100 --> 00:30:48.779 being broken. 00:30:49.660 --> 00:30:51.080 We have that relationship 00:30:51.080 --> 00:30:51.640 with God, 00:30:51.740 --> 00:30:52.340 that potential, 00:30:52.480 --> 00:30:53.080 that opportunity 00:30:53.080 --> 00:30:54.000 to fear him 00:30:54.000 --> 00:30:55.060 through Jesus 00:30:55.060 --> 00:30:55.920 who allows us 00:30:55.920 --> 00:30:56.840 to be his brothers 00:30:56.840 --> 00:30:58.540 and to be adopted 00:30:58.540 --> 00:30:59.480 as God's sons 00:30:59.480 --> 00:31:00.579 and his daughters. 00:31:02.140 --> 00:31:02.880 And so he makes it 00:31:02.880 --> 00:31:03.539 so that our fear 00:31:03.539 --> 00:31:05.299 cannot be of punishment, 00:31:05.980 --> 00:31:07.000 but of God 00:31:07.000 --> 00:31:07.880 as our true 00:31:07.880 --> 00:31:09.220 and great Father. 00:31:10.799 --> 00:31:11.839 Colossians chapter 2, 00:31:11.940 --> 00:31:12.339 verse 3, 00:31:12.460 --> 00:31:12.920 tells us, 00:31:13.120 --> 00:31:14.200 in Jesus are hidden 00:31:14.200 --> 00:31:15.880 all the treasures 00:31:15.880 --> 00:31:16.940 of wisdom and knowledge. 00:31:18.339 --> 00:31:18.900 And then finally, 00:31:19.000 --> 00:31:20.819 in 1 Corinthians chapter 1, 00:31:21.400 --> 00:31:22.000 we're told 00:31:22.000 --> 00:31:23.000 that the foolishness 00:31:23.000 --> 00:31:23.400 of God 00:31:23.400 --> 00:31:24.339 is wiser than men 00:31:24.339 --> 00:31:25.420 and the weakness of God 00:31:25.420 --> 00:31:27.079 is stronger than men. 00:31:28.079 --> 00:31:28.819 That's a reference 00:31:28.819 --> 00:31:29.339 ultimately 00:31:29.339 --> 00:31:30.399 to Jesus' death. 00:31:31.000 --> 00:31:31.259 That, 00:31:31.399 --> 00:31:32.119 as one man 00:31:32.119 --> 00:31:32.720 has put it, 00:31:33.359 --> 00:31:34.519 there's a wisdom 00:31:34.519 --> 00:31:35.039 that the world 00:31:35.039 --> 00:31:36.019 doesn't understand 00:31:36.019 --> 00:31:37.199 in the fact 00:31:37.199 --> 00:31:38.000 that God uses 00:31:38.000 --> 00:31:38.639 an instrument 00:31:38.639 --> 00:31:39.399 of torture, 00:31:39.779 --> 00:31:40.339 the cross, 00:31:40.740 --> 00:31:41.919 as an instrument 00:31:41.919 --> 00:31:42.599 of salvation. 00:31:44.079 --> 00:31:44.659 And so Jesus 00:31:44.659 --> 00:31:45.439 is our wisdom. 00:31:46.439 --> 00:31:46.919 He's the one 00:31:46.919 --> 00:31:47.339 who knows 00:31:47.339 --> 00:31:48.439 how this world operates. 00:31:49.159 --> 00:31:49.539 He's the one 00:31:49.539 --> 00:31:50.099 who gives us 00:31:50.099 --> 00:31:50.639 that wisdom. 00:31:51.139 --> 00:31:51.439 He's the one 00:31:51.439 --> 00:31:52.139 who allows us 00:31:52.139 --> 00:31:53.679 to have true fear 00:31:53.679 --> 00:31:54.379 of the Lord. 00:31:55.319 --> 00:31:56.119 And he shows 00:31:56.119 --> 00:31:56.699 that wisdom 00:31:56.699 --> 00:31:57.279 for us 00:31:57.279 --> 00:31:58.079 and enables it 00:31:58.079 --> 00:31:58.959 and empowers it 00:31:58.960 --> 00:31:59.940 in his death 00:31:59.940 --> 00:32:00.440 for us 00:32:00.440 --> 00:32:01.340 on the cross. 00:32:02.840 --> 00:32:04.000 And so as we come 00:32:04.000 --> 00:32:04.799 to the book 00:32:04.799 --> 00:32:05.440 of Proverbs, 00:32:06.700 --> 00:32:07.120 as we come 00:32:07.120 --> 00:32:07.740 to this section, 00:32:07.860 --> 00:32:08.620 we need the fear 00:32:08.620 --> 00:32:09.079 of the Lord 00:32:09.079 --> 00:32:09.559 and we need 00:32:09.559 --> 00:32:10.480 to not be fools. 00:32:10.620 --> 00:32:11.500 We don't despise 00:32:11.500 --> 00:32:12.400 wisdom and instruction. 00:32:12.519 --> 00:32:12.720 Instead, 00:32:12.860 --> 00:32:13.740 we confess 00:32:13.740 --> 00:32:14.440 our need 00:32:14.440 --> 00:32:14.920 for wisdom, 00:32:15.019 --> 00:32:15.700 for true wisdom. 00:32:16.539 --> 00:32:17.180 We confess 00:32:17.180 --> 00:32:18.180 that we're foolish, 00:32:18.500 --> 00:32:19.500 that we don't know 00:32:19.500 --> 00:32:20.620 everything that we need 00:32:20.620 --> 00:32:20.840 to know. 00:32:20.900 --> 00:32:21.319 We confess 00:32:21.319 --> 00:32:22.200 our sin 00:32:22.200 --> 00:32:24.440 that without 00:32:24.440 --> 00:32:25.579 Jesus and his help 00:32:25.579 --> 00:32:26.440 and his forgiveness, 00:32:26.440 --> 00:32:28.019 we're unable 00:32:28.019 --> 00:32:28.980 not only to access 00:32:28.980 --> 00:32:30.200 wisdom but to want it. 00:32:31.820 --> 00:32:32.480 And so we come 00:32:32.480 --> 00:32:33.240 to Jesus letting 00:32:33.240 --> 00:32:34.420 him be the wise 00:32:34.420 --> 00:32:36.000 man who guides us, 00:32:36.039 --> 00:32:36.720 the one who gives 00:32:36.720 --> 00:32:37.259 us the fear 00:32:37.259 --> 00:32:37.720 of the Lord. 00:32:38.960 --> 00:32:40.180 And God's promise 00:32:40.180 --> 00:32:41.299 to us is that 00:32:41.299 --> 00:32:42.200 he gives it to those 00:32:42.200 --> 00:32:42.660 who ask. 00:32:42.759 --> 00:32:43.620 In James 1, 00:32:44.140 --> 00:32:44.880 verse 5, 00:32:44.920 --> 00:32:45.340 that we're told 00:32:45.340 --> 00:32:46.220 that those who ask 00:32:46.220 --> 00:32:46.779 for wisdom 00:32:46.779 --> 00:32:47.820 receive it. 00:32:47.900 --> 00:32:48.160 It says, 00:32:48.299 --> 00:32:48.799 if any of you 00:32:48.799 --> 00:32:49.400 lacks wisdom, 00:32:49.539 --> 00:32:50.440 let him ask God 00:32:50.440 --> 00:32:51.580 who gives generously 00:32:51.580 --> 00:32:52.820 to all without reproach 00:32:52.820 --> 00:32:53.420 and it will be given 00:32:53.420 --> 00:32:53.660 him. 00:32:55.180 --> 00:32:56.259 And so we trust 00:32:56.259 --> 00:32:57.039 Jesus' wisdom 00:32:57.039 --> 00:32:58.539 and we ask 00:32:58.539 --> 00:32:59.620 him for wisdom. 00:33:01.180 --> 00:33:02.180 What is wisdom 00:33:02.180 --> 00:33:03.900 and how do we get it? 00:33:05.360 --> 00:33:06.500 Wisdom is skill 00:33:06.500 --> 00:33:07.460 in the art of living. 00:33:07.640 --> 00:33:08.820 It's operating well 00:33:08.820 --> 00:33:09.960 within the boundaries 00:33:09.960 --> 00:33:11.080 that God's given us. 00:33:11.900 --> 00:33:13.160 It's also staying 00:33:13.160 --> 00:33:14.400 within the boundaries 00:33:14.400 --> 00:33:15.680 that God's given us. 00:33:16.440 --> 00:33:17.380 And we get it 00:33:17.380 --> 00:33:18.300 through the fear 00:33:18.300 --> 00:33:19.100 of the Lord, 00:33:19.240 --> 00:33:20.180 knowing that that is 00:33:20.180 --> 00:33:21.759 the and the only 00:33:21.759 --> 00:33:23.080 foundation for wisdom 00:33:23.079 --> 00:33:23.819 in our lives. 00:33:23.879 --> 00:33:25.500 A fear that is 00:33:25.500 --> 00:33:26.079 we're given 00:33:26.079 --> 00:33:27.299 through and by 00:33:27.299 --> 00:33:28.480 Jesus Christ. 00:33:29.659 --> 00:33:30.419 Jesus tells us 00:33:30.419 --> 00:33:31.139 a story about 00:33:31.139 --> 00:33:31.939 being wise 00:33:31.939 --> 00:33:33.099 and foolish 00:33:33.099 --> 00:33:35.159 in Matthew chapter 7, 00:33:35.220 --> 00:33:36.919 verses 24 through 27. 00:33:37.799 --> 00:33:38.539 Jesus says, 00:33:38.699 --> 00:33:39.279 everyone then 00:33:39.279 --> 00:33:40.319 who hears these words 00:33:40.319 --> 00:33:40.879 of mine 00:33:40.879 --> 00:33:42.159 and does them 00:33:42.159 --> 00:33:42.740 will be like 00:33:42.740 --> 00:33:44.000 a wise man 00:33:44.000 --> 00:33:45.460 who built his house 00:33:45.460 --> 00:33:45.960 on the rock. 00:33:46.619 --> 00:33:47.879 And the rain fell 00:33:47.879 --> 00:33:48.720 and the floods came 00:33:48.720 --> 00:33:49.559 and the winds blew 00:33:49.559 --> 00:33:50.599 and beat on that house, 00:33:50.980 --> 00:33:52.079 but it did not fall 00:33:52.079 --> 00:33:52.859 because it had been 00:33:52.859 --> 00:33:54.059 founded on the rock. 00:33:55.119 --> 00:33:55.899 And everyone 00:33:55.899 --> 00:33:57.399 who hears these words 00:33:57.399 --> 00:33:57.839 of mine 00:33:57.839 --> 00:33:58.799 and does not do them 00:33:58.799 --> 00:33:59.279 will be like 00:33:59.279 --> 00:34:00.299 a foolish man 00:34:00.299 --> 00:34:01.759 who built his house 00:34:01.759 --> 00:34:02.419 on the sand. 00:34:03.039 --> 00:34:04.379 And the rain fell 00:34:04.379 --> 00:34:06.019 and the floods came 00:34:06.019 --> 00:34:07.639 and the winds blew 00:34:07.639 --> 00:34:08.759 and beat against that house 00:34:08.759 --> 00:34:09.380 and it fell 00:34:09.380 --> 00:34:10.639 and great 00:34:10.639 --> 00:34:12.219 was the fall of it. 00:34:15.159 --> 00:34:16.400 Proverbs chapter 30, 00:34:16.659 --> 00:34:17.639 verse 5, 00:34:18.380 --> 00:34:19.159 tells us that 00:34:19.159 --> 00:34:20.340 every word of God 00:34:20.340 --> 00:34:21.059 proves true. 00:34:23.200 --> 00:34:24.420 He is a shield 00:34:24.420 --> 00:34:25.300 to those 00:34:25.300 --> 00:34:26.059 who take refuge 00:34:26.059 --> 00:34:26.460 in him. 00:34:27.840 --> 00:34:29.019 And so we come 00:34:29.019 --> 00:34:30.000 running to Jesus 00:34:30.000 --> 00:34:30.860 knowing that 00:34:30.860 --> 00:34:31.940 he is our wisdom, 00:34:32.940 --> 00:34:33.300 knowing that 00:34:33.300 --> 00:34:33.900 he's the one 00:34:33.900 --> 00:34:34.620 that we fear 00:34:34.620 --> 00:34:35.900 and he's the one 00:34:35.900 --> 00:34:36.820 who brings us to God. 00:34:37.140 --> 00:34:38.039 So we ask him 00:34:38.039 --> 00:34:38.820 for that knowing 00:34:38.820 --> 00:34:39.740 and trusting 00:34:39.740 --> 00:34:40.620 that he will provide 00:34:40.620 --> 00:34:41.300 it for us, 00:34:42.059 --> 00:34:42.720 growing us up 00:34:42.720 --> 00:34:43.260 in the wisdom 00:34:43.260 --> 00:34:44.860 that we so desperately need. 00:34:46.440 --> 00:34:47.340 I invite you now 00:34:47.340 --> 00:34:47.980 to pray with me. 00:34:47.980 --> 00:34:52.420 Our Father in heaven, 00:34:52.559 --> 00:34:53.599 we thank you 00:34:53.599 --> 00:34:55.480 that you do give wisdom 00:34:55.480 --> 00:34:56.340 to those who ask. 00:34:56.940 --> 00:34:57.780 And so we come again 00:34:57.780 --> 00:34:58.679 asking you for it, 00:34:58.679 --> 00:34:59.199 that you'd give us 00:34:59.199 --> 00:35:00.219 the wisdom to know 00:35:00.219 --> 00:35:02.659 that we can't find life 00:35:02.659 --> 00:35:03.740 outside of you 00:35:03.740 --> 00:35:05.840 and you'd give us 00:35:05.840 --> 00:35:06.380 the fear 00:35:06.380 --> 00:35:07.400 that causes us 00:35:07.400 --> 00:35:08.119 to pursue 00:35:08.119 --> 00:35:10.139 that life from you. 00:35:11.760 --> 00:35:12.719 We thank you 00:35:12.719 --> 00:35:13.480 that we don't have 00:35:13.480 --> 00:35:14.420 to pull ourselves up 00:35:14.420 --> 00:35:15.579 by our bootstraps, 00:35:15.579 --> 00:35:16.900 but instead we trust 00:35:16.900 --> 00:35:17.880 and look to Jesus 00:35:17.880 --> 00:35:20.019 in whom all the treasures 00:35:20.019 --> 00:35:20.579 of wisdom 00:35:20.579 --> 00:35:21.480 and knowledge 00:35:21.480 --> 00:35:22.119 are found. 00:35:23.059 --> 00:35:24.199 And so we ask these things 00:35:24.199 --> 00:35:24.840 in his name. 00:35:25.639 --> 00:35:25.920 Amen. 00:35:28.500 --> 00:35:29.880 As we end our time together, 00:35:29.880 --> 00:35:30.480 I'm going to leave you 00:35:30.480 --> 00:35:31.219 with a benediction. 00:35:31.340 --> 00:35:32.239 Remember that a benediction 00:35:32.239 --> 00:35:33.239 is a good word 00:35:33.239 --> 00:35:33.779 from God. 00:35:34.480 --> 00:35:35.360 It's a word 00:35:35.360 --> 00:35:36.099 that's true 00:35:36.099 --> 00:35:37.259 in a world 00:35:37.259 --> 00:35:38.079 filled with words 00:35:38.079 --> 00:35:38.819 that are not true. 00:35:39.639 --> 00:35:40.159 It's tradition 00:35:40.159 --> 00:35:40.719 for the minister 00:35:40.719 --> 00:35:41.719 to hold up his hand 00:35:41.719 --> 00:35:42.900 to send out God's blessing 00:35:42.900 --> 00:35:43.659 on God's people 00:35:43.659 --> 00:35:44.879 and for God's people 00:35:44.879 --> 00:35:45.859 to hold out their hands 00:35:45.859 --> 00:35:47.460 to receive God's blessing. 00:35:48.219 --> 00:35:49.179 So I invite you, 00:35:49.299 --> 00:35:50.839 even as we're separated physically, 00:35:51.079 --> 00:35:52.579 to hold out your hands now 00:35:52.579 --> 00:35:54.179 and hear God's good word 00:35:54.179 --> 00:35:54.579 over you 00:35:54.579 --> 00:35:55.799 from Numbers chapter 6. 00:35:56.839 --> 00:35:57.879 The Lord bless you 00:35:57.879 --> 00:35:58.559 and keep you. 00:35:59.399 --> 00:36:00.480 The Lord make his face 00:36:00.480 --> 00:36:01.639 to shine upon you 00:36:01.639 --> 00:36:02.779 and be gracious to you. 00:36:03.559 --> 00:36:04.619 The Lord lift up 00:36:04.619 --> 00:36:05.659 his countenance upon you 00:36:05.659 --> 00:36:06.460 and give you peace 00:36:06.460 --> 00:36:07.699 now and forever. 00:36:08.480 --> 00:36:09.139 So go now 00:36:09.139 --> 00:36:10.000 in the grace and peace 00:36:10.000 --> 00:36:10.980 of our Lord and Savior, 00:36:11.139 --> 00:36:11.779 Jesus Christ. 00:36:12.339 --> 00:36:12.619 Amen. 00:36:14.399 --> 00:36:15.379 Thank you all so much 00:36:15.379 --> 00:36:16.179 for joining us 00:36:16.179 --> 00:36:17.299 and we look forward 00:36:17.299 --> 00:36:18.299 to seeing you very soon. 00:36:18.299 --> 00:36:18.339 Amen.