WEBVTT

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 Amen.

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 Good morning.

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 Let me make my annual summer announcement.

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 It's warm today.

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 It will get warmer before the end of the...

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 If you need to get up, move to the back, find a fan, get a drink of water to keep you awake

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 and to allow you to continue to listen, please feel free to do so.

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 If you are suffering, I know it is cooler downstairs, so if you need to move downstairs, there are

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 speakers as well down there.

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 So, this is but a foretaste of our summer, friends, but the Lord is with us.

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 So, let me pray for us before we look into God's Word this morning.

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 Please pray with me.

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 Lord, we come to you this morning and we acknowledge how much we need you.

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 Lord, even as we have sung of your goodness, sung of the remarkable mercy you have shown

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 us in Christ, Lord, we are reminded of how often we lose sight of that in our daily lives.

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 And Lord, as we come to your Word this morning, we pray that by your Word you would remind us

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 of the kind of God you are, Lord, and that you would help us, Lord, that in our hearts and

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 in our minds, in our words and in our actions, Lord, that we would respond to all that you

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 have done.

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 Lord, with faith.

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 God, I ask this morning for your help as I speak.

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 And Lord, I pray that even though it is warm, Lord, you will help us by your Spirit to listen

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 to your Word.

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 Lord, to allow your Word to do the work that you want to do in us this morning.

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 We pray these things in Jesus' name.

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 Amen.

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 Amen.

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 So, I'm not much of a handyman.

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 I have tools.

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 I don't always know how to use them well.

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 But the other week, my son got into his eight-year-old creative mind, a thought that he wanted to

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 make a spaceship out of wood.

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 And we have scrap wood in our garage, as maybe some of you do.

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 And so, we pulled out the scrap wood, and I said, okay, here's what you do.

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 You design it.

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 I'll cut it.

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 You build it.

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 We have glue.

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 We have nails.

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 That's about as far as we go.

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 But he loves it.

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 And so, he drew some designs on a couple of pieces of scrap plywood and said, dad, can

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 you cut this?

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 And so, I make the first cut, and that was pretty easy.

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 And then the second one, gosh, I just couldn't get it right.

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 The blade just kept binding.

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 And I thought, what is going on here?

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 And then I looked more carefully, and I realized, well, this plywood has a grain.

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 And I am cutting against the grain of the plywood, and it makes it a whole lot harder to do what

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 I want to do.

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 Friends, as we continue our series in Proverbs this morning, and as we talk about biblical

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 wisdom, what we're going to look at this morning is a bit of an understanding of how

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 wisdom could be defined as living according to the grain of God, his character, and how he has

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 made the world.

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 We don't always do this very well.

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 If you stop and think about it, our lives are full of frustrations, difficulties, challenges.

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 All of this, like my saw trying to cut on the angle against the grain of the wood.

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 Our lives feel like that sometimes.

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 C.S. Lewis writes, searchingly, I think, about how we think about this.

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 He's writing, he uses the word morality, but I think that wisdom could be imported to have

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 the same meaning in this passage.

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 I want to read this so that you can think about how you respond to the idea that wisdom

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 is living according to the grain of how God has made the world.

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 Lewis writes this, there's a story about a schoolboy who was asked what he thought God

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 was like.

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 He replied that as far as he could make out, God was the sort of person who's always snooping

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 around to see if anyone was enjoying himself and then trying to stop it.

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 Now, I'm afraid that this sort of idea in the world, I'm afraid that this is the sort

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 of idea that the world morality raises in a good many people's minds.

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 Something that interferes, something that stops you from having a good time.

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 Lewis then says this, in reality, moral rules are directions for running the human machine.

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 Every moral rule is there to prevent a breakdown or strain or friction in the running of that

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 machine.

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 That is why the rules at first seem to be constantly interfering with our natural inclination.

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 When you are being taught to use any machine, the instructor keeps on saying, no, no, don't

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 do it like that.

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 Because, of course, there are all sorts of things that may look right, look all right, and seem

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 to you the natural way of treating the machine, but do not really work.

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 And friends, as we come to this question of wisdom and how we relate to it, I think this

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 is the problem that we have.

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 And that is that though maybe we would say we want God's wisdom, when push comes to shove,

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 we think we know better, often, how the machine ought to work.

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 We often believe that we have an idea of how we ought to live, and we don't understand and

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 don't respond to God properly in the midst of it.

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 Think about the storyline of the Bible for a minute.

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 Is this not the very root of the very beginning of the fall in Genesis 3?

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 God, having created a great world, gave Adam and Eve instructions, this is how you are to

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 live, walk in it.

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 I give you a few instructions on how this world is meant to live for your good.

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 But when the tempter came, he said, did God really say?

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 And underneath it, he was saying, is God's rules really good?

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 Maybe there's another way.

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 Rather than submitting to God and receiving from him wisdom, maybe you can go out on your

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 own.

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 Maybe you can be like God, knowing good and evil on your own, apart from him.

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 Sometimes our resistance to wisdom is willful.

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 I don't want to do it that way.

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 I want to do it my way.

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 That's what my child thinks when he picks up a knife and says, Daddy, let me cut the vegetables.

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 No, you don't know how to do it yet.

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 You will hurt yourself.

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 No, Daddy, I want to do it my way.

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 Daddy, can I use the circular saw?

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 No, you don't know how to use it yet.

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 Sometimes it's lack of understanding.

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 We don't know how to live.

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 Maybe those of you who are parents feel like this.

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 What does wisdom look like?

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 Maybe you're in a dating relationship.

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 What does wisdom look like?

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 But in the midst of it, it's easy for our hearts to not turn from God, but away to ourselves,

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 to the world, to many other sources of wisdom.

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 Our passage this morning, as we continue in Proverbs, we have yet another call, yet another

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 summons to embrace wisdom to embrace wisdom and to see it as good and right.

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 But here in this passage, we see a bit more of an explanation as well as to why.

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 Why is wisdom worth pursuing?

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 So we're going to look at that this morning.

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 If you want to turn with me in your pew Bibles to Proverbs chapter 8.

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 It's page 532 in your pew Bibles.

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 Proverbs chapter 8.

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 Most of this chapter is an apology.

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 We'll see verse 6 all the way through verse 31 is the reasons why with the beginning and

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 the end, setting our scene, and then giving a final call to respond.

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 So that's…

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 We're going to look at it along this way.

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 So read with me, if you will, Proverbs chapter 8.

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 We're going to read it in sections and look at them in sections.

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 So Proverbs chapter 8, verses 1 through 5.

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 Does not wisdom call?

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 Does not understanding raise her voice on the heights beside the way?

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 At the crossroads, she takes her stand.

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 Beside the gates in front of the town, at the entrance of the portals, she cries aloud,

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 To you, O man, I call, and my cry is to the children of man.

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 O simple ones, learn prudence.

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 O fools, learn sense.

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 In the introduction, the writer here sets up wisdom as a personified…

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 A town crier, if you will.

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 And one of the things that's striking here is that she is going to particular places

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 where she is going to be most heard.

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 She is in the public square where she is going to have the greatest opportunity to interact

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 with those in the city.

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 If you see it, look again.

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 On the heights beside the way, think of a pathway through Israel where she's standing

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 up on a higher place so that when she speaks, the whole area around will be able to hear

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 her.

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 Or she goes to the crossroads where multiple people will meet her along the way.

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 Or she goes to the gates of the town, which is where, if you know, the elders, the wise

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 of the town would tend to sit.

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 And also it would be the funnel whereby everyone coming in and out of the town would have to

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 walk.

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 So wisdom is calling out to say, I have a platform in the public square and I'm crying

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 to you.

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 My appeal is to all of you.

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 And the appeal is also, interestingly, aimed at a particular kind of people.

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 If you look at verses 4 and 5.

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 First of all, I want to say this is not a gender-specific call.

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 Wisdom is not for men and not for women in the Bible.

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 Wisdom is for all people.

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 The writer here is using gender as a relational literary form to explain this interaction.

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 But we need to make sure that we don't misunderstand it and think, oh wait, is God saying wisdom

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 is more for men than wisdom?

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 No, of course not.

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 Wisdom is for all of his people.

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 Secondly, look at verse 5.

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 He says, I speak particularly to those who are simple and to the fools.

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 And interestingly, these words don't tend to…

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 There's a whole range of these kinds of words in Proverbs.

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 And some of them on one end are those who are heart-resistant to God.

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 Those tend to be described as the scoffers or the mockers.

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 And at times, fool is also used in that category.

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 But here, the connotation, and particularly when you combine it with simple, the simple-minded,

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 is that it's not those who don't want God's wisdom, but it's those who don't have God's

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 wisdom but who need it.

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 So there are people who are inexperienced in life.

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 Often it's viewed perhaps as a young man, the children.

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 So those who are inexperienced, those who are naive.

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 And when we stop and think about it, isn't that actually all of us?

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 Aren't we all inexperienced in the ways of God?

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 Aren't we all naive about the riches and the depth of the wisdom of God?

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 But the call is to those who know that they need it.

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 The call is to those who are aware of their lack.

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 And so in humility and weakness, have an opportunity to hear the words of wisdom.

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 This is the call that wisdom puts out for us.

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 And it says, embrace it.

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 Embrace what I have to say to you.

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 This is the setup then for the main part of the passage where we see two things.

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 Two things that wisdom gives us that commends wisdom to us.

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 Why wisdom is good.

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 First, in verses 6 through 21, we see that wisdom shapes the form of a good life before God.

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 Let's read this together and think about what it says about that.

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 Starting in verse 6.

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 Here, for I will speak noble things, and from my lips will come what is right.

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 For my mouth will utter truth.

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 Wickedness is an abomination to my lips.

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 All the words of my mouth are righteous.

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 There's nothing twisted or crooked in them.

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 They're all straight to him who understands and right to those who find knowledge.

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 Take my instruction instead of silver, and knowledge rather than choice gold.

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 For wisdom is better than jewels, and all that you may desire cannot compare with her.

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 I, wisdom, dwell with prudence, and I find knowledge and discretion.

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 The fear of the Lord is hatred of evil, pride and arrogance, and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate.

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 I have counsel and sound wisdom.

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 I have insight.

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 I have strength.

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 By me, kings reign and rulers decree what is just.

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 By me, princes rule and nobles all who govern justly.

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 I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently find me.

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 Riches and honor are with me.

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 Enduring wealth and righteousness.

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 My fruit is better than gold, even fine gold, and my yield than choice silver.

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 I walk in the way of righteousness and in the path of justice, granting an inheritance to those who love me and filling their treasuries.

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 Wisdom personifies herself here and talks about the goodness of wisdom and how it reflects the character of God.

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 So, in verses 6 through 9, look with me.

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 You see that there's a commitment to and a reflection of wisdom being rooted in truth and the truthfulness of God.

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 Wisdom is straight, not crooked.

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 It's made up of words that are not perverted or lead to evil, but words that are righteous.

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 There is a sense in which wisdom follows a plumb line of God's truth.

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 You know what a plumb line is?

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 A plumb line is something that builders put up in order to tell what vertical is.

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 Because gravity is the best definer of what is truly up and down in a place.

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 And so, I'm sure some of you scientists are like, well, that's not really true.

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 But bear with me, right?

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 This is what the biblical idea of what a plumb line is at least, right?

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 A plumb line gives you a straight and a standard measure.

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 And what wisdom is saying here is, what I speak to you is according to this plumb line of God's character of truth.

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 And then it goes on in verses 12 through 14.

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 I'm going to skip over a couple and I'll bring those back at the end.

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 Verses 12 through 14.

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 It's fascinating.

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 One of the commentators, Tremper Longman, described this section as a bit of a personal introduction.

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 Wisdom is saying, this is who I am.

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 And one of the ways you know who someone is is by who they associate with.

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 So, look with me in verses 12 through 14.

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 I, wisdom, dwell with prudence.

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 And I find knowledge and discretion.

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 The fear of the Lord is a hatred of evil.

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 Pride and arrogance in the way of evil and perverted speech.

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 I hate.

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 I have counsel and sound wisdom.

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 I have insight and I have strength.

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 And wisdom then is characterized by some of these facets of things that she dwells with.

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 What wisdom brings is an ability to navigate life.

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 An ability to be sober-minded.

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 That's the idea of prudence.

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 Discretion is to think carefully and to understand the root of the issue

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 and to be able to respond properly to it.

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 Counsel and sound wisdom and insight are, again, creating a framework of understanding.

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 And interestingly, in verse 14, it has strength too.

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 Wisdom is not simply a nice idea, but there is a robustness to wisdom that gives this framework,

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 that gives this worldview, that gives this set of principles on how to live,

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 a strength for your life that is beautiful.

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 And as we'll see later, it's rooted in something even deeper.

00:18:44.640 --> 00:18:51.980
 And you see in verse 13, fundamentally, wisdom hates evil.

00:18:53.779 --> 00:18:57.160
 There is no realpolitik in wisdom.

00:18:57.700 --> 00:19:05.840
 There is no compromise to the fallenness of the world.

00:19:05.839 --> 00:19:13.659
 Wisdom navigates a way through and in the fallenness of the world that is right before God.

00:19:15.799 --> 00:19:20.599
 And it fights in every place against evil, against injustice.

00:19:23.359 --> 00:19:27.939
 And again, we see in these things the character of God for us.

00:19:27.940 --> 00:19:34.279
 Then, interestingly, he goes from a personal to, in verses 15 through 17, he says,

00:19:34.680 --> 00:19:39.880
 and by wisdom, this is actually how society, when society works rightly,

00:19:40.460 --> 00:19:42.380
 this is how society works.

00:19:42.480 --> 00:19:46.940
 And so kings are able to rule, princes are able to rule by me,

00:19:46.940 --> 00:19:52.080
 for me, those who govern justly, and this is the qualifier,

00:19:52.080 --> 00:19:59.160
 those who govern justly do so because they're walking in the paths of wisdom.

00:20:00.660 --> 00:20:03.580
 Those who do what is right in leadership,

00:20:04.299 --> 00:20:10.539
 those who shape our society in ways that are helpful and productive,

00:20:10.539 --> 00:20:17.119
 are those who walk in the way of wisdom that reflect God's wisdom.

00:20:18.159 --> 00:20:21.940
 So I think what the psalmist is saying here in verses 15 through 17.

00:20:23.299 --> 00:20:26.319
 And then what you see in verses 18 through 21,

00:20:26.399 --> 00:20:30.299
 he picks up a theme that he had actually mentioned earlier in 6 through 9,

00:20:30.879 --> 00:20:35.639
 that this wisdom is of surpassing value.

00:20:35.640 --> 00:20:40.900
 Fascinating, verse 11, do you see what it says there?

00:20:41.700 --> 00:20:43.140
 Wisdom is better than jewels,

00:20:43.720 --> 00:20:48.120
 and all that you may desire cannot compare with her.

00:20:49.180 --> 00:20:54.240
 Here you see the psalmist laying out that challenge that we talked about at the beginning.

00:20:55.400 --> 00:20:58.580
 You may desire this, but wisdom says this.

00:20:59.560 --> 00:21:04.220
 Will you value wisdom because it comes from God

00:21:04.220 --> 00:21:08.319
 greater than your own desires, than your own thoughts,

00:21:08.440 --> 00:21:10.279
 than your own patterns of understanding?

00:21:14.640 --> 00:21:16.400
 So what do we do with this passage?

00:21:18.059 --> 00:21:21.620
 Oh, no, there's one other thing I wanted to say about that that's important.

00:21:21.759 --> 00:21:24.460
 Look with me at 18 through 21, right?

00:21:24.460 --> 00:21:25.880
 Riches and honor are with me.

00:21:26.200 --> 00:21:27.500
 Enduring wealth and righteousness,

00:21:27.740 --> 00:21:29.920
 my fruit is better than gold, even fine gold,

00:21:30.039 --> 00:21:32.240
 and my yield than choice silver.

00:21:32.240 --> 00:21:33.940
 I walk in the ways of righteousness,

00:21:34.400 --> 00:21:35.599
 in the paths of justice,

00:21:36.120 --> 00:21:39.099
 granting an inheritance to those who love me,

00:21:39.259 --> 00:21:40.339
 filling their treasuries.

00:21:42.359 --> 00:21:44.620
 Now here's the tricky thing about this,

00:21:44.740 --> 00:21:50.940
 is that it seems like what the proverbial writer here is saying is,

00:21:51.620 --> 00:21:52.940
 when you walk in wisdom,

00:21:53.079 --> 00:21:55.759
 you have something that's better than all the riches of the world,

00:21:55.759 --> 00:21:57.160
 and oh, by the way,

00:21:57.240 --> 00:22:00.879
 it sounds like your coffers are going to be filled as well.

00:22:01.059 --> 00:22:04.740
 It sounds like you're going to prosper in the way of wisdom.

00:22:06.980 --> 00:22:11.440
 And there are some in our world today who would easily take this and say,

00:22:11.839 --> 00:22:13.519
 so this is a promise for you.

00:22:13.599 --> 00:22:15.000
 If you walk in wisdom,

00:22:15.099 --> 00:22:16.379
 if you do these things,

00:22:16.759 --> 00:22:17.779
 then you will

00:22:17.779 --> 00:22:20.920
 be successful in your career,

00:22:21.259 --> 00:22:23.319
 have a peaceful and happy family,

00:22:23.839 --> 00:22:26.799
 have a lifelong, easy, and joyful marriage,

00:22:27.059 --> 00:22:30.279
 and have a fat bank account and an easy retirement.

00:22:31.039 --> 00:22:32.539
 Sounds great, doesn't it?

00:22:32.660 --> 00:22:33.960
 Gosh, we'd all like that.

00:22:34.759 --> 00:22:37.099
 But that's not actually what this is saying.

00:22:38.879 --> 00:22:40.700
 First, and what it's saying is,

00:22:41.119 --> 00:22:43.399
 that the riches that we gain from wisdom

00:22:43.400 --> 00:22:46.960
 are greater than the riches and the wealth of this world.

00:22:47.720 --> 00:22:50.240
 Verse 20 is striking in it.

00:22:50.780 --> 00:22:53.519
 When we take hold of a life

00:22:53.519 --> 00:22:55.880
 that is shaped by the righteousness

00:22:55.880 --> 00:23:00.580
 and the paths of justice before God,

00:23:01.540 --> 00:23:03.980
 there is a goodness there

00:23:03.980 --> 00:23:06.400
 where we live in harmony with our Creator

00:23:06.400 --> 00:23:08.360
 that is better

00:23:08.360 --> 00:23:12.259
 than the riches of this world.

00:23:13.400 --> 00:23:14.940
 We have peace with God

00:23:14.940 --> 00:23:16.420
 because of these things.

00:23:16.560 --> 00:23:18.600
 And it is a wonderful and a beautiful thing.

00:23:20.220 --> 00:23:21.920
 But I will also say this.

00:23:22.440 --> 00:23:23.840
 I don't think the psalmist

00:23:23.840 --> 00:23:26.740
 denies that

00:23:26.740 --> 00:23:29.060
 as we walk in the paths of wisdom,

00:23:29.680 --> 00:23:31.160
 things will work better.

00:23:31.320 --> 00:23:33.019
 Going back to my circular saw,

00:23:33.420 --> 00:23:35.740
 if Eli had been able to draw the pictures

00:23:35.740 --> 00:23:37.160
 along the grain,

00:23:37.900 --> 00:23:40.040
 if we had talked about that ahead of time,

00:23:40.160 --> 00:23:42.140
 it would have been easier to cut the wood.

00:23:43.400 --> 00:23:45.140
 There are times when,

00:23:45.259 --> 00:23:46.640
 as we walk in wisdom,

00:23:47.240 --> 00:23:48.920
 it is according to the way

00:23:48.920 --> 00:23:51.620
 that we were made to work before God.

00:23:52.160 --> 00:23:54.920
 And we have, in ways, a good life.

00:23:55.180 --> 00:23:56.960
 It doesn't mean that we are

00:23:56.960 --> 00:23:59.320
 free from suffering or hardship.

00:23:59.740 --> 00:24:02.280
 Certainly not from persecution or trial.

00:24:02.740 --> 00:24:05.200
 Certainly from our own failure

00:24:05.200 --> 00:24:06.340
 and our own sinfulness.

00:24:06.339 --> 00:24:08.319
 And even the,

00:24:08.480 --> 00:24:11.379
 we are not promised to be delivered

00:24:11.379 --> 00:24:13.879
 from the effects of the sin of others

00:24:13.879 --> 00:24:14.779
 on our lives.

00:24:15.099 --> 00:24:17.379
 So none of those things are taken away.

00:24:17.539 --> 00:24:20.079
 And yet, in the midst of all of those things,

00:24:20.079 --> 00:24:21.779
 when we walk in wisdom,

00:24:21.779 --> 00:24:24.419
 there is a goodness to our life

00:24:24.419 --> 00:24:28.819
 that is not just pie in the sky or future,

00:24:29.019 --> 00:24:31.019
 but there is a reality now

00:24:31.019 --> 00:24:32.660
 because it is in harmony

00:24:32.660 --> 00:24:34.400
 with the character and the nature

00:24:34.400 --> 00:24:37.420
 of the God who has given us this wisdom.

00:24:38.639 --> 00:24:40.240
 The God who is the one

00:24:40.240 --> 00:24:42.220
 who wrote the owner's manual

00:24:42.220 --> 00:24:44.879
 is the one who made us

00:24:44.879 --> 00:24:45.940
 in our relationships

00:24:45.940 --> 00:24:47.639
 in all of these different ways.

00:24:48.160 --> 00:24:50.339
 And so we need to see that this is true.

00:24:51.980 --> 00:24:53.740
 We need to see that this is,

00:24:54.539 --> 00:24:57.400
 that as we walk in these paths,

00:24:57.400 --> 00:24:59.660
 there is a goodness about life

00:24:59.660 --> 00:25:02.480
 and to take hold of it

00:25:02.480 --> 00:25:03.960
 and to not despise it.

00:25:08.140 --> 00:25:09.759
 So God gives us wisdom.

00:25:10.680 --> 00:25:14.140
 He doesn't give us a user's manual

00:25:14.140 --> 00:25:15.940
 that says first do this,

00:25:16.000 --> 00:25:16.740
 then do this,

00:25:16.780 --> 00:25:17.460
 then do this,

00:25:17.540 --> 00:25:18.300
 then do this.

00:25:19.200 --> 00:25:20.019
 It's not,

00:25:20.700 --> 00:25:21.800
 what's the right word?

00:25:21.860 --> 00:25:23.220
 I kept thinking algorithm,

00:25:23.380 --> 00:25:23.660
 but it's not,

00:25:23.759 --> 00:25:24.759
 it's not stuff.

00:25:24.820 --> 00:25:25.759
 It's not like a recipe.

00:25:25.940 --> 00:25:27.320
 Step by step,

00:25:27.319 --> 00:25:28.259
 if you follow the recipe,

00:25:28.399 --> 00:25:30.279
 you get a beautiful cake, right?

00:25:30.359 --> 00:25:31.720
 God gives us principles

00:25:31.720 --> 00:25:33.879
 and understanding of him

00:25:33.879 --> 00:25:34.839
 and of his wisdom.

00:25:35.439 --> 00:25:36.259
 And as we,

00:25:36.299 --> 00:25:37.879
 as we ingest that

00:25:37.879 --> 00:25:39.159
 and as we live in it,

00:25:39.339 --> 00:25:41.859
 we begin to understand his ways

00:25:41.859 --> 00:25:43.119
 just a little bit more.

00:25:43.759 --> 00:25:44.919
 And as we live in them,

00:25:44.980 --> 00:25:47.099
 then we experience the goodness

00:25:47.099 --> 00:25:48.200
 of living in harmony

00:25:48.200 --> 00:25:49.980
 with the way that God has made us

00:25:49.980 --> 00:25:51.879
 to relate to him

00:25:51.879 --> 00:25:54.119
 and to relate to the world.

00:25:57.319 --> 00:25:59.519
 As C.S. Lewis warned us,

00:25:59.939 --> 00:26:00.939
 we need to recognize

00:26:00.939 --> 00:26:01.539
 that wisdom

00:26:01.539 --> 00:26:04.200
 will be counterintuitive at times.

00:26:05.379 --> 00:26:06.720
 Here's a little example

00:26:06.720 --> 00:26:08.980
 from my own foolish past.

00:26:09.399 --> 00:26:10.720
 When I was in college,

00:26:10.720 --> 00:26:11.939
 I was a young believer.

00:26:12.259 --> 00:26:13.159
 I was eager.

00:26:13.460 --> 00:26:14.200
 I was zealous.

00:26:14.659 --> 00:26:17.559
 I had gotten that God wanted us

00:26:17.559 --> 00:26:18.439
 to love one another

00:26:18.439 --> 00:26:19.939
 and to be helpful to one another.

00:26:19.940 --> 00:26:22.279
 And so I decided

00:26:22.279 --> 00:26:24.160
 that it was going to be good for me

00:26:24.160 --> 00:26:25.779
 to encourage a number

00:26:25.779 --> 00:26:27.259
 of my sisters in Christ

00:26:27.259 --> 00:26:28.900
 by meeting with them

00:26:28.900 --> 00:26:30.200
 for coffee or lunch

00:26:30.200 --> 00:26:31.480
 and listening to them

00:26:31.480 --> 00:26:32.480
 and speaking good words

00:26:32.480 --> 00:26:33.160
 of encouragement.

00:26:34.080 --> 00:26:35.680
 And you may see

00:26:35.680 --> 00:26:36.480
 where this is going.

00:26:36.660 --> 00:26:37.600
 I was one of those

00:26:37.600 --> 00:26:39.019
 really confusing boys

00:26:39.019 --> 00:26:40.240
 who wasn't very helpful

00:26:40.240 --> 00:26:42.400
 in the whole picture, right?

00:26:42.440 --> 00:26:44.240
 Rather than actually being a blessing

00:26:44.240 --> 00:26:45.880
 to some of these sisters,

00:26:45.980 --> 00:26:47.900
 I was a confusion to them.

00:26:47.900 --> 00:26:50.100
 And I thought

00:26:50.100 --> 00:26:51.340
 I was doing right.

00:26:52.259 --> 00:26:53.480
 And it wasn't until

00:26:53.480 --> 00:26:54.320
 I had a friend

00:26:54.320 --> 00:26:56.680
 sit me down and say,

00:26:57.000 --> 00:27:01.480
 no, this is not the way to walk.

00:27:01.860 --> 00:27:03.980
 This is not actually encouraging

00:27:03.980 --> 00:27:04.940
 to your sisters.

00:27:05.420 --> 00:27:08.240
 This is not godly care for them.

00:27:08.900 --> 00:27:11.259
 There's something else in this

00:27:11.259 --> 00:27:12.920
 that is actually foolish

00:27:12.920 --> 00:27:15.060
 in the way that you are treating them.

00:27:15.759 --> 00:27:17.440
 And so I had to,

00:27:17.440 --> 00:27:19.259
 to examine my heart.

00:27:19.380 --> 00:27:20.779
 I had to examine my behaviors.

00:27:21.019 --> 00:27:21.960
 I asked for help

00:27:21.960 --> 00:27:22.580
 to think through

00:27:22.580 --> 00:27:24.400
 what were healthy ways

00:27:24.400 --> 00:27:25.620
 to relate to my sisters

00:27:25.620 --> 00:27:27.059
 that would be useful

00:27:27.059 --> 00:27:28.259
 rather than being

00:27:28.259 --> 00:27:29.880
 that really understanding guy

00:27:29.880 --> 00:27:31.279
 who in the end

00:27:31.279 --> 00:27:32.880
 was a little more confusing

00:27:32.880 --> 00:27:33.519
 than helpful.

00:27:34.640 --> 00:27:36.059
 And so that's one of those places

00:27:36.059 --> 00:27:38.680
 where I learned some wisdom.

00:27:41.400 --> 00:27:41.960
 Hopefully.

00:27:43.840 --> 00:27:45.039
 Learned some wisdom

00:27:45.039 --> 00:27:48.779
 that was counterintuitive to me.

00:27:48.899 --> 00:27:50.359
 I thought I knew how to do this

00:27:50.359 --> 00:27:51.839
 and I didn't at all.

00:27:52.480 --> 00:27:53.639
 And we need to recognize

00:27:53.639 --> 00:27:54.879
 that that's going to be true.

00:27:55.720 --> 00:27:57.119
 And the challenge for us is

00:27:57.119 --> 00:27:59.180
 are we willing to doubt ourselves

00:27:59.180 --> 00:28:01.579
 and to trust God's wisdom

00:28:01.579 --> 00:28:03.099
 even when it's counterintuitive,

00:28:03.299 --> 00:28:05.619
 even when it doesn't make sense to us?

00:28:05.980 --> 00:28:07.339
 Are we willing to walk

00:28:07.339 --> 00:28:08.319
 in the ways of wisdom?

00:28:08.980 --> 00:28:09.920
 Now I keep saying that.

00:28:09.980 --> 00:28:11.619
 I know it's all vague right now.

00:28:11.619 --> 00:28:12.199
 But remember,

00:28:12.399 --> 00:28:13.439
 the last two weeks

00:28:13.439 --> 00:28:14.339
 we got practical.

00:28:15.119 --> 00:28:15.719
 Greg and Nick

00:28:15.719 --> 00:28:18.059
 preached on real life issues

00:28:18.059 --> 00:28:20.399
 and gave lots of great examples

00:28:20.399 --> 00:28:22.159
 in areas of wealth

00:28:22.159 --> 00:28:23.159
 and sex

00:28:23.159 --> 00:28:23.899
 and other things

00:28:23.899 --> 00:28:25.579
 about how to live practically.

00:28:25.919 --> 00:28:27.039
 And for those of you

00:28:27.039 --> 00:28:27.979
 who are dying for that,

00:28:28.079 --> 00:28:28.679
 hold on.

00:28:28.879 --> 00:28:30.119
 We got one more week

00:28:30.119 --> 00:28:31.000
 of the big picture

00:28:31.000 --> 00:28:32.579
 and then we're going to get into

00:28:32.579 --> 00:28:33.799
 the nitty gritty

00:28:33.799 --> 00:28:34.799
 and we're going to talk about

00:28:34.799 --> 00:28:35.799
 all sorts of details.

00:28:35.799 --> 00:28:38.379
 But what I want

00:28:38.379 --> 00:28:39.039
 is for our hearts

00:28:39.039 --> 00:28:39.919
 to be prepared

00:28:39.919 --> 00:28:41.819
 to hear those words.

00:28:43.940 --> 00:28:44.859
 And part of it

00:28:44.859 --> 00:28:46.839
 is by embracing wisdom

00:28:46.839 --> 00:28:49.319
 and not trusting ourselves

00:28:49.319 --> 00:28:51.119
 but being willing to say,

00:28:51.279 --> 00:28:51.799
 okay God,

00:28:51.940 --> 00:28:52.500
 teach me.

00:28:52.859 --> 00:28:54.539
 Teach me your ways of wisdom.

00:28:57.639 --> 00:28:59.519
 So this first section

00:28:59.519 --> 00:29:01.379
 exposes some of the ways

00:29:01.379 --> 00:29:02.599
 that wisdom reflects

00:29:02.599 --> 00:29:03.940
 the character of God

00:29:03.940 --> 00:29:05.019
 and the nature of God

00:29:05.019 --> 00:29:05.879
 that helps us see

00:29:05.879 --> 00:29:07.339
 how walking in the ways

00:29:07.339 --> 00:29:08.019
 of wisdom

00:29:08.019 --> 00:29:10.740
 are a part of a good life

00:29:10.740 --> 00:29:12.039
 lived before Him.

00:29:12.480 --> 00:29:14.000
 But then the writer

00:29:14.000 --> 00:29:15.079
 goes even deeper

00:29:15.079 --> 00:29:15.359
 to say,

00:29:15.519 --> 00:29:16.619
 why is this true?

00:29:17.420 --> 00:29:19.440
 In verses 22 through 31,

00:29:21.420 --> 00:29:22.559
 the call of wisdom

00:29:22.559 --> 00:29:23.599
 is worth our attention

00:29:23.599 --> 00:29:25.240
 because wisdom shapes

00:29:25.240 --> 00:29:27.519
 the form of a good creation

00:29:27.519 --> 00:29:28.500
 before God.

00:29:29.039 --> 00:29:29.980
 Let's look at this

00:29:29.980 --> 00:29:31.299
 and read this passage together

00:29:31.299 --> 00:29:32.700
 starting in verse 22.

00:29:33.480 --> 00:29:35.000
 The Lord possessed me

00:29:35.000 --> 00:29:36.200
 at the beginning of His work,

00:29:36.940 --> 00:29:38.559
 the first of His acts of old.

00:29:39.779 --> 00:29:41.339
 Ages ago I was set up

00:29:41.339 --> 00:29:42.140
 at the first

00:29:42.140 --> 00:29:43.000
 before the beginning

00:29:43.000 --> 00:29:43.680
 of the earth.

00:29:44.000 --> 00:29:45.259
 When there were no depths,

00:29:45.440 --> 00:29:46.500
 I was brought forth.

00:29:47.420 --> 00:29:48.660
 When there were no springs

00:29:48.660 --> 00:29:49.720
 abounding with water,

00:29:50.099 --> 00:29:51.000
 before the mountains

00:29:51.000 --> 00:29:51.859
 had been shaped,

00:29:52.319 --> 00:29:53.160
 before the hills,

00:29:53.279 --> 00:29:54.359
 I was brought forth.

00:29:54.880 --> 00:29:56.019
 Before He had made

00:29:56.019 --> 00:29:57.400
 the earth with its fields,

00:29:58.400 --> 00:30:00.519
 or the first of the dust

00:30:00.519 --> 00:30:01.140
 of the world,

00:30:01.539 --> 00:30:03.039
 when He established the heavens,

00:30:03.039 --> 00:30:04.079
 I was there.

00:30:04.980 --> 00:30:06.399
 When He drew a circle

00:30:06.399 --> 00:30:07.740
 on the face of the deep,

00:30:08.220 --> 00:30:09.359
 when He made firm

00:30:09.359 --> 00:30:10.359
 the skies above,

00:30:10.579 --> 00:30:11.319
 when He established

00:30:11.319 --> 00:30:12.420
 the fountains of the deep,

00:30:12.619 --> 00:30:13.639
 when He assigned

00:30:13.639 --> 00:30:15.440
 to the sea its limit,

00:30:15.980 --> 00:30:17.099
 so that the waters

00:30:17.099 --> 00:30:18.119
 might not transgress

00:30:18.119 --> 00:30:18.819
 His command,

00:30:18.980 --> 00:30:19.879
 when He marked out

00:30:19.879 --> 00:30:20.500
 the foundations

00:30:20.500 --> 00:30:21.319
 of the earth,

00:30:21.700 --> 00:30:23.399
 then I was beside Him

00:30:23.399 --> 00:30:24.619
 like a master workman.

00:30:24.619 --> 00:30:26.979
 I was daily His delight,

00:30:27.479 --> 00:30:29.479
 rejoicing before Him always,

00:30:29.759 --> 00:30:31.799
 rejoicing in His inhabited world,

00:30:32.139 --> 00:30:33.099
 and delighting

00:30:33.099 --> 00:30:35.319
 in the children of man.

00:30:40.059 --> 00:30:41.719
 This is a remarkable turn

00:30:41.719 --> 00:30:42.279
 in the argument.

00:30:42.699 --> 00:30:43.059
 He said,

00:30:43.179 --> 00:30:43.899
 wisdom is good

00:30:43.899 --> 00:30:44.619
 because it reflects

00:30:44.619 --> 00:30:45.779
 the character of God.

00:30:46.039 --> 00:30:46.659
 And then he says,

00:30:46.779 --> 00:30:47.519
 wisdom is good

00:30:47.519 --> 00:30:48.559
 because it reflects,

00:30:49.000 --> 00:30:50.579
 because it is integral

00:30:50.579 --> 00:30:52.679
 to the very fabric

00:30:52.679 --> 00:30:53.559
 and fiber

00:30:53.559 --> 00:30:54.980
 of the creation

00:30:54.980 --> 00:30:56.939
 that we live in.

00:30:59.939 --> 00:31:01.119
 He says two things.

00:31:01.199 --> 00:31:03.019
 He says that wisdom says,

00:31:03.159 --> 00:31:03.699
 I was there

00:31:03.699 --> 00:31:05.220
 before creation happened.

00:31:05.220 --> 00:31:06.779
 And then he says,

00:31:07.119 --> 00:31:07.799
 I was there

00:31:07.799 --> 00:31:10.139
 as creation happened.

00:31:11.099 --> 00:31:13.339
 So in verses 22 through 26,

00:31:13.339 --> 00:31:14.460
 He's basically saying,

00:31:14.859 --> 00:31:16.339
 I was there beforehand.

00:31:17.039 --> 00:31:18.859
 I was there before God

00:31:18.859 --> 00:31:20.779
 had created order out of chaos.

00:31:20.879 --> 00:31:22.119
 I was there before

00:31:22.119 --> 00:31:23.779
 the life-giving water

00:31:23.779 --> 00:31:25.399
 had sprung up in springs.

00:31:25.539 --> 00:31:26.699
 I was there before

00:31:26.699 --> 00:31:28.039
 any of these things

00:31:28.039 --> 00:31:28.639
 had happened.

00:31:30.979 --> 00:31:31.459
 Now,

00:31:31.879 --> 00:31:33.559
 if you will indulge me

00:31:33.559 --> 00:31:34.259
 for two minutes,

00:31:34.339 --> 00:31:36.019
 I want to take a bit of,

00:31:36.259 --> 00:31:38.240
 a quick tour into,

00:31:39.559 --> 00:31:40.240
 interestingly,

00:31:40.599 --> 00:31:42.519
 this verse was used

00:31:42.519 --> 00:31:44.099
 back in the early church

00:31:44.099 --> 00:31:46.639
 in the controversy

00:31:46.640 --> 00:31:48.400
 of Arius

00:31:48.400 --> 00:31:49.300
 and his theology

00:31:49.300 --> 00:31:51.580
 because the church

00:31:51.580 --> 00:31:53.220
 has often seen wisdom

00:31:53.220 --> 00:31:54.240
 and the personification

00:31:54.240 --> 00:31:54.900
 of wisdom

00:31:54.900 --> 00:31:56.240
 as pointing to

00:31:56.240 --> 00:31:57.220
 or embodying

00:31:57.220 --> 00:31:58.380
 the person of Christ.

00:31:58.940 --> 00:31:59.820
 Go back with me

00:31:59.820 --> 00:32:00.280
 to verse,

00:32:00.460 --> 00:32:01.640
 where are we?

00:32:01.720 --> 00:32:02.259
 Verse 8,

00:32:02.800 --> 00:32:03.580
 verse 22.

00:32:04.320 --> 00:32:04.660
 All right?

00:32:04.860 --> 00:32:05.020
 Look,

00:32:05.220 --> 00:32:06.120
 if you have a Bible,

00:32:06.240 --> 00:32:06.640
 look with me

00:32:06.640 --> 00:32:07.540
 because this is important.

00:32:08.020 --> 00:32:08.640
 Verse 22,

00:32:08.780 --> 00:32:10.300
 the Lord possessed me

00:32:10.300 --> 00:32:11.200
 at the beginning

00:32:11.200 --> 00:32:11.920
 of his work.

00:32:12.520 --> 00:32:12.740
 Now,

00:32:12.800 --> 00:32:13.600
 do you see the footnote?

00:32:14.180 --> 00:32:14.820
 In my Bible,

00:32:14.940 --> 00:32:15.600
 it's a number three.

00:32:15.599 --> 00:32:16.619
 Look down at the bottom.

00:32:17.439 --> 00:32:18.480
 Possible reading.

00:32:20.059 --> 00:32:20.339
 Oh,

00:32:20.459 --> 00:32:20.919
 here we go.

00:32:21.019 --> 00:32:21.539
 Number three.

00:32:22.059 --> 00:32:24.199
 It could mean also fathered.

00:32:24.419 --> 00:32:24.699
 So,

00:32:24.779 --> 00:32:26.139
 the Lord fathered me

00:32:26.139 --> 00:32:26.679
 at the beginning

00:32:26.679 --> 00:32:27.359
 of his work.

00:32:27.799 --> 00:32:28.500
 And then it says,

00:32:28.659 --> 00:32:28.839
 oh,

00:32:28.879 --> 00:32:29.959
 and in the Septuagint,

00:32:30.079 --> 00:32:31.500
 which is the Greek translation

00:32:31.500 --> 00:32:32.719
 of the Hebrew Bible,

00:32:33.439 --> 00:32:34.980
 the Septuagint

00:32:34.980 --> 00:32:37.500
 says created.

00:32:39.740 --> 00:32:41.719
 From the Septuagint then,

00:32:41.799 --> 00:32:43.339
 as Arius was reading this,

00:32:43.399 --> 00:32:43.759
 he said,

00:32:43.759 --> 00:32:44.399
 we'll see.

00:32:44.400 --> 00:32:46.280
 Wisdom was created

00:32:46.280 --> 00:32:47.220
 by God

00:32:47.220 --> 00:32:49.480
 before creation

00:32:49.480 --> 00:32:50.680
 to then participate

00:32:50.680 --> 00:32:51.440
 in creation.

00:32:51.740 --> 00:32:53.040
 This sounds a lot

00:32:53.040 --> 00:32:53.700
 like the role

00:32:53.700 --> 00:32:54.800
 that Christ played

00:32:54.800 --> 00:32:55.440
 in creation

00:32:55.440 --> 00:32:56.120
 as you see

00:32:56.120 --> 00:32:57.660
 in John 1

00:32:57.660 --> 00:32:58.920
 or Hebrews 1

00:32:58.920 --> 00:33:01.720
 or Colossians 1,

00:33:01.800 --> 00:33:02.920
 15 through 17.

00:33:03.720 --> 00:33:04.140
 And so,

00:33:04.380 --> 00:33:04.759
 therefore,

00:33:05.040 --> 00:33:05.680
 they drew this

00:33:05.680 --> 00:33:07.720
 theological line

00:33:07.720 --> 00:33:08.120
 and said,

00:33:08.240 --> 00:33:08.759
 clearly,

00:33:09.240 --> 00:33:11.280
 Christ was a created being.

00:33:11.279 --> 00:33:13.519
 And this was one

00:33:13.519 --> 00:33:14.440
 of the fundamental

00:33:14.440 --> 00:33:15.420
 controversies

00:33:15.420 --> 00:33:17.740
 of the early church

00:33:17.740 --> 00:33:18.220
 was,

00:33:18.519 --> 00:33:20.359
 was Christ truly divine

00:33:20.359 --> 00:33:21.180
 in this way

00:33:21.180 --> 00:33:22.059
 and in what way

00:33:22.059 --> 00:33:23.700
 could he be so?

00:33:24.700 --> 00:33:25.680
 And this verse

00:33:25.680 --> 00:33:27.039
 was one of the verses

00:33:27.039 --> 00:33:27.960
 that they used

00:33:27.960 --> 00:33:28.639
 to defend

00:33:28.639 --> 00:33:29.660
 the position

00:33:29.660 --> 00:33:30.559
 that Christ himself

00:33:30.559 --> 00:33:31.259
 was created.

00:33:31.259 --> 00:33:31.379
 created.

00:33:33.859 --> 00:33:34.379
 So,

00:33:34.440 --> 00:33:34.779
 we've got

00:33:34.779 --> 00:33:36.140
 a fairly

00:33:36.140 --> 00:33:37.440
 significant question

00:33:37.440 --> 00:33:38.079
 on our hand.

00:33:38.680 --> 00:33:39.200
 However,

00:33:39.400 --> 00:33:39.980
 I think

00:33:39.980 --> 00:33:41.440
 that we can say,

00:33:41.980 --> 00:33:43.319
 first of all,

00:33:43.500 --> 00:33:44.339
 based on many,

00:33:44.480 --> 00:33:45.440
 many other places

00:33:45.440 --> 00:33:46.019
 in Scripture

00:33:46.019 --> 00:33:46.900
 in the New Testament

00:33:46.900 --> 00:33:48.039
 where Christ is

00:33:48.039 --> 00:33:49.700
 seen to be equated

00:33:49.700 --> 00:33:50.859
 with God,

00:33:51.000 --> 00:33:51.440
 where he

00:33:51.440 --> 00:33:53.119
 claims

00:33:53.119 --> 00:33:53.599
 God,

00:33:53.720 --> 00:33:54.500
 Godhood

00:33:54.500 --> 00:33:55.400
 to himself,

00:33:55.400 --> 00:33:58.040
 we would say

00:33:58.040 --> 00:33:58.480
 that there's

00:33:58.480 --> 00:33:59.540
 a clear witness

00:33:59.540 --> 00:34:00.420
 in the New Testament

00:34:00.420 --> 00:34:01.860
 about his divinity.

00:34:02.920 --> 00:34:03.660
 But secondly,

00:34:03.900 --> 00:34:04.560
 exegetically,

00:34:04.680 --> 00:34:05.500
 in this passage,

00:34:06.000 --> 00:34:07.500
 it's asking

00:34:07.500 --> 00:34:08.460
 for this verse

00:34:08.460 --> 00:34:09.220
 to bear way

00:34:09.220 --> 00:34:10.000
 too much weight

00:34:10.000 --> 00:34:10.860
 to say that

00:34:10.860 --> 00:34:11.880
 Christ was created

00:34:11.880 --> 00:34:13.660
 for multiple reasons.

00:34:13.780 --> 00:34:14.180
 One is,

00:34:14.280 --> 00:34:15.019
 the word here

00:34:15.019 --> 00:34:16.019
 clearly has

00:34:16.019 --> 00:34:16.940
 a range of meaning.

00:34:19.240 --> 00:34:21.880
 And its core meaning

00:34:21.880 --> 00:34:22.400
 is actually

00:34:22.400 --> 00:34:23.180
 to acquire,

00:34:23.179 --> 00:34:24.699
 that God

00:34:24.699 --> 00:34:26.139
 acquired wisdom,

00:34:26.559 --> 00:34:27.819
 which is a very

00:34:27.819 --> 00:34:28.519
 odd thing

00:34:28.519 --> 00:34:29.359
 because in English

00:34:29.359 --> 00:34:29.919
 when we think

00:34:29.919 --> 00:34:30.779
 of acquiring

00:34:30.779 --> 00:34:31.379
 something,

00:34:31.699 --> 00:34:32.279
 it's something

00:34:32.279 --> 00:34:33.319
 external and

00:34:33.319 --> 00:34:34.379
 objectively outside

00:34:34.379 --> 00:34:35.139
 of us that we

00:34:35.139 --> 00:34:35.759
 have to take

00:34:35.759 --> 00:34:36.759
 into ourselves.

00:34:37.519 --> 00:34:38.419
 But that doesn't

00:34:38.419 --> 00:34:39.719
 seem to make sense

00:34:39.719 --> 00:34:40.639
 in this context.

00:34:42.039 --> 00:34:42.460
 Instead,

00:34:42.960 --> 00:34:43.440
 some have,

00:34:43.839 --> 00:34:44.699
 and you see here,

00:34:45.179 --> 00:34:46.519
 this translation

00:34:46.519 --> 00:34:47.859
 uses possessed

00:34:47.859 --> 00:34:49.679
 or one of the other

00:34:49.679 --> 00:34:50.379
 is to say

00:34:50.379 --> 00:34:51.579
 he fathered him.

00:34:51.579 --> 00:34:52.019
 wisdom.

00:34:52.019 --> 00:34:53.119
 The old-fashioned

00:34:53.119 --> 00:34:53.759
 word for that

00:34:53.759 --> 00:34:55.259
 is to beget someone,

00:34:55.420 --> 00:34:56.480
 which is not to

00:34:56.480 --> 00:34:57.659
 create out of nothing

00:34:57.659 --> 00:34:59.659
 but to out of yourself

00:34:59.659 --> 00:35:01.159
 issue something

00:35:01.159 --> 00:35:02.559
 that is like you.

00:35:04.219 --> 00:35:05.199
 And it seems

00:35:05.199 --> 00:35:06.039
 much easier

00:35:06.039 --> 00:35:07.119
 to read this passage

00:35:07.119 --> 00:35:07.719
 as saying

00:35:07.719 --> 00:35:09.019
 wisdom here

00:35:09.679 --> 00:35:10.920
 is a personification,

00:35:11.679 --> 00:35:12.440
 an expression

00:35:12.440 --> 00:35:14.139
 of a characteristic

00:35:14.139 --> 00:35:15.099
 of God himself.

00:35:16.139 --> 00:35:16.319
 Right?

00:35:16.559 --> 00:35:17.299
 Wisdom is not

00:35:17.299 --> 00:35:18.559
 external to God.

00:35:18.920 --> 00:35:19.420
 The wisdom

00:35:19.420 --> 00:35:21.000
 is God's wisdom.

00:35:21.880 --> 00:35:22.440
 And here

00:35:22.440 --> 00:35:23.099
 it has been

00:35:23.099 --> 00:35:24.019
 personified

00:35:24.019 --> 00:35:25.760
 in a literary form

00:35:25.760 --> 00:35:26.539
 so that we can

00:35:26.539 --> 00:35:27.440
 think through

00:35:27.440 --> 00:35:28.559
 the value

00:35:28.559 --> 00:35:29.480
 of God's wisdom

00:35:29.480 --> 00:35:30.480
 and the role

00:35:30.480 --> 00:35:31.340
 of God's wisdom.

00:35:33.099 --> 00:35:34.119
 What are we saying

00:35:34.119 --> 00:35:34.740
 for all this?

00:35:36.119 --> 00:35:36.680
 Wisdom

00:35:36.680 --> 00:35:37.619
 is not Christ.

00:35:38.700 --> 00:35:39.639
 In Christ

00:35:39.639 --> 00:35:40.599
 all the riches

00:35:40.599 --> 00:35:42.059
 of the fullness

00:35:42.059 --> 00:35:43.559
 of the wisdom

00:35:43.559 --> 00:35:44.599
 and knowledge

00:35:44.599 --> 00:35:45.200
 of God

00:35:45.200 --> 00:35:46.000
 is fulfilled

00:35:46.000 --> 00:35:46.619
 and expressed.

00:35:47.460 --> 00:35:48.099
 But wisdom

00:35:48.099 --> 00:35:49.119
 is not Christ

00:35:49.119 --> 00:35:49.679
 per se.

00:35:49.820 --> 00:35:50.079
 Wisdom

00:35:50.079 --> 00:35:50.719
 is pointing

00:35:50.719 --> 00:35:52.559
 us to Christ

00:35:52.559 --> 00:35:54.539
 is how we need

00:35:54.539 --> 00:35:55.260
 to read this.

00:35:55.420 --> 00:35:55.880
 And then here

00:35:55.880 --> 00:35:56.519
 we need to say

00:35:56.519 --> 00:35:57.400
 that wisdom

00:35:57.400 --> 00:35:58.719
 is an expression

00:35:58.719 --> 00:36:01.019
 in a literary form

00:36:01.019 --> 00:36:02.739
 of God's work

00:36:02.739 --> 00:36:03.400
 in creation

00:36:03.400 --> 00:36:04.219
 that when he

00:36:04.219 --> 00:36:05.280
 created the world

00:36:05.280 --> 00:36:06.980
 he did it well.

00:36:07.659 --> 00:36:08.579
 He did it

00:36:08.579 --> 00:36:09.599
 according to

00:36:09.599 --> 00:36:11.460
 all of his character.

00:36:11.460 --> 00:36:14.599
 And as we see here

00:36:14.599 --> 00:36:15.280
 as we see

00:36:15.280 --> 00:36:16.559
 then he goes on

00:36:16.559 --> 00:36:17.740
 to the second section

00:36:17.740 --> 00:36:19.500
 he not only does that

00:36:19.500 --> 00:36:21.460
 but his wisdom

00:36:21.460 --> 00:36:22.539
 as it shapes

00:36:22.539 --> 00:36:23.340
 the world

00:36:23.340 --> 00:36:24.220
 right?

00:36:24.659 --> 00:36:26.480
 The Proverbs here

00:36:26.480 --> 00:36:27.780
 is reminding us

00:36:27.780 --> 00:36:28.679
 that what God did

00:36:28.679 --> 00:36:29.300
 when he created

00:36:29.300 --> 00:36:29.860
 the world

00:36:29.860 --> 00:36:31.300
 was to bring order

00:36:31.300 --> 00:36:32.240
 out of chaos.

00:36:33.360 --> 00:36:33.639
 Right?

00:36:34.039 --> 00:36:34.679
 Look with me

00:36:34.679 --> 00:36:35.179
 at verses

00:36:35.179 --> 00:36:40.679
 27 through 31.

00:36:41.460 --> 00:36:42.559
 Right?

00:36:43.139 --> 00:36:44.599
 He separated out

00:36:44.599 --> 00:36:46.420
 sky and earth.

00:36:46.539 --> 00:36:46.980
 He created

00:36:46.980 --> 00:36:48.340
 he separated out

00:36:48.340 --> 00:36:49.460
 earth

00:36:49.460 --> 00:36:50.619
 and water

00:36:50.619 --> 00:36:51.519
 dry land.

00:36:52.960 --> 00:36:54.720
 And much of this

00:36:54.720 --> 00:36:55.639
 is in the context

00:36:55.639 --> 00:36:56.360
 of an ancient

00:36:56.360 --> 00:36:56.880
 Near East

00:36:56.880 --> 00:36:57.860
 understanding

00:36:57.860 --> 00:37:00.220
 that water

00:37:00.220 --> 00:37:01.220
 and chaos

00:37:01.220 --> 00:37:01.940
 were formed

00:37:01.940 --> 00:37:03.139
 water was a symbol

00:37:03.139 --> 00:37:03.900
 for chaos

00:37:03.900 --> 00:37:06.099
 and discord

00:37:06.099 --> 00:37:07.000
 and evil.

00:37:07.840 --> 00:37:08.579
 And what God

00:37:08.579 --> 00:37:09.000
 is doing

00:37:09.000 --> 00:37:09.659
 is God is saying

00:37:09.659 --> 00:37:10.699
 no these things

00:37:10.699 --> 00:37:11.500
 do not rule

00:37:11.500 --> 00:37:12.279
 my creation

00:37:12.279 --> 00:37:12.980
 I am going

00:37:12.980 --> 00:37:13.659
 to impose

00:37:13.659 --> 00:37:14.419
 my order

00:37:14.419 --> 00:37:15.019
 on it

00:37:15.019 --> 00:37:17.339
 in a good way.

00:37:18.619 --> 00:37:19.139
 And wisdom

00:37:19.139 --> 00:37:21.079
 is the very fabric

00:37:21.079 --> 00:37:22.039
 and the very weave

00:37:22.039 --> 00:37:23.179
 of how I do that.

00:37:23.819 --> 00:37:24.939
 Wisdom was there

00:37:24.939 --> 00:37:26.480
 wisdom was there

00:37:26.480 --> 00:37:27.679
 when he separated

00:37:27.679 --> 00:37:28.319
 out the heavens

00:37:28.319 --> 00:37:28.659
 and the earth.

00:37:28.779 --> 00:37:29.419
 Wisdom was there

00:37:29.419 --> 00:37:30.039
 when he separated

00:37:30.039 --> 00:37:30.480
 water

00:37:30.480 --> 00:37:32.779
 from earth.

00:37:33.219 --> 00:37:34.059
 Wisdom was there

00:37:34.059 --> 00:37:34.719
 look at

00:37:34.719 --> 00:37:35.639
 in verse 30

00:37:35.639 --> 00:37:36.679
 like a master

00:37:36.679 --> 00:37:38.219
 workman

00:37:38.219 --> 00:37:39.559
 or a craftsman.

00:37:41.699 --> 00:37:42.500
 Wisdom was

00:37:42.500 --> 00:37:43.739
 the shape

00:37:43.739 --> 00:37:44.439
 in which God

00:37:44.439 --> 00:37:45.480
 created a world.

00:37:46.139 --> 00:37:46.719
 And think back

00:37:46.719 --> 00:37:47.500
 in Genesis 1

00:37:47.500 --> 00:37:48.419
 what did God say

00:37:48.419 --> 00:37:49.139
 about the way

00:37:49.139 --> 00:37:50.019
 he made creation?

00:37:50.019 --> 00:37:51.339
 He said it was good

00:37:51.339 --> 00:37:52.059
 and it was good

00:37:52.059 --> 00:37:52.779
 and it was good

00:37:52.779 --> 00:37:53.500
 and it was good

00:37:53.500 --> 00:37:54.500
 and it was good

00:37:54.500 --> 00:37:55.359
 and it was good

00:37:55.359 --> 00:37:56.659
 and it was very

00:37:56.659 --> 00:37:57.839
 good.

00:37:59.179 --> 00:38:00.519
 There was nothing

00:38:00.519 --> 00:38:02.199
 bad

00:38:02.199 --> 00:38:04.719
 about God's creation

00:38:04.719 --> 00:38:05.439
 in the beginning.

00:38:05.440 --> 00:38:06.460
 There was nothing

00:38:06.460 --> 00:38:08.019
 against the grain

00:38:08.019 --> 00:38:09.400
 in God's

00:38:09.400 --> 00:38:10.519
 original creation.

00:38:14.559 --> 00:38:15.659
 And so

00:38:15.659 --> 00:38:16.659
 if this is

00:38:16.659 --> 00:38:17.639
 the very fabric

00:38:17.639 --> 00:38:18.200
 of the world

00:38:18.200 --> 00:38:19.039
 that we've been

00:38:19.039 --> 00:38:20.179
 brought into

00:38:20.179 --> 00:38:21.019
 the very fabric

00:38:21.019 --> 00:38:21.559
 of the world

00:38:21.559 --> 00:38:22.539
 that we've been made

00:38:22.539 --> 00:38:25.059
 should we not

00:38:25.059 --> 00:38:26.320
 then value wisdom

00:38:26.320 --> 00:38:27.220
 to help us

00:38:27.220 --> 00:38:27.860
 understand

00:38:27.860 --> 00:38:28.559
 how to live

00:38:28.559 --> 00:38:29.039
 in it?

00:38:29.639 --> 00:38:31.039
 This is the question

00:38:31.039 --> 00:38:32.760
 that wisdom

00:38:32.760 --> 00:38:34.300
 brings to us.

00:38:35.440 --> 00:38:37.559
 And then finally

00:38:37.559 --> 00:38:39.860
 in verses 30

00:38:39.860 --> 00:38:40.400
 and 31

00:38:40.400 --> 00:38:41.220
 I want you to see

00:38:41.220 --> 00:38:42.260
 that wisdom

00:38:42.260 --> 00:38:43.220
 in creation

00:38:43.220 --> 00:38:44.559
 was not just

00:38:44.559 --> 00:38:45.619
 a dutiful job

00:38:45.619 --> 00:38:47.780
 when it was done

00:38:47.780 --> 00:38:48.360
 he said

00:38:48.360 --> 00:38:49.099
 alright

00:38:49.099 --> 00:38:50.519
 well that's a good job

00:38:50.519 --> 00:38:51.559
 on to the next.

00:38:53.440 --> 00:38:54.500
 Verse 30

00:38:54.500 --> 00:38:56.280
 the second half

00:38:56.280 --> 00:38:57.639
 I was daily

00:38:57.639 --> 00:38:58.679
 his delight

00:38:58.679 --> 00:39:00.220
 that God

00:39:00.220 --> 00:39:01.280
 delighted in wisdom

00:39:01.280 --> 00:39:02.420
 in the middle

00:39:02.420 --> 00:39:03.119
 of creation

00:39:03.119 --> 00:39:04.099
 and then

00:39:04.099 --> 00:39:05.139
 the rest of it

00:39:05.139 --> 00:39:06.460
 rejoicing before him

00:39:06.460 --> 00:39:06.839
 always

00:39:06.839 --> 00:39:07.940
 rejoicing in his

00:39:07.940 --> 00:39:09.000
 inhabited world

00:39:09.000 --> 00:39:10.079
 and delighting

00:39:10.079 --> 00:39:10.639
 in the children

00:39:10.639 --> 00:39:11.279
 of man.

00:39:12.319 --> 00:39:12.599
 You see

00:39:12.599 --> 00:39:13.179
 wisdom

00:39:13.179 --> 00:39:15.339
 was full of joy

00:39:15.339 --> 00:39:16.960
 about the creation

00:39:16.960 --> 00:39:17.839
 that God has made.

00:39:17.960 --> 00:39:18.799
 It's goodness

00:39:18.799 --> 00:39:21.359
 pulled out

00:39:21.359 --> 00:39:22.079
 of wisdom

00:39:22.079 --> 00:39:23.699
 this exaltation

00:39:23.699 --> 00:39:25.079
 this celebration

00:39:25.079 --> 00:39:26.779
 of the beauty

00:39:26.779 --> 00:39:28.279
 of the form

00:39:28.279 --> 00:39:29.119
 and the weave

00:39:29.119 --> 00:39:30.099
 and the shape

00:39:30.099 --> 00:39:31.139
 of what God

00:39:31.139 --> 00:39:31.879
 had made

00:39:31.879 --> 00:39:33.059
 and so God

00:39:33.059 --> 00:39:33.539
 was

00:39:33.539 --> 00:39:34.699
 so wisdom

00:39:34.699 --> 00:39:35.460
 was delighting

00:39:35.460 --> 00:39:35.980
 in God

00:39:35.980 --> 00:39:36.879
 delighting

00:39:36.879 --> 00:39:37.480
 in creation

00:39:37.480 --> 00:39:38.199
 and delighting

00:39:38.199 --> 00:39:38.940
 in humanity

00:39:38.940 --> 00:39:41.139
 and saying

00:39:41.139 --> 00:39:42.159
 this is all

00:39:42.159 --> 00:39:43.059
 very good.

00:39:45.400 --> 00:39:45.739
 Wisdom

00:39:45.739 --> 00:39:46.099
 knows

00:39:46.099 --> 00:39:46.639
 intimately

00:39:46.639 --> 00:39:48.759
 how the world

00:39:48.759 --> 00:39:49.460
 was made.

00:39:49.960 --> 00:39:50.319
 Wisdom

00:39:50.319 --> 00:39:50.739
 knows

00:39:50.739 --> 00:39:51.279
 intimately

00:39:51.279 --> 00:39:52.379
 how the world

00:39:52.379 --> 00:39:52.799
 was made

00:39:52.799 --> 00:39:53.400
 to work

00:39:53.400 --> 00:39:54.819
 before God.

00:39:58.400 --> 00:39:59.359
 So what are we

00:39:59.359 --> 00:40:00.199
 to think of this?

00:40:01.139 --> 00:40:02.460
 First of all

00:40:02.460 --> 00:40:05.179
 let's just stop

00:40:05.179 --> 00:40:06.039
 and celebrate

00:40:06.039 --> 00:40:07.079
 the beauty

00:40:07.079 --> 00:40:08.239
 of the form

00:40:08.239 --> 00:40:08.900
 of creation.

00:40:09.500 --> 00:40:10.400
 Some of you

00:40:10.400 --> 00:40:11.420
 who work in labs

00:40:11.420 --> 00:40:12.940
 for many many hours

00:40:12.940 --> 00:40:13.679
 every week

00:40:13.679 --> 00:40:14.679
 know

00:40:14.679 --> 00:40:16.480
 particular pictures

00:40:16.480 --> 00:40:18.019
 and particular forms

00:40:18.019 --> 00:40:19.059
 of what this

00:40:19.059 --> 00:40:19.480
 looked like

00:40:19.480 --> 00:40:20.179
 that I can't even

00:40:20.179 --> 00:40:20.639
 imagine

00:40:20.639 --> 00:40:22.859
 but you see it

00:40:22.859 --> 00:40:23.839
 and you know it.

00:40:25.359 --> 00:40:26.659
 For the rest of us

00:40:26.659 --> 00:40:27.759
 we just get to walk

00:40:27.759 --> 00:40:28.639
 down the beach

00:40:28.639 --> 00:40:29.480
 at Ham and Asset

00:40:29.480 --> 00:40:30.760
 or climb to the top

00:40:30.760 --> 00:40:31.599
 of Sleeping Giant

00:40:31.599 --> 00:40:34.280
 or you know

00:40:34.280 --> 00:40:34.980
 go to Colorado

00:40:34.980 --> 00:40:36.320
 and actually see mountains

00:40:36.320 --> 00:40:36.699
 and

00:40:36.699 --> 00:40:39.280
 or go to Nepal

00:40:39.280 --> 00:40:40.719
 and really see mountains.

00:40:40.719 --> 00:40:45.919
 but when we

00:40:45.919 --> 00:40:47.379
 but all of us

00:40:47.379 --> 00:40:48.679
 in our various ways

00:40:48.679 --> 00:40:49.500
 have an opportunity

00:40:49.500 --> 00:40:51.000
 to see the beauty

00:40:51.000 --> 00:40:52.179
 of God's creation

00:40:52.179 --> 00:40:53.959
 and to rejoice

00:40:53.959 --> 00:40:54.419
 in it

00:40:54.419 --> 00:40:55.879
 and to see

00:40:55.879 --> 00:40:56.239
 how

00:40:56.239 --> 00:40:57.319
 how the weave

00:40:57.319 --> 00:40:57.559
 of it

00:40:57.559 --> 00:40:58.179
 the intricate

00:40:58.179 --> 00:40:58.879
 design

00:40:58.879 --> 00:40:59.099
 the

00:40:59.099 --> 00:40:59.699
 even

00:40:59.699 --> 00:41:00.339
 the

00:41:00.339 --> 00:41:02.339
 microscopic

00:41:02.339 --> 00:41:03.359
 workings

00:41:03.359 --> 00:41:03.719
 of it

00:41:03.719 --> 00:41:04.439
 that again

00:41:04.439 --> 00:41:05.379
 I can't even

00:41:05.379 --> 00:41:06.339
 begin to fathom

00:41:06.339 --> 00:41:07.039
 that some of you

00:41:07.039 --> 00:41:07.839
 know far more

00:41:07.839 --> 00:41:08.219
 intimately

00:41:08.219 --> 00:41:08.879
 than I do

00:41:08.879 --> 00:41:10.599
 that all of this

00:41:10.599 --> 00:41:11.719
 reflects the form

00:41:11.719 --> 00:41:12.219
 and the goodness

00:41:12.219 --> 00:41:13.199
 of God's creation

00:41:13.199 --> 00:41:13.939
 for us

00:41:13.939 --> 00:41:16.799
 but secondly

00:41:16.799 --> 00:41:17.919
 we need to recognize

00:41:17.919 --> 00:41:19.519
 that this is why

00:41:19.519 --> 00:41:20.579
 the doctrine of creation

00:41:20.579 --> 00:41:21.519
 is so important

00:41:21.519 --> 00:41:22.779
 because if God

00:41:22.779 --> 00:41:23.919
 had made this world

00:41:23.919 --> 00:41:25.699
 and God has framed it

00:41:25.699 --> 00:41:26.500
 and shaped it

00:41:26.500 --> 00:41:27.339
 with a particular

00:41:27.339 --> 00:41:28.679
 in a particular way

00:41:28.679 --> 00:41:30.019
 for good

00:41:30.019 --> 00:41:31.199
 as a display

00:41:31.199 --> 00:41:32.079
 of his glory

00:41:32.079 --> 00:41:33.000
 and for the goodness

00:41:33.000 --> 00:41:34.500
 of all who live in it

00:41:34.500 --> 00:41:35.779
 and if wisdom

00:41:35.780 --> 00:41:37.260
 then is woven

00:41:37.260 --> 00:41:38.920
 into that fabric

00:41:38.920 --> 00:41:39.820
 such that

00:41:39.820 --> 00:41:41.220
 this is the way

00:41:41.220 --> 00:41:42.700
 creation works

00:41:42.700 --> 00:41:44.519
 then the call

00:41:44.519 --> 00:41:45.140
 of wisdom

00:41:45.140 --> 00:41:46.280
 in scriptures

00:41:46.280 --> 00:41:47.060
 in Proverbs

00:41:47.060 --> 00:41:47.860
 is to walk

00:41:47.860 --> 00:41:48.380
 in accordance

00:41:48.380 --> 00:41:48.920
 with that

00:41:48.920 --> 00:41:49.720
 to walk

00:41:49.720 --> 00:41:50.620
 according to the

00:41:50.620 --> 00:41:52.220
 along the grain

00:41:52.220 --> 00:41:53.640
 to know the weave

00:41:53.640 --> 00:41:54.560
 and to embrace

00:41:54.560 --> 00:41:55.440
 that weave

00:41:55.440 --> 00:41:56.980
 and friends

00:41:56.980 --> 00:41:57.200
 you know

00:41:57.200 --> 00:41:58.400
 we don't like that

00:41:58.400 --> 00:42:00.500
 we live in a world

00:42:00.500 --> 00:42:01.700
 today that loves

00:42:01.700 --> 00:42:02.900
 self-determination

00:42:02.900 --> 00:42:06.220
 we want to be able

00:42:06.220 --> 00:42:06.960
 to choose

00:42:06.960 --> 00:42:07.680
 our career

00:42:07.680 --> 00:42:08.920
 we want to be able

00:42:08.920 --> 00:42:09.599
 to choose

00:42:09.599 --> 00:42:10.619
 where we live

00:42:10.619 --> 00:42:11.599
 we want to be able

00:42:11.599 --> 00:42:12.079
 to choose

00:42:12.079 --> 00:42:13.000
 what we eat

00:42:13.000 --> 00:42:14.960
 there are more

00:42:14.960 --> 00:42:15.660
 deeper things

00:42:15.660 --> 00:42:16.300
 that our culture

00:42:16.300 --> 00:42:16.980
 is vying for

00:42:16.980 --> 00:42:18.220
 do we get to choose

00:42:18.220 --> 00:42:19.340
 our sexuality

00:42:19.340 --> 00:42:20.519
 our gender

00:42:20.519 --> 00:42:21.760
 our race

00:42:21.760 --> 00:42:23.019
 our family

00:42:23.019 --> 00:42:26.340
 we love

00:42:26.340 --> 00:42:27.519
 self-determination

00:42:27.519 --> 00:42:28.780
 we love

00:42:28.780 --> 00:42:29.519
 to want to do

00:42:29.519 --> 00:42:30.240
 it ourselves

00:42:30.239 --> 00:42:33.519
 but wisdom

00:42:33.519 --> 00:42:34.059
 says

00:42:34.059 --> 00:42:35.479
 I was there

00:42:35.479 --> 00:42:36.199
 in creation

00:42:36.199 --> 00:42:38.159
 and you are

00:42:38.159 --> 00:42:38.719
 a part of

00:42:38.719 --> 00:42:39.659
 this created order

00:42:39.659 --> 00:42:40.739
 and will you

00:42:40.739 --> 00:42:41.419
 abandon

00:42:41.419 --> 00:42:43.039
 your self-creating

00:42:43.039 --> 00:42:43.639
 project

00:42:43.639 --> 00:42:44.319
 will you

00:42:44.319 --> 00:42:44.779
 abandon

00:42:44.779 --> 00:42:45.799
 your own wisdom

00:42:45.799 --> 00:42:46.819
 and will you

00:42:46.819 --> 00:42:47.219
 instead

00:42:47.219 --> 00:42:48.679
 seek to understand

00:42:48.679 --> 00:42:50.319
 how I have

00:42:50.319 --> 00:42:51.239
 been a part

00:42:51.239 --> 00:42:52.379
 of what God

00:42:52.379 --> 00:42:52.859
 has done

00:42:52.859 --> 00:42:53.779
 how wisdom

00:42:53.779 --> 00:42:54.379
 has shaped

00:42:54.379 --> 00:42:56.279
 your creation

00:42:56.279 --> 00:42:57.279
 and your world

00:42:57.279 --> 00:42:58.159
 and your life

00:42:58.159 --> 00:43:00.480
 will you

00:43:00.480 --> 00:43:00.980
 love it

00:43:00.980 --> 00:43:01.739
 will you

00:43:01.739 --> 00:43:02.339
 seek it

00:43:02.339 --> 00:43:03.199
 will you

00:43:03.199 --> 00:43:03.940
 treasure it

00:43:03.940 --> 00:43:07.859
 and friends

00:43:07.859 --> 00:43:08.279
 we know

00:43:08.279 --> 00:43:08.940
 that this is

00:43:08.940 --> 00:43:10.319
 all true

00:43:10.319 --> 00:43:12.940
 partly because

00:43:12.940 --> 00:43:13.759
 as we've

00:43:13.759 --> 00:43:14.519
 mentioned earlier

00:43:14.519 --> 00:43:16.219
 this points us

00:43:16.219 --> 00:43:17.639
 to a greater

00:43:17.639 --> 00:43:18.159
 truth

00:43:18.159 --> 00:43:18.759
 and a greater

00:43:18.759 --> 00:43:19.159
 wisdom

00:43:19.159 --> 00:43:22.619
 for if our

00:43:22.619 --> 00:43:23.319
 life lived

00:43:23.319 --> 00:43:24.199
 before God

00:43:24.199 --> 00:43:25.159
 is a good life

00:43:25.159 --> 00:43:26.000
 our life lived

00:43:26.000 --> 00:43:26.659
 before God

00:43:26.659 --> 00:43:27.859
 within this creation

00:43:27.859 --> 00:43:29.039
 is what we're

00:43:29.039 --> 00:43:29.899
 longing for

00:43:29.899 --> 00:43:32.619
 then the way

00:43:32.619 --> 00:43:33.000
 that we

00:43:33.000 --> 00:43:34.019
 can best

00:43:34.019 --> 00:43:34.779
 get to it

00:43:34.779 --> 00:43:35.899
 is not by

00:43:35.899 --> 00:43:36.779
 trying to be

00:43:36.779 --> 00:43:37.519
 the most wise

00:43:37.519 --> 00:43:38.659
 person in the world

00:43:38.659 --> 00:43:40.079
 although pursuing

00:43:40.079 --> 00:43:41.000
 wisdom is great

00:43:41.000 --> 00:43:43.339
 but it's not about

00:43:43.339 --> 00:43:44.059
 trying to be

00:43:44.059 --> 00:43:44.759
 the most wise

00:43:44.759 --> 00:43:45.639
 person in the world

00:43:45.639 --> 00:43:47.059
 it is about

00:43:47.059 --> 00:43:48.319
 finding and knowing

00:43:48.319 --> 00:43:49.420
 the wisest person

00:43:49.420 --> 00:43:50.000
 in the world

00:43:50.000 --> 00:43:52.079
 when Jesus

00:43:52.079 --> 00:43:52.860
 walked the earth

00:43:52.860 --> 00:43:53.340
 he said

00:43:53.340 --> 00:43:54.920
 I am the way

00:43:54.920 --> 00:43:55.699
 and the truth

00:43:55.699 --> 00:43:56.480
 and the life

00:43:56.480 --> 00:43:57.579
 no one comes

00:43:57.579 --> 00:43:58.280
 to the father

00:43:58.280 --> 00:43:59.900
 apart from me

00:43:59.900 --> 00:44:02.019
 he comes to us

00:44:02.019 --> 00:44:02.539
 and he says

00:44:02.539 --> 00:44:03.920
 I am the one

00:44:03.920 --> 00:44:04.699
 who knows

00:44:04.699 --> 00:44:05.780
 because I was

00:44:05.780 --> 00:44:06.780
 there with creation

00:44:06.780 --> 00:44:08.179
 even in creation

00:44:08.179 --> 00:44:09.059
 even more so

00:44:09.059 --> 00:44:09.579
 than wisdom

00:44:09.579 --> 00:44:10.679
 I wasn't just

00:44:10.679 --> 00:44:11.420
 a personification

00:44:11.420 --> 00:44:12.599
 I was a member

00:44:12.599 --> 00:44:13.280
 of the trinity

00:44:13.280 --> 00:44:14.900
 intimately invested

00:44:14.900 --> 00:44:16.880
 in how things

00:44:16.880 --> 00:44:17.760
 were made

00:44:17.760 --> 00:44:19.880
 I was with God

00:44:19.880 --> 00:44:21.340
 doing the creating

00:44:21.340 --> 00:44:24.720
 but not only

00:44:24.720 --> 00:44:25.480
 did he create

00:44:25.480 --> 00:44:25.920
 the world

00:44:25.920 --> 00:44:27.100
 and know all of that

00:44:27.100 --> 00:44:27.860
 but then he

00:44:27.860 --> 00:44:29.000
 entered into it

00:44:29.000 --> 00:44:30.060
 in his incarnation

00:44:30.060 --> 00:44:31.320
 he came

00:44:31.320 --> 00:44:32.520
 and showed us

00:44:32.520 --> 00:44:34.540
 what God

00:44:34.540 --> 00:44:35.340
 could look like

00:44:35.340 --> 00:44:36.320
 what it would look like

00:44:36.320 --> 00:44:37.360
 to walk in the way

00:44:37.360 --> 00:44:37.860
 of wisdom

00:44:37.860 --> 00:44:39.160
 in this world

00:44:39.160 --> 00:44:40.120
 how to live

00:44:40.120 --> 00:44:40.880
 perfectly

00:44:40.880 --> 00:44:42.180
 according to the

00:44:42.180 --> 00:44:43.060
 weave and the grain

00:44:43.060 --> 00:44:44.800
 of that created order

00:44:44.800 --> 00:44:46.700
 and so he came

00:44:46.700 --> 00:44:47.220
 and he lived

00:44:47.219 --> 00:44:48.219
 a sinless life

00:44:48.219 --> 00:44:50.079
 but he didn't

00:44:50.079 --> 00:44:50.899
 just do that

00:44:50.899 --> 00:44:51.659
 then

00:44:51.659 --> 00:44:54.319
 in his purpose

00:44:54.319 --> 00:44:54.659
 plan

00:44:54.659 --> 00:44:55.359
 having lived

00:44:55.359 --> 00:44:55.839
 that life

00:44:55.839 --> 00:44:57.199
 he offers himself

00:44:57.199 --> 00:45:00.480
 for fools

00:45:00.480 --> 00:45:01.179
 like us

00:45:01.179 --> 00:45:02.679
 for those

00:45:02.679 --> 00:45:03.500
 who don't know

00:45:03.500 --> 00:45:04.519
 that we don't

00:45:04.519 --> 00:45:05.099
 live according

00:45:05.099 --> 00:45:05.799
 to the grain

00:45:05.799 --> 00:45:06.699
 for those

00:45:06.699 --> 00:45:07.539
 who have chosen

00:45:07.539 --> 00:45:08.859
 to go away

00:45:08.859 --> 00:45:09.379
 and to do

00:45:09.379 --> 00:45:10.219
 other things

00:45:10.219 --> 00:45:11.359
 for those of us

00:45:11.359 --> 00:45:12.299
 who are lost

00:45:12.299 --> 00:45:14.599
 and don't know

00:45:14.599 --> 00:45:17.099
 or have refused

00:45:17.099 --> 00:45:18.099
 God's ways

00:45:18.099 --> 00:45:20.279
 which is all of us

00:45:20.279 --> 00:45:22.159
 we've all

00:45:22.159 --> 00:45:23.579
 gone our own way

00:45:23.579 --> 00:45:25.940
 Jesus comes

00:45:25.940 --> 00:45:26.900
 and he offers himself

00:45:26.900 --> 00:45:27.339
 up

00:45:27.339 --> 00:45:28.519
 for us

00:45:28.519 --> 00:45:30.139
 the wisest man

00:45:30.139 --> 00:45:30.659
 in the world

00:45:30.659 --> 00:45:31.839
 dying for fools

00:45:31.839 --> 00:45:33.219
 like us

00:45:33.219 --> 00:45:35.099
 so that the sin

00:45:35.099 --> 00:45:35.779
 might be

00:45:35.779 --> 00:45:37.559
 the penalty of sin

00:45:37.559 --> 00:45:38.380
 might be removed

00:45:38.380 --> 00:45:39.059
 from us

00:45:39.059 --> 00:45:40.659
 but even more

00:45:40.659 --> 00:45:41.099
 than that

00:45:41.099 --> 00:45:42.139
 so that by his

00:45:42.139 --> 00:45:42.559
 resurrection

00:45:42.559 --> 00:45:43.460
 from the dead

00:45:43.460 --> 00:45:44.759
 by his rising

00:45:44.759 --> 00:45:45.679
 to new life

00:45:45.679 --> 00:45:46.679
 by his beginning

00:45:46.679 --> 00:45:47.480
 then this work

00:45:47.480 --> 00:45:48.500
 of recreating

00:45:48.500 --> 00:45:49.559
 the world

00:45:49.559 --> 00:45:50.619
 which he starts

00:45:50.619 --> 00:45:51.440
 in our hearts

00:45:51.440 --> 00:45:52.059
 by giving us

00:45:52.059 --> 00:45:52.940
 a new heart

00:45:52.940 --> 00:45:54.039
 that is now

00:45:54.039 --> 00:45:55.420
 able to respond

00:45:55.420 --> 00:45:56.099
 to the call

00:45:56.099 --> 00:45:56.579
 of wisdom

00:45:56.579 --> 00:45:57.659
 and to walk

00:45:57.659 --> 00:45:58.119
 in it

00:45:58.119 --> 00:45:59.539
 this is what

00:45:59.539 --> 00:46:00.719
 Christ offers us

00:46:00.719 --> 00:46:01.960
 do you seek

00:46:01.960 --> 00:46:02.480
 wisdom

00:46:02.480 --> 00:46:03.360
 Christ

00:46:03.360 --> 00:46:05.159
 is the one

00:46:05.159 --> 00:46:05.820
 who can give it

00:46:05.820 --> 00:46:06.360
 to you

00:46:06.360 --> 00:46:08.199
 but maybe

00:46:08.199 --> 00:46:08.500
 more

00:46:08.500 --> 00:46:09.739
 more accurately

00:46:09.739 --> 00:46:11.299
 take hold

00:46:11.300 --> 00:46:11.860
 of Christ

00:46:11.860 --> 00:46:12.720
 for he is

00:46:12.720 --> 00:46:13.320
 your wisdom

00:46:13.320 --> 00:46:14.880
 he's not just

00:46:14.880 --> 00:46:15.640
 going to give you

00:46:15.640 --> 00:46:16.580
 more instructions

00:46:16.580 --> 00:46:17.519
 from the manual

00:46:17.519 --> 00:46:18.820
 but you will find

00:46:18.820 --> 00:46:19.620
 in relationship

00:46:19.620 --> 00:46:20.420
 with him

00:46:20.420 --> 00:46:21.580
 the wisdom

00:46:21.580 --> 00:46:22.380
 that you need

00:46:22.380 --> 00:46:23.300
 to live life

00:46:23.300 --> 00:46:26.519
 this is what

00:46:26.519 --> 00:46:27.019
 we read in

00:46:27.019 --> 00:46:27.760
 Colossians

00:46:27.760 --> 00:46:29.019
 in Christ

00:46:29.019 --> 00:46:29.700
 all the treasures

00:46:29.700 --> 00:46:30.180
 of wisdom

00:46:30.180 --> 00:46:30.680
 and knowledge

00:46:30.680 --> 00:46:31.100
 dwell

00:46:31.100 --> 00:46:33.060
 but this is

00:46:33.060 --> 00:46:33.539
 the hope

00:46:33.539 --> 00:46:34.900
 it's Christ

00:46:34.900 --> 00:46:35.560
 in you

00:46:35.560 --> 00:46:36.460
 the hope

00:46:36.460 --> 00:46:37.039
 of glory

00:46:37.039 --> 00:46:38.360
 with Christ

00:46:38.360 --> 00:46:39.019
 in you

00:46:39.019 --> 00:46:39.699
 you are now

00:46:39.699 --> 00:46:40.099
 able

00:46:40.099 --> 00:46:41.019
 for the first

00:46:41.019 --> 00:46:41.420
 time

00:46:41.420 --> 00:46:42.460
 to be free

00:46:42.460 --> 00:46:42.920
 from your

00:46:42.920 --> 00:46:43.780
 patterns of sin

00:46:43.780 --> 00:46:44.460
 that reject

00:46:44.460 --> 00:46:45.639
 God's wisdom

00:46:45.639 --> 00:46:47.099
 you are free

00:46:47.099 --> 00:46:47.880
 for the first

00:46:47.880 --> 00:46:48.239
 time

00:46:48.239 --> 00:46:48.739
 to actually

00:46:48.739 --> 00:46:49.880
 embrace life

00:46:49.880 --> 00:46:50.900
 according to

00:46:50.900 --> 00:46:51.579
 God's plan

00:46:51.579 --> 00:46:52.219
 for you

00:46:52.219 --> 00:46:54.659
 and this is

00:46:54.659 --> 00:46:55.039
 the call

00:46:55.039 --> 00:46:55.679
 for us

00:46:55.679 --> 00:46:57.639
 and this

00:46:57.639 --> 00:46:58.119
 going back

00:46:58.119 --> 00:46:58.699
 to Proverbs

00:46:58.699 --> 00:46:59.280
 is where we

00:46:59.280 --> 00:46:59.579
 end

00:46:59.579 --> 00:47:00.900
 verses 32

00:47:00.900 --> 00:47:01.900
 through 36

00:47:01.900 --> 00:47:04.079
 and now

00:47:04.079 --> 00:47:04.599
 sons

00:47:04.599 --> 00:47:06.000
 listen to me

00:47:06.000 --> 00:47:07.119
 blessed are

00:47:07.119 --> 00:47:07.559
 those who

00:47:07.559 --> 00:47:08.360
 keep my ways

00:47:08.360 --> 00:47:09.280
 hear instruction

00:47:09.280 --> 00:47:10.019
 and be wise

00:47:10.019 --> 00:47:10.539
 and do not

00:47:10.539 --> 00:47:11.160
 neglect it

00:47:11.160 --> 00:47:12.220
 blessed is the

00:47:12.220 --> 00:47:12.880
 one who listens

00:47:12.880 --> 00:47:13.340
 to me

00:47:13.340 --> 00:47:14.139
 watching daily

00:47:14.139 --> 00:47:14.880
 at my gates

00:47:14.880 --> 00:47:16.119
 waiting beside

00:47:16.119 --> 00:47:16.740
 my doors

00:47:16.740 --> 00:47:17.280
 for whoever

00:47:17.280 --> 00:47:18.160
 finds me

00:47:18.160 --> 00:47:19.139
 finds life

00:47:19.139 --> 00:47:20.240
 and obtains

00:47:20.240 --> 00:47:21.059
 favor for the

00:47:21.059 --> 00:47:21.340
 Lord

00:47:21.340 --> 00:47:22.460
 but he who

00:47:22.460 --> 00:47:23.300
 fails to find

00:47:23.300 --> 00:47:23.820
 me injures

00:47:23.820 --> 00:47:24.340
 himself

00:47:24.340 --> 00:47:25.000
 and all

00:47:25.000 --> 00:47:25.539
 who hate

00:47:25.539 --> 00:47:25.840
 me

00:47:25.840 --> 00:47:27.519
 love death

00:47:27.519 --> 00:47:31.360
 there are

00:47:31.360 --> 00:47:31.780
 two ways

00:47:31.780 --> 00:47:32.320
 to live

00:47:32.320 --> 00:47:33.500
 to embrace

00:47:33.500 --> 00:47:34.360
 or to reject

00:47:34.360 --> 00:47:35.820
 Greg's going

00:47:35.820 --> 00:47:36.119
 to preach

00:47:36.119 --> 00:47:36.420
 on this

00:47:36.420 --> 00:47:36.920
 next week

00:47:36.920 --> 00:47:37.380
 so I'm not

00:47:37.380 --> 00:47:37.619
 going to

00:47:37.619 --> 00:47:38.199
 develop the

00:47:38.199 --> 00:47:38.800
 theme much

00:47:38.800 --> 00:47:39.980
 but recognize

00:47:39.980 --> 00:47:40.579
 that there is

00:47:40.579 --> 00:47:41.139
 a choice

00:47:41.139 --> 00:47:41.840
 that Proverbs

00:47:41.840 --> 00:47:42.460
 is always

00:47:42.460 --> 00:47:43.099
 putting before

00:47:43.099 --> 00:47:43.480
 us

00:47:43.480 --> 00:47:44.239
 will you

00:47:44.239 --> 00:47:44.800
 today

00:47:44.800 --> 00:47:45.820
 turn to

00:47:45.820 --> 00:47:46.259
 God

00:47:46.259 --> 00:47:47.079
 humble

00:47:47.079 --> 00:47:47.639
 yourself

00:47:47.639 --> 00:47:48.259
 know that

00:47:48.259 --> 00:47:48.659
 you need

00:47:48.659 --> 00:47:49.239
 his wisdom

00:47:49.239 --> 00:47:50.019
 and seek

00:47:50.019 --> 00:47:50.559
 him for

00:47:50.559 --> 00:47:50.739
 it

00:47:50.739 --> 00:47:51.380
 or will

00:47:51.380 --> 00:47:51.900
 you do

00:47:51.900 --> 00:47:52.179
 it on

00:47:52.179 --> 00:47:52.699
 your own

00:47:52.699 --> 00:47:53.980
 will you

00:47:53.980 --> 00:47:54.619
 trust in

00:47:54.619 --> 00:47:54.920
 God

00:47:54.920 --> 00:47:55.480
 to provide

00:47:55.480 --> 00:47:55.860
 for you

00:47:55.860 --> 00:47:56.219
 and care

00:47:56.219 --> 00:47:56.519
 for you

00:47:56.519 --> 00:47:57.059
 and instruct

00:47:57.059 --> 00:47:57.259
 you

00:47:57.260 --> 00:47:57.920
 or will

00:47:57.920 --> 00:47:58.160
 you

00:47:58.160 --> 00:47:58.460
 think

00:47:58.460 --> 00:47:58.640
 that

00:47:58.640 --> 00:47:58.740
 it

00:47:58.740 --> 00:47:58.820
 is

00:47:58.820 --> 00:47:59.020
 up

00:47:59.020 --> 00:47:59.180
 to

00:47:59.180 --> 00:47:59.500
 you

00:47:59.500 --> 00:48:05.420
 but the

00:48:05.420 --> 00:48:05.880
 invitation

00:48:05.880 --> 00:48:06.220
 is

00:48:06.220 --> 00:48:06.920
 if you

00:48:06.920 --> 00:48:07.260
 follow

00:48:07.260 --> 00:48:07.680
 God

00:48:07.680 --> 00:48:08.720
 what you

00:48:08.720 --> 00:48:08.880
 will

00:48:08.880 --> 00:48:09.140
 find

00:48:09.140 --> 00:48:09.420
 there

00:48:09.420 --> 00:48:09.660
 is

00:48:09.660 --> 00:48:10.080
 life

00:48:10.080 --> 00:48:12.140
 and so

00:48:12.140 --> 00:48:12.340
 we're

00:48:12.340 --> 00:48:12.520
 going to

00:48:12.520 --> 00:48:12.880
 explore

00:48:12.880 --> 00:48:13.320
 what that

00:48:13.320 --> 00:48:13.620
 life

00:48:13.620 --> 00:48:14.180
 looks like

00:48:14.180 --> 00:48:14.500
 as it

00:48:14.500 --> 00:48:14.860
 relates

00:48:14.860 --> 00:48:15.140
 to

00:48:15.140 --> 00:48:15.980
 the

00:48:15.980 --> 00:48:16.320
 words

00:48:16.320 --> 00:48:16.520
 we

00:48:16.520 --> 00:48:16.860
 speak

00:48:16.860 --> 00:48:17.080
 to

00:48:17.080 --> 00:48:17.280
 one

00:48:17.280 --> 00:48:17.620
 another

00:48:17.620 --> 00:48:19.280
 the

00:48:19.280 --> 00:48:19.720
 emotions

00:48:19.720 --> 00:48:20.100
 that we

00:48:20.100 --> 00:48:20.620
 feel

00:48:20.620 --> 00:48:20.860
 our

00:48:20.860 --> 00:48:21.320
 anger

00:48:21.320 --> 00:48:21.780
 and our

00:48:21.780 --> 00:48:22.380
 jealousy

00:48:22.380 --> 00:48:22.840
 and our

00:48:22.840 --> 00:48:23.160
 pity

00:48:23.160 --> 00:48:25.840
 what does

00:48:25.840 --> 00:48:26.360
 life look

00:48:26.360 --> 00:48:26.700
 like in

00:48:26.699 --> 00:48:26.819
 our

00:48:26.819 --> 00:48:27.439
 relationships

00:48:27.439 --> 00:48:27.980
 with our

00:48:27.980 --> 00:48:28.599
 families

00:48:28.599 --> 00:48:29.319
 with our

00:48:29.319 --> 00:48:29.919
 friends

00:48:29.919 --> 00:48:31.159
 how do

00:48:31.159 --> 00:48:31.559
 we deal

00:48:31.559 --> 00:48:32.179
 with wealth

00:48:32.179 --> 00:48:32.799
 and power

00:48:32.799 --> 00:48:33.199
 how do

00:48:33.199 --> 00:48:33.579
 we deal

00:48:33.579 --> 00:48:34.279
 with authority

00:48:34.279 --> 00:48:35.000
 how do

00:48:35.000 --> 00:48:35.439
 we seek

00:48:35.439 --> 00:48:35.899
 guidance

00:48:35.899 --> 00:48:36.539
 and direction

00:48:36.539 --> 00:48:37.460
 for our

00:48:37.460 --> 00:48:37.899
 lives

00:48:37.899 --> 00:48:38.239
 these are

00:48:38.239 --> 00:48:38.679
 all some

00:48:38.679 --> 00:48:38.919
 of the

00:48:38.919 --> 00:48:39.439
 topics

00:48:39.439 --> 00:48:40.279
 that we're

00:48:40.279 --> 00:48:40.579
 going to be

00:48:40.579 --> 00:48:41.119
 exploring

00:48:41.119 --> 00:48:41.819
 this summer

00:48:41.819 --> 00:48:44.019
 but its

00:48:44.019 --> 00:48:44.699
 value will

00:48:44.699 --> 00:48:45.480
 be as we

00:48:45.480 --> 00:48:46.139
 embrace the

00:48:46.139 --> 00:48:46.579
 path of

00:48:46.579 --> 00:48:46.859
 wisdom

00:48:46.859 --> 00:48:47.519
 as we

00:48:47.519 --> 00:48:48.119
 hear this

00:48:48.119 --> 00:48:48.599
 call and

00:48:48.599 --> 00:48:49.139
 respond

00:48:49.139 --> 00:48:50.199
 because wisdom

00:48:50.199 --> 00:48:51.079
 is woven

00:48:51.079 --> 00:48:51.699
 in the very

00:48:51.699 --> 00:48:53.279
 fabric of

00:48:53.279 --> 00:48:54.159
 creation

00:48:54.159 --> 00:48:56.239
 and reflects

00:48:56.239 --> 00:48:56.719
 the very

00:48:56.719 --> 00:48:57.179
 character

00:48:57.179 --> 00:48:57.639
 of God

00:48:57.639 --> 00:48:58.099
 himself

00:48:58.099 --> 00:49:00.179
 so let

00:49:00.179 --> 00:49:00.539
 us walk

00:49:00.539 --> 00:49:00.899
 in it

00:49:00.899 --> 00:49:03.539
 let's pray

00:49:03.539 --> 00:49:12.579
 father we

00:49:12.579 --> 00:49:12.899
 thank you

00:49:12.899 --> 00:49:13.480
 this morning

00:49:13.480 --> 00:49:14.739
 for this

00:49:14.739 --> 00:49:15.079
 word

00:49:15.079 --> 00:49:15.480
 and lord

00:49:15.480 --> 00:49:15.859
 we thank

00:49:15.859 --> 00:49:16.139
 you for

00:49:16.139 --> 00:49:16.599
 the beauty

00:49:16.599 --> 00:49:16.879
 of your

00:49:16.879 --> 00:49:17.399
 creation

00:49:17.399 --> 00:49:17.799
 and your

00:49:17.799 --> 00:49:18.179
 world

00:49:18.179 --> 00:49:19.619
 lord I

00:49:19.619 --> 00:49:20.179
 ask that

00:49:20.179 --> 00:49:21.119
 you would

00:49:21.119 --> 00:49:22.299
 help us

00:49:22.300 --> 00:49:22.940
 this morning

00:49:22.940 --> 00:49:23.860
 to humble

00:49:23.860 --> 00:49:24.340
 our hearts

00:49:24.340 --> 00:49:25.019
 before you

00:49:25.019 --> 00:49:26.080
 lord that

00:49:26.080 --> 00:49:26.420
 we would

00:49:26.420 --> 00:49:27.480
 know how

00:49:27.480 --> 00:49:27.940
 great your

00:49:27.940 --> 00:49:28.680
 wisdom is

00:49:28.680 --> 00:49:29.700
 that we

00:49:29.700 --> 00:49:30.940
 would lord

00:49:30.940 --> 00:49:31.820
 forsake our

00:49:31.820 --> 00:49:33.360
 own foolish

00:49:33.360 --> 00:49:34.539
 self-determinism

00:49:34.539 --> 00:49:35.660
 lord that

00:49:35.660 --> 00:49:36.200
 we would

00:49:36.200 --> 00:49:37.580
 recognize that

00:49:37.580 --> 00:49:37.940
 we were

00:49:37.940 --> 00:49:39.080
 created and

00:49:39.080 --> 00:49:39.660
 to work

00:49:39.660 --> 00:49:41.539
 lord to

00:49:41.539 --> 00:49:42.000
 live a

00:49:42.000 --> 00:49:43.280
 life lord

00:49:43.280 --> 00:49:43.900
 that is to

00:49:43.900 --> 00:49:44.460
 your glory

00:49:44.460 --> 00:49:45.180
 to live a

00:49:45.180 --> 00:49:45.680
 life that

00:49:45.680 --> 00:49:46.180
 is good

00:49:46.180 --> 00:49:46.980
 before you

00:49:46.980 --> 00:49:48.080
 lord we

00:49:48.080 --> 00:49:48.680
 must seek

00:49:48.680 --> 00:49:49.140
 you

00:49:49.140 --> 00:49:51.220
 find in

00:49:51.220 --> 00:49:52.140
 you lord

00:49:52.139 --> 00:49:52.599
 the life

00:49:52.599 --> 00:49:52.960
 that we

00:49:52.960 --> 00:49:53.920
 that we

00:49:53.920 --> 00:49:54.500
 long for

00:49:54.500 --> 00:49:54.779
 and that

00:49:54.779 --> 00:49:55.119
 you made

00:49:55.119 --> 00:49:55.579
 us for

00:49:55.579 --> 00:49:56.199
 thank you

00:49:56.199 --> 00:49:56.839
 for jesus

00:49:56.839 --> 00:49:58.159
 who is the

00:49:58.159 --> 00:49:58.559
 one who

00:49:58.559 --> 00:49:58.980
 gives us

00:49:58.980 --> 00:49:59.539
 life out

00:49:59.539 --> 00:50:00.059
 of death

00:50:00.059 --> 00:50:02.659
 we pray

00:50:02.659 --> 00:50:03.119
 these things

00:50:03.119 --> 00:50:03.420
 in his

00:50:03.420 --> 00:50:03.679
 name

00:50:03.679 --> 00:50:04.519
 amen