WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:07.140 Father, we confess before you that we like to divide the world up between good people and bad people. 00:00:08.240 --> 00:00:15.160 And so we're confused about ourselves and confused about people and confused about your word. 00:00:15.980 --> 00:00:21.440 And we confess before you, Father, that some of the things that you want to give us in your word 00:00:21.440 --> 00:00:23.800 are things that we have absolutely no interest in. 00:00:23.800 --> 00:00:33.799 And so either, Father, we ignore these things or, Father, we just try to make them look like it's things we already want. 00:00:34.820 --> 00:00:41.019 Father, we give you thanks and praise that you know how confused we are and still you love us 00:00:41.019 --> 00:00:44.480 and still you sent your son Jesus to die upon the cross to redeem us. 00:00:45.100 --> 00:00:51.900 We ask, Father, that you would gently but deeply and powerfully pour out your Holy Spirit upon us this morning 00:00:51.899 --> 00:00:54.500 as we open your word and think about your word. 00:00:55.420 --> 00:01:00.899 We ask, Father, that Jesus would be present amongst us to open our minds to understand the scriptures. 00:01:01.839 --> 00:01:06.200 As your Holy Spirit falls upon us, may our hearts burn within us 00:01:06.200 --> 00:01:11.819 as your son opens your word to each one of us and to us as a congregation. 00:01:12.480 --> 00:01:16.680 And this we ask in the name of Jesus, your son and our savior. Amen. 00:01:17.480 --> 00:01:18.439 Please be seated. 00:01:18.439 --> 00:01:18.519 Amen. 00:01:21.039 --> 00:01:28.400 So I was saying to Daniel before the service that I've had a hard time with this sermon this week. 00:01:29.019 --> 00:01:34.159 And part of the reason I've had a hard time with this sermon, apart from the normal reasons I have hard times with sermons, 00:01:34.659 --> 00:01:41.140 is that the Bible here, the text that I'm going to preach on today, is something that basically nobody wants. 00:01:41.140 --> 00:01:46.500 You know, if you listen to Christian radio, it doesn't matter if you're in Vancouver, 00:01:46.900 --> 00:01:53.219 if you're Sirius Radio or different parts of the country, it seems as if the church is addicted to encouragement. 00:01:54.040 --> 00:01:59.519 They like to say things in their advertisements of, come to this radio station, it's a family radio station, 00:01:59.620 --> 00:02:01.620 it's a place of encouragement, and it's safe. 00:02:02.219 --> 00:02:06.280 And you never hear anybody saying, come and listen to this radio station because we're square, 00:02:06.280 --> 00:02:11.060 or come listen to this radio station because we'll teach you and help you to fear God. 00:02:11.740 --> 00:02:17.560 And in fact, if you just think about it for a second, if we were to advertise with a big sign, 00:02:17.680 --> 00:02:22.639 you know, hoping to track people, and the sign said, come to us and we'll help you be square, 00:02:23.439 --> 00:02:30.060 that probably wouldn't be, I mean, people might actually come out of curiosity about why you would have such an odd sermon title, 00:02:30.060 --> 00:02:35.379 but it's not actually much of a draw today, just as it would not be much of a draw to say, 00:02:35.599 --> 00:02:40.280 come here and help to know how to fear the Lord. 00:02:41.259 --> 00:02:47.060 And the Bible passage today is going to talk about the virtue of being square. 00:02:48.080 --> 00:02:52.640 At the 8 o'clock service this morning, there's just eight of us gathered, 00:02:53.159 --> 00:02:58.539 1662 Book of Common Prayer service, quiet, meditative service, I love doing it. 00:02:58.539 --> 00:03:02.299 And by coincidence this week, it was a bit of an older crowd. 00:03:02.539 --> 00:03:04.120 I think everybody there was older than me. 00:03:04.659 --> 00:03:10.680 And I said to them, you folks, some of you folks are old enough to remember when to say something was square was a compliment. 00:03:12.099 --> 00:03:17.079 But one of the things I could suggest is that some of you folks who are younger might ask some of us who are a bit older, 00:03:17.560 --> 00:03:18.799 older than me, by the way, 00:03:19.859 --> 00:03:22.439 were you square when you were young? 00:03:22.539 --> 00:03:26.539 Or do you remember when actually to say that something was square was a good thing? 00:03:26.539 --> 00:03:29.179 But it's hard to believe now. 00:03:29.259 --> 00:03:34.239 Our culture's changed so much that that would hardly ever be a compliment to say that somebody's a real square. 00:03:34.859 --> 00:03:36.019 They're a square person. 00:03:36.739 --> 00:03:38.239 And that's what the Bible's going to talk about. 00:03:38.280 --> 00:03:39.799 It's going to encourage us about being square. 00:03:39.879 --> 00:03:41.239 It's going to talk about the fear of the Lord. 00:03:41.919 --> 00:03:47.599 And so I've been having a hard time thinking how I could get us to even want to be interested in a text like this. 00:03:48.259 --> 00:03:52.000 That's maybe why I prayed so hard that the Father would pour out his Holy Spirit upon us. 00:03:52.000 --> 00:03:57.800 But let's look at the Bible and see how it is that it encourages us to be square. 00:03:58.099 --> 00:04:02.319 So if you have your Bibles, Proverbs chapter 1, verse 1 to 7. 00:04:02.479 --> 00:04:03.659 That's what we're looking at today. 00:04:04.419 --> 00:04:08.199 We're beginning a series of sermons that will go through to Labor Day inclusive. 00:04:09.259 --> 00:04:12.800 Ancient Book of Proverbs, Ancient Wisdom for a Postmodern World. 00:04:12.800 --> 00:04:21.500 And so it's my honor to sort of give you the opening to the book, the gateway to the book, the introduction to the book, 00:04:21.620 --> 00:04:26.379 so that when you read it, you won't read it with amnesia and hopefully you have some type of skill 00:04:26.379 --> 00:04:30.360 in understanding how to read and understand the book of Proverbs. 00:04:30.840 --> 00:04:32.800 So Proverbs chapter 1, verse 1. 00:04:33.280 --> 00:04:34.580 And here's how it goes. 00:04:35.259 --> 00:04:39.340 The Proverbs of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel. 00:04:40.180 --> 00:04:42.699 Now, I'm going to do a really geeky thing here. 00:04:42.800 --> 00:04:46.819 Proverbs, you know, it's a bit of a grammar moment. 00:04:46.939 --> 00:04:51.480 So I know as soon as I said a grammar moment, I've lost 90% of the crowd and 10% of you, 00:04:51.560 --> 00:04:54.579 your ears picked up because you thought, wow, I love grammar moments. 00:04:55.100 --> 00:04:56.120 And we all know who's who. 00:04:56.660 --> 00:04:59.100 So, but there's a grammar moment here. 00:04:59.360 --> 00:05:05.259 And the book of Proverbs begins actually in a really geeky, technical, structured way 00:05:05.259 --> 00:05:06.819 that's not as obvious in the English. 00:05:07.500 --> 00:05:12.019 That verse 1 is a really, it gives you the, it tells you what type of book you're going to read. 00:05:12.019 --> 00:05:13.359 It's going to be a book full of Proverbs. 00:05:13.799 --> 00:05:18.620 And it tells you, it actually, in a very sly way in the original language, it makes a bit of a pun 00:05:18.620 --> 00:05:23.399 because in Hebrew, Proverbs and Solomon sound very, very similar. 00:05:23.399 --> 00:05:29.500 And then it just, to give you a bit of a context, it helps you to say, it says, it's going to be a book of Proverbs. 00:05:29.639 --> 00:05:31.019 It's put together by Solomon. 00:05:31.599 --> 00:05:34.579 And Solomon is the king of Israel and the son of David. 00:05:34.919 --> 00:05:41.299 And for a person reading it, they should be thinking, okay, this is going to be then something that implies the covenant 00:05:41.300 --> 00:05:45.600 and something that implies the coming of a Messiah someday. 00:05:46.680 --> 00:05:52.840 In other words, it implies that the readers are going to have thought of Genesis and Exodus and Leviticus and Numbers 00:05:52.840 --> 00:06:00.600 and promises made to David that there would be a great David's greater son will someday come to redeem. 00:06:01.120 --> 00:06:04.100 And that's all put together just in a tiny number of words. 00:06:04.100 --> 00:06:10.360 And then in the very, very next verse, if we were doing it nowadays, if we had a modern editor, 00:06:10.480 --> 00:06:16.180 if it was like being done by a newspaper, there'd be a big word in capital with maybe underlined, 00:06:16.620 --> 00:06:18.180 the purpose of this book. 00:06:19.120 --> 00:06:23.420 And then the first line of verse two would be what's underneath it. 00:06:23.960 --> 00:06:26.660 In the original language, that's what the writer has done. 00:06:26.660 --> 00:06:32.420 In these two know wisdom and understanding, in those five words, 00:06:32.420 --> 00:06:35.300 is the writer gives the purpose of the entire book. 00:06:36.420 --> 00:06:39.480 Anything you read later on, if you want to know why he's writing it, 00:06:39.680 --> 00:06:44.120 you just go back to verse 2a and it'll tell you why he wrote the book. 00:06:44.240 --> 00:06:45.060 Why did he write the book? 00:06:45.439 --> 00:06:47.939 To know wisdom and instruction. 00:06:49.439 --> 00:06:52.660 In fact, actually, before we go any further, any further in my reading, 00:06:52.660 --> 00:06:54.800 Andrew, could you put up the scripture passages? 00:06:55.680 --> 00:06:57.240 The first, verse 2a. 00:06:57.620 --> 00:06:59.259 One of the things I'm going to do today is, 00:06:59.259 --> 00:07:02.360 I really only have a two-point sermon. 00:07:02.480 --> 00:07:04.639 I'm going to have like a variety of things that go up on the screen, 00:07:04.759 --> 00:07:07.079 but really, I only have a two-point sermon. 00:07:07.199 --> 00:07:09.639 And the first point is verse 2a, and the second point, 00:07:09.759 --> 00:07:12.519 which I'll explain later on why it's important, is verse 7. 00:07:13.219 --> 00:07:16.519 And so I'm going to have you keep reading them points over and over and over. 00:07:16.939 --> 00:07:19.120 And by the end of the service, if nothing else, 00:07:19.120 --> 00:07:21.920 you'll have partially memorized the purpose of the book 00:07:21.920 --> 00:07:25.539 and sort of the main way to wonder how to read the book. 00:07:25.540 --> 00:07:27.640 And so could you just read this with me? 00:07:28.480 --> 00:07:30.800 To know wisdom and instruction. 00:07:30.939 --> 00:07:31.900 I caught you by surprise. 00:07:31.980 --> 00:07:32.879 Could you read it with me again? 00:07:33.280 --> 00:07:35.580 To know wisdom and instruction. 00:07:35.920 --> 00:07:37.820 And Andrew, could you put up verse 7 and read it, 00:07:37.900 --> 00:07:38.680 and we'll all read it together? 00:07:39.260 --> 00:07:42.420 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge. 00:07:43.000 --> 00:07:45.900 Fools despise wisdom and instruction. 00:07:46.560 --> 00:07:48.160 Andrew, could you put 2a back up again? 00:07:49.060 --> 00:07:49.400 Okay. 00:07:49.980 --> 00:07:51.960 So here's this odd verse, 00:07:52.080 --> 00:07:53.520 to know wisdom and instruction. 00:07:53.519 --> 00:07:56.139 And in English, it looks like, well, that's pretty simple. 00:07:56.779 --> 00:08:00.259 But the first thing to understand about the word know 00:08:00.259 --> 00:08:04.159 is that it doesn't mean something like, 00:08:04.599 --> 00:08:08.699 know what LeBron James basketball statistics were this year, 00:08:08.779 --> 00:08:14.000 or know how many goals Sidney Crosby scored in his rookie season, 00:08:14.539 --> 00:08:18.519 or know the first five people drafted in the NHL draft the other day. 00:08:18.560 --> 00:08:20.299 It doesn't mean that type of knowledge. 00:08:20.300 --> 00:08:22.160 Although it doesn't deny it, 00:08:22.220 --> 00:08:25.360 but it has a far bigger understanding of knowledge. 00:08:25.579 --> 00:08:28.639 It's saying, the word to know is to say, 00:08:28.740 --> 00:08:32.419 it's talking about experiential knowledge. 00:08:33.379 --> 00:08:37.080 And it's talking about relational knowledge. 00:08:37.639 --> 00:08:38.899 And it's talking about, 00:08:39.120 --> 00:08:41.560 which goes along with experiential and relational, 00:08:41.680 --> 00:08:43.340 it's talking about practical knowledge. 00:08:43.340 --> 00:08:46.399 So it's not talking about the type of knowledge 00:08:46.399 --> 00:08:48.620 that will allow you to win trivial pursuit. 00:08:48.759 --> 00:08:50.139 I don't know if people still play that game. 00:08:50.420 --> 00:08:51.980 It's not talking about that type of knowledge. 00:08:52.259 --> 00:08:54.519 It said, the purpose of the book 00:08:54.519 --> 00:08:56.600 is if you read the book of Proverbs, 00:08:56.920 --> 00:08:58.980 and you study it and you pray the book, 00:08:59.220 --> 00:09:00.660 what I hope you happen, 00:09:00.720 --> 00:09:01.920 I've written the entire book, 00:09:01.980 --> 00:09:03.220 I've put the whole book together, 00:09:03.220 --> 00:09:05.420 with the purpose that you will have 00:09:05.420 --> 00:09:08.639 an experiential, relational knowledge 00:09:08.639 --> 00:09:10.300 of wisdom and instruction. 00:09:10.299 --> 00:09:12.120 That's why I've written the book. 00:09:13.219 --> 00:09:14.859 And what does the word wisdom mean? 00:09:15.659 --> 00:09:17.319 Well, wisdom translated in English here 00:09:17.319 --> 00:09:18.159 is a pretty good word, 00:09:18.240 --> 00:09:19.779 and we have a bit of an idea about it. 00:09:20.179 --> 00:09:23.000 But it also has some deeper meanings 00:09:23.000 --> 00:09:25.579 in what the writer is trying to get at. 00:09:26.259 --> 00:09:28.679 It includes skill. 00:09:30.319 --> 00:09:34.419 Skill in living a good and moral life 00:09:34.419 --> 00:09:36.599 that will end up being fruitful. 00:09:37.539 --> 00:09:39.859 That's at the heart of this word wisdom. 00:09:39.860 --> 00:09:41.019 So he wants you to know, 00:09:41.399 --> 00:09:43.919 have an experiential, relational knowledge, 00:09:44.620 --> 00:09:46.000 and he wants you to have, 00:09:46.080 --> 00:09:47.379 the author and the editor 00:09:47.379 --> 00:09:49.360 and how the book was put together, 00:09:49.680 --> 00:09:51.200 he wants you to end up being able, 00:09:51.300 --> 00:09:52.480 by reading the Proverbs, 00:09:52.659 --> 00:09:53.860 to end up having a life 00:09:53.860 --> 00:09:55.600 that's characterized by wisdom, 00:09:56.080 --> 00:09:58.279 which is characterized by a skill 00:09:58.279 --> 00:10:01.759 in living your life in a good way, 00:10:02.539 --> 00:10:05.080 living a good life that's fruitful. 00:10:05.480 --> 00:10:07.180 That's what he's trying to get across 00:10:07.180 --> 00:10:07.879 with wisdom. 00:10:08.840 --> 00:10:10.179 And then the final thing is, 00:10:10.500 --> 00:10:13.039 to know wisdom and instruction. 00:10:13.179 --> 00:10:13.879 So he's written the book, 00:10:13.960 --> 00:10:15.179 so you have an experiential, 00:10:15.340 --> 00:10:16.320 relational knowledge 00:10:16.320 --> 00:10:19.100 of the skills required 00:10:19.100 --> 00:10:21.539 to live a life which is fruitful and good. 00:10:21.919 --> 00:10:24.100 And also for this word instruction. 00:10:24.600 --> 00:10:25.939 And instruction's a pretty good word. 00:10:26.019 --> 00:10:27.779 If you have different translations of the Bible, 00:10:27.860 --> 00:10:28.879 it's translated different ways 00:10:28.879 --> 00:10:30.379 because it's sort of a very rich word 00:10:30.379 --> 00:10:31.299 in the original language. 00:10:31.299 --> 00:10:33.859 And sometimes some of your versions 00:10:33.859 --> 00:10:34.879 might say discipline. 00:10:35.659 --> 00:10:36.959 And that's a little bit about what it is. 00:10:37.599 --> 00:10:39.479 What it isn't, 00:10:40.139 --> 00:10:41.479 just so you have a relief, 00:10:41.659 --> 00:10:42.579 about a year ago, 00:10:42.959 --> 00:10:44.019 I think this was the last time 00:10:44.019 --> 00:10:45.620 my wife and I bought anything from Ikea. 00:10:46.599 --> 00:10:48.099 We were trying to get our house ready 00:10:48.099 --> 00:10:49.740 for a sale about a year ago. 00:10:50.000 --> 00:10:52.259 And so we tried to buy an Ikea bed, 00:10:52.599 --> 00:10:53.459 one of those beds 00:10:53.459 --> 00:10:55.899 that have drawers underneath the bed 00:10:55.899 --> 00:10:56.859 because we thought it would help 00:10:56.860 --> 00:10:59.159 to deal with some organizing issues. 00:10:59.840 --> 00:11:01.220 And so we bought this bed from Ikea. 00:11:01.300 --> 00:11:01.620 And of course, 00:11:01.680 --> 00:11:03.039 Ikea has all these instructions. 00:11:03.360 --> 00:11:06.220 And we both labored at this for an hour. 00:11:06.300 --> 00:11:06.899 And after an hour, 00:11:07.000 --> 00:11:08.800 we completely and utterly gave up. 00:11:08.879 --> 00:11:10.620 Either the instructions were wrong 00:11:10.620 --> 00:11:12.639 or the pieces were wrong or something, 00:11:12.759 --> 00:11:14.820 but it was completely and utterly impossible 00:11:14.820 --> 00:11:16.620 to follow the instructions 00:11:16.620 --> 00:11:19.159 and put the Ikea bed together. 00:11:20.300 --> 00:11:21.600 In fact, we actually weren't able, 00:11:21.700 --> 00:11:22.480 we just gave up, 00:11:22.620 --> 00:11:23.539 we were going to return it, 00:11:23.560 --> 00:11:25.120 but you couldn't even get the stupid pieces 00:11:25.120 --> 00:11:26.100 back in the box 00:11:26.100 --> 00:11:28.300 the way that it originally come from Ikea. 00:11:28.700 --> 00:11:30.720 So it meant that eventually the box 00:11:30.720 --> 00:11:31.960 is sort of like this 00:11:31.960 --> 00:11:33.460 with lots of tape around it 00:11:33.460 --> 00:11:34.940 to try to scrunch everything in 00:11:34.940 --> 00:11:35.960 and we returned it to Ikea 00:11:35.960 --> 00:11:36.680 and they were very good 00:11:36.680 --> 00:11:37.659 and gave us our money back. 00:11:38.480 --> 00:11:40.980 But it's not talking about instructions like this. 00:11:41.040 --> 00:11:42.379 It's talking about something more. 00:11:42.560 --> 00:11:44.259 It's talking about instructions. 00:11:44.820 --> 00:11:47.620 It's talking about what we need to know 00:11:47.620 --> 00:11:50.480 to have the habits or the discipline 00:11:50.480 --> 00:11:52.779 of a skilled and moral life. 00:11:53.080 --> 00:11:54.920 And it's also talking about training. 00:11:56.100 --> 00:11:56.820 Training. 00:11:57.659 --> 00:11:58.659 And let's be honest, 00:11:58.740 --> 00:11:59.460 for most of us, 00:11:59.540 --> 00:12:01.019 training is what is missing 00:12:01.019 --> 00:12:02.080 in the Christian life, 00:12:02.420 --> 00:12:03.180 which is one of the reasons 00:12:03.180 --> 00:12:04.659 the book of Proverbs is so important. 00:12:05.040 --> 00:12:05.899 I'll give you an example 00:12:05.899 --> 00:12:06.960 because this is what happens 00:12:06.960 --> 00:12:07.740 to us most weeks. 00:12:08.040 --> 00:12:08.500 You know, let's say, 00:12:08.600 --> 00:12:09.560 we're going to pray more 00:12:09.560 --> 00:12:10.200 or something like that 00:12:10.200 --> 00:12:11.240 or you're going to love God more. 00:12:11.519 --> 00:12:13.000 And I try to do my best 00:12:13.000 --> 00:12:14.159 to preach that 00:12:14.159 --> 00:12:15.200 and to make it clear 00:12:15.200 --> 00:12:16.399 and to exhort you 00:12:16.399 --> 00:12:18.620 and try to get you all fired up. 00:12:18.659 --> 00:12:19.600 And I'm not very good at it. 00:12:19.639 --> 00:12:20.779 One of the wonderful things 00:12:20.779 --> 00:12:22.340 about Daniel Gilman 00:12:22.340 --> 00:12:24.519 is that he's way better than me 00:12:24.519 --> 00:12:25.540 at exhorting people. 00:12:26.280 --> 00:12:28.379 Okay, so maybe I would get you all primed 00:12:28.379 --> 00:12:29.680 and then Daniel would come up 00:12:29.680 --> 00:12:30.660 and he'd top it 00:12:30.660 --> 00:12:31.740 and we'd all feel like 00:12:31.740 --> 00:12:32.360 we're going to go out there 00:12:32.360 --> 00:12:33.100 and love God 00:12:33.100 --> 00:12:34.200 and that will maybe, 00:12:34.340 --> 00:12:35.800 nothing wrong with Daniel or me, 00:12:35.860 --> 00:12:36.620 it would maybe last 00:12:36.620 --> 00:12:38.300 half an hour or an hour 00:12:38.300 --> 00:12:39.120 and then we're back 00:12:39.120 --> 00:12:40.120 to where we were before. 00:12:40.620 --> 00:12:41.700 Would be a little bit like 00:12:41.700 --> 00:12:42.360 if I said, 00:12:42.800 --> 00:12:43.800 we're all going to go out 00:12:43.799 --> 00:12:45.659 as soon as the service is over, 00:12:45.740 --> 00:12:46.299 we're going to go out, 00:12:46.379 --> 00:12:47.779 we're going to run 10 kilometers, 00:12:47.959 --> 00:12:48.959 we're all going to do it together, 00:12:49.039 --> 00:12:49.500 we're going to do it 00:12:49.500 --> 00:12:50.559 in less than 50 minutes. 00:12:50.659 --> 00:12:51.379 Are you with me? 00:12:51.399 --> 00:12:52.000 Are you with me? 00:12:52.039 --> 00:12:52.719 Are you with me? 00:12:53.159 --> 00:12:53.979 Because I'm trying to channel 00:12:53.979 --> 00:12:55.000 my inner, you know, 00:12:55.120 --> 00:12:55.620 exhorter, 00:12:55.759 --> 00:12:57.219 my football coach, 00:12:57.319 --> 00:12:57.919 soccer coach 00:12:57.919 --> 00:12:59.699 and maybe I'm really good at it 00:12:59.699 --> 00:13:01.259 and you get all fired up. 00:13:01.379 --> 00:13:02.859 Yes, we're going to go out there, 00:13:02.939 --> 00:13:04.240 we're going to run 10 kilometers, 00:13:04.379 --> 00:13:04.839 we're going to do it 00:13:04.839 --> 00:13:05.819 in less than 50 minutes. 00:13:06.539 --> 00:13:07.399 And I don't want to insult you 00:13:07.399 --> 00:13:08.419 but maybe nobody here 00:13:08.419 --> 00:13:09.419 in the room could do it, right? 00:13:11.000 --> 00:13:12.279 No matter how much I exhort it. 00:13:12.279 --> 00:13:12.600 And in fact, 00:13:12.759 --> 00:13:13.980 many of you are so hip, 00:13:14.039 --> 00:13:14.600 not square, 00:13:14.699 --> 00:13:15.559 that you wouldn't even bother 00:13:15.559 --> 00:13:16.399 going out the door 00:13:16.399 --> 00:13:18.319 because no amount of exhorting 00:13:18.319 --> 00:13:19.240 from the stage 00:13:19.240 --> 00:13:21.000 would make you even want to try 00:13:21.000 --> 00:13:24.079 to run 10 kilometers today 00:13:24.079 --> 00:13:26.860 in under 50 minutes, right? 00:13:26.939 --> 00:13:27.720 Just wouldn't happen. 00:13:28.039 --> 00:13:29.480 But often with spiritual things, 00:13:29.799 --> 00:13:30.519 and this is probably 00:13:30.519 --> 00:13:31.000 one of the reasons 00:13:31.000 --> 00:13:31.740 why so many people 00:13:31.740 --> 00:13:35.199 prefer bars to churches 00:13:35.199 --> 00:13:36.059 because they just think, 00:13:36.139 --> 00:13:36.819 oh, they're just going to 00:13:36.819 --> 00:13:38.259 lay a whole pile of things on me, 00:13:38.279 --> 00:13:39.159 I get all fired up, 00:13:39.199 --> 00:13:39.799 all excited, 00:13:39.919 --> 00:13:40.339 then I go out 00:13:40.339 --> 00:13:42.120 and I fall on my face 00:13:42.120 --> 00:13:42.820 like this. 00:13:43.840 --> 00:13:44.440 But you know, 00:13:45.139 --> 00:13:46.159 if I was to say, 00:13:46.240 --> 00:13:46.659 you know what, 00:13:46.879 --> 00:13:48.100 and maybe my exhorting 00:13:48.100 --> 00:13:48.740 would be really good, 00:13:48.799 --> 00:13:49.320 I'd say, you know what, 00:13:49.340 --> 00:13:50.500 I think it's really possible 00:13:50.500 --> 00:13:53.500 that this time next year 00:13:53.500 --> 00:13:54.659 on Canada Day, 00:13:55.659 --> 00:13:55.899 you know, 00:13:56.220 --> 00:13:58.620 I think almost all of us 00:13:58.620 --> 00:13:59.259 here in the room 00:13:59.259 --> 00:14:00.659 could do 10 kilometers 00:14:00.659 --> 00:14:02.259 in 60 minutes. 00:14:03.259 --> 00:14:04.840 And we make a commitment 00:14:04.840 --> 00:14:05.440 that we're going to 00:14:05.440 --> 00:14:06.840 meet together every day, 00:14:06.980 --> 00:14:07.340 we're going to, 00:14:07.399 --> 00:14:07.639 you know, 00:14:07.740 --> 00:14:09.600 and we get the doctor's checkups 00:14:09.600 --> 00:14:10.240 and some of us 00:14:10.240 --> 00:14:10.879 start walking, 00:14:11.019 --> 00:14:11.519 some run, 00:14:11.580 --> 00:14:13.519 and we encourage each other 00:14:13.519 --> 00:14:14.720 and we train, 00:14:14.840 --> 00:14:15.600 we break down 00:14:15.600 --> 00:14:16.700 what would be required 00:14:16.700 --> 00:14:17.940 so that in a year's time 00:14:17.940 --> 00:14:19.240 we could do 10 kilometers 00:14:19.240 --> 00:14:20.759 in 60 minutes. 00:14:20.899 --> 00:14:21.220 Unless, you know, 00:14:21.259 --> 00:14:22.519 it might be very possible 00:14:22.519 --> 00:14:23.800 that 95% of the room 00:14:23.800 --> 00:14:24.399 could do that. 00:14:24.480 --> 00:14:24.659 You see, 00:14:24.720 --> 00:14:25.920 the difference is 00:14:25.920 --> 00:14:27.500 training. 00:14:29.180 --> 00:14:29.580 Training. 00:14:30.420 --> 00:14:30.920 And that's, 00:14:30.980 --> 00:14:33.680 that's this instruction word here. 00:14:34.680 --> 00:14:36.440 That's this instruction word. 00:14:36.440 --> 00:14:38.540 That's at the heart of it. 00:14:39.560 --> 00:14:40.660 It's connected to it. 00:14:40.720 --> 00:14:41.280 You can go on 00:14:41.280 --> 00:14:42.340 and read it later on. 00:14:42.400 --> 00:14:43.400 There's a wonderful passage 00:14:43.400 --> 00:14:45.960 in 1 John chapter 4 verse 10. 00:14:46.420 --> 00:14:48.100 1 John chapter 4 verse 10. 00:14:48.560 --> 00:14:49.120 And in it, 00:14:49.540 --> 00:14:50.600 John says, 00:14:51.060 --> 00:14:52.360 how can you say 00:14:52.360 --> 00:14:53.520 that you love God 00:14:53.520 --> 00:14:54.840 whom you can't see 00:14:54.840 --> 00:14:56.580 but you don't love 00:14:56.580 --> 00:14:57.940 your brother or sister 00:14:57.940 --> 00:14:58.760 who's beside you 00:14:58.760 --> 00:14:59.700 who you can see? 00:15:01.120 --> 00:15:01.340 Like, 00:15:01.520 --> 00:15:02.840 how is it that you think 00:15:02.840 --> 00:15:03.400 you can love, 00:15:03.500 --> 00:15:03.640 oh, 00:15:03.680 --> 00:15:04.300 I love you God, 00:15:04.340 --> 00:15:04.900 I love you God, 00:15:04.920 --> 00:15:05.480 I love you God, 00:15:05.480 --> 00:15:06.200 and then you go out 00:15:06.200 --> 00:15:06.960 the door 00:15:06.960 --> 00:15:07.399 and you, 00:15:07.600 --> 00:15:08.700 you know, 00:15:08.779 --> 00:15:10.240 the person doesn't let you 00:15:10.240 --> 00:15:10.759 in in the car 00:15:10.759 --> 00:15:12.180 and you yell and swear at them 00:15:12.180 --> 00:15:13.899 and then your wife 00:15:13.899 --> 00:15:14.600 or your boyfriend 00:15:14.600 --> 00:15:15.700 or your best friend 00:15:15.700 --> 00:15:16.720 doesn't respect you 00:15:16.720 --> 00:15:17.300 and you're filled 00:15:17.300 --> 00:15:17.899 with resentment 00:15:17.899 --> 00:15:18.700 and here you've gone 00:15:18.700 --> 00:15:18.920 from, 00:15:19.060 --> 00:15:19.080 oh, 00:15:19.080 --> 00:15:19.560 I love you, 00:15:19.600 --> 00:15:20.039 I love you, 00:15:20.060 --> 00:15:20.480 I love you, 00:15:20.539 --> 00:15:21.580 to not, 00:15:22.200 --> 00:15:23.100 and that's what 1 John 00:15:23.100 --> 00:15:24.659 chapter 4 verse 10 says 00:15:24.659 --> 00:15:25.500 and it's very true 00:15:25.500 --> 00:15:26.180 psychologically, 00:15:26.440 --> 00:15:26.700 isn't it? 00:15:26.800 --> 00:15:27.039 It's that, 00:15:27.800 --> 00:15:28.899 those of us who go to church 00:15:28.899 --> 00:15:29.580 should probably meditate 00:15:29.580 --> 00:15:30.580 upon that a lot more 00:15:30.580 --> 00:15:32.060 and in a sense then 00:15:32.060 --> 00:15:33.120 what the book of Proverbs 00:15:33.120 --> 00:15:33.639 is saying 00:15:33.639 --> 00:15:35.179 is we're going to help you 00:15:35.179 --> 00:15:35.939 with your training 00:15:35.939 --> 00:15:38.000 and so what we're going to do, 00:15:38.039 --> 00:15:38.980 we're going to have Proverbs 00:15:38.980 --> 00:15:39.360 about, 00:15:39.620 --> 00:15:39.759 okay, 00:15:40.299 --> 00:15:41.679 how does a parent 00:15:41.679 --> 00:15:42.319 love the little, 00:15:42.419 --> 00:15:43.039 how does a parent 00:15:43.039 --> 00:15:43.759 love his kid? 00:15:44.819 --> 00:15:45.720 How do a husband 00:15:45.720 --> 00:15:46.500 and wife talk 00:15:46.500 --> 00:15:47.080 to each other? 00:15:47.639 --> 00:15:48.539 How do you relate 00:15:48.539 --> 00:15:49.379 with your boss? 00:15:50.360 --> 00:15:50.840 How do you, 00:15:50.919 --> 00:15:52.840 how do you relate 00:15:52.840 --> 00:15:53.539 to the government? 00:15:54.439 --> 00:15:55.059 How do you, 00:15:55.059 --> 00:15:55.819 how do you speak 00:15:55.819 --> 00:15:56.319 the truth 00:15:56.319 --> 00:15:57.299 to another person? 00:15:58.059 --> 00:15:58.219 Like, 00:15:58.359 --> 00:15:59.019 let's give you 00:15:59.019 --> 00:16:00.039 little examples, 00:16:00.259 --> 00:16:00.919 Proverbs 00:16:00.919 --> 00:16:01.620 that can be 00:16:01.620 --> 00:16:02.599 thought-provoking 00:16:02.599 --> 00:16:04.120 because the book 00:16:04.120 --> 00:16:04.879 of Proverbs 00:16:04.879 --> 00:16:06.339 isn't about laws 00:16:06.339 --> 00:16:07.079 and rules, 00:16:07.459 --> 00:16:08.359 it's about 00:16:08.359 --> 00:16:09.719 insights 00:16:09.719 --> 00:16:10.959 that help us 00:16:10.959 --> 00:16:11.799 to train 00:16:11.799 --> 00:16:13.339 so that we will 00:16:13.339 --> 00:16:14.659 have a skilled 00:16:14.659 --> 00:16:16.359 way of living life 00:16:16.359 --> 00:16:17.319 that's good 00:16:17.319 --> 00:16:18.620 and bears fruit 00:16:18.620 --> 00:16:21.439 and that's the 00:16:21.439 --> 00:16:22.299 purpose of the book. 00:16:22.719 --> 00:16:23.240 Want to say it 00:16:23.240 --> 00:16:23.819 with me again? 00:16:24.620 --> 00:16:25.199 To know 00:16:25.199 --> 00:16:25.879 wisdom 00:16:25.879 --> 00:16:26.960 and instruction. 00:16:27.240 --> 00:16:28.059 I surprised you, 00:16:28.080 --> 00:16:28.639 we'll say it again. 00:16:28.779 --> 00:16:29.399 To know 00:16:29.399 --> 00:16:30.080 wisdom 00:16:30.080 --> 00:16:30.960 and instruction. 00:16:31.539 --> 00:16:32.120 Verse 7, 00:16:34.120 --> 00:16:34.899 the fear 00:16:34.899 --> 00:16:35.779 of the Lord 00:16:35.779 --> 00:16:36.519 is the beginning 00:16:36.519 --> 00:16:37.519 of knowledge. 00:16:37.919 --> 00:16:39.179 Fools despise 00:16:39.179 --> 00:16:39.779 wisdom 00:16:39.779 --> 00:16:40.740 and instruction. 00:16:41.860 --> 00:16:42.559 You go back 00:16:42.559 --> 00:16:43.200 and so I put 00:16:43.200 --> 00:16:44.240 my first point up, 00:16:44.379 --> 00:16:44.659 Andrew, 00:16:45.659 --> 00:16:46.659 my first point 00:16:46.659 --> 00:16:48.740 and we're gonna, 00:16:48.899 --> 00:16:49.539 I'm gonna look through, 00:16:49.580 --> 00:16:50.139 I'm gonna explain 00:16:50.139 --> 00:16:50.879 something else to you 00:16:50.879 --> 00:16:51.580 but just to give you 00:16:51.580 --> 00:16:52.440 a bit of a sense. 00:16:52.860 --> 00:16:53.220 So remember, 00:16:53.360 --> 00:16:53.639 if you get, 00:16:54.039 --> 00:16:54.240 you know, 00:16:54.279 --> 00:16:55.159 these are long points. 00:16:55.259 --> 00:16:55.659 Some of you say, 00:16:55.659 --> 00:16:56.279 good grief, 00:16:56.419 --> 00:16:56.559 George, 00:16:56.639 --> 00:16:57.179 these are really, 00:16:57.299 --> 00:16:58.019 really long points. 00:16:58.360 --> 00:16:59.539 My point is verse 2 00:16:59.539 --> 00:17:00.139 and my point, 00:17:00.339 --> 00:17:01.199 2a and my point 00:17:01.199 --> 00:17:01.799 is verse 7. 00:17:01.879 --> 00:17:02.539 You memorize those, 00:17:02.579 --> 00:17:03.240 those are the points. 00:17:03.740 --> 00:17:04.480 These are just ways 00:17:04.480 --> 00:17:05.180 that hopefully, 00:17:05.539 --> 00:17:06.259 and if later on 00:17:06.259 --> 00:17:06.980 they're on the computer, 00:17:07.139 --> 00:17:07.779 you can look them up 00:17:07.779 --> 00:17:08.299 on our webpage. 00:17:08.859 --> 00:17:09.519 Maybe it'll help you 00:17:09.519 --> 00:17:10.639 understand a little bit 00:17:10.639 --> 00:17:12.240 about what verse 2a 00:17:12.240 --> 00:17:13.339 means and this is a way 00:17:13.339 --> 00:17:14.319 to help us understand 00:17:14.319 --> 00:17:15.559 what verse 2a means, 00:17:15.659 --> 00:17:17.000 to sort of bring it 00:17:17.000 --> 00:17:17.440 out a bit. 00:17:17.779 --> 00:17:18.899 The Lord wants me 00:17:18.899 --> 00:17:20.700 to have an experiential, 00:17:21.139 --> 00:17:22.740 relational knowledge 00:17:22.740 --> 00:17:24.140 of the training, 00:17:24.900 --> 00:17:25.359 skills, 00:17:25.359 --> 00:17:26.920 and insight needed 00:17:26.920 --> 00:17:28.440 to lead a good 00:17:28.440 --> 00:17:29.680 and fruitful life 00:17:29.680 --> 00:17:30.779 in the world 00:17:30.779 --> 00:17:31.460 that the Lord 00:17:31.460 --> 00:17:32.740 has made and sustained. 00:17:34.480 --> 00:17:34.759 That's, 00:17:35.240 --> 00:17:36.460 that's, 00:17:36.620 --> 00:17:37.839 God is showing 00:17:37.839 --> 00:17:39.799 the desire of his heart 00:17:39.799 --> 00:17:40.819 for you and me 00:17:40.819 --> 00:17:42.019 in this book. 00:17:42.559 --> 00:17:44.019 That's what verse 2a 00:17:44.019 --> 00:17:45.140 is trying to communicate. 00:17:45.960 --> 00:17:47.980 The Lord wants me 00:17:47.980 --> 00:17:49.800 to have an experiential, 00:17:50.100 --> 00:17:51.540 relational knowledge 00:17:51.540 --> 00:17:52.300 of the training 00:17:52.300 --> 00:17:53.000 and skills 00:17:53.000 --> 00:17:53.960 and insight needed 00:17:53.960 --> 00:17:54.880 to lead a good 00:17:54.880 --> 00:17:55.740 and fruitful life 00:17:55.740 --> 00:17:56.740 in the world 00:17:56.740 --> 00:17:57.560 that the Lord 00:17:57.560 --> 00:17:58.660 has made and sustained. 00:18:00.280 --> 00:18:01.100 And so the way 00:18:01.100 --> 00:18:01.520 the book is, 00:18:01.620 --> 00:18:02.080 remember I said 00:18:02.080 --> 00:18:02.480 there's a bit of 00:18:02.480 --> 00:18:03.100 a geeky moment? 00:18:03.259 --> 00:18:04.080 So that verse 1 00:18:04.080 --> 00:18:05.140 is the geeky moment, 00:18:05.240 --> 00:18:05.640 the title, 00:18:05.780 --> 00:18:06.160 and it gives you 00:18:06.160 --> 00:18:06.759 a bit of a clue 00:18:06.759 --> 00:18:07.640 about how to understand 00:18:07.640 --> 00:18:08.440 that we need to understand 00:18:08.440 --> 00:18:09.000 the Messiah 00:18:09.000 --> 00:18:10.400 and the covenant 00:18:10.400 --> 00:18:11.440 and the law. 00:18:12.280 --> 00:18:13.360 And verse 2a 00:18:13.359 --> 00:18:15.119 is to know wisdom 00:18:15.119 --> 00:18:15.779 and instruction. 00:18:15.959 --> 00:18:16.919 That's the main purpose. 00:18:17.539 --> 00:18:19.799 And then he teases it out 00:18:19.799 --> 00:18:20.519 by giving you 00:18:20.519 --> 00:18:21.259 a couple of other 00:18:21.259 --> 00:18:22.039 purpose statements 00:18:22.039 --> 00:18:22.939 to try to unpack 00:18:22.939 --> 00:18:23.599 that a little bit 00:18:23.599 --> 00:18:24.679 before we get into the book. 00:18:25.240 --> 00:18:25.819 So if you have 00:18:25.819 --> 00:18:26.500 your Bible still 00:18:26.500 --> 00:18:28.119 and so in verse 2b, 00:18:28.279 --> 00:18:28.939 so 2a says 00:18:28.939 --> 00:18:29.519 to know wisdom 00:18:29.519 --> 00:18:30.079 and instruction 00:18:30.079 --> 00:18:31.259 and then it says 00:18:31.259 --> 00:18:32.359 to understand words 00:18:32.359 --> 00:18:32.899 of insight. 00:18:33.039 --> 00:18:33.339 In other words, 00:18:33.839 --> 00:18:34.719 what we're going to do 00:18:34.719 --> 00:18:35.699 is I'm going to write 00:18:35.699 --> 00:18:36.199 put together 00:18:36.199 --> 00:18:36.919 these are words 00:18:36.919 --> 00:18:37.619 of insight. 00:18:37.779 --> 00:18:38.199 They help you 00:18:38.199 --> 00:18:38.579 to have a bit 00:18:38.579 --> 00:18:39.259 of an insight 00:18:39.259 --> 00:18:40.319 about what's going on 00:18:40.319 --> 00:18:40.839 with life 00:18:40.839 --> 00:18:41.539 and about yourself 00:18:41.539 --> 00:18:43.219 and how people are like 00:18:43.220 --> 00:18:44.640 and that's what's 00:18:44.640 --> 00:18:45.140 going to happen 00:18:45.140 --> 00:18:46.380 as I try to help you 00:18:46.380 --> 00:18:47.100 to know wisdom 00:18:47.100 --> 00:18:47.839 and instruction. 00:18:48.319 --> 00:18:48.980 And verse 3, 00:18:49.059 --> 00:18:49.860 I want to help you 00:18:49.860 --> 00:18:50.940 to receive instruction 00:18:50.940 --> 00:18:52.400 in wise dealing 00:18:52.400 --> 00:18:54.799 in righteousness, 00:18:55.140 --> 00:18:55.440 justice, 00:18:55.680 --> 00:18:56.779 and being a square, 00:18:57.140 --> 00:18:58.019 which is really 00:18:58.019 --> 00:18:59.240 what equity means here. 00:18:59.620 --> 00:18:59.980 In other words, 00:19:00.079 --> 00:19:00.880 part of the other purpose, 00:19:00.980 --> 00:19:01.100 okay, 00:19:01.140 --> 00:19:02.120 so what does to know wisdom 00:19:02.120 --> 00:19:02.980 and instruction mean? 00:19:03.059 --> 00:19:03.140 Well, 00:19:03.140 --> 00:19:04.240 it's going to also involve 00:19:04.240 --> 00:19:06.000 that I'm going to give you 00:19:06.000 --> 00:19:07.140 some instruction, 00:19:07.339 --> 00:19:07.799 training, 00:19:08.039 --> 00:19:09.160 in how to deal wisely 00:19:09.160 --> 00:19:09.620 with people. 00:19:09.619 --> 00:19:10.779 And what that will mean 00:19:10.779 --> 00:19:12.339 is that as you listen 00:19:12.339 --> 00:19:13.379 to these Proverbs, 00:19:13.500 --> 00:19:14.199 as the Proverbs 00:19:14.199 --> 00:19:15.319 get into your mind 00:19:15.319 --> 00:19:16.239 and into your heart 00:19:16.239 --> 00:19:17.139 and into your will 00:19:17.139 --> 00:19:19.379 and they're before your eyes, 00:19:19.559 --> 00:19:21.279 what will happen 00:19:21.279 --> 00:19:22.139 is that you're going 00:19:22.139 --> 00:19:23.179 to have wise, 00:19:23.899 --> 00:19:25.659 a skilled way 00:19:25.659 --> 00:19:26.859 of living that's good. 00:19:27.619 --> 00:19:28.439 And what that means 00:19:28.439 --> 00:19:29.000 is that you're going 00:19:29.000 --> 00:19:29.919 to live a good life, 00:19:30.019 --> 00:19:30.919 a righteous life. 00:19:31.179 --> 00:19:32.479 And the word righteous there, 00:19:33.839 --> 00:19:34.179 I mean, 00:19:34.199 --> 00:19:34.819 they still have it. 00:19:34.859 --> 00:19:35.439 I don't know quite how, 00:19:35.519 --> 00:19:36.239 I think the NRC 00:19:36.239 --> 00:19:37.319 has something like this, 00:19:37.319 --> 00:19:38.000 but there's somewhere 00:19:38.000 --> 00:19:38.539 in Canada 00:19:38.539 --> 00:19:39.939 that has an official kilo 00:19:39.939 --> 00:19:40.599 or whatever. 00:19:41.240 --> 00:19:42.439 Back in the old days, 00:19:42.480 --> 00:19:42.859 there would have been 00:19:42.859 --> 00:19:43.659 maybe the king 00:19:43.659 --> 00:19:45.200 had the official weights. 00:19:46.399 --> 00:19:48.119 And if you came 00:19:48.119 --> 00:19:48.799 to a merchant, 00:19:49.500 --> 00:19:50.059 in a sense, 00:19:50.159 --> 00:19:50.799 the hope would be 00:19:50.799 --> 00:19:52.399 that the merchant's weights 00:19:52.399 --> 00:19:53.299 would be the same 00:19:53.299 --> 00:19:54.279 as the king's weights. 00:19:54.379 --> 00:19:54.879 If you put them 00:19:54.879 --> 00:19:55.419 on a scale, 00:19:55.500 --> 00:19:56.240 they'd be the same. 00:19:56.899 --> 00:19:57.859 They'd be righteous. 00:19:58.639 --> 00:19:59.379 It matches 00:19:59.379 --> 00:20:00.899 with the official standard. 00:20:01.799 --> 00:20:02.799 And here the idea 00:20:02.799 --> 00:20:03.279 is that there is 00:20:03.279 --> 00:20:04.559 a God who's created 00:20:04.559 --> 00:20:05.740 and sustained all things 00:20:05.740 --> 00:20:06.399 and that there's a way 00:20:06.400 --> 00:20:07.420 of living that matches 00:20:07.420 --> 00:20:08.300 the standard, 00:20:09.000 --> 00:20:09.320 God. 00:20:10.100 --> 00:20:11.519 And just means justice, 00:20:11.660 --> 00:20:12.620 that what characterizes 00:20:12.620 --> 00:20:13.320 our life is that 00:20:13.320 --> 00:20:14.280 we are very fair, 00:20:14.900 --> 00:20:15.560 that as you read, 00:20:15.640 --> 00:20:16.360 as you come to the end 00:20:16.360 --> 00:20:17.200 of the book of Proverbs, 00:20:17.340 --> 00:20:18.420 you will not grow 00:20:18.420 --> 00:20:19.460 in cynicism 00:20:19.460 --> 00:20:21.420 and you will not grow 00:20:21.420 --> 00:20:21.960 in despair, 00:20:22.620 --> 00:20:23.500 but you will grow 00:20:23.500 --> 00:20:24.600 in a sense of how 00:20:24.600 --> 00:20:26.420 to treat people justly. 00:20:26.880 --> 00:20:28.259 Justice will matter 00:20:28.259 --> 00:20:28.920 to you more 00:20:28.920 --> 00:20:30.100 by the end of Proverbs 00:20:30.100 --> 00:20:30.780 than it will 00:20:30.780 --> 00:20:32.140 when you begin the book. 00:20:33.400 --> 00:20:34.120 And then there's 00:20:34.120 --> 00:20:35.040 this word square. 00:20:35.039 --> 00:20:36.319 You know, 00:20:36.359 --> 00:20:36.980 it used to be 00:20:36.980 --> 00:20:38.700 that you could say, 00:20:38.859 --> 00:20:39.559 what I want 00:20:39.559 --> 00:20:40.619 are three square meals 00:20:40.619 --> 00:20:41.000 a day. 00:20:41.859 --> 00:20:42.619 It might be that 00:20:42.619 --> 00:20:43.440 after you've gone 00:20:43.440 --> 00:20:44.599 to make a deal 00:20:44.599 --> 00:20:45.259 with somebody 00:20:45.259 --> 00:20:46.579 and you come back 00:20:46.579 --> 00:20:47.579 and you talk to your friend, 00:20:47.680 --> 00:20:48.220 your dad, 00:20:48.279 --> 00:20:48.899 or your mom, 00:20:49.000 --> 00:20:49.779 or your wife, 00:20:49.839 --> 00:20:50.599 or your husband about it, 00:20:50.599 --> 00:20:50.799 you say, 00:20:50.879 --> 00:20:51.559 it's a square deal. 00:20:53.240 --> 00:20:53.500 You know, 00:20:53.559 --> 00:20:54.519 you go and there's somebody 00:20:54.519 --> 00:20:55.059 who's going to give you 00:20:55.059 --> 00:20:55.539 some help 00:20:55.539 --> 00:20:56.680 and there was a time 00:20:56.680 --> 00:20:57.139 when you would have said, 00:20:57.200 --> 00:20:57.920 it's a square guy. 00:20:58.039 --> 00:20:59.619 I'm sure we can count on it. 00:20:59.619 --> 00:21:01.399 That when you maybe 00:21:01.399 --> 00:21:03.399 went away to travel 00:21:03.399 --> 00:21:04.000 and you arrived 00:21:04.000 --> 00:21:04.959 where you wanted to travel, 00:21:05.059 --> 00:21:05.739 what you wanted to do 00:21:05.739 --> 00:21:06.299 is you wanted to be 00:21:06.299 --> 00:21:07.139 squared away. 00:21:08.259 --> 00:21:09.279 They were all compliments. 00:21:11.659 --> 00:21:12.959 They were all compliments. 00:21:14.639 --> 00:21:15.479 Now we want to be 00:21:15.479 --> 00:21:16.119 hip and cool 00:21:16.119 --> 00:21:16.979 and not square. 00:21:18.039 --> 00:21:19.899 It's a big cultural shift, 00:21:20.199 --> 00:21:20.659 actually, 00:21:21.299 --> 00:21:22.319 if you think about it, 00:21:22.359 --> 00:21:23.779 to lose that word square. 00:21:24.279 --> 00:21:24.939 And what it means 00:21:24.939 --> 00:21:26.019 is that it's just, 00:21:26.159 --> 00:21:26.619 it's fair, 00:21:26.739 --> 00:21:27.379 it's dependable, 00:21:27.380 --> 00:21:27.960 it's honest, 00:21:28.080 --> 00:21:28.680 it's efficient, 00:21:28.880 --> 00:21:29.500 it's filling, 00:21:30.160 --> 00:21:31.240 it's what I need, 00:21:31.380 --> 00:21:31.460 it's, 00:21:31.980 --> 00:21:32.340 that's, 00:21:32.440 --> 00:21:34.440 that's what the word equity is. 00:21:35.540 --> 00:21:37.080 You read the book of Proverbs, 00:21:37.460 --> 00:21:38.500 by the time you're finished, 00:21:38.660 --> 00:21:39.640 you will be a square. 00:21:40.880 --> 00:21:41.800 That'll sell, right? 00:21:41.820 --> 00:21:42.940 I should have a Twitter account. 00:21:43.460 --> 00:21:44.900 By the time you finish 00:21:44.900 --> 00:21:46.040 reading the book of Proverbs, 00:21:46.340 --> 00:21:47.360 you will be a square. 00:21:48.640 --> 00:21:49.000 And, 00:21:49.080 --> 00:21:49.920 and that's what it's trying 00:21:49.920 --> 00:21:50.740 to communicate. 00:21:51.300 --> 00:21:52.120 And then in verse four, 00:21:52.200 --> 00:21:53.100 this is really important, 00:21:53.260 --> 00:21:54.080 to give prudence 00:21:54.080 --> 00:21:55.140 to the simple knowledge 00:21:55.140 --> 00:21:55.820 of discretion 00:21:55.820 --> 00:21:56.760 and knowledge 00:21:56.759 --> 00:21:57.359 and discretion 00:21:57.359 --> 00:21:58.059 to the youth. 00:21:59.359 --> 00:22:00.000 Prudence here, 00:22:00.059 --> 00:22:00.379 it's a very, 00:22:00.500 --> 00:22:01.259 very good word. 00:22:01.680 --> 00:22:02.559 But what it means 00:22:02.559 --> 00:22:03.359 is that, 00:22:03.539 --> 00:22:05.700 what it means 00:22:05.700 --> 00:22:07.259 is that you will be, 00:22:08.579 --> 00:22:12.140 you'll be crafty. 00:22:13.259 --> 00:22:14.079 You will be, 00:22:15.539 --> 00:22:16.920 it's the opposite 00:22:16.920 --> 00:22:17.619 of gullible. 00:22:18.740 --> 00:22:19.680 It's the opposite 00:22:19.680 --> 00:22:20.339 of gullible. 00:22:21.599 --> 00:22:21.799 That, 00:22:22.740 --> 00:22:23.500 but it's, 00:22:23.500 --> 00:22:23.900 in other words, 00:22:23.900 --> 00:22:24.660 it means that you will be 00:22:24.660 --> 00:22:26.759 shrewd about life. 00:22:27.400 --> 00:22:28.960 But you will be shrewd 00:22:28.960 --> 00:22:29.900 about life 00:22:29.900 --> 00:22:31.320 in a way that isn't cynical. 00:22:32.060 --> 00:22:33.160 You will be shrewd 00:22:33.160 --> 00:22:33.940 about life 00:22:33.940 --> 00:22:35.040 that doesn't feed 00:22:35.040 --> 00:22:35.640 your despair. 00:22:36.400 --> 00:22:37.480 You will be shrewd 00:22:37.480 --> 00:22:38.140 about life 00:22:38.140 --> 00:22:38.580 in a way 00:22:38.580 --> 00:22:39.680 that does not make you 00:22:39.680 --> 00:22:40.640 feel superior 00:22:40.640 --> 00:22:41.620 to other people. 00:22:42.180 --> 00:22:42.840 But if you read 00:22:42.840 --> 00:22:43.620 the book of Proverbs, 00:22:43.720 --> 00:22:44.320 by the end, 00:22:44.360 --> 00:22:45.560 you will be less gullible 00:22:45.560 --> 00:22:46.540 than when you began. 00:22:48.040 --> 00:22:49.060 You will have a type 00:22:49.060 --> 00:22:50.180 of shrewdness 00:22:50.180 --> 00:22:51.240 about life 00:22:51.240 --> 00:22:52.140 that, 00:22:52.140 --> 00:22:52.540 you know what, 00:22:52.580 --> 00:22:53.740 if that salesman says, 00:22:53.880 --> 00:22:54.060 oh, 00:22:54.120 --> 00:22:55.340 I'm losing my shirt 00:22:55.340 --> 00:22:56.180 on this deal, 00:22:56.300 --> 00:22:57.440 I'm losing everything 00:22:57.440 --> 00:22:58.220 on this deal, 00:22:58.259 --> 00:22:59.240 if I tell the manager 00:22:59.240 --> 00:22:59.960 about this deal, 00:23:00.240 --> 00:23:01.560 she's going to stop 00:23:01.560 --> 00:23:01.940 the deal, 00:23:02.000 --> 00:23:03.040 he's probably lying. 00:23:04.460 --> 00:23:04.600 Like, 00:23:04.680 --> 00:23:04.800 I mean, 00:23:04.820 --> 00:23:05.880 that's how it is really, 00:23:06.020 --> 00:23:06.180 right? 00:23:06.440 --> 00:23:07.259 And so the end 00:23:07.259 --> 00:23:07.680 of this book, 00:23:07.740 --> 00:23:08.580 the book will help us 00:23:08.580 --> 00:23:09.720 to be shrewd 00:23:09.720 --> 00:23:10.580 about life 00:23:10.580 --> 00:23:11.960 without being cynical. 00:23:12.880 --> 00:23:13.820 And the simple here 00:23:13.820 --> 00:23:14.500 in this particular, 00:23:14.820 --> 00:23:15.340 in all the way 00:23:15.340 --> 00:23:15.759 through the book 00:23:15.759 --> 00:23:16.360 of Proverbs, 00:23:16.900 --> 00:23:17.900 the word simple 00:23:17.900 --> 00:23:19.120 is never a compliment. 00:23:20.200 --> 00:23:21.120 It means naive. 00:23:21.119 --> 00:23:23.699 It means gullible. 00:23:24.539 --> 00:23:26.219 It means easily led 00:23:26.219 --> 00:23:27.639 and easily misled 00:23:27.639 --> 00:23:29.019 until you become wise. 00:23:30.039 --> 00:23:30.819 Verse 5, 00:23:31.079 --> 00:23:31.859 let the wise hear 00:23:31.859 --> 00:23:32.659 and increase in learning 00:23:32.659 --> 00:23:33.799 and the one who understands 00:23:33.799 --> 00:23:34.599 obtain guidance 00:23:34.599 --> 00:23:36.439 to understand a proverb 00:23:36.439 --> 00:23:37.179 and a saying, 00:23:37.639 --> 00:23:38.659 the words of the wise 00:23:38.659 --> 00:23:39.739 and their riddles. 00:23:41.219 --> 00:23:41.500 So, 00:23:42.699 --> 00:23:43.079 put up, 00:23:43.439 --> 00:23:43.899 Andrew, 00:23:44.000 --> 00:23:44.579 could you put up 00:23:44.579 --> 00:23:46.319 verse 2a again? 00:23:47.319 --> 00:23:48.239 Want to say it with me, 00:23:48.299 --> 00:23:48.500 folks? 00:23:48.500 --> 00:23:49.460 What's the book all about? 00:23:50.000 --> 00:23:51.220 To know wisdom 00:23:51.220 --> 00:23:52.259 and instruction. 00:23:52.700 --> 00:23:53.380 And we'll get to this 00:23:53.380 --> 00:23:53.700 in a moment. 00:23:53.799 --> 00:23:54.440 What's the key 00:23:54.440 --> 00:23:55.119 to understanding 00:23:55.119 --> 00:23:55.839 every proverb? 00:23:56.140 --> 00:23:56.640 Verse 7, 00:23:57.960 --> 00:23:59.240 the fear of the Lord 00:23:59.240 --> 00:24:00.059 is the beginning 00:24:00.059 --> 00:24:01.000 of knowledge. 00:24:01.539 --> 00:24:02.720 Fools despise 00:24:02.720 --> 00:24:03.279 wisdom 00:24:03.279 --> 00:24:04.259 and instruction. 00:24:06.240 --> 00:24:07.059 For a variety 00:24:07.059 --> 00:24:07.480 of reasons, 00:24:07.480 --> 00:24:08.140 I was just able 00:24:08.140 --> 00:24:09.420 to watch Interstellar 00:24:09.420 --> 00:24:10.319 for the first time 00:24:10.319 --> 00:24:10.940 last night 00:24:10.940 --> 00:24:13.079 and it's a very, 00:24:13.200 --> 00:24:14.000 very good movie. 00:24:14.000 --> 00:24:16.779 and it would be 00:24:16.779 --> 00:24:17.740 a really interesting movie 00:24:17.740 --> 00:24:18.039 to have, 00:24:18.240 --> 00:24:18.440 you know, 00:24:18.500 --> 00:24:19.140 some discussions 00:24:19.140 --> 00:24:20.099 around actually. 00:24:20.779 --> 00:24:21.740 But one of the things 00:24:21.740 --> 00:24:22.339 which was very, 00:24:22.460 --> 00:24:23.220 very interesting 00:24:23.220 --> 00:24:24.160 about the book 00:24:24.160 --> 00:24:24.859 Interstellar 00:24:24.859 --> 00:24:26.079 is it talks a lot 00:24:26.079 --> 00:24:27.079 about our fear 00:24:27.079 --> 00:24:27.579 of death. 00:24:28.299 --> 00:24:29.119 It talks a lot 00:24:29.119 --> 00:24:29.720 about our fear 00:24:29.720 --> 00:24:30.519 of extinction. 00:24:31.519 --> 00:24:32.720 It talks a lot 00:24:32.720 --> 00:24:33.339 about the fear 00:24:33.339 --> 00:24:34.200 of the planet 00:24:34.200 --> 00:24:35.539 just going south 00:24:35.539 --> 00:24:37.000 in terms of 00:24:37.000 --> 00:24:38.220 ecological disasters 00:24:38.220 --> 00:24:38.900 that could lead 00:24:38.900 --> 00:24:39.400 to the death 00:24:39.400 --> 00:24:40.980 of the human race 00:24:40.980 --> 00:24:41.599 and hence 00:24:41.599 --> 00:24:42.200 the fears 00:24:42.200 --> 00:24:42.940 of extinction. 00:24:42.940 --> 00:24:44.539 yet at the same 00:24:44.539 --> 00:24:45.220 time, 00:24:46.140 --> 00:24:48.580 you know, 00:24:48.680 --> 00:24:49.220 our fear 00:24:49.220 --> 00:24:49.720 of death 00:24:49.720 --> 00:24:50.180 and our fear 00:24:50.180 --> 00:24:50.799 of extinction 00:24:50.799 --> 00:24:51.380 and what it leads 00:24:51.380 --> 00:24:51.840 us to do 00:24:51.840 --> 00:24:52.440 but at the same 00:24:52.440 --> 00:24:53.000 time, 00:24:53.820 --> 00:24:55.400 it encourages 00:24:55.400 --> 00:24:56.160 lying 00:24:56.160 --> 00:24:58.940 and encourages 00:24:58.940 --> 00:24:59.980 murder. 00:25:00.980 --> 00:25:01.920 I don't think 00:25:01.920 --> 00:25:02.160 I've given 00:25:02.160 --> 00:25:03.160 any spoiler alerts 00:25:03.160 --> 00:25:03.759 for those of you 00:25:03.759 --> 00:25:04.220 who haven't seen 00:25:04.220 --> 00:25:04.600 the movie 00:25:04.600 --> 00:25:06.360 but it's a very, 00:25:06.480 --> 00:25:06.580 very, 00:25:06.779 --> 00:25:07.000 you know, 00:25:07.059 --> 00:25:07.440 it's a very, 00:25:07.539 --> 00:25:08.460 very puzzling thing 00:25:08.460 --> 00:25:09.220 sort of maybe 00:25:09.220 --> 00:25:10.160 reflected upon 00:25:10.160 --> 00:25:10.500 in the movie, 00:25:10.620 --> 00:25:11.580 maybe unreflected 00:25:11.580 --> 00:25:12.200 upon the movie 00:25:12.200 --> 00:25:12.559 that, 00:25:13.120 --> 00:25:14.860 you know, 00:25:14.880 --> 00:25:15.880 our fear of death 00:25:15.880 --> 00:25:16.640 and our fear 00:25:16.640 --> 00:25:17.460 of extinction 00:25:17.460 --> 00:25:18.340 and what it will 00:25:18.340 --> 00:25:19.080 lead us to try 00:25:19.080 --> 00:25:19.380 to do 00:25:19.380 --> 00:25:19.900 and what it leads 00:25:19.900 --> 00:25:20.380 us to try 00:25:20.380 --> 00:25:20.900 to accomplish 00:25:20.900 --> 00:25:21.100 it, 00:25:21.160 --> 00:25:21.920 it seems almost 00:25:21.920 --> 00:25:22.779 in the book, 00:25:23.140 --> 00:25:23.480 the movie, 00:25:23.920 --> 00:25:24.559 sort of the movie 00:25:24.559 --> 00:25:25.180 is a bit ambiguous 00:25:25.180 --> 00:25:25.680 about it 00:25:25.680 --> 00:25:26.539 but it leads 00:25:26.539 --> 00:25:27.980 to murder 00:25:27.980 --> 00:25:29.200 or attempted murder 00:25:29.200 --> 00:25:30.140 and lying 00:25:30.140 --> 00:25:31.279 and lying 00:25:31.279 --> 00:25:32.200 appearing to be 00:25:32.200 --> 00:25:33.220 a wise type 00:25:33.220 --> 00:25:33.740 of thing 00:25:33.740 --> 00:25:34.400 and it's a 00:25:34.400 --> 00:25:35.019 very, 00:25:35.140 --> 00:25:35.819 very curious 00:25:35.819 --> 00:25:36.519 thing 00:25:36.519 --> 00:25:38.100 about how 00:25:38.100 --> 00:25:38.940 these very 00:25:38.940 --> 00:25:40.259 powerful fears 00:25:40.259 --> 00:25:41.299 that human 00:25:41.299 --> 00:25:42.220 beings have 00:25:42.220 --> 00:25:43.400 and we might 00:25:43.400 --> 00:25:43.920 not think 00:25:43.920 --> 00:25:44.660 we have a fear 00:25:44.660 --> 00:25:45.140 of death 00:25:45.140 --> 00:25:45.579 and what we 00:25:45.579 --> 00:25:45.839 would do 00:25:45.839 --> 00:25:46.200 to stay 00:25:46.200 --> 00:25:46.640 alive 00:25:46.640 --> 00:25:47.400 but the movie 00:25:47.400 --> 00:25:48.039 tries to 00:25:48.039 --> 00:25:48.599 communicate 00:25:48.599 --> 00:25:49.519 what would 00:25:49.519 --> 00:25:50.160 happen to 00:25:50.160 --> 00:25:50.779 many of us 00:25:50.779 --> 00:25:51.599 if that actually 00:25:51.599 --> 00:25:52.299 became not 00:25:52.299 --> 00:25:53.900 an abstract 00:25:53.900 --> 00:25:54.640 thing but a 00:25:54.640 --> 00:25:55.299 real thing 00:25:55.299 --> 00:25:56.579 and an imminent 00:25:56.579 --> 00:25:57.079 thing 00:25:57.079 --> 00:25:58.539 and what we 00:25:58.539 --> 00:25:59.240 might try to do 00:25:59.240 --> 00:26:00.079 to survive 00:26:00.079 --> 00:26:01.679 and 00:26:01.679 --> 00:26:07.059 so in light 00:26:07.059 --> 00:26:07.419 of that 00:26:07.419 --> 00:26:08.319 can you put 00:26:08.319 --> 00:26:09.039 up 2A again 00:26:09.039 --> 00:26:09.639 Andrew 00:26:09.639 --> 00:26:11.779 want to say 00:26:11.779 --> 00:26:12.299 that with me 00:26:12.299 --> 00:26:13.619 to know wisdom 00:26:13.619 --> 00:26:14.559 and instruction 00:26:14.559 --> 00:26:15.359 that's the purpose 00:26:15.359 --> 00:26:15.839 of the book 00:26:15.839 --> 00:26:16.599 and what's going 00:26:16.599 --> 00:26:17.259 to be the key 00:26:17.259 --> 00:26:17.839 in terms of 00:26:17.839 --> 00:26:18.559 understanding the book 00:26:18.559 --> 00:26:19.119 let's say it 00:26:19.119 --> 00:26:20.500 the fear of the 00:26:20.500 --> 00:26:21.259 Lord is the 00:26:21.259 --> 00:26:21.859 beginning of 00:26:21.859 --> 00:26:22.460 knowledge 00:26:22.460 --> 00:26:24.159 fools despise 00:26:24.159 --> 00:26:24.699 wisdom 00:26:24.699 --> 00:26:25.779 and instruction 00:26:25.779 --> 00:26:29.259 and what we 00:26:29.259 --> 00:26:30.399 see is that 00:26:30.399 --> 00:26:35.460 in our 00:26:35.460 --> 00:26:36.839 church culture 00:26:36.839 --> 00:26:40.500 we have 00:26:40.500 --> 00:26:41.420 a terrible 00:26:41.420 --> 00:26:42.079 fear 00:26:42.079 --> 00:26:43.440 of talking 00:26:43.440 --> 00:26:43.899 about the 00:26:43.899 --> 00:26:44.399 fear of the 00:26:44.399 --> 00:26:44.680 Lord 00:26:44.680 --> 00:26:46.259 it's a 00:26:46.259 --> 00:26:47.619 profoundly 00:26:47.619 --> 00:26:48.619 unpopular 00:26:48.619 --> 00:26:49.660 topic in our 00:26:49.660 --> 00:26:50.099 culture 00:26:50.099 --> 00:26:50.660 in fact 00:26:50.660 --> 00:26:51.639 for many 00:26:51.639 --> 00:26:52.119 people 00:26:52.119 --> 00:26:53.839 it would be 00:26:53.839 --> 00:26:54.480 even to be 00:26:54.480 --> 00:26:54.960 brought up 00:26:54.960 --> 00:26:55.379 it would be 00:26:55.380 --> 00:26:56.000 a sign 00:26:56.000 --> 00:26:56.280 of one 00:26:56.280 --> 00:26:56.500 of the 00:26:56.500 --> 00:26:56.740 things 00:26:56.740 --> 00:26:57.140 which is 00:26:57.140 --> 00:26:57.720 fundamentally 00:26:57.720 --> 00:26:58.180 wrong 00:26:58.180 --> 00:26:58.640 about the 00:26:58.640 --> 00:26:58.940 Christian 00:26:58.940 --> 00:26:59.320 faith 00:26:59.320 --> 00:27:01.820 but one 00:27:01.820 --> 00:27:01.980 of the 00:27:01.980 --> 00:27:02.180 things 00:27:02.180 --> 00:27:02.620 is if you 00:27:02.620 --> 00:27:02.880 actually 00:27:02.880 --> 00:27:03.300 read the 00:27:03.300 --> 00:27:03.920 Old Testament 00:27:03.920 --> 00:27:05.020 you see 00:27:05.020 --> 00:27:05.520 that you 00:27:05.520 --> 00:27:06.540 can't read 00:27:06.540 --> 00:27:07.040 very far 00:27:07.040 --> 00:27:07.240 in the 00:27:07.240 --> 00:27:07.760 Old Testament 00:27:07.760 --> 00:27:08.160 where the 00:27:08.160 --> 00:27:08.580 fear of the 00:27:08.580 --> 00:27:08.800 Lord 00:27:08.800 --> 00:27:10.020 isn't actually 00:27:10.020 --> 00:27:10.820 presented as a 00:27:10.820 --> 00:27:11.720 positive thing 00:27:11.720 --> 00:27:12.640 that we should 00:27:12.640 --> 00:27:13.280 pray for 00:27:13.280 --> 00:27:13.940 that we should 00:27:13.940 --> 00:27:14.380 desire 00:27:14.380 --> 00:27:16.100 and many 00:27:16.100 --> 00:27:16.760 Christians 00:27:16.760 --> 00:27:17.520 will just 00:27:17.520 --> 00:27:18.440 quote 1 John 00:27:18.440 --> 00:27:19.340 chapter 4 00:27:19.340 --> 00:27:20.420 a perfect 00:27:20.420 --> 00:27:20.700 love 00:27:20.700 --> 00:27:21.380 casts out 00:27:21.380 --> 00:27:21.740 fear 00:27:21.740 --> 00:27:23.160 and therefore 00:27:23.160 --> 00:27:24.460 that Christians 00:27:24.460 --> 00:27:24.960 shouldn't be 00:27:24.960 --> 00:27:25.799 characterized by 00:27:25.799 --> 00:27:26.160 the fear 00:27:26.160 --> 00:27:26.440 of the 00:27:26.440 --> 00:27:26.620 Lord 00:27:26.620 --> 00:27:27.100 but they 00:27:27.100 --> 00:27:27.720 should be 00:27:27.720 --> 00:27:28.079 characterized 00:27:28.079 --> 00:27:28.840 by perfect 00:27:28.840 --> 00:27:29.240 love 00:27:29.240 --> 00:27:31.019 but apart 00:27:31.019 --> 00:27:31.480 from whatever 00:27:31.480 --> 00:27:32.079 that verse 00:27:32.079 --> 00:27:32.620 means 00:27:32.620 --> 00:27:34.019 C.S. Lewis 00:27:34.019 --> 00:27:34.480 says all 00:27:34.480 --> 00:27:34.920 sorts of 00:27:34.920 --> 00:27:35.500 things cast 00:27:35.500 --> 00:27:35.860 out the 00:27:35.860 --> 00:27:36.200 fear of 00:27:36.200 --> 00:27:36.500 the Lord 00:27:36.500 --> 00:27:36.980 alcohol 00:27:36.980 --> 00:27:37.720 sex 00:27:37.720 --> 00:27:38.340 gambling 00:27:38.340 --> 00:27:39.600 money 00:27:39.600 --> 00:27:42.559 but you 00:27:42.559 --> 00:27:42.980 can't read 00:27:42.980 --> 00:27:43.240 the New 00:27:43.240 --> 00:27:43.579 Testament 00:27:43.579 --> 00:27:44.140 do a word 00:27:44.140 --> 00:27:44.600 search and 00:27:44.600 --> 00:27:44.900 you'll see 00:27:44.900 --> 00:27:45.240 that in the 00:27:45.240 --> 00:27:45.779 New Testament 00:27:45.779 --> 00:27:46.200 as well 00:27:46.200 --> 00:27:46.539 the fear 00:27:46.539 --> 00:27:46.759 of the 00:27:46.759 --> 00:27:46.880 Lord 00:27:46.880 --> 00:27:47.360 is considered 00:27:47.360 --> 00:27:47.920 a positive 00:27:47.920 --> 00:27:48.259 thing 00:27:48.259 --> 00:27:48.480 in the 00:27:48.480 --> 00:27:48.799 book of 00:27:48.799 --> 00:27:49.200 Acts 00:27:49.200 --> 00:27:50.039 one of the 00:27:50.039 --> 00:27:50.420 things that 00:27:50.420 --> 00:27:51.059 characterizes 00:27:51.059 --> 00:27:51.600 the growth 00:27:51.600 --> 00:27:51.900 of the 00:27:51.900 --> 00:27:52.160 church 00:27:52.160 --> 00:27:52.620 is at the 00:27:52.620 --> 00:27:53.079 same time 00:27:53.079 --> 00:27:53.340 as the 00:27:53.340 --> 00:27:53.720 church is 00:27:53.720 --> 00:27:54.200 growing by 00:27:54.200 --> 00:27:54.700 leaps and 00:27:54.700 --> 00:27:54.960 bounds 00:27:54.960 --> 00:27:55.500 it's also 00:27:55.500 --> 00:27:55.960 growing in 00:27:55.960 --> 00:27:56.319 the fear 00:27:56.319 --> 00:27:56.640 of the 00:27:56.640 --> 00:27:56.920 Lord 00:27:56.920 --> 00:27:57.720 that the 00:27:57.720 --> 00:27:58.299 New Testament 00:27:58.299 --> 00:27:59.279 has this 00:27:59.279 --> 00:28:01.220 idea here 00:28:01.220 --> 00:28:02.700 as a positive 00:28:02.700 --> 00:28:03.140 thing 00:28:03.140 --> 00:28:04.539 yet as I 00:28:04.539 --> 00:28:05.220 said earlier 00:28:05.220 --> 00:28:07.140 so called 00:28:07.140 --> 00:28:07.559 you know 00:28:07.559 --> 00:28:07.900 sorry I 00:28:07.900 --> 00:28:08.180 shouldn't have 00:28:08.180 --> 00:28:08.600 said that 00:28:08.600 --> 00:28:09.960 Christian radio 00:28:09.960 --> 00:28:11.200 would never 00:28:11.200 --> 00:28:12.160 advertise this 00:28:12.160 --> 00:28:12.700 as a selling 00:28:12.700 --> 00:28:13.039 point 00:28:13.039 --> 00:28:15.940 it would 00:28:15.940 --> 00:28:16.480 never 00:28:16.480 --> 00:28:17.279 maybe I'm 00:28:17.279 --> 00:28:17.440 wrong 00:28:17.440 --> 00:28:17.839 maybe there's 00:28:17.839 --> 00:28:18.299 some places 00:28:18.299 --> 00:28:19.000 in Mississippi 00:28:19.000 --> 00:28:19.940 or Arkansas 00:28:19.940 --> 00:28:20.599 or something 00:28:20.599 --> 00:28:21.259 like that 00:28:21.259 --> 00:28:22.500 that advertise 00:28:22.500 --> 00:28:22.980 we're not 00:28:22.980 --> 00:28:23.400 like those 00:28:23.400 --> 00:28:23.920 other Christian 00:28:23.920 --> 00:28:24.759 radio stations 00:28:24.759 --> 00:28:25.380 come here to 00:28:25.380 --> 00:28:25.859 listen to the 00:28:25.859 --> 00:28:26.240 fear of the 00:28:26.240 --> 00:28:26.400 Lord 00:28:26.400 --> 00:28:26.880 maybe that 00:28:26.880 --> 00:28:27.539 happens there 00:28:27.539 --> 00:28:28.319 I just 00:28:28.319 --> 00:28:28.700 haven't been 00:28:28.700 --> 00:28:29.240 in Mississippi 00:28:29.240 --> 00:28:29.960 or Arkansas 00:28:29.960 --> 00:28:30.599 or someplace 00:28:30.599 --> 00:28:31.279 like that 00:28:31.279 --> 00:28:31.700 or North 00:28:31.700 --> 00:28:32.119 Dakota 00:28:32.119 --> 00:28:32.700 or something 00:28:32.700 --> 00:28:33.480 and maybe 00:28:33.480 --> 00:28:33.859 there's some 00:28:33.859 --> 00:28:34.359 places on 00:28:34.359 --> 00:28:34.920 the prairies 00:28:34.920 --> 00:28:35.960 or some 00:28:35.960 --> 00:28:36.420 place that 00:28:36.420 --> 00:28:37.059 us sophisticated 00:28:37.059 --> 00:28:37.700 people in 00:28:37.700 --> 00:28:38.180 Ottawa would 00:28:38.180 --> 00:28:38.660 think is the 00:28:38.660 --> 00:28:39.819 backwoods 00:28:39.819 --> 00:28:40.700 fly over 00:28:40.700 --> 00:28:41.180 country 00:28:41.180 --> 00:28:44.200 but you 00:28:44.200 --> 00:28:44.380 know 00:28:44.380 --> 00:28:47.020 there's a 00:28:47.020 --> 00:28:48.160 real culture 00:28:48.160 --> 00:28:48.740 gap 00:28:48.740 --> 00:28:49.840 between passages 00:28:49.840 --> 00:28:50.580 like this 00:28:50.580 --> 00:28:53.180 and the 00:28:53.180 --> 00:28:53.600 way the 00:28:53.600 --> 00:28:53.960 book of 00:28:53.960 --> 00:28:54.620 Proverbs is 00:28:54.620 --> 00:28:55.020 structured 00:28:55.020 --> 00:28:56.080 is verse 00:28:56.080 --> 00:28:57.080 1 gives 00:28:57.080 --> 00:28:57.340 you the 00:28:57.340 --> 00:28:57.580 title 00:28:57.580 --> 00:28:58.140 verse 2 00:28:58.140 --> 00:28:58.580 gives you 00:28:58.580 --> 00:28:59.120 the purpose 00:28:59.120 --> 00:29:01.140 and verse 00:29:01.140 --> 00:29:02.160 7 here 00:29:02.160 --> 00:29:04.340 is the 00:29:04.340 --> 00:29:05.120 key to 00:29:05.120 --> 00:29:05.840 understanding 00:29:05.840 --> 00:29:06.800 every proverb 00:29:06.800 --> 00:29:08.240 that's how 00:29:08.240 --> 00:29:08.720 it's set up 00:29:08.720 --> 00:29:09.460 at a literary 00:29:09.460 --> 00:29:10.220 structure 00:29:10.220 --> 00:29:11.600 Andrew could 00:29:11.600 --> 00:29:11.900 you put up 00:29:11.900 --> 00:29:12.300 my second 00:29:12.300 --> 00:29:12.640 point 00:29:12.640 --> 00:29:15.960 the second 00:29:15.960 --> 00:29:16.480 point is 00:29:16.480 --> 00:29:16.800 that the 00:29:16.800 --> 00:29:17.200 fear of 00:29:17.200 --> 00:29:17.600 the Lord 00:29:17.600 --> 00:29:18.800 is the 00:29:18.800 --> 00:29:19.600 first steps 00:29:19.600 --> 00:29:20.820 the foundation 00:29:20.820 --> 00:29:22.259 the north 00:29:22.259 --> 00:29:22.920 star or 00:29:22.920 --> 00:29:23.680 true north 00:29:23.680 --> 00:29:24.600 and the 00:29:24.600 --> 00:29:25.360 ever present 00:29:25.360 --> 00:29:26.759 factor in 00:29:26.759 --> 00:29:27.520 living a good 00:29:27.520 --> 00:29:28.080 and fruitful 00:29:28.080 --> 00:29:28.820 life in the 00:29:28.820 --> 00:29:29.380 world that the 00:29:29.380 --> 00:29:30.040 Lord has made 00:29:30.040 --> 00:29:30.700 and sustains 00:29:30.700 --> 00:29:31.720 that's the 00:29:31.720 --> 00:29:32.340 claim of the 00:29:32.340 --> 00:29:32.680 book of 00:29:32.680 --> 00:29:33.180 Proverbs 00:29:33.180 --> 00:29:33.980 that's the 00:29:33.980 --> 00:29:34.500 claim of the 00:29:34.500 --> 00:29:34.840 book of 00:29:34.840 --> 00:29:35.300 Proverbs 00:29:35.300 --> 00:29:36.400 that whether 00:29:36.400 --> 00:29:36.820 we're going 00:29:36.820 --> 00:29:37.320 to be reading 00:29:37.320 --> 00:29:37.960 later on 00:29:37.960 --> 00:29:38.259 if you're 00:29:38.259 --> 00:29:38.520 going to be 00:29:38.520 --> 00:29:39.480 reading a 00:29:39.480 --> 00:29:40.500 proverb about 00:29:40.500 --> 00:29:41.660 you know 00:29:41.660 --> 00:29:42.460 husbands and 00:29:42.460 --> 00:29:43.160 wives or 00:29:43.160 --> 00:29:44.559 but you 00:29:44.559 --> 00:29:45.100 know moms 00:29:45.100 --> 00:29:45.720 and dads 00:29:45.720 --> 00:29:46.039 and their 00:29:46.039 --> 00:29:47.000 children or 00:29:47.000 --> 00:29:47.559 how to deal 00:29:47.559 --> 00:29:47.920 with a 00:29:47.920 --> 00:29:48.640 boss or 00:29:48.640 --> 00:29:49.600 how to deal 00:29:49.600 --> 00:29:51.200 with how 00:29:51.200 --> 00:29:51.840 to be a 00:29:51.840 --> 00:29:52.680 witness or 00:29:52.680 --> 00:29:55.140 how to deal 00:29:55.140 --> 00:29:55.980 with messengers 00:29:55.980 --> 00:29:56.740 or how to be 00:29:56.740 --> 00:29:57.620 prudent or how 00:29:57.620 --> 00:29:58.160 to help the 00:29:58.160 --> 00:29:59.740 poor or any 00:29:59.740 --> 00:30:00.319 of the different 00:30:00.319 --> 00:30:01.779 Proverbs at a 00:30:01.779 --> 00:30:02.600 literary level 00:30:02.600 --> 00:30:04.259 it's assuming 00:30:04.259 --> 00:30:04.960 that the fear 00:30:04.960 --> 00:30:05.319 of the Lord 00:30:05.319 --> 00:30:05.799 is the beginning 00:30:05.799 --> 00:30:06.460 of knowledge 00:30:06.460 --> 00:30:07.840 fools despise 00:30:07.840 --> 00:30:08.380 wisdom and 00:30:08.380 --> 00:30:08.980 instruction 00:30:08.980 --> 00:30:09.759 that that's to 00:30:09.759 --> 00:30:11.340 be that is 00:30:11.339 --> 00:30:12.319 if we 00:30:12.319 --> 00:30:13.539 understand this 00:30:13.539 --> 00:30:14.399 then this is 00:30:14.399 --> 00:30:14.699 like the 00:30:14.699 --> 00:30:15.459 very first 00:30:15.459 --> 00:30:16.579 step of 00:30:16.579 --> 00:30:17.839 entering into 00:30:17.839 --> 00:30:18.779 an experiential 00:30:18.779 --> 00:30:19.279 relational 00:30:19.279 --> 00:30:20.039 knowledge that 00:30:20.039 --> 00:30:21.099 involves skills 00:30:21.099 --> 00:30:22.720 that this is 00:30:22.720 --> 00:30:23.299 not only a 00:30:23.299 --> 00:30:23.959 first step but 00:30:23.959 --> 00:30:24.299 it's the 00:30:24.299 --> 00:30:25.339 foundation for 00:30:25.339 --> 00:30:26.220 everything else 00:30:26.220 --> 00:30:26.779 that we do 00:30:26.779 --> 00:30:28.199 it's not only 00:30:28.199 --> 00:30:28.839 that but you 00:30:28.839 --> 00:30:29.399 know maybe some 00:30:29.399 --> 00:30:29.759 of you have 00:30:29.759 --> 00:30:30.279 heard that one 00:30:30.279 --> 00:30:31.379 of the things 00:30:31.379 --> 00:30:32.179 that like having 00:30:32.179 --> 00:30:33.319 virtue or values 00:30:33.319 --> 00:30:34.159 is it helps you 00:30:34.159 --> 00:30:34.679 understand where 00:30:34.679 --> 00:30:35.459 true north is 00:30:35.459 --> 00:30:36.039 so that you can 00:30:36.039 --> 00:30:37.159 navigate the 00:30:37.159 --> 00:30:38.339 complexity of life 00:30:38.339 --> 00:30:40.039 and the book 00:30:40.039 --> 00:30:40.799 of Proverbs is 00:30:40.799 --> 00:30:41.279 saying that the 00:30:41.279 --> 00:30:41.720 fear of the 00:30:41.720 --> 00:30:42.179 Lord is the 00:30:42.179 --> 00:30:42.559 beginning of 00:30:42.559 --> 00:30:43.259 knowledge fools 00:30:43.259 --> 00:30:44.139 despise wisdom 00:30:44.139 --> 00:30:44.759 and instruction 00:30:44.759 --> 00:30:45.419 that that's that 00:30:45.419 --> 00:30:46.139 type of true 00:30:46.139 --> 00:30:47.459 north principle 00:30:47.459 --> 00:30:48.539 that helps us 00:30:48.539 --> 00:30:49.539 to understand how 00:30:49.539 --> 00:30:50.019 to read the 00:30:50.019 --> 00:30:50.839 different Proverbs 00:30:50.839 --> 00:30:52.179 and that as 00:30:52.179 --> 00:30:52.959 well as that 00:30:52.959 --> 00:30:55.199 that verse 7 00:30:55.199 --> 00:30:57.419 is it is a 00:30:57.419 --> 00:30:58.339 ever present 00:30:58.339 --> 00:30:59.500 factor in every 00:30:59.500 --> 00:30:59.859 one of the 00:30:59.859 --> 00:31:00.799 Proverbs so 00:31:00.799 --> 00:31:01.179 that we can 00:31:01.179 --> 00:31:01.619 live a good 00:31:01.619 --> 00:31:02.000 and fruitful 00:31:02.000 --> 00:31:02.559 life in the 00:31:02.559 --> 00:31:03.559 world that the 00:31:03.559 --> 00:31:04.439 Lord has 00:31:04.439 --> 00:31:05.879 made so 00:31:05.879 --> 00:31:06.559 what does it 00:31:06.559 --> 00:31:06.899 mean? 00:31:08.339 --> 00:31:09.539 Well first of 00:31:09.539 --> 00:31:10.299 all some of 00:31:10.299 --> 00:31:11.019 your translations 00:31:11.019 --> 00:31:11.879 have probably 00:31:11.879 --> 00:31:13.119 translated fearing 00:31:13.119 --> 00:31:14.500 the Lord but 00:31:14.500 --> 00:31:15.039 in the original 00:31:15.039 --> 00:31:15.959 language it's two 00:31:15.959 --> 00:31:18.059 nouns the fear 00:31:18.059 --> 00:31:18.819 of the Lord it's 00:31:18.819 --> 00:31:19.759 two nouns put 00:31:19.759 --> 00:31:21.159 together in the 00:31:21.159 --> 00:31:22.119 verb in the 00:31:22.119 --> 00:31:23.179 sentence is that 00:31:23.179 --> 00:31:24.199 is is sorry 00:31:24.199 --> 00:31:24.819 another grammar 00:31:24.819 --> 00:31:25.619 moment but that 00:31:25.619 --> 00:31:26.439 the verb is the 00:31:26.439 --> 00:31:27.359 is not the 00:31:27.359 --> 00:31:28.859 not that it's not 00:31:28.859 --> 00:31:31.579 fearing and the 00:31:31.579 --> 00:31:32.559 word the fear of 00:31:32.559 --> 00:31:33.259 the Lord first of 00:31:33.259 --> 00:31:34.220 all the word Lord 00:31:34.220 --> 00:31:35.139 is very significant 00:31:35.139 --> 00:31:35.819 and you'll notice 00:31:35.819 --> 00:31:36.619 in my points that 00:31:36.619 --> 00:31:37.519 I put them all in 00:31:37.519 --> 00:31:38.339 caps and I did 00:31:38.339 --> 00:31:39.160 that in purpose I 00:31:39.160 --> 00:31:39.859 know it's shouting 00:31:39.859 --> 00:31:41.779 nowadays but it's 00:31:41.779 --> 00:31:42.920 it's the in the 00:31:42.920 --> 00:31:44.099 original language it's 00:31:44.099 --> 00:31:46.420 the great I am it 00:31:46.420 --> 00:31:47.879 is from Exodus 3 00:31:47.879 --> 00:31:49.420 the God of the 00:31:49.420 --> 00:31:50.980 covenant I am that I 00:31:50.980 --> 00:31:52.099 am has sent you 00:31:52.099 --> 00:31:54.440 perfect being it is 00:31:54.440 --> 00:31:55.519 the God of the 00:31:55.519 --> 00:31:56.599 covenant it is the 00:31:56.599 --> 00:31:57.740 God who desires to 00:31:57.740 --> 00:31:59.000 call to himself a 00:31:59.000 --> 00:31:59.759 people to be in 00:31:59.759 --> 00:32:01.500 relationship with it's 00:32:01.500 --> 00:32:02.740 not the other words 00:32:02.740 --> 00:32:03.599 for God that the 00:32:03.599 --> 00:32:04.559 Old Testament has 00:32:04.559 --> 00:32:05.379 English really only 00:32:05.379 --> 00:32:06.359 has one word for 00:32:06.359 --> 00:32:07.379 God but Hebrew had 00:32:07.379 --> 00:32:08.299 several words for 00:32:08.299 --> 00:32:09.500 God it's not the 00:32:09.500 --> 00:32:10.619 abstract word for 00:32:10.619 --> 00:32:11.459 God it's not a 00:32:11.459 --> 00:32:12.539 deist word for God 00:32:12.539 --> 00:32:13.359 of a God who is 00:32:13.359 --> 00:32:14.319 absent and distant 00:32:14.319 --> 00:32:15.759 and far off it's 00:32:15.759 --> 00:32:17.179 not the word for 00:32:17.179 --> 00:32:17.959 God that that 00:32:17.959 --> 00:32:19.279 emphasizes just his 00:32:19.279 --> 00:32:20.419 power or his 00:32:20.419 --> 00:32:21.699 standing in judgment 00:32:21.699 --> 00:32:22.699 or sovereign over 00:32:22.699 --> 00:32:23.539 us it is the 00:32:23.539 --> 00:32:24.839 intimate it's both 00:32:24.839 --> 00:32:25.719 an exalted 00:32:25.719 --> 00:32:27.599 mysterious description 00:32:27.599 --> 00:32:28.519 of God but it's 00:32:28.519 --> 00:32:29.719 an intimate the 00:32:29.719 --> 00:32:30.899 intimate covenant 00:32:30.899 --> 00:32:32.299 name for God in the 00:32:32.299 --> 00:32:35.259 Old Testament and 00:32:35.259 --> 00:32:36.259 and the word fear 00:32:36.259 --> 00:32:37.539 has a range of 00:32:37.539 --> 00:32:39.879 meaning and and it 00:32:39.879 --> 00:32:41.160 captures a little bit 00:32:41.160 --> 00:32:41.819 about what's going 00:32:41.819 --> 00:32:42.920 on here in this this 00:32:42.920 --> 00:32:43.920 word the fear of the 00:32:43.920 --> 00:32:45.259 Lord as a virtue as a 00:32:45.259 --> 00:32:46.099 positive thing is 00:32:46.099 --> 00:32:47.779 something that people 00:32:47.779 --> 00:32:49.680 if they were wise will 00:32:49.680 --> 00:32:52.079 want to enter into and 00:32:52.079 --> 00:32:52.940 and the range of 00:32:52.940 --> 00:32:53.980 meaning is on one hand 00:32:53.980 --> 00:32:55.140 it does mean abstract 00:32:55.140 --> 00:32:57.259 abject terror that's 00:32:57.259 --> 00:32:59.259 one end of the range 00:32:59.259 --> 00:33:02.160 of meanings but it it 00:33:02.160 --> 00:33:04.700 also means respect and 00:33:04.700 --> 00:33:06.700 it means reverence and 00:33:06.700 --> 00:33:07.420 it means a willingness 00:33:07.420 --> 00:33:09.259 to listen and to 00:33:09.259 --> 00:33:11.660 submit and it means 00:33:11.660 --> 00:33:14.580 gobsmacked jaw 00:33:14.580 --> 00:33:17.560 dropping close intimate 00:33:17.560 --> 00:33:21.620 adoration and that 00:33:21.620 --> 00:33:22.820 includes that whole range 00:33:22.820 --> 00:33:24.440 of meaning the type of 00:33:24.440 --> 00:33:27.420 being in the presence of 00:33:27.420 --> 00:33:29.580 the good the true and the 00:33:29.579 --> 00:33:30.759 beautiful that just 00:33:30.759 --> 00:33:32.419 cause your jaw to hit 00:33:32.419 --> 00:33:35.579 the ground either your 00:33:35.579 --> 00:33:36.519 hands to go to your 00:33:36.519 --> 00:33:37.619 side or your hands to 00:33:37.619 --> 00:33:38.859 go like this and to be 00:33:38.859 --> 00:33:40.539 caught up in complete and 00:33:40.539 --> 00:33:42.579 utter loving adoration and 00:33:43.399 --> 00:33:44.779 the Hebrew word for fear 00:33:44.779 --> 00:33:46.339 captures that whole range 00:33:46.339 --> 00:33:50.460 and at the very very heart 00:33:50.460 --> 00:33:52.740 of this idea is that at 00:33:52.740 --> 00:33:53.740 the heart of the fear of 00:33:53.740 --> 00:33:55.159 the Lord is a profound 00:33:55.159 --> 00:33:58.399 experiential relational 00:33:58.400 --> 00:33:59.980 knowledge of the difference 00:33:59.980 --> 00:34:01.200 between you and God 00:34:01.200 --> 00:34:04.160 which we're always 00:34:04.160 --> 00:34:06.840 confusing like we we 00:34:06.840 --> 00:34:07.640 might not think about it 00:34:07.640 --> 00:34:09.500 much but we one one hand 00:34:09.500 --> 00:34:10.360 we see it all the time we 00:34:10.360 --> 00:34:12.160 we see a boss and we're 00:34:12.160 --> 00:34:13.000 worried about our boss 00:34:13.000 --> 00:34:14.000 because she thinks like 00:34:14.000 --> 00:34:15.440 she acts like she's God 00:34:15.440 --> 00:34:17.440 right we have a kid in our 00:34:17.440 --> 00:34:18.900 family or a husband or a 00:34:18.900 --> 00:34:19.740 wife and they act like 00:34:19.740 --> 00:34:21.639 they're God we we have it 00:34:21.639 --> 00:34:22.480 you know it might be that 00:34:22.480 --> 00:34:24.400 there's a you know a a a a 00:34:24.400 --> 00:34:25.880 dad who I just finished 00:34:25.880 --> 00:34:27.000 reading a John Grisham 00:34:27.000 --> 00:34:28.739 novel Grey Mountain and 00:34:28.739 --> 00:34:30.199 the the heroine of the 00:34:30.199 --> 00:34:31.199 novel one of the things 00:34:31.199 --> 00:34:32.300 which she wrestles with 00:34:32.300 --> 00:34:33.320 apart from wrestling with 00:34:33.320 --> 00:34:34.519 the the drama of the 00:34:34.519 --> 00:34:38.099 story is that her dad was 00:34:38.099 --> 00:34:39.539 so completely and utterly 00:34:39.539 --> 00:34:41.219 consumed with himself and 00:34:41.219 --> 00:34:42.800 with his career he was so 00:34:42.800 --> 00:34:45.320 consumed with that that it 00:34:45.320 --> 00:34:47.400 was as if he ignored his 00:34:47.400 --> 00:34:49.000 wife and family his wife and 00:34:49.000 --> 00:34:50.500 daughter and that they were 00:34:50.500 --> 00:34:52.860 just in a sense sucked up in 00:34:52.860 --> 00:34:55.340 his all-consuming concern with 00:34:55.340 --> 00:34:57.280 money and his own career in 00:34:57.280 --> 00:34:59.000 other words he'd lost a 00:34:59.000 --> 00:35:00.240 clear sense of the 00:35:00.240 --> 00:35:01.539 distinction between him and 00:35:01.539 --> 00:35:02.160 his wife and the 00:35:02.160 --> 00:35:03.280 distinction between him and 00:35:03.280 --> 00:35:04.860 his daughter and and the 00:35:04.860 --> 00:35:06.460 need to to relate to them 00:35:06.460 --> 00:35:08.660 not as just some little part 00:35:08.660 --> 00:35:10.200 of himself which is all part 00:35:10.200 --> 00:35:12.720 of his huge process to 00:35:12.720 --> 00:35:13.960 become rich and and to 00:35:13.960 --> 00:35:15.539 become powerful but that 00:35:15.539 --> 00:35:17.280 there there is a place where 00:35:17.280 --> 00:35:18.620 he begins and ends and the 00:35:18.620 --> 00:35:19.600 other person is a real 00:35:19.600 --> 00:35:20.640 person who has a beginning 00:35:20.640 --> 00:35:22.079 and end and real boundaries 00:35:22.079 --> 00:35:23.579 and and the daughter has 00:35:23.579 --> 00:35:25.500 real boundaries and and and 00:35:25.500 --> 00:35:26.900 we know that in families and 00:35:26.900 --> 00:35:28.480 in marriages and in schools 00:35:28.480 --> 00:35:29.900 and in workplaces and in 00:35:29.900 --> 00:35:31.380 governments when you have a 00:35:31.380 --> 00:35:32.440 person who starts to treat 00:35:32.440 --> 00:35:33.500 other people as if they 00:35:33.500 --> 00:35:34.980 almost don't exist they're 00:35:34.980 --> 00:35:36.420 just an epiphanomenon just 00:35:36.420 --> 00:35:37.659 they're just something that 00:35:37.659 --> 00:35:39.199 can get sucked up in their own 00:35:39.199 --> 00:35:40.759 project that those are 00:35:40.759 --> 00:35:41.599 completely and utterly 00:35:41.599 --> 00:35:42.819 destructive and the Bible 00:35:42.819 --> 00:35:44.139 says that that's the common 00:35:44.139 --> 00:35:45.619 human problem with every 00:35:45.619 --> 00:35:46.819 single human being in the 00:35:46.819 --> 00:35:49.719 relationship with God that we 00:35:49.719 --> 00:35:51.000 are always blurring the 00:35:51.000 --> 00:35:52.159 distinctions between 00:35:52.159 --> 00:35:55.400 ourselves and God that we 00:35:55.400 --> 00:35:56.719 lose sight of where we 00:35:56.719 --> 00:35:57.940 begin and end and hence we 00:35:57.940 --> 00:35:58.760 don't even really know 00:35:58.760 --> 00:36:01.139 ourselves and we lose sight 00:36:01.139 --> 00:36:02.400 of where God begins and 00:36:02.400 --> 00:36:03.500 ends and we lose sight of 00:36:03.500 --> 00:36:04.579 the differences between the 00:36:04.579 --> 00:36:05.440 two of the things it's one 00:36:05.440 --> 00:36:07.039 of the reasons why one of 00:36:07.039 --> 00:36:08.500 the great insights of the 00:36:08.500 --> 00:36:09.480 Bible is that the more we 00:36:09.480 --> 00:36:10.639 know God the more we know 00:36:10.639 --> 00:36:12.119 ourselves because the more 00:36:12.119 --> 00:36:13.579 we know how we are different 00:36:13.579 --> 00:36:15.440 from God and where we in 00:36:15.440 --> 00:36:18.719 fact begin and end and the 00:36:18.719 --> 00:36:20.480 fear of the Lord is all about 00:36:20.480 --> 00:36:22.199 coming into a relational 00:36:22.199 --> 00:36:24.980 experiential novel not 00:36:24.980 --> 00:36:27.019 knowledge of the living God 00:36:27.019 --> 00:36:28.960 who desires to be in a 00:36:28.960 --> 00:36:30.740 covenant relationship with us 00:36:30.740 --> 00:36:32.240 to be our sovereign in our 00:36:32.240 --> 00:36:34.380 king our great deliverer our 00:36:34.380 --> 00:36:35.659 great delight our great 00:36:35.659 --> 00:36:37.300 protector and it's called 00:36:37.300 --> 00:36:38.559 it's been entering into a 00:36:38.559 --> 00:36:40.740 relationship with him where as 00:36:40.740 --> 00:36:42.579 we deepen in this relationship 00:36:42.579 --> 00:36:43.780 of the fear of the Lord we 00:36:43.780 --> 00:36:45.320 will come to an ever greater 00:36:45.320 --> 00:36:47.599 knowledge of who we are who I 00:36:47.599 --> 00:36:49.639 am and where I begin and end 00:36:49.639 --> 00:36:52.159 and where God is and how God 00:36:52.159 --> 00:36:53.119 is different and that 00:36:53.119 --> 00:36:54.719 difference is good and that 00:36:54.719 --> 00:36:56.579 difference sometimes will make 00:36:56.579 --> 00:36:59.079 me want to fall on my face in 00:36:59.079 --> 00:37:00.519 repentance for the things that 00:37:00.519 --> 00:37:02.440 I have done that are wrong and 00:37:02.440 --> 00:37:05.039 sometimes I will want to stand 00:37:05.039 --> 00:37:07.599 with jaw dropping God's God's 00:37:08.139 --> 00:37:10.719 smacked awe and wonder at the 00:37:10.719 --> 00:37:14.739 beauty of God that the cry of our 00:37:14.739 --> 00:37:16.739 heart that the end of it the cry 00:37:16.739 --> 00:37:19.359 of my heart will be that my soul 00:37:19.359 --> 00:37:21.519 desire will be to dwell in the 00:37:21.519 --> 00:37:23.559 house of the Lord to behold his 00:37:23.559 --> 00:37:24.059 beauty 00:37:24.059 --> 00:37:30.599 it's all encaptured in this phrase 00:37:30.599 --> 00:37:31.699 the fear of the Lord 00:37:31.699 --> 00:37:36.479 it's all encaptured in this phrase 00:37:36.479 --> 00:37:37.979 the fear of the Lord which is why 00:37:37.980 --> 00:37:40.599 to know Jesus doesn't mean that 00:37:40.599 --> 00:37:42.659 you stop fearing the Lord 00:37:42.659 --> 00:37:51.019 could you put it up to a and to 00:37:51.019 --> 00:37:52.760 put up to a gain for me Andrew 00:37:52.760 --> 00:37:53.900 remember I just really have two 00:37:53.900 --> 00:37:56.820 points let's say this together to 00:37:56.820 --> 00:37:59.059 know wisdom and instruction that's 00:37:59.059 --> 00:38:00.360 what the book of Proverbs is about 00:38:00.360 --> 00:38:01.920 say it with me again to know 00:38:01.920 --> 00:38:04.199 wisdom and instruction and what's 00:38:04.199 --> 00:38:05.360 going to help us understand every 00:38:05.360 --> 00:38:07.960 Proverbs verse 7 the fear of the 00:38:07.960 --> 00:38:10.120 Lord is the beginning of knowledge 00:38:10.120 --> 00:38:13.360 fools despise wisdom and instruction 00:38:13.360 --> 00:38:16.700 now some of you might say okay 00:38:16.700 --> 00:38:19.440 George are you saying that only 00:38:19.440 --> 00:38:24.780 Christians only Christians are going 00:38:24.780 --> 00:38:26.700 to live a good life and are going to 00:38:26.700 --> 00:38:28.460 be wise and have a skill of living 00:38:28.460 --> 00:38:31.920 oh that's what you're saying you're on 00:38:31.920 --> 00:38:35.180 drugs have you seen the lives of lots 00:38:35.180 --> 00:38:38.300 of Christians George be honest 00:38:38.300 --> 00:38:40.059 aren't there lots of Christians if 00:38:40.059 --> 00:38:41.680 you had a choice between having some 00:38:41.680 --> 00:38:43.360 of your non-Christian neighbors or a 00:38:43.360 --> 00:38:44.500 Christian as your neighbor you'd pick 00:38:44.500 --> 00:38:48.599 the non-Christian be honest George are 00:38:48.599 --> 00:38:49.900 you saying that this is what the book 00:38:49.900 --> 00:38:51.680 of Proverbs says that only Christians 00:38:51.680 --> 00:38:55.099 are wise isn't that what sort of this 00:38:55.099 --> 00:38:58.599 text is implying that this whole fear 00:38:58.599 --> 00:38:59.980 of the Lord thing that you just talked 00:38:59.980 --> 00:39:01.760 about and it's connected to wisdom and 00:39:01.760 --> 00:39:03.240 instruction and knowledge are you 00:39:03.240 --> 00:39:07.659 saying that George well there are many 00:39:07.659 --> 00:39:09.980 Christians who talk and act like that 00:39:09.980 --> 00:39:12.820 and what happens is we end up having a 00:39:12.820 --> 00:39:15.320 religious or spiritual reading of the 00:39:15.320 --> 00:39:18.539 text not a reading of the text that God 00:39:18.539 --> 00:39:21.059 intends Andrew could you put up my 00:39:21.059 --> 00:39:25.559 third point the Bible teaches that every 00:39:25.559 --> 00:39:28.820 human being is divided and at war within 00:39:28.820 --> 00:39:34.039 themselves you see a religious or a 00:39:34.039 --> 00:39:36.539 spiritual person wants to take a text 00:39:36.539 --> 00:39:39.880 like this and divide the world and on 00:39:39.880 --> 00:39:41.779 one hand there is a division here this is 00:39:41.779 --> 00:39:43.480 one of the many many places in the Bible 00:39:43.480 --> 00:39:45.400 that says at the end of the end of the 00:39:45.400 --> 00:39:50.779 end we either end up in heaven by grace 00:39:50.780 --> 00:39:54.820 or we end up in not heaven by our own 00:39:54.820 --> 00:39:56.940 deserving and it's one of many many 00:39:56.940 --> 00:39:58.380 texts that say at the end of the day 00:39:58.380 --> 00:40:01.100 there's only two paths but if we read 00:40:01.100 --> 00:40:02.920 this text to think that it divides 00:40:02.920 --> 00:40:05.320 congregations that it divides churches 00:40:05.320 --> 00:40:08.040 that it divides us from our neighbors then 00:40:08.040 --> 00:40:10.280 we are reading it in a in a way that does 00:40:10.280 --> 00:40:15.560 not fear the Lord ironically the line 00:40:15.559 --> 00:40:19.119 between the fear of the Lord and fools 00:40:19.119 --> 00:40:23.500 does not separate people it separates me 00:40:23.500 --> 00:40:27.480 and it separates you it goes right down 00:40:27.480 --> 00:40:29.279 the center of who you and I are 00:40:29.279 --> 00:40:35.340 every human being is at war and divided 00:40:35.340 --> 00:40:39.239 amongst themselves this text is for 00:40:39.239 --> 00:40:44.619 self-awareness not to divide nations 00:40:44.619 --> 00:40:48.980 and congregations and denominations and 00:40:48.980 --> 00:40:52.679 political parties and individual 00:40:52.679 --> 00:40:57.400 people it describes the division and the 00:40:57.400 --> 00:40:59.920 battleground of every human being 00:40:59.920 --> 00:41:06.259 say 2a again put up Andrew let's say it 00:41:06.259 --> 00:41:09.400 to know wisdom and instruction that's the 00:41:09.400 --> 00:41:11.279 purpose of the book and and what's going 00:41:11.279 --> 00:41:13.480 to help us understand that verse 7 the 00:41:13.480 --> 00:41:15.679 fear of the Lord is the beginning of 00:41:15.679 --> 00:41:18.940 knowledge fools despise wisdom and 00:41:18.940 --> 00:41:23.679 instruction you see the problem you know 00:41:23.679 --> 00:41:28.920 here's the thing the very common belief 00:41:28.920 --> 00:41:31.159 in our culture is that what we just need 00:41:31.159 --> 00:41:33.240 is that we just need to to know what has 00:41:33.240 --> 00:41:35.420 to be done and then things will be fine 00:41:35.420 --> 00:41:37.740 but the fact is that works for some of 00:41:37.740 --> 00:41:39.659 us sometimes a little bit for but for a 00:41:39.659 --> 00:41:41.639 lot of us it just doesn't work you know 00:41:41.639 --> 00:41:43.339 maybe it works for us all right with money 00:41:43.339 --> 00:41:44.940 but it doesn't work with diet or maybe 00:41:44.940 --> 00:41:46.500 it works all right with us for relations 00:41:46.500 --> 00:41:48.719 but it doesn't work with us for money or 00:41:48.719 --> 00:41:50.940 you know a whole range of things and and 00:41:50.940 --> 00:41:53.539 one of the things that happens is that you 00:41:53.539 --> 00:41:57.519 know many many people is so we continue 00:41:57.519 --> 00:41:59.819 though to be almost addicted to this idea 00:41:59.819 --> 00:42:02.279 that all we need is more information and 00:42:02.279 --> 00:42:04.079 once we have the information we can do the 00:42:04.079 --> 00:42:05.400 things that we're supposed to do yet 00:42:05.400 --> 00:42:07.879 empirical observation will tell us that 00:42:07.880 --> 00:42:10.539 that never happens and that it rarely 00:42:10.539 --> 00:42:12.160 happens that it never happens in any one 00:42:12.160 --> 00:42:14.300 person all of the time and and then the 00:42:14.300 --> 00:42:15.640 the other thing that we start to do in 00:42:15.640 --> 00:42:18.320 our culture is that we start to try to we 00:42:18.320 --> 00:42:20.099 you know we we don't want to acknowledge 00:42:20.099 --> 00:42:21.940 that there's this great division that 00:42:21.940 --> 00:42:23.820 goes right down the center of who we are 00:42:23.820 --> 00:42:25.300 so we want to say that we're a good 00:42:25.300 --> 00:42:27.220 person that we're really a good person 00:42:27.220 --> 00:42:29.200 and when we we want to emphasize that 00:42:29.200 --> 00:42:30.740 we're a good person then it's almost as 00:42:30.740 --> 00:42:32.559 if some other person does those bad 00:42:32.559 --> 00:42:34.800 things it wasn't me I'm a good person I 00:42:34.800 --> 00:42:37.100 wasn't the one who swore at that person 00:42:37.100 --> 00:42:38.960 called them names and slandered and 00:42:38.960 --> 00:42:40.940 gossiped about them I'm a good person 00:42:40.940 --> 00:42:42.700 couldn't really have been me and then 00:42:42.700 --> 00:42:44.280 one of the things that that happens in 00:42:44.280 --> 00:42:45.620 our relationships is we don't really 00:42:45.620 --> 00:42:47.320 have we can't really apologize because 00:42:47.320 --> 00:42:49.560 how can a good person apologize for what 00:42:49.560 --> 00:42:51.640 they really didn't do which was wrong and 00:42:51.640 --> 00:42:53.500 there's a way of explaining all the bad 00:42:53.500 --> 00:42:55.600 things we do and that's what goes on in 00:42:55.600 --> 00:42:58.560 our culture because there's this inability 00:42:58.560 --> 00:43:01.360 to accept that verse 7 describes something 00:43:01.360 --> 00:43:04.760 that goes right down the center of us this is a 00:43:04.760 --> 00:43:07.980 very very long point and I don't expect 00:43:07.980 --> 00:43:09.480 you to write you know what and if you 00:43:09.480 --> 00:43:10.720 want to write it down you can you can 00:43:10.720 --> 00:43:13.460 look at it you can look at it later but 00:43:13.460 --> 00:43:15.780 and remember I'm writing this long 00:43:15.780 --> 00:43:17.060 talking thing down because I just want 00:43:17.060 --> 00:43:19.800 to get the idea out for you but my two 00:43:19.800 --> 00:43:21.840 points this morning are 2a in verse 7 00:43:21.840 --> 00:43:23.220 and if you go back and you know those 00:43:23.220 --> 00:43:25.160 verses all I'm trying to do here with 00:43:25.160 --> 00:43:26.580 this verse 7 is try to help you to 00:43:26.580 --> 00:43:28.940 understand what verse 7 is saying to 00:43:28.940 --> 00:43:30.540 us Andrew if you could put up my 00:43:30.540 --> 00:43:34.160 exceptionally long point for because of 00:43:34.159 --> 00:43:37.420 the Lord's common grace every human being 00:43:37.420 --> 00:43:41.899 has some knowledge of and desire for the 00:43:41.899 --> 00:43:45.059 training skills and insight needed to live 00:43:45.059 --> 00:43:47.819 a good and fruitful life in the world that 00:43:47.819 --> 00:43:50.940 the Lord has made and sustains because of 00:43:50.940 --> 00:43:52.420 common grace because we're made in the 00:43:52.420 --> 00:43:55.079 image of God and when we fell and rebelled 00:43:55.079 --> 00:43:57.219 against God God did not remove his image 00:43:57.219 --> 00:44:01.199 from us it got bent but not removed and 00:44:01.199 --> 00:44:02.939 that's why people can be wise about 00:44:02.939 --> 00:44:05.579 money and some people who are very far 00:44:05.579 --> 00:44:07.379 from God can be very wise about 00:44:07.379 --> 00:44:09.579 relationships it's why some people who 00:44:09.579 --> 00:44:11.659 are very very far from God they can be 00:44:11.659 --> 00:44:13.739 absolutely spectacularly good neighbors 00:44:13.739 --> 00:44:19.539 because it's not the case that we live 00:44:19.539 --> 00:44:22.019 our lives in complete and utter defiance 00:44:22.019 --> 00:44:23.859 against these things most people there's 00:44:23.859 --> 00:44:25.799 some it's part of common grace that 00:44:25.799 --> 00:44:28.039 there's some desire for skills and 00:44:28.039 --> 00:44:30.840 wisdom and living well and living justly 00:44:30.840 --> 00:44:35.659 and being square however it is also 00:44:35.659 --> 00:44:38.639 true that by nature our fallen nature 00:44:38.639 --> 00:44:42.719 some part of every human being despises 00:44:42.719 --> 00:44:45.980 the training skills and insight needed to 00:44:45.980 --> 00:44:48.179 live in good and fruitful life in the 00:44:48.179 --> 00:44:50.019 world that the Lord has made and sustains 00:44:50.019 --> 00:44:53.139 see the richness of the Christian faith 00:44:53.139 --> 00:44:56.139 the richness of this proverb and some of 00:44:56.139 --> 00:44:58.440 you might be bothered by this word despises 00:44:58.440 --> 00:45:01.379 Andrew could you put up verse 7 again 00:45:01.379 --> 00:45:05.940 let's read this together the fear of the 00:45:05.940 --> 00:45:08.019 Lord is the beginning of knowledge 00:45:08.019 --> 00:45:11.019 fools despise wisdom and instruction 00:45:11.019 --> 00:45:15.460 you know I sent my sermon notes to 00:45:15.460 --> 00:45:17.219 Bishop Charlie and I said one of the 00:45:17.219 --> 00:45:19.099 things is about my two sermon points is 00:45:19.099 --> 00:45:20.480 that if people don't like them they can 00:45:20.480 --> 00:45:24.460 take it up with God and and I had to put 00:45:24.460 --> 00:45:28.199 in my explanation this word despise I don't 00:45:28.199 --> 00:45:30.320 want to let us off the hook sounds 00:45:30.320 --> 00:45:34.220 extreme doesn't it but here's the thing 00:45:34.220 --> 00:45:38.260 imagine that I came home and gave my or my 00:45:38.260 --> 00:45:40.720 wife gives me a gift and that'd be more 00:45:40.720 --> 00:45:43.760 likely because I'm more forgetful and so 00:45:43.760 --> 00:45:46.740 my wife gives me a gift and you know it's 00:45:46.740 --> 00:45:50.240 a book book that I want and I said well 00:45:50.240 --> 00:45:52.059 thank you for the book and then she you 00:45:52.059 --> 00:45:53.259 know she leaves and she's doing other 00:45:53.259 --> 00:45:55.159 things and then she comes back and over 00:45:55.159 --> 00:45:56.920 the next few days or weeks she sees that 00:45:56.920 --> 00:46:01.360 the book is just left on the couch well 00:46:01.360 --> 00:46:04.059 might bother her a little bit she knows 00:46:04.059 --> 00:46:05.619 I'm forgetful might not bother her very 00:46:05.619 --> 00:46:09.699 much but now let's say that unbeknownst to 00:46:09.699 --> 00:46:11.360 the press it's kept a secret from the 00:46:11.360 --> 00:46:13.619 world but Louise discovers that she 00:46:13.619 --> 00:46:15.820 actually is the owner of the Mona Mona 00:46:15.820 --> 00:46:20.360 Lisa painting and and she decides to 00:46:20.360 --> 00:46:22.640 exercise her right of ownership over the 00:46:22.640 --> 00:46:25.940 Mona Lisa painting and she has it taken 00:46:25.940 --> 00:46:28.360 out of the museum and one day she says 00:46:28.360 --> 00:46:29.820 George I haven't wanted to tell you that 00:46:29.820 --> 00:46:31.240 this it hasn't been released in the press 00:46:31.240 --> 00:46:35.380 but I this is the Mona Lisa I own it and 00:46:35.380 --> 00:46:38.640 I'm giving it to you as a gift and I'd say 00:46:38.640 --> 00:46:44.200 wow and I put on the couch three weeks 00:46:44.199 --> 00:46:46.299 later it's still on the couch the 00:46:46.299 --> 00:46:50.059 grandkids have come to visit every time 00:46:50.059 --> 00:46:52.659 the grandkids come to visit you know 00:46:52.659 --> 00:46:55.019 they're spilling things and spewing 00:46:55.019 --> 00:46:56.899 crackers and all that you know just 00:46:56.899 --> 00:46:58.419 little kids right they're not being 00:46:58.419 --> 00:47:00.399 mean they're being three-year-olds and 00:47:00.399 --> 00:47:03.819 two-year-olds and toddlers and Louise 00:47:03.819 --> 00:47:07.019 would say George despises that gift you 00:47:07.019 --> 00:47:09.579 see what it is so what if you think 00:47:09.579 --> 00:47:12.399 about it for a second if God is actually 00:47:12.400 --> 00:47:14.500 if the true and living God is the 00:47:14.500 --> 00:47:16.059 creator of all things and sustains all 00:47:16.059 --> 00:47:18.820 things if he is actually speaking to us 00:47:18.820 --> 00:47:21.300 if he is actually in a sense providing 00:47:21.300 --> 00:47:23.539 the power of salvation for all who 00:47:23.539 --> 00:47:25.720 believe in the death of his son and we 00:47:25.720 --> 00:47:28.119 we just put it on the couch or we turn 00:47:28.119 --> 00:47:29.920 our back from it we think that's stupid 00:47:29.920 --> 00:47:32.300 or we think that's foolish then we're 00:47:32.300 --> 00:47:36.160 despising it it's the context of the 00:47:36.160 --> 00:47:38.220 greatness of the gift that reveals 00:47:38.219 --> 00:47:41.799 whether we are despising and that's why 00:47:41.799 --> 00:47:44.599 this is such a powerful verse to us 00:47:44.599 --> 00:47:48.759 so some of you might say okay George 00:47:48.759 --> 00:47:51.500 you know you said earlier that left to 00:47:51.500 --> 00:47:53.679 your own devices it's very very hard to 00:47:53.679 --> 00:47:55.019 follow advice so it's just book of 00:47:55.019 --> 00:47:56.319 Proverbs just going to give me a whole 00:47:56.319 --> 00:47:58.179 pile of like George is it going to be 00:47:58.179 --> 00:47:59.779 like okay George you said that you know 00:47:59.779 --> 00:48:01.579 maybe most of us in the congregation if 00:48:01.579 --> 00:48:03.579 we waited if we tried really hard for a 00:48:03.579 --> 00:48:04.859 whole year at the end of the year we 00:48:04.860 --> 00:48:07.660 could do 10k in 60 minutes George there 00:48:07.660 --> 00:48:10.500 is no way that I'm ever going to do 00:48:10.500 --> 00:48:12.860 10k in 60 minutes maybe when I was 20 00:48:12.860 --> 00:48:15.420 years younger 30 years younger maybe if 00:48:15.420 --> 00:48:17.200 the television and the couch weren't as 00:48:17.200 --> 00:48:19.280 popular in my life or whatever it is 00:48:19.280 --> 00:48:21.360 or my health problem or my age or 00:48:21.360 --> 00:48:23.940 whatever it is never gonna George I'm 00:48:23.940 --> 00:48:25.620 just the Proverbs just going to give me 00:48:25.620 --> 00:48:27.140 a whole pile of other things that I can 00:48:27.140 --> 00:48:29.140 feel guilty about and that I just can't 00:48:29.140 --> 00:48:33.860 do and I just can't accomplish like is 00:48:33.860 --> 00:48:35.519 that all the book of Proverbs is going 00:48:35.519 --> 00:48:38.440 to be it's just you know it might be 00:48:38.440 --> 00:48:41.180 wise and it might it might really be 00:48:41.180 --> 00:48:42.579 good and I'm going to really try to 00:48:42.579 --> 00:48:43.579 read it and I'm going to really try to 00:48:43.579 --> 00:48:44.740 memorize it I'm really going to try to 00:48:44.740 --> 00:48:47.320 live it but is it just is it just 00:48:47.320 --> 00:48:51.460 advice put up put up verse 2 again 00:48:51.460 --> 00:48:55.019 let's say together again to know wisdom 00:48:55.019 --> 00:48:57.059 and instruction that's my first point 00:48:57.059 --> 00:48:58.420 what the book's all about purpose of 00:48:58.420 --> 00:49:00.160 the book second thing let's read it 00:49:00.160 --> 00:49:02.760 together the fear of the Lord is the 00:49:02.760 --> 00:49:05.680 beginning of knowledge fools despise 00:49:05.680 --> 00:49:08.840 wisdom and instruction a couple months 00:49:08.840 --> 00:49:11.380 ago in my devotions it was as if God 00:49:11.380 --> 00:49:13.400 really had a passage from Isaiah jump 00:49:13.400 --> 00:49:14.880 out at me if you want to turn to it 00:49:14.880 --> 00:49:16.160 those of you have Bibles if you don't 00:49:16.160 --> 00:49:17.480 have Bibles you can listen to me while 00:49:17.480 --> 00:49:20.220 I read it it's it's Isaiah chapter 11 00:49:20.220 --> 00:49:24.420 and in fact actually it's been a part of 00:49:24.420 --> 00:49:26.820 my prayer life actually ever since I 00:49:26.820 --> 00:49:28.260 sort of stumbled upon it at the beginning 00:49:28.260 --> 00:49:29.860 of April and not just stumbled upon it 00:49:29.860 --> 00:49:30.960 because I'd read it before but it really 00:49:30.960 --> 00:49:34.300 spoke to me in some way and and so it's 00:49:34.300 --> 00:49:37.220 part of my every day I actually try to 00:49:37.220 --> 00:49:39.500 prayerfully meditate upon part of this 00:49:39.500 --> 00:49:43.539 verse because it really struck me and and 00:49:43.539 --> 00:49:45.700 it's it's a passage in Isaiah that talks 00:49:45.700 --> 00:49:48.200 about the Messiah who's going to come 00:49:48.200 --> 00:49:50.820 this is how it goes there shall come 00:49:50.820 --> 00:49:53.180 forth verse 1 there shall come forth a 00:49:53.180 --> 00:49:55.640 shoot from the stump of Jesse and a 00:49:55.640 --> 00:49:59.059 branch from his roots shall bear fruit and 00:49:59.059 --> 00:50:00.920 the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon 00:50:00.920 --> 00:50:02.259 him the spirit of wisdom and 00:50:02.259 --> 00:50:04.119 understanding the spirit of counsel and 00:50:04.119 --> 00:50:06.340 might the spirit of knowledge and the 00:50:06.340 --> 00:50:09.639 fear of the Lord and his delight shall be 00:50:09.639 --> 00:50:13.340 in the fear of the Lord and that just 00:50:13.340 --> 00:50:17.900 jumped out me Jesus's delight was in the 00:50:17.900 --> 00:50:22.619 fear of the Lord and his delight could be 00:50:22.619 --> 00:50:24.920 in the fear of the Lord my delight could be 00:50:24.920 --> 00:50:27.019 in the fear of the Lord and so I have been 00:50:27.019 --> 00:50:32.880 praying every day Lord take my heart so my 00:50:32.880 --> 00:50:37.980 soul desire is to delight in the fear of 00:50:37.980 --> 00:50:43.659 the Lord Lord take my heart so my soul desire is 00:50:43.659 --> 00:50:48.240 to delight in the fear of the Lord and if you 00:50:48.240 --> 00:50:52.599 could put up the fifth point it is because by 00:50:52.599 --> 00:50:55.599 nature I cannot fully know the fear of the 00:50:55.599 --> 00:50:59.719 Lord that I need a Savior I'm divided I'm at 00:50:59.719 --> 00:51:02.539 war within myself I need a Savior I don't 00:51:02.539 --> 00:51:06.599 keep instructions very well not well enough it 00:51:07.199 --> 00:51:09.719 is because Jesus Christ delighted in the fear 00:51:09.719 --> 00:51:13.199 of the Lord that he died for me and by grace he 00:51:13.199 --> 00:51:16.559 will walk with me into a skilled trained 00:51:16.559 --> 00:51:20.519 insightful fear of the Lord you see it's not 00:51:20.519 --> 00:51:23.980 only that Jesus paid the penalty of the fact 00:51:23.980 --> 00:51:26.099 that I am divided and that I don't fear the 00:51:26.099 --> 00:51:28.360 Lord and that there's many ways that I really 00:51:28.360 --> 00:51:31.619 mess up it's it that it's that's important 00:51:31.619 --> 00:51:35.119 deeply deeply important that because of that 00:51:35.119 --> 00:51:37.559 Jesus dies on the cross to pay for the price of 00:51:37.559 --> 00:51:40.599 my sins the price of my incompleteness but I'm 00:51:40.599 --> 00:51:43.320 also clothed with his righteousness in a sense 00:51:43.320 --> 00:51:47.960 I am clothed with his perfect delighting in the 00:51:47.960 --> 00:51:51.059 fear of the Lord I don't have to accomplish this 00:51:51.059 --> 00:51:53.320 completely and utterly by myself to measure up 00:51:53.320 --> 00:51:56.539 before he will receive me I am clothed in the 00:51:56.539 --> 00:51:59.300 Lord's delighting in the fear of the Lord that's 00:51:59.300 --> 00:52:02.720 what clothes me when I come on to a to a faith in 00:52:02.720 --> 00:52:06.260 Jesus and it means that I can pour out my heart to 00:52:06.260 --> 00:52:09.640 Jesus and say Jesus help me to what you delighted in 00:52:09.639 --> 00:52:12.900 the fear of the Lord and and you you died for me and 00:52:12.900 --> 00:52:15.639 you love me and you care for me so Jesus please walk 00:52:16.299 --> 00:52:19.920 with me help me pour out your Holy Spirit upon me help 00:52:19.920 --> 00:52:23.319 me to delight in the fear of the Lord just as you have 00:52:23.319 --> 00:52:29.000 delighted in the fear of the Lord that's that's the 00:52:29.000 --> 00:52:33.059 promise of the scripture it's a promise of the 00:52:33.059 --> 00:52:35.400 scripture it's why the book of Proverbs when we read 00:52:35.400 --> 00:52:39.820 it we we don't have to just read it thinking that it's 00:52:39.820 --> 00:52:42.619 going to be completely and utterly up to us to accomplish 00:52:42.619 --> 00:52:46.360 it but as we read this we can say oh Lord that's not the 00:52:46.360 --> 00:52:48.579 way I deal with my kids or Lord that's not the way I deal 00:52:48.579 --> 00:52:50.760 with my boss or Lord that's not the way I deal with my 00:52:50.760 --> 00:52:54.119 employees or Lord that's not the way I deal with my tongue and 00:52:54.119 --> 00:52:57.860 and and on one hand because of the fear of the Lord we can our 00:52:57.860 --> 00:53:01.440 conscience can be stricken that we need to repent but at the 00:53:01.440 --> 00:53:04.900 same time we can thank Jesus that he's paid for the price of 00:53:04.900 --> 00:53:08.000 that we can we can thank him that we're clothed with his 00:53:08.000 --> 00:53:11.019 delighting in the fear of the Lord and we can pour out our 00:53:11.019 --> 00:53:15.039 heart to Jesus that this proverb would become real in us that 00:53:15.039 --> 00:53:19.539 it would be part of our training in the fear of the Lord it's 00:53:19.539 --> 00:53:22.240 the promise of the gospel it's the promises we read the book 00:53:22.240 --> 00:53:27.280 of Proverbs Andrew could let's put up to verse 2 again we'll 00:53:27.280 --> 00:53:30.960 say it one more time 2a first point what's the book all 00:53:30.960 --> 00:53:35.500 about friends to know wisdom and instruction and what's going to help 00:53:35.500 --> 00:53:39.699 us read every proverb all the way through the fear of the Lord is the 00:53:39.699 --> 00:53:44.920 beginning of knowledge fools despise wisdom and instruction just as we're 00:53:44.920 --> 00:53:51.139 leaving three things we can pray the first thing is I was really convicted 00:53:51.139 --> 00:53:55.059 by this I have to pray Lord help me to know the ways that I am a fool 00:53:55.059 --> 00:54:03.199 not be cynical not filled with despair in the comfort of who Jesus is and what 00:54:03.199 --> 00:54:07.940 he's done for me I can pray Lord help me to know the ways that I am a fool 00:54:07.940 --> 00:54:14.320 and second thing if you could put it up Andrew I can pray this Lord I am divided 00:54:14.320 --> 00:54:19.860 and at war within myself please be my Savior and my Lord so that I will be free 00:54:19.860 --> 00:54:26.360 and whole in you it's it can be profoundly freeing to not have to put up a front but 00:54:26.360 --> 00:54:31.440 we can say to God Lord I am so divided some days I want to be I'm wishing like I'm 00:54:31.440 --> 00:54:36.519 imagining that I'm LeBron James and then I'm imagining that I'm like Mother Teresa and 00:54:36.519 --> 00:54:40.840 then I'm imagining like I'm Billy Graham and then I'm imagining like I'm John Calvin 00:54:40.840 --> 00:54:45.120 and then I'm imagining like Bill Gates and then I'm imagining you know maybe I'm the 00:54:45.119 --> 00:54:50.219 only one who goes through completely and utterly unbelievably stupid combinations and 00:54:50.219 --> 00:54:54.500 I'm divided within myself and now I've just confessed it before all of you but I suspect 00:54:54.500 --> 00:55:00.579 it's a more common more common problem than we all are willing to acknowledge because of 00:55:00.579 --> 00:55:05.279 Jesus because of the fear of the Lord because of the book of Proverbs I encourage you to consider 00:55:05.279 --> 00:55:09.159 praying a prayer like that's also the prayer that you pray to enter into the Christian faith 00:55:09.159 --> 00:55:13.619 and to walk the Christian faith and finally if you could put up the final one I encourage you 00:55:13.619 --> 00:55:21.339 to consider praying a prayer like this Lord please fill me with your Holy Spirit and grant me to walk 00:55:21.339 --> 00:55:29.559 with Jesus and grow in the fear of the Lord that I'm going to ask you to stand right now and if the Holy 00:55:29.559 --> 00:55:41.480 Spirit has convicted you would you join with me in praying that prayer right now let's pray Lord please 00:55:41.480 --> 00:55:48.679 fill me with your Holy Spirit and grant me to walk with Jesus and grow in the fear of the Lord 00:55:48.679 --> 00:55:54.940 Father pour out your Holy Spirit upon us pour out your Holy Spirit upon us help us to read the book of 00:55:54.940 --> 00:56:02.539 Proverbs help us Father to accept that you desire that we will know wisdom and instruction 00:56:02.539 --> 00:56:10.960 Father pour out your Holy Spirit upon us we thank you that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of 00:56:10.960 --> 00:56:17.119 knowledge and we ask that you grant us a deep fear of the Lord and Father you know how much each one of 00:56:17.119 --> 00:56:24.840 us are fools and we despise wisdom and instruction we ask Father that you bring that to us make us aware 00:56:24.840 --> 00:56:31.500 of the ways that we are fools that I am a fool and Father as you convict me of my foolishness at the 00:56:31.500 --> 00:56:39.440 same time turn my eyes to Jesus who died for me who clothes me with his delight in the fear of the Lord 00:56:39.440 --> 00:56:48.660 that I might repent to you and love you and adore you and walk with Jesus all this we ask in the name of 00:56:48.659 --> 00:56:51.440 Jesus your Son and our Savior amen