WEBVTT

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 We are starting a new series, and we're in Proverbs, the book of Proverbs today.

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 If you don't have a Bible, please raise your hand. We'll have someone from our church bring a Bible to you to help.

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 Sungmin is back from his very long vacation in California, and he is ready to bring you the Bibles that you need.

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 And if you are using one of our Blue Pew Bibles, if you don't have one, you can borrow that from us while you're here.

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 Proverbs is in page 527.

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 It's in the Old Testament after the long book of Psalms.

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 Let me pray for the reading and preaching of God's Word.

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 Heavenly Father, we come to your Word.

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 Lord, wanting once again to hear your voice, to be addressed by our King, by our Heavenly Father.

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 We come in particular this morning to the book of Proverbs, the book of wisdom.

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 Lord, we recognize that we cannot have wisdom unless we first humble ourselves before you.

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 And that is our prayer this morning, because only you can do that work.

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 That you would instill in us a profound fear of the Lord.

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 Lord, that you would make us a people that tremble before you, that stand in awe of you, that live under your authority, your power.

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 Lord, that's your prayer.

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 People who know Christ.

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 People who have humbled ourselves, humbled themselves, and have entrusted themselves fully to Christ and His salvation.

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 Lord, make us such people this morning.

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 In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.

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 Proverbs chapter 1.

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 We will just do verses 1 through 7 today.

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 The Proverbs of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel.

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 To know wisdom and instruction.

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 To understand words of insight.

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 To receive instruction in wise dealing.

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 In righteousness, justice, and equity.

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 To give prudence to the simple.

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 Knowledge and discretion to the youth.

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 Let the wise hear and increase in learning.

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 And the one who understands obtain guidance.

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 To understand a proverb and a saying.

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 The words of the wise and their riddles.

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 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge.

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 Fools despise wisdom and instruction.

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 This is God's holy and authoritative word.

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 The Bible is immensely practical for all of life.

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 But because it is primarily concerned.

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 As 2 Timothy chapter 3 verse 15 says.

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 With making us wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.

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 It doesn't always get into the mundane details of everyday life.

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 The book of Proverbs, however, does get into not only the wisdom for salvation.

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 But also wisdom for finance.

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 Wisdom for dealing with your neighbors.

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 Teaches about friendship.

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 Wisdom for parenting, etc.

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 As Derek Kipner, a Bible commentator, puts it.

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 There are details of character small enough to escape the mesh of the law and the broad sides of the prophets.

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 And yet decisive.

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 In personal dealings.

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 Proverbs moves in this realm.

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 Asking what a person is like to live with or to employ.

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 How he manages his affairs.

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 His time.

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 And himself.

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 So considering where many of us are as a church in our stages of life.

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 We thought this would be a very helpful book to go through.

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 A bit of a change in scenery from where we've been.

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 And in order to interpret any passage of scripture or any book.

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 Correctly, properly.

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 We need to pay attention to three different contexts.

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 First is the historical context.

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 The second is the literary context.

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 And the third is the theological context.

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 And this is because all scripture is embedded in a particular historical period and culture.

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 And so our interpretation needs to take into account the relevant historical context.

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 And so to that end, we need to ask ourselves the questions like, you know, who wrote it?

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 For whom was it written?

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 When was it written?

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 Why was it written?

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 And also because scripture is literature, our interpretation has to take into account its literary context.

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 The words.

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 The syntax.

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 The structure.

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 The grammar of the text.

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 As well as its genre.

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 Is it a poetry?

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 Is it a proverb?

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 Is it a narrative?

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 Is it a letter?

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 Or, and since all scripture is divinely inspired, finally we need to consider its theological context.

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 How does a passage or a book fit in with the rest of scripture?

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 What does it teach us about God?

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 How does it relate to Christ?

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 And verses 1 to 7 is a preamble of the book of Proverbs.

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 And so it helpfully answers many of these questions for us.

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 And the overall message of this passage is that we can learn the saving wisdom of God only by humbling ourselves before him.

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 And so first we'll look at the historical context and then the literary context and the theological context of this book going through verses 1 through 7.

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 So let's look at the historical context to start.

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 Right off the bat it tells us who wrote the book.

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 Verse 1 it says,

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 The Proverbs of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel.

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 So the whole collection of Proverbs is attributed to Solomon as the lead author.

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 But this doesn't mean that he was the sole author.

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 The book of Proverbs is an anthology.

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 It's made up of a number of texts written by various authors from various time periods.

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 And different sections of Proverbs are marked with captions that attribute that section to a particular author.

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 And I have a list of that to show you.

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 For example, Solomon is the direct attribution.

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 Chapter 1, verse 1.

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 Chapter 10, verse 1.

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 Chapter 25, verse 1.

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 And then it refers to the wise.

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 Kind of generally a category of the wise people as responsible for the sections between 22.17 and 24.34.

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 And then Augur, chapter 30.

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 And King Lemuel in chapter 31.

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 So these are all different authors of the book of Proverbs.

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 But because Solomon is the principal author, the whole collection is attributed to him.

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 It's kind of like when you write an academic paper, there's a lead author.

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 His name is first.

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 And he's the one that gets cited or mentioned and named most frequently.

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 And this is not surprising because other parts of Scripture corroborate Solomon's great wisdom.

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 So we see in 1 Kings 3, verses 5-14, that at the beginning of his reign,

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 Solomon asked God specifically to grant him an understanding to discern what is right.

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 And it says that God granted him that.

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 And so throughout the Old Testament narrative, Solomon is frequently mentioned as kind of this paragon of wisdom.

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 And we see that specifically in chapter 4, verse 29-34 of 1 Kings.

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 It says,

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 And God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding beyond measure,

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 and breath of mind like the sand on the seashore,

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 so that Solomon's wisdom surpassed the wisdom of all the people of the East and all the wisdom of Egypt.

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 For he was wiser than all other men,

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 wiser than Ethan the Ezraite,

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 and Heman,

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 Calco,

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 and Darda,

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 the sons of Maho.

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 And his fame was in all the surrounding nations.

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 He also spoke 3,000 proverbs,

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 and his songs were 1,005.

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 And people of all nations came to hear the wisdom of Solomon,

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 and from all the kings of the earth who had heard of his wisdom.

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 So since Solomon wrote the bulk of the proverbs,

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 this also tells us the date,

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 which means it dates to around the 10th century B.C.

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 But we know that there was some redactional activity.

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 There's some editing going on later in stages of proverbs.

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 Because chapter 25, verse 1 explicitly tells us,

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 These also are proverbs of Solomon,

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 which the men of Hezekiah, king of Judah, copied.

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 So the word copied literally means to move forward,

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 or to pass on,

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 or to transmit.

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 It refers to the copying and editing work of scribes

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 in order to transmit an older document,

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 and to make it available for future generations.

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 So that means the book of proverbs was redacted

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 in the early 7th century.

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 And if you compare proverbs to other ancient Near Eastern wisdom literature,

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 you find that they have a lot in common.

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 For example, especially the sayings

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 that are attributed generically to the wise,

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 you guys saw that earlier,

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 in chapter 22 to chapter 24.

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 That section in particular contains striking similarities,

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 for example, with the Egyptian instruction of a menemope.

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 And that's sometimes people who don't believe in scripture

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 as the word of God will point to that and say,

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 Well, you see, Solomon didn't write this.

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 You know, he just copied it from his source or whatnot.

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 But that's actually not at all surprising,

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 because most wisdom, most proverbs that you know,

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 how many of you can identify the author of a proverb that you know?

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 I don't think I can identify a single one.

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 That's the nature of wisdom,

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 which is passed down from generation after generation,

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 and it's known in many different cultures.

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 And it's also not surprising,

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 because 1 Kings 4, chapter 4, verse 30,

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 which we read earlier,

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 specifically tells us that Solomon interacted with

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 and surpassed the wisdom of all the people of the East

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 and the wisdom of Egypt.

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 He knew the proverbs of Egypt,

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 and he attributes a section of proverbs to the wise,

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 generically speaking.

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 And Solomon was also married to an Egyptian princess,

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 as we know from 1 Kings 3, verse 1.

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 So it's not at all surprising to see that kind of parallel.

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 But proverbs does not uncritically assimilate the wisdom

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 of its surrounding culture.

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 It transforms it,

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 because it takes the wisdom gleaned from these cultures

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 and expresses them in its unique theological context,

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 as we will later see.

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 And we see one notable difference between the book of proverbs

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 and other contemporary ancient Near Eastern wisdom literature right away,

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 in verse 1.

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 Usually, in ancient Near Eastern wisdom literature,

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 not only the author,

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 but also the addressee is specifically named.

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 And the addressee is typically the first son of the author,

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 or an apprentice of the author,

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 who will succeed that sage in his capacity working in the royal courts.

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 So it's a form of professional,

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 it's a manual,

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 it's a professional manual to instruct them

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 so that they can take over for the person that's writing.

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 For example,

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 I mentioned the instruction of Amenemope.

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 It's written by Amenemope,

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 who identifies himself as a scribe in Egypt

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 that oversaw the registry of lands and grains,

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 a role that seems very similar to the one that Joseph occupied

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 in Genesis 41 and 47.

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 And the addressee of that instruction is his son,

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 the youngest of his children,

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 who is expected to succeed him in the Egyptian court.

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 The book of Proverbs, in contrast,

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 lacks a specific addressee in the introduction.

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 Solomon does not address his heir apparent, Rehoboam.

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 And by omitting a specific addressee,

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 Solomon democratizes his work to all of God's people.

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 So it says in verse 4,

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 the Proverbs was written to give prudence to the simple,

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 knowledge and discretion to the youth.

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 And not only that,

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 it says in verse 5,

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 that those who are already wise,

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 too, may hear and increase in learning.

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 So the mention of the simple on the one hand

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 and the wise on the other hand,

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 they're groups of the opposite ends of the spectrum.

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 This shows that Proverbs is addressed to all people,

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 applicable to all people,

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 not only to a professional intellectual class.

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 Now at various points,

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 it does specifically address my son or sons,

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 but that's not because there is a specific son in view.

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 Rather, it's a literary device that sets the book of Proverbs

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 in the context of family instruction.

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 That's why chapter 1, verse 8 says,

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 Hear, my son, your father's instruction,

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 and forsake not your mother's teaching.

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 And this is,

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 it uses the male perspective frequently,

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 just as languages in many cultures do,

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 when it applies to both.

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 So for example,

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 in Proverbs,

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 in chapters 5 to 7,

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 you'll find warnings about the adulterous woman.

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 But because it is given from that male perspective,

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 there are no parallel warnings about predatory,

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 adulterous men,

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 which you should be just as wary of.

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 But this doesn't mean that Proverbs is only applicable to men.

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 It has an entire section dedicated to praising a woman who fears the Lord,

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 in chapter 31.

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 And this woman also appears to be schooled in wisdom,

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 since chapter 31, verse 26,

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 says,

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 She opens her mouth with wisdom,

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 and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.

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 And in several places in Proverbs,

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 it mentions not only the father,

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 but also the mother as the instructor of wisdom in their household to their children.

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 And so this is,

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 in fact,

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 the caption in chapter 31,

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 verse 1,

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 says,

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 The words of King Lemuel,

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 an oracle that his mother taught him.

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 And so the fact that mothers are able to instruct their children in this wisdom,

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 shows that daughters as well as sons were schooled in this instruction of wisdom,

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 so that they're able to transmit it to their children later.

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 So that's the kind of historical context.

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 And now let's look at greater detail in verses 2 to 6 for the literary context of Proverbs.

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 Verse 2 tells us the purpose of Proverbs.

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 It says,

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 To know wisdom and instruction,

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 to understand words of insight.

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 So this is what the book is all about.

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 It's about acquiring wisdom.

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 And this reveals the genre of Proverbs.

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 It belongs to the wisdom genre in the Bible,

00:15:43.279 --> 00:15:46.879
 which also includes the book of Job and the book of Ecclesiastes.

00:15:47.559 --> 00:15:51.879
 And these three books kind of have to be understood in relationship to one another.

00:15:53.139 --> 00:15:55.700
 These are very general observations.

00:15:55.960 --> 00:15:57.460
 But to make very general observations,

00:15:57.759 --> 00:16:01.580
 Proverbs captures the idealism of a parent,

00:16:02.299 --> 00:16:03.559
 of a well-wishing parent.

00:16:04.279 --> 00:16:05.419
 Its basic message is,

00:16:05.480 --> 00:16:09.139
 Child, it will go well for you if you live wisely in this way.

00:16:09.139 --> 00:16:10.399
 That's the book of Proverbs.

00:16:11.399 --> 00:16:12.480
 Ecclesiastes, however,

00:16:12.600 --> 00:16:15.980
 captures kind of the realism of a weathered veteran.

00:16:17.299 --> 00:16:17.879
 It says,

00:16:18.240 --> 00:16:21.080
 No matter how wisely you live,

00:16:21.399 --> 00:16:23.840
 this life is going to throw curveballs at you,

00:16:23.960 --> 00:16:25.399
 and bad things are going to happen.

00:16:26.120 --> 00:16:27.379
 That's Ecclesiastes.

00:16:27.379 --> 00:16:31.200
 And then Job captures kind of the fideism,

00:16:31.500 --> 00:16:32.879
 the doctrine of faith.

00:16:33.019 --> 00:16:35.860
 It has to filter everything that you experience in life.

00:16:36.480 --> 00:16:38.399
 It's the fideism of a suffering saint.

00:16:38.539 --> 00:16:38.840
 It says,

00:16:39.059 --> 00:16:41.120
 We can't explain all that happens in life,

00:16:41.580 --> 00:16:44.439
 but we have to trust that it all makes sense

00:16:44.439 --> 00:16:46.460
 in the sovereign wisdom of God.

00:16:46.460 --> 00:16:48.440
 And these three books,

00:16:48.580 --> 00:16:50.720
 they kind of work off of each other

00:16:50.720 --> 00:16:51.740
 and nuance each other,

00:16:51.800 --> 00:16:53.060
 expand upon each other

00:16:53.060 --> 00:16:56.740
 to create a very rich matrix of biblical wisdom.

00:16:57.160 --> 00:16:58.840
 You kind of have to see them together,

00:16:58.960 --> 00:16:59.680
 understand them together.

00:17:00.700 --> 00:17:02.580
 Ecclesiastes is prose,

00:17:03.200 --> 00:17:05.600
 and Job is a mix of poetry and prose,

00:17:06.000 --> 00:17:07.600
 but Proverbs is poetry.

00:17:08.620 --> 00:17:10.420
 And because poetry is written

00:17:10.420 --> 00:17:12.660
 not merely to communicate an idea clearly,

00:17:13.019 --> 00:17:14.700
 but also to produce pleasure

00:17:14.700 --> 00:17:17.220
 with something beautiful and imaginative,

00:17:17.740 --> 00:17:19.980
 with these striking turns of phrases,

00:17:20.220 --> 00:17:22.440
 it requires that we really meditate,

00:17:22.799 --> 00:17:24.100
 ruminate on the words,

00:17:24.440 --> 00:17:25.920
 and engage our creativity.

00:17:27.240 --> 00:17:28.500
 And so we need to pay attention

00:17:28.500 --> 00:17:29.500
 when we're reading Proverbs

00:17:29.500 --> 00:17:32.319
 to figurative language and imagery.

00:17:32.900 --> 00:17:35.000
 For example, when Proverbs 10, verse 26,

00:17:35.000 --> 00:17:35.340
 says,

00:17:35.660 --> 00:17:38.539
 Like vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes,

00:17:38.660 --> 00:17:41.180
 so is the slugger to those who send him.

00:17:41.920 --> 00:17:43.539
 So we're being invited

00:17:43.539 --> 00:17:45.700
 to really meditate on that image.

00:17:46.259 --> 00:17:48.720
 What does vinegar do to people's teeth?

00:17:49.119 --> 00:17:51.039
 What does smoke do to the eyes?

00:17:51.599 --> 00:17:53.500
 And as you're meditating on it,

00:17:53.519 --> 00:17:53.980
 thinking about it,

00:17:53.980 --> 00:17:55.759
 it gets you deeper into the meaning

00:17:55.759 --> 00:17:56.940
 of that proverb.

00:17:57.119 --> 00:17:58.720
 So because of this poetic nature,

00:17:59.359 --> 00:18:01.480
 you really can't give Proverbs

00:18:01.480 --> 00:18:02.619
 a cursory reading,

00:18:02.720 --> 00:18:04.359
 just really quick kind of skimming,

00:18:04.720 --> 00:18:06.519
 and think that you can get much out of it.

00:18:06.579 --> 00:18:07.740
 It doesn't work like that.

00:18:08.039 --> 00:18:09.159
 You have to meditate on it.

00:18:09.159 --> 00:18:10.599
 You really have to memorize it.

00:18:10.599 --> 00:18:14.199
 And so there's a pastor, Tim Keller,

00:18:14.319 --> 00:18:16.500
 who wrote a book on the book of Proverbs.

00:18:17.039 --> 00:18:18.179
 It says this.

00:18:18.240 --> 00:18:19.339
 It's a really helpful illustration.

00:18:19.559 --> 00:18:19.659
 He says,

00:18:19.719 --> 00:18:22.339
 A proverb is like a hard candy.

00:18:23.539 --> 00:18:25.439
 If you just bite down on it,

00:18:25.839 --> 00:18:27.139
 you get little out of it

00:18:27.139 --> 00:18:28.679
 and may even get a broken tooth.

00:18:29.539 --> 00:18:31.240
 Instead, you must meditate on it

00:18:31.240 --> 00:18:33.719
 until the sweetness of insight comes.

00:18:33.720 --> 00:18:36.799
 And because it's poultry,

00:18:37.140 --> 00:18:38.620
 we also need to pay attention

00:18:38.620 --> 00:18:40.420
 to parallel structure.

00:18:41.160 --> 00:18:42.799
 How are the lines and strophes,

00:18:42.920 --> 00:18:45.180
 how do they modify and magnify each other?

00:18:45.819 --> 00:18:47.019
 To give you an example,

00:18:47.180 --> 00:18:48.319
 let's look at our passage.

00:18:48.980 --> 00:18:50.759
 Proverbs often use bi-kola,

00:18:50.900 --> 00:18:52.960
 which is a line in one verse

00:18:52.960 --> 00:18:54.900
 with two kola or half verses.

00:18:55.500 --> 00:18:57.059
 And here in our passage in verse 2,

00:18:57.200 --> 00:18:58.200
 it's unique.

00:18:58.299 --> 00:18:59.600
 Verse 2 is unique in this passage

00:18:59.599 --> 00:19:02.719
 because it has two infinitive clauses

00:19:02.719 --> 00:19:03.779
 in each column.

00:19:04.419 --> 00:19:04.719
 It says,

00:19:04.819 --> 00:19:06.619
 To know wisdom and instruction.

00:19:06.799 --> 00:19:07.679
 That's the first half.

00:19:08.039 --> 00:19:08.399
 And then,

00:19:08.459 --> 00:19:10.359
 To understand words of insight.

00:19:10.480 --> 00:19:11.599
 That's the second half.

00:19:12.319 --> 00:19:14.039
 And these parallel half verses

00:19:14.039 --> 00:19:16.839
 shed light on the dual purpose of Proverbs.

00:19:17.859 --> 00:19:20.019
 Its first purpose is to know wisdom

00:19:20.019 --> 00:19:20.980
 and instruction.

00:19:21.459 --> 00:19:24.099
 That implies an internalization

00:19:24.099 --> 00:19:27.519
 of an experience of the substance of wisdom.

00:19:27.519 --> 00:19:29.660
 It's not merely head knowledge,

00:19:29.779 --> 00:19:30.839
 but heart knowledge.

00:19:31.420 --> 00:19:33.279
 It's confirmed by the word instruction,

00:19:33.500 --> 00:19:35.579
 which refers to kind of a humble submission

00:19:35.579 --> 00:19:37.799
 to the authority of one's teacher.

00:19:40.420 --> 00:19:42.240
 Job 5.17, for example,

00:19:42.420 --> 00:19:44.240
 translates that same word instruction

00:19:44.240 --> 00:19:45.460
 as discipline.

00:19:46.259 --> 00:19:48.019
 Behold, blessed is the one

00:19:48.019 --> 00:19:49.180
 whom God reproves,

00:19:49.259 --> 00:19:50.519
 therefore despise not

00:19:50.519 --> 00:19:52.759
 the discipline of the Almighty.

00:19:53.559 --> 00:19:55.700
 So to know wisdom and instruction

00:19:55.700 --> 00:19:58.120
 is to internalize and obey

00:19:58.120 --> 00:19:59.080
 the substance,

00:19:59.240 --> 00:20:00.360
 the lessons of wisdom

00:20:00.360 --> 00:20:01.880
 by submitting to discipline

00:20:01.880 --> 00:20:02.580
 and correction.

00:20:03.259 --> 00:20:05.059
 That's the one purpose of Proverbs.

00:20:05.600 --> 00:20:06.819
 The second half,

00:20:06.980 --> 00:20:07.940
 so the first half refers

00:20:07.940 --> 00:20:09.279
 to the substance of wisdom.

00:20:09.559 --> 00:20:10.740
 Second half of verse 2

00:20:10.740 --> 00:20:12.420
 refers to the form of wisdom,

00:20:12.960 --> 00:20:14.340
 the expression of wisdom.

00:20:14.799 --> 00:20:17.460
 To understand words of insight.

00:20:18.299 --> 00:20:18.660
 It means,

00:20:18.840 --> 00:20:20.360
 to understand means to perceive

00:20:20.360 --> 00:20:22.740
 or to discern or grasp something.

00:20:22.740 --> 00:20:25.500
 And the word refers to a saying,

00:20:25.759 --> 00:20:26.539
 a proverb,

00:20:27.079 --> 00:20:28.140
 words of insight.

00:20:29.000 --> 00:20:30.660
 And this is a common distinction

00:20:30.660 --> 00:20:32.599
 that a lot of ancient Near Eastern literature

00:20:32.599 --> 00:20:34.519
 make between knowledge

00:20:34.519 --> 00:20:36.000
 and its expression.

00:20:36.799 --> 00:20:38.059
 The substance of wisdom

00:20:38.059 --> 00:20:39.380
 and how it's articulated.

00:20:39.900 --> 00:20:41.220
 You need to both understand

00:20:41.220 --> 00:20:43.259
 what the words are saying

00:20:43.259 --> 00:20:44.940
 and then really grasp

00:20:44.940 --> 00:20:46.299
 and internalize its content,

00:20:46.420 --> 00:20:47.660
 its substance into your life.

00:20:48.099 --> 00:20:49.579
 So then Proverbs is intended

00:20:49.579 --> 00:20:51.539
 both to help us grow wiser

00:20:51.539 --> 00:20:53.159
 and also for us,

00:20:53.379 --> 00:20:55.039
 to help us grasp the wisdom.

00:20:55.659 --> 00:20:57.859
 To become characterized by wisdom

00:20:57.859 --> 00:20:59.339
 and also to understand

00:20:59.339 --> 00:21:01.379
 the way wisdom is articulated.

00:21:02.379 --> 00:21:04.000
 And verses 3 to 6 then

00:21:04.000 --> 00:21:05.559
 unpack verse 2.

00:21:06.639 --> 00:21:08.059
 Verses 3 to 4 expand

00:21:08.059 --> 00:21:09.079
 on what it means

00:21:09.079 --> 00:21:10.839
 to know wisdom and instruction.

00:21:11.359 --> 00:21:13.240
 And then verses 5 to 6 expand

00:21:13.240 --> 00:21:13.859
 on what it means

00:21:13.859 --> 00:21:15.799
 to understand the words of insight.

00:21:15.799 --> 00:21:18.879
 And we know that there's an association

00:21:18.879 --> 00:21:20.039
 between these subsections

00:21:20.039 --> 00:21:22.200
 and the head verse in verse 2

00:21:22.200 --> 00:21:24.859
 because they're connected by catchwords,

00:21:25.099 --> 00:21:27.899
 which is also a literary device

00:21:27.899 --> 00:21:29.819
 that biblical writers often use,

00:21:30.019 --> 00:21:31.059
 using keywords,

00:21:31.180 --> 00:21:32.019
 repeating keywords

00:21:32.019 --> 00:21:33.419
 or synonyms of words

00:21:33.419 --> 00:21:35.579
 to tie literary units together.

00:21:36.220 --> 00:21:37.180
 So I have a...

00:21:37.180 --> 00:21:37.960
 I can show you this.

00:21:38.039 --> 00:21:39.740
 Yeah, so the words know

00:21:39.740 --> 00:21:40.659
 and instruction

00:21:40.659 --> 00:21:43.039
 from the first half of verse 2

00:21:43.039 --> 00:21:44.079
 are repeated again

00:21:44.079 --> 00:21:45.220
 in verses 3 to 4.

00:21:45.619 --> 00:21:47.460
 To know wisdom and instruction.

00:21:47.740 --> 00:21:48.799
 To receive instruction

00:21:48.799 --> 00:21:49.659
 in wise dealing.

00:21:50.279 --> 00:21:51.419
 Knowledge and discretion

00:21:51.419 --> 00:21:51.980
 to the youth.

00:21:52.539 --> 00:21:53.939
 And then the words understand

00:21:53.939 --> 00:21:55.399
 and the word word

00:21:55.399 --> 00:21:58.119
 are repeated in verses 5 to 6.

00:21:58.439 --> 00:22:00.819
 To understand words of insight.

00:22:01.179 --> 00:22:02.639
 The one who understands

00:22:02.639 --> 00:22:03.559
 obtains guidance.

00:22:03.679 --> 00:22:05.339
 To understand a proverb

00:22:05.339 --> 00:22:06.000
 and a saying.

00:22:06.359 --> 00:22:07.720
 The words of the wise

00:22:07.720 --> 00:22:08.379
 and their riddles.

00:22:08.899 --> 00:22:10.339
 So using that parallel structure

00:22:10.339 --> 00:22:10.939
 as a guideline,

00:22:11.059 --> 00:22:11.639
 let's then unpack

00:22:11.639 --> 00:22:12.299
 what it means

00:22:12.299 --> 00:22:13.699
 to know wisdom and instruction.

00:22:13.700 --> 00:22:16.059
 The first half of verse 2.

00:22:17.019 --> 00:22:17.700
 So first,

00:22:17.840 --> 00:22:19.299
 to know wisdom and instruction

00:22:19.299 --> 00:22:20.680
 requires two things.

00:22:21.319 --> 00:22:22.819
 A teachable person

00:22:22.819 --> 00:22:24.819
 and a person

00:22:24.819 --> 00:22:25.420
 who is willing

00:22:25.420 --> 00:22:26.440
 and able to teach.

00:22:27.539 --> 00:22:28.400
 So verse 3

00:22:28.400 --> 00:22:29.940
 speaks of a teachable person.

00:22:30.039 --> 00:22:30.259
 It says,

00:22:30.360 --> 00:22:31.819
 to receive instruction

00:22:31.819 --> 00:22:32.940
 in wise dealing,

00:22:33.380 --> 00:22:34.200
 in righteousness,

00:22:34.900 --> 00:22:35.259
 justice,

00:22:35.680 --> 00:22:36.400
 and equity.

00:22:37.120 --> 00:22:38.299
 As I mentioned earlier,

00:22:38.460 --> 00:22:39.519
 instruction is a word

00:22:39.519 --> 00:22:40.440
 that conveys a sense

00:22:40.440 --> 00:22:41.460
 of discipline

00:22:41.460 --> 00:22:42.779
 or correction.

00:22:43.440 --> 00:22:44.019
 So that means

00:22:44.019 --> 00:22:45.240
 we need to be ready

00:22:45.240 --> 00:22:47.059
 to receive instruction.

00:22:48.140 --> 00:22:49.079
 The word receive

00:22:49.079 --> 00:22:50.880
 implies eager acceptance,

00:22:51.440 --> 00:22:52.380
 receptivity.

00:22:53.380 --> 00:22:55.240
 So a truly wise person

00:22:55.240 --> 00:22:56.779
 humbly submits

00:22:56.779 --> 00:22:58.059
 to the discipline

00:22:58.059 --> 00:22:59.220
 of God's word.

00:23:00.799 --> 00:23:02.740
 He doesn't cut through

00:23:02.740 --> 00:23:03.539
 the word of God

00:23:03.539 --> 00:23:04.319
 with the mold

00:23:04.319 --> 00:23:05.700
 of his own worldview

00:23:05.700 --> 00:23:06.620
 and ideas.

00:23:09.019 --> 00:23:10.220
 Making the Bible

00:23:10.220 --> 00:23:11.480
 fit his mold

00:23:11.480 --> 00:23:12.680
 and then cutting off

00:23:12.680 --> 00:23:13.319
 all the excess.

00:23:15.440 --> 00:23:17.440
 A truly wise person,

00:23:17.519 --> 00:23:18.460
 a godly person,

00:23:18.559 --> 00:23:18.860
 instead,

00:23:19.440 --> 00:23:20.200
 takes the mold

00:23:20.200 --> 00:23:21.259
 of God's word

00:23:21.259 --> 00:23:23.220
 and puts it

00:23:23.220 --> 00:23:24.259
 over himself.

00:23:25.539 --> 00:23:26.640
 Make his life

00:23:26.640 --> 00:23:27.379
 and his ideas

00:23:27.379 --> 00:23:28.259
 fit the mold

00:23:28.259 --> 00:23:29.480
 and get rid

00:23:29.480 --> 00:23:30.259
 of any excess.

00:23:34.200 --> 00:23:35.379
 Humble receptivity

00:23:35.379 --> 00:23:37.519
 to receive instruction.

00:23:38.900 --> 00:23:40.240
 And a truly wise person

00:23:40.240 --> 00:23:41.220
 does not merely

00:23:41.220 --> 00:23:42.640
 have cognitive wisdom,

00:23:42.640 --> 00:23:45.180
 but also experiential wisdom.

00:23:45.319 --> 00:23:45.920
 He has submitted

00:23:45.920 --> 00:23:47.180
 to course correction

00:23:47.180 --> 00:23:48.820
 in wise dealing,

00:23:49.259 --> 00:23:50.039
 in righteousness,

00:23:50.640 --> 00:23:50.980
 justice,

00:23:51.259 --> 00:23:52.060
 and equity.

00:23:54.080 --> 00:23:55.039
 It's kind of like this.

00:23:55.100 --> 00:23:56.080
 One can understand

00:23:56.080 --> 00:23:57.440
 all the mechanics

00:23:57.440 --> 00:23:59.060
 of throwing a football,

00:23:59.840 --> 00:24:01.080
 yet be completely

00:24:01.080 --> 00:24:01.640
 incapable

00:24:01.640 --> 00:24:02.640
 of throwing a football.

00:24:03.840 --> 00:24:04.759
 That's me.

00:24:06.620 --> 00:24:07.960
 One can master

00:24:07.960 --> 00:24:09.299
 the details of theology

00:24:09.299 --> 00:24:12.320
 and yet not know God.

00:24:15.420 --> 00:24:16.900
 One can understand

00:24:16.900 --> 00:24:17.880
 the psychology

00:24:17.880 --> 00:24:18.800
 of persons

00:24:18.800 --> 00:24:20.860
 and yet be totally

00:24:20.860 --> 00:24:22.200
 inept at knowing

00:24:22.200 --> 00:24:23.160
 and relating

00:24:23.160 --> 00:24:23.740
 to people.

00:24:27.280 --> 00:24:27.840
 Similarly,

00:24:27.980 --> 00:24:28.600
 one can have

00:24:28.600 --> 00:24:29.700
 much knowledge

00:24:29.700 --> 00:24:30.940
 and yet be

00:24:30.940 --> 00:24:32.440
 totally unwise

00:24:32.440 --> 00:24:33.440
 in the way he lives.

00:24:35.120 --> 00:24:36.320
 There's a difference

00:24:36.320 --> 00:24:38.200
 between a wise cracker

00:24:38.200 --> 00:24:39.860
 and a wise person.

00:24:42.780 --> 00:24:44.280
 To know wisdom

00:24:44.280 --> 00:24:45.019
 and instruction

00:24:45.019 --> 00:24:46.060
 requires someone

00:24:46.059 --> 00:24:46.960
 who is teachable.

00:24:48.220 --> 00:24:49.119
 It also requires

00:24:49.119 --> 00:24:50.019
 someone who can teach.

00:24:50.700 --> 00:24:51.500
 That's what verse 4

00:24:51.500 --> 00:24:52.000
 has in view,

00:24:52.059 --> 00:24:53.539
 to give prudence

00:24:53.539 --> 00:24:54.519
 to the simple,

00:24:54.899 --> 00:24:56.240
 knowledge and discretion

00:24:56.240 --> 00:24:57.159
 to the youth.

00:24:58.039 --> 00:24:58.779
 Being simple

00:24:58.779 --> 00:24:59.679
 can be a sign

00:24:59.679 --> 00:25:00.960
 of godly humility

00:25:00.960 --> 00:25:01.619
 and faith,

00:25:02.000 --> 00:25:02.759
 and that's not

00:25:02.759 --> 00:25:03.679
 the kind of simplicity

00:25:03.679 --> 00:25:04.700
 that's in view here.

00:25:05.079 --> 00:25:06.259
 It's referring to people

00:25:06.259 --> 00:25:07.419
 who are simplistic,

00:25:08.000 --> 00:25:08.460
 naive,

00:25:09.039 --> 00:25:09.519
 gullible.

00:25:10.279 --> 00:25:11.299
 It's the type of people

00:25:11.299 --> 00:25:12.440
 who often get duped

00:25:12.440 --> 00:25:13.180
 or scammed.

00:25:14.080 --> 00:25:15.059
 What they need

00:25:15.059 --> 00:25:16.180
 is prudence

00:25:16.180 --> 00:25:18.480
 that can also be

00:25:18.480 --> 00:25:19.940
 translated as shrewdness.

00:25:20.779 --> 00:25:21.279
 And the goal

00:25:21.279 --> 00:25:22.340
 of wisdom instruction

00:25:22.340 --> 00:25:23.559
 is to impart knowledge

00:25:23.559 --> 00:25:24.660
 and discretion

00:25:24.660 --> 00:25:25.340
 to the youth.

00:25:25.700 --> 00:25:26.900
 Discretion is the quality

00:25:26.900 --> 00:25:28.240
 of being judicious

00:25:28.240 --> 00:25:29.740
 or circumspect

00:25:29.740 --> 00:25:30.779
 in one's dealings,

00:25:30.940 --> 00:25:31.980
 not impulsive

00:25:31.980 --> 00:25:32.820
 or careless.

00:25:34.120 --> 00:25:34.920
 And the youth

00:25:34.920 --> 00:25:35.440
 are identified

00:25:35.440 --> 00:25:36.299
 as the category

00:25:36.299 --> 00:25:36.680
 of people

00:25:36.680 --> 00:25:37.259
 that particularly

00:25:37.259 --> 00:25:38.120
 need this kind

00:25:38.120 --> 00:25:38.660
 of discretion,

00:25:38.660 --> 00:25:39.700
 but youth

00:25:39.700 --> 00:25:40.759
 doesn't merely

00:25:40.759 --> 00:25:41.779
 refer to teenagers

00:25:41.779 --> 00:25:43.180
 in the Bible.

00:25:43.720 --> 00:25:44.440
 The Hebrew words

00:25:44.440 --> 00:25:45.279
 for young people

00:25:45.279 --> 00:25:46.519
 are not as narrow

00:25:46.519 --> 00:25:47.160
 and specific

00:25:47.160 --> 00:25:48.080
 as in the English.

00:25:48.640 --> 00:25:49.279
 So youth,

00:25:49.440 --> 00:25:49.860
 the word,

00:25:49.940 --> 00:25:50.660
 is sometimes used

00:25:50.660 --> 00:25:51.740
 to refer to infants,

00:25:52.200 --> 00:25:52.820
 Exodus 2,

00:25:52.900 --> 00:25:53.480
 chapter 2,

00:25:53.519 --> 00:25:54.000
 verse 6.

00:25:54.740 --> 00:25:55.800
 It refers to teens,

00:25:56.060 --> 00:25:57.259
 Genesis chapter 37,

00:25:57.360 --> 00:25:57.820
 verse 2.

00:25:58.200 --> 00:25:59.040
 It even refers

00:25:59.040 --> 00:26:00.600
 to a 30-year-old Joseph

00:26:00.600 --> 00:26:02.340
 in Genesis 41.

00:26:03.200 --> 00:26:04.279
 So anyone

00:26:04.279 --> 00:26:06.560
 who is asking questions

00:26:06.560 --> 00:26:06.960
 like,

00:26:07.500 --> 00:26:08.080
 who am I?

00:26:08.079 --> 00:26:09.579
 Where do I fit in?

00:26:10.480 --> 00:26:12.039
 What do I believe?

00:26:12.819 --> 00:26:14.299
 How shall I live?

00:26:14.679 --> 00:26:15.439
 If you're asking

00:26:15.439 --> 00:26:16.500
 these questions,

00:26:16.599 --> 00:26:17.679
 you can identify

00:26:17.679 --> 00:26:18.659
 and put yourself

00:26:18.659 --> 00:26:19.259
 in the category

00:26:19.259 --> 00:26:19.879
 of the youth

00:26:19.879 --> 00:26:20.740
 that the Proverbs

00:26:20.740 --> 00:26:21.579
 is addressing.

00:26:22.599 --> 00:26:23.599
 So that's what it means

00:26:23.599 --> 00:26:24.779
 to know the substance

00:26:24.779 --> 00:26:25.379
 of wisdom,

00:26:26.000 --> 00:26:27.779
 to know wisdom

00:26:27.779 --> 00:26:28.379
 and instruction,

00:26:28.539 --> 00:26:29.359
 to humble yourself,

00:26:29.460 --> 00:26:31.039
 to receive the discipline,

00:26:31.199 --> 00:26:31.659
 the correction

00:26:31.659 --> 00:26:32.379
 of God's word.

00:26:34.019 --> 00:26:34.899
 Now turning to

00:26:34.899 --> 00:26:35.480
 the second half

00:26:35.480 --> 00:26:35.980
 of verse 2,

00:26:36.059 --> 00:26:37.199
 the form of wisdom,

00:26:37.279 --> 00:26:38.059
 the expression of it,

00:26:38.059 --> 00:26:38.960
 to understand

00:26:38.960 --> 00:26:40.259
 words of insight.

00:26:40.359 --> 00:26:40.759
 Let's look at

00:26:40.759 --> 00:26:41.799
 verses 5 to 6.

00:26:42.759 --> 00:26:43.519
 Let the wise

00:26:43.519 --> 00:26:44.839
 hear and increase

00:26:44.839 --> 00:26:45.480
 in learning,

00:26:46.119 --> 00:26:46.679
 and the one

00:26:46.679 --> 00:26:47.799
 who understands

00:26:47.799 --> 00:26:49.500
 obtain guidance.

00:26:50.059 --> 00:26:51.059
 To understand

00:26:51.059 --> 00:26:51.700
 a proverb

00:26:51.700 --> 00:26:52.299
 and a saying,

00:26:52.399 --> 00:26:53.399
 the words of the wise

00:26:53.399 --> 00:26:54.220
 and their riddles.

00:26:54.720 --> 00:26:55.639
 So the subsection

00:26:55.639 --> 00:26:56.259
 is connected

00:26:56.259 --> 00:26:57.099
 to the second half

00:26:57.099 --> 00:26:57.619
 of verse 2

00:26:57.619 --> 00:26:58.259
 by the words

00:26:58.259 --> 00:26:59.700
 understand and words.

00:27:00.299 --> 00:27:01.339
 So it's possible

00:27:01.339 --> 00:27:01.819
 to know,

00:27:01.859 --> 00:27:02.379
 as I said,

00:27:02.500 --> 00:27:03.059
 it's possible

00:27:03.059 --> 00:27:04.220
 to know the form

00:27:04.220 --> 00:27:04.839
 of wisdom

00:27:04.839 --> 00:27:06.159
 without understanding

00:27:06.159 --> 00:27:06.859
 its substance.

00:27:07.539 --> 00:27:08.299
 But it's also

00:27:08.299 --> 00:27:09.079
 impossible

00:27:09.079 --> 00:27:10.399
 to understand

00:27:10.399 --> 00:27:11.099
 the substance

00:27:11.099 --> 00:27:11.779
 of wisdom

00:27:11.779 --> 00:27:13.079
 without grasping

00:27:13.079 --> 00:27:13.559
 the form.

00:27:14.259 --> 00:27:14.879
 You also need

00:27:14.879 --> 00:27:15.339
 to understand

00:27:15.339 --> 00:27:16.220
 what the words mean.

00:27:16.379 --> 00:27:17.319
 You have to grasp it.

00:27:18.240 --> 00:27:18.599
 And so,

00:27:18.740 --> 00:27:18.899
 you know,

00:27:18.939 --> 00:27:19.240
 you need to be able

00:27:19.240 --> 00:27:19.899
 to understand it

00:27:19.899 --> 00:27:20.939
 before you can apply it

00:27:20.939 --> 00:27:21.679
 and obey them.

00:27:22.220 --> 00:27:22.899
 And so that's what

00:27:22.899 --> 00:27:23.899
 verses 5 to 6

00:27:23.899 --> 00:27:24.599
 are concerned about.

00:27:24.659 --> 00:27:25.579
 Even the wise

00:27:25.579 --> 00:27:26.559
 should pay attention

00:27:26.559 --> 00:27:27.919
 because then

00:27:27.919 --> 00:27:29.359
 they will increase

00:27:29.359 --> 00:27:29.899
 in learning.

00:27:29.900 --> 00:27:31.180
 And whoever

00:27:31.180 --> 00:27:32.080
 understands

00:27:32.080 --> 00:27:32.960
 will obtain

00:27:32.960 --> 00:27:33.580
 guidance

00:27:33.580 --> 00:27:34.780
 to understand

00:27:34.780 --> 00:27:35.460
 a proverb

00:27:35.460 --> 00:27:36.200
 and a saying

00:27:36.200 --> 00:27:36.759
 the words

00:27:36.759 --> 00:27:37.380
 of the wise

00:27:37.380 --> 00:27:38.220
 and their riddles.

00:27:38.920 --> 00:27:39.740
 Several different

00:27:39.740 --> 00:27:40.500
 words are here

00:27:40.500 --> 00:27:41.240
 used to refer

00:27:41.240 --> 00:27:41.920
 to a proverb.

00:27:42.400 --> 00:27:42.720
 It's called

00:27:42.720 --> 00:27:43.240
 a proverb,

00:27:43.400 --> 00:27:44.000
 a saying,

00:27:44.540 --> 00:27:45.540
 words of the wise

00:27:45.540 --> 00:27:46.460
 and riddles.

00:27:47.240 --> 00:27:48.220
 Habakkuk 2,

00:27:48.340 --> 00:27:48.860
 verse 6

00:27:48.860 --> 00:27:49.720
 uses three

00:27:49.720 --> 00:27:50.759
 of these four words

00:27:50.759 --> 00:27:51.420
 to refer to

00:27:51.420 --> 00:27:52.880
 the exact same song.

00:27:53.259 --> 00:27:53.840
 So we know

00:27:53.840 --> 00:27:54.700
 that these words

00:27:54.700 --> 00:27:55.280
 are not referring

00:27:55.280 --> 00:27:56.259
 to different types

00:27:56.259 --> 00:27:56.900
 of proverbs

00:27:56.900 --> 00:27:58.180
 or wisdom sayings.

00:27:58.180 --> 00:27:58.780
 It's all referring

00:27:58.780 --> 00:27:59.680
 to the same thing.

00:27:59.900 --> 00:28:01.360
 But it does highlight

00:28:01.360 --> 00:28:02.300
 different aspects

00:28:02.300 --> 00:28:03.259
 of what a proverb

00:28:03.259 --> 00:28:03.940
 is like.

00:28:05.120 --> 00:28:06.160
 And so a proverb

00:28:06.160 --> 00:28:07.340
 is literally

00:28:07.340 --> 00:28:08.300
 kind of a form

00:28:08.300 --> 00:28:08.960
 of parable.

00:28:09.640 --> 00:28:10.660
 It's kind of

00:28:10.660 --> 00:28:11.180
 a metaphor.

00:28:12.160 --> 00:28:12.960
 The book of Proverbs

00:28:12.960 --> 00:28:14.060
 includes sections

00:28:14.060 --> 00:28:15.000
 of longer narratives

00:28:15.000 --> 00:28:15.560
 as well,

00:28:15.720 --> 00:28:16.600
 but it features

00:28:16.600 --> 00:28:17.620
 what we've come

00:28:17.620 --> 00:28:18.960
 to associate primarily

00:28:18.960 --> 00:28:20.000
 with the word proverb.

00:28:20.580 --> 00:28:21.660
 These kind of pithy,

00:28:21.780 --> 00:28:22.460
 kind of punchy,

00:28:22.540 --> 00:28:23.140
 witty sayings

00:28:23.140 --> 00:28:24.200
 that you guys know,

00:28:24.259 --> 00:28:24.580
 I'm sure,

00:28:24.700 --> 00:28:25.500
 several from memory.

00:28:26.160 --> 00:28:27.640
 And so that means

00:28:27.640 --> 00:28:28.400
 by definition,

00:28:28.620 --> 00:28:29.500
 because it's a proverb,

00:28:29.900 --> 00:28:31.460
 proverbs do not

00:28:31.460 --> 00:28:32.680
 come with

00:28:32.680 --> 00:28:33.860
 qualifications,

00:28:34.740 --> 00:28:35.220
 nuances,

00:28:35.759 --> 00:28:36.780
 and footnotes.

00:28:38.540 --> 00:28:39.880
 If it had those things,

00:28:40.019 --> 00:28:41.080
 it would be an essay.

00:28:41.280 --> 00:28:42.100
 It would not be a proverb.

00:28:42.680 --> 00:28:43.400
 It would no longer

00:28:43.400 --> 00:28:44.480
 be pithy or witty.

00:28:45.780 --> 00:28:46.700
 And for that reason,

00:28:46.820 --> 00:28:47.700
 we need to be careful

00:28:47.700 --> 00:28:49.519
 not to absolutize

00:28:49.519 --> 00:28:50.220
 the proverbs

00:28:50.220 --> 00:28:51.800
 to make it fit

00:28:51.800 --> 00:28:53.160
 every context.

00:28:53.519 --> 00:28:53.860
 Instead,

00:28:54.000 --> 00:28:54.680
 we need to use

00:28:54.680 --> 00:28:55.280
 the proverbs

00:28:55.280 --> 00:28:56.220
 in their appropriate

00:28:56.220 --> 00:28:56.900
 contexts.

00:28:56.900 --> 00:28:59.240
 And we can see this

00:28:59.240 --> 00:29:00.820
 even in the examples

00:29:00.820 --> 00:29:02.420
 of non-biblical proverbs.

00:29:02.960 --> 00:29:03.840
 So to give you an example,

00:29:04.080 --> 00:29:04.960
 sometimes in life,

00:29:05.060 --> 00:29:06.340
 a speedy response

00:29:06.340 --> 00:29:07.019
 to a situation

00:29:07.019 --> 00:29:07.660
 is called for.

00:29:08.160 --> 00:29:08.940
 So there are proverbs

00:29:08.940 --> 00:29:09.860
 that say that, right?

00:29:09.920 --> 00:29:10.980
 He who hesitates

00:29:10.980 --> 00:29:11.560
 is lost.

00:29:12.640 --> 00:29:13.620
 A stitch in time

00:29:13.620 --> 00:29:14.320
 saves nine.

00:29:17.120 --> 00:29:18.040
 You guys understand

00:29:18.040 --> 00:29:18.500
 what that means?

00:29:18.560 --> 00:29:19.560
 Nobody stitches up

00:29:19.560 --> 00:29:20.000
 things anymore.

00:29:20.460 --> 00:29:21.600
 If you have a little hole,

00:29:21.720 --> 00:29:22.360
 like a pinhole

00:29:22.360 --> 00:29:23.420
 on your shirt,

00:29:23.420 --> 00:29:25.000
 if you don't stitch it up

00:29:25.000 --> 00:29:25.840
 in a timely fashion,

00:29:25.920 --> 00:29:26.840
 it's going to become

00:29:26.840 --> 00:29:28.080
 this gaping larger hole

00:29:28.080 --> 00:29:28.720
 that's going to require

00:29:28.720 --> 00:29:29.380
 nine stitches

00:29:29.380 --> 00:29:29.980
 instead of one.

00:29:30.120 --> 00:29:30.759
 That's what that means.

00:29:31.120 --> 00:29:32.000
 So you've got to respond

00:29:32.000 --> 00:29:33.539
 quickly to a crisis

00:29:33.539 --> 00:29:34.180
 or a situation.

00:29:34.320 --> 00:29:34.940
 So these proverbs

00:29:34.940 --> 00:29:35.640
 are calling for

00:29:35.640 --> 00:29:37.019
 a quick response.

00:29:37.380 --> 00:29:38.060
 But then there are

00:29:38.060 --> 00:29:38.620
 other proverbs

00:29:38.620 --> 00:29:39.140
 that call for

00:29:39.140 --> 00:29:39.820
 a more slower,

00:29:40.000 --> 00:29:40.539
 measured,

00:29:40.700 --> 00:29:41.300
 and deliberative

00:29:41.300 --> 00:29:42.300
 response to things,

00:29:42.860 --> 00:29:43.240
 like,

00:29:43.779 --> 00:29:44.880
 look before you leap.

00:29:45.720 --> 00:29:46.940
 Haste makes waste.

00:29:49.100 --> 00:29:50.080
 They're contradictory.

00:29:50.079 --> 00:29:53.599
 They advise opposite things.

00:29:54.220 --> 00:29:55.500
 But we know from experience

00:29:55.500 --> 00:29:56.419
 that these sayings

00:29:56.419 --> 00:29:57.579
 are both true.

00:30:01.500 --> 00:30:02.059
 Similarly,

00:30:02.519 --> 00:30:03.679
 Proverbs chapter 13,

00:30:03.759 --> 00:30:04.759
 verse 25 says,

00:30:04.859 --> 00:30:05.379
 The righteous

00:30:05.379 --> 00:30:06.579
 has enough

00:30:06.579 --> 00:30:08.159
 to satisfy his appetite,

00:30:08.399 --> 00:30:09.259
 but the belly

00:30:09.259 --> 00:30:09.919
 of the wicked

00:30:09.919 --> 00:30:11.119
 suffers want.

00:30:11.619 --> 00:30:12.500
 Pretty straightforward,

00:30:12.659 --> 00:30:12.819
 right?

00:30:13.399 --> 00:30:14.699
 If you live righteously,

00:30:14.839 --> 00:30:15.500
 you will have plenty

00:30:15.500 --> 00:30:15.960
 to eat.

00:30:16.279 --> 00:30:17.599
 If you live wickedly,

00:30:17.599 --> 00:30:18.480
 you will go hungry.

00:30:20.079 --> 00:30:21.279
 However,

00:30:22.159 --> 00:30:23.740
 just two verses earlier,

00:30:24.399 --> 00:30:25.639
 Proverbs chapter 13,

00:30:25.720 --> 00:30:26.279
 verse 23,

00:30:26.460 --> 00:30:26.679
 it says,

00:30:26.799 --> 00:30:27.799
 The fallow ground

00:30:27.799 --> 00:30:28.500
 of the poor

00:30:28.500 --> 00:30:30.359
 would yield much food,

00:30:30.659 --> 00:30:32.179
 but it is swept away

00:30:32.179 --> 00:30:33.159
 through injustice.

00:30:35.359 --> 00:30:36.919
 This proverb suggests

00:30:36.919 --> 00:30:38.259
 that though the hardworking

00:30:38.259 --> 00:30:39.599
 and righteous poor people

00:30:39.599 --> 00:30:41.399
 could have plenty to eat,

00:30:41.480 --> 00:30:42.500
 theoretically speaking,

00:30:43.119 --> 00:30:44.740
 injustice robs them

00:30:44.740 --> 00:30:46.019
 of the fruit of their labor.

00:30:46.019 --> 00:30:48.039
 So we see

00:30:48.039 --> 00:30:49.039
 a similar tension

00:30:49.039 --> 00:30:49.460
 like this

00:30:49.460 --> 00:30:50.299
 all over Proverbs.

00:30:50.400 --> 00:30:50.859
 Just to give you

00:30:50.859 --> 00:30:52.079
 another similar example,

00:30:52.240 --> 00:30:53.139
 Proverbs chapter 15,

00:30:53.200 --> 00:30:53.619
 verse 6,

00:30:54.019 --> 00:30:54.200
 It says,

00:30:54.319 --> 00:30:55.440
 In the house of the righteous

00:30:55.440 --> 00:30:56.700
 there is much treasure,

00:30:57.139 --> 00:30:58.299
 but trouble befalls

00:30:58.299 --> 00:30:59.500
 the income of the wicked.

00:31:00.000 --> 00:31:00.559
 Once again,

00:31:00.660 --> 00:31:01.379
 pretty straightforward.

00:31:01.599 --> 00:31:02.240
 If you're righteous,

00:31:02.400 --> 00:31:03.319
 God will reward you

00:31:03.319 --> 00:31:04.139
 and you'll be rich.

00:31:06.460 --> 00:31:06.900
 However,

00:31:06.980 --> 00:31:08.180
 just a few verses later,

00:31:08.619 --> 00:31:09.900
 it says in Proverbs 15,

00:31:09.960 --> 00:31:11.240
 verses 16 to 17,

00:31:11.240 --> 00:31:12.660
 Better is a little

00:31:12.660 --> 00:31:14.120
 with the fear of the Lord

00:31:14.120 --> 00:31:15.680
 than great treasure

00:31:15.680 --> 00:31:16.900
 and trouble with it.

00:31:17.559 --> 00:31:19.299
 Better is a dinner of herbs

00:31:19.299 --> 00:31:20.440
 where love is

00:31:20.440 --> 00:31:21.759
 than a fattened ox

00:31:21.759 --> 00:31:22.859
 and hatred with it.

00:31:23.859 --> 00:31:24.539
 And still later,

00:31:24.660 --> 00:31:25.599
 Proverbs 16, 8,

00:31:25.660 --> 00:31:25.839
 says,

00:31:25.960 --> 00:31:27.019
 Better is a little

00:31:27.019 --> 00:31:27.980
 with righteousness

00:31:27.980 --> 00:31:29.620
 than great revenues

00:31:29.620 --> 00:31:30.640
 with injustice.

00:31:32.000 --> 00:31:33.220
 These latter Proverbs

00:31:33.220 --> 00:31:34.680
 suggest that sometimes

00:31:34.680 --> 00:31:36.259
 crooks acquire

00:31:36.259 --> 00:31:37.120
 great revenues

00:31:37.120 --> 00:31:37.859
 with crookery,

00:31:38.200 --> 00:31:39.240
 with injustice,

00:31:39.240 --> 00:31:41.339
 and that the righteous

00:31:41.339 --> 00:31:42.420
 who fear the Lord

00:31:42.420 --> 00:31:43.920
 are sometimes poor,

00:31:44.359 --> 00:31:45.519
 but that nevertheless

00:31:45.519 --> 00:31:47.220
 it's better to be righteous.

00:31:48.720 --> 00:31:49.500
 The interplay

00:31:49.500 --> 00:31:50.359
 between these Proverbs

00:31:50.359 --> 00:31:51.480
 reveals something

00:31:51.480 --> 00:31:52.359
 more profound.

00:31:53.039 --> 00:31:54.680
 And it's generally true

00:31:54.680 --> 00:31:55.920
 that honest,

00:31:56.259 --> 00:31:57.740
 hardworking person

00:31:57.740 --> 00:31:58.940
 gains prosperity.

00:31:59.859 --> 00:32:00.859
 But that's the way

00:32:00.859 --> 00:32:01.759
 God has ordered

00:32:01.759 --> 00:32:03.079
 the world to work.

00:32:03.559 --> 00:32:04.000
 However,

00:32:04.120 --> 00:32:05.059
 this world is also

00:32:05.059 --> 00:32:06.240
 broken and sinful

00:32:06.240 --> 00:32:07.120
 and backwards,

00:32:07.819 --> 00:32:08.599
 and so we are

00:32:08.599 --> 00:32:09.839
 commanded to seek

00:32:09.839 --> 00:32:10.319
 righteousness

00:32:10.319 --> 00:32:11.779
 even when it leads

00:32:11.779 --> 00:32:12.799
 to poverty and hunger.

00:32:14.480 --> 00:32:15.819
 So because of

00:32:15.819 --> 00:32:17.619
 its proverbial nature,

00:32:18.719 --> 00:32:19.559
 some Proverbs

00:32:19.559 --> 00:32:20.639
 are by necessity

00:32:20.639 --> 00:32:21.259
 partial.

00:32:21.980 --> 00:32:22.679
 So we have to be

00:32:22.679 --> 00:32:23.659
 careful not to take

00:32:23.659 --> 00:32:25.099
 them as divine absolutes

00:32:25.099 --> 00:32:26.159
 that fit every single

00:32:26.159 --> 00:32:27.079
 situation.

00:32:27.939 --> 00:32:28.939
 So we would be

00:32:28.939 --> 00:32:30.139
 causing a lot of

00:32:30.139 --> 00:32:31.039
 trouble and doing

00:32:31.039 --> 00:32:32.459
 damage to people's

00:32:32.459 --> 00:32:33.199
 lives, for example,

00:32:33.279 --> 00:32:35.139
 if we use Proverbs 15, 6

00:32:35.139 --> 00:32:36.079
 to bludgeon

00:32:36.079 --> 00:32:37.179
 every poor person

00:32:37.180 --> 00:32:37.660
 in the church

00:32:37.660 --> 00:32:38.019
 and saying,

00:32:38.160 --> 00:32:38.820
 well, you are

00:32:38.820 --> 00:32:39.680
 full of injustice,

00:32:39.860 --> 00:32:40.220
 aren't you?

00:32:40.860 --> 00:32:41.779
 That's why you're poor.

00:32:47.640 --> 00:32:48.680
 That may be true

00:32:48.680 --> 00:32:49.320
 in some cases,

00:32:49.560 --> 00:32:51.259
 but it's definitely

00:32:51.259 --> 00:32:52.560
 not true in other cases.

00:32:54.240 --> 00:32:55.380
 That's why chapter 1,

00:32:55.440 --> 00:32:55.799
 verse 6,

00:32:55.880 --> 00:32:56.740
 calls Proverbs

00:32:56.740 --> 00:32:57.420
 a riddle.

00:32:58.380 --> 00:32:59.160
 It's something

00:32:59.160 --> 00:33:00.360
 like solving a puzzle,

00:33:00.360 --> 00:33:01.400
 and only when

00:33:01.400 --> 00:33:02.640
 they are put together

00:33:02.640 --> 00:33:04.019
 do you truly

00:33:04.019 --> 00:33:05.000
 appreciate the

00:33:05.000 --> 00:33:05.779
 profound wisdom

00:33:05.779 --> 00:33:06.680
 and beauty

00:33:06.680 --> 00:33:07.380
 of God's word.

00:33:08.579 --> 00:33:09.480
 That's the literary

00:33:09.480 --> 00:33:10.579
 context of Proverbs.

00:33:11.900 --> 00:33:12.480
 And finally,

00:33:12.579 --> 00:33:13.140
 let's turn to the

00:33:13.140 --> 00:33:14.039
 theological context

00:33:14.039 --> 00:33:14.579
 of Proverbs.

00:33:19.279 --> 00:33:20.599
 I feel a little bad.

00:33:20.660 --> 00:33:21.299
 I'm sorry if this

00:33:21.299 --> 00:33:21.940
 sounds a little more

00:33:21.940 --> 00:33:22.440
 like a lecture

00:33:22.440 --> 00:33:23.000
 than a sermon.

00:33:23.579 --> 00:33:24.440
 We're getting to

00:33:24.440 --> 00:33:25.799
 Christ here

00:33:25.799 --> 00:33:26.660
 in a second.

00:33:30.000 --> 00:33:31.119
 That's kind of hard

00:33:31.119 --> 00:33:31.920
 with the introductions

00:33:31.920 --> 00:33:32.640
 to books.

00:33:32.640 --> 00:33:34.240
 The Bible scholars

00:33:34.240 --> 00:33:34.920
 have at times

00:33:34.920 --> 00:33:36.640
 struggled to make

00:33:36.640 --> 00:33:37.340
 the book of Proverbs

00:33:37.340 --> 00:33:38.759
 fit with the rest

00:33:38.759 --> 00:33:39.180
 of Scripture.

00:33:39.860 --> 00:33:40.759
 It's unique

00:33:40.759 --> 00:33:41.740
 because it doesn't

00:33:41.740 --> 00:33:42.640
 really talk about

00:33:42.640 --> 00:33:43.140
 the covenant

00:33:43.140 --> 00:33:44.100
 between God

00:33:44.100 --> 00:33:44.740
 and his people,

00:33:45.140 --> 00:33:45.720
 about God's

00:33:45.720 --> 00:33:46.500
 salvation plan,

00:33:46.560 --> 00:33:47.220
 that all the other

00:33:47.220 --> 00:33:47.960
 books in Scripture

00:33:47.960 --> 00:33:49.500
 talk about.

00:33:50.320 --> 00:33:51.420
 So some scholars

00:33:51.420 --> 00:33:52.200
 have gone so far

00:33:52.200 --> 00:33:52.920
 as to say that

00:33:52.920 --> 00:33:53.700
 this is a book

00:33:53.700 --> 00:33:54.780
 of secular wisdom

00:33:54.780 --> 00:33:56.259
 that doesn't require

00:33:56.259 --> 00:33:57.700
 a belief in God.

00:33:58.220 --> 00:33:59.180
 But that's actually

00:33:59.180 --> 00:34:00.240
 a very bad

00:34:00.240 --> 00:34:01.420
 mischaracterization

00:34:01.420 --> 00:34:01.940
 of the book.

00:34:02.640 --> 00:34:03.800
 Because it says

00:34:03.800 --> 00:34:04.500
 in verse 7,

00:34:04.740 --> 00:34:05.380
 and this is really

00:34:05.380 --> 00:34:06.400
 the thesis statement

00:34:06.400 --> 00:34:07.560
 of the entire book,

00:34:08.220 --> 00:34:09.480
 the fear of the Lord

00:34:09.480 --> 00:34:10.440
 is the beginning

00:34:10.440 --> 00:34:11.099
 of knowledge.

00:34:12.480 --> 00:34:13.559
 Fools despise

00:34:13.559 --> 00:34:14.860
 wisdom and instruction.

00:34:16.280 --> 00:34:17.640
 The author of Proverbs

00:34:17.640 --> 00:34:18.720
 situates the book

00:34:18.720 --> 00:34:20.019
 in the worship

00:34:20.019 --> 00:34:21.360
 and fear

00:34:21.360 --> 00:34:22.019
 of the Lord,

00:34:23.119 --> 00:34:23.960
 which is a common

00:34:23.960 --> 00:34:24.539
 refrain through

00:34:24.539 --> 00:34:25.200
 all of Scripture.

00:34:26.260 --> 00:34:27.059
 And the Lord

00:34:27.059 --> 00:34:28.059
 in all caps

00:34:28.059 --> 00:34:28.760
 as in here,

00:34:29.119 --> 00:34:30.440
 it's the proper,

00:34:30.559 --> 00:34:31.200
 it's the personal

00:34:31.200 --> 00:34:32.039
 name of God.

00:34:32.639 --> 00:34:33.420
 It's the name

00:34:33.420 --> 00:34:34.859
 that God revealed

00:34:34.859 --> 00:34:36.799
 to His covenant people

00:34:36.799 --> 00:34:38.539
 in Exodus chapter 3,

00:34:38.719 --> 00:34:40.239
 verses 14 to 15.

00:34:40.579 --> 00:34:42.159
 I am who I am.

00:34:43.279 --> 00:34:43.920
 Say this

00:34:43.920 --> 00:34:45.000
 to the people of Israel.

00:34:45.219 --> 00:34:46.739
 I am has sent me

00:34:46.739 --> 00:34:47.239
 to you.

00:34:47.799 --> 00:34:48.579
 God also said

00:34:48.579 --> 00:34:48.980
 to Moses,

00:34:49.119 --> 00:34:50.199
 say this to the people

00:34:50.199 --> 00:34:50.739
 of Israel.

00:34:50.980 --> 00:34:51.900
 The Lord,

00:34:53.019 --> 00:34:53.639
 Yehovah,

00:34:54.420 --> 00:34:56.239
 the God of your fathers,

00:34:56.359 --> 00:34:57.400
 the God of Abraham,

00:34:57.799 --> 00:34:58.900
 the God of Isaac,

00:34:58.900 --> 00:34:59.920
 and the God of Jacob

00:34:59.920 --> 00:35:01.239
 has sent me to you.

00:35:01.239 --> 00:35:03.500
 This is my name forever,

00:35:04.079 --> 00:35:05.539
 and thus I am to be remembered

00:35:05.539 --> 00:35:06.959
 throughout all generations.

00:35:08.219 --> 00:35:09.539
 That means Proverbs

00:35:09.539 --> 00:35:10.879
 cannot be separated

00:35:10.879 --> 00:35:11.979
 from the rest of Scripture

00:35:11.979 --> 00:35:12.859
 in which God

00:35:12.859 --> 00:35:14.299
 has revealed Himself

00:35:14.299 --> 00:35:15.699
 and His plan of salvation.

00:35:16.979 --> 00:35:18.679
 Yes, Proverbs is a book,

00:35:19.279 --> 00:35:20.299
 but it's in a more

00:35:20.299 --> 00:35:21.119
 important sense

00:35:21.119 --> 00:35:22.779
 a chapter in a larger book

00:35:22.779 --> 00:35:23.419
 called the Bible.

00:35:23.420 --> 00:35:26.260
 The Bible has God

00:35:26.260 --> 00:35:27.720
 as the ultimate author

00:35:27.720 --> 00:35:29.740
 behind the immediate

00:35:29.740 --> 00:35:30.599
 human authors.

00:35:31.659 --> 00:35:31.860
 Therefore,

00:35:32.019 --> 00:35:32.900
 like every part

00:35:32.900 --> 00:35:33.480
 of the Bible,

00:35:33.720 --> 00:35:34.700
 Proverbs yields

00:35:34.700 --> 00:35:35.559
 its fullest

00:35:35.559 --> 00:35:37.280
 and richest fruit

00:35:37.280 --> 00:35:38.920
 only when it's viewed

00:35:38.920 --> 00:35:39.980
 in light of

00:35:39.980 --> 00:35:40.940
 its fulfillment

00:35:40.940 --> 00:35:42.340
 in Jesus Christ.

00:35:44.240 --> 00:35:45.400
 So what does it mean

00:35:45.400 --> 00:35:46.539
 to fear God?

00:35:47.340 --> 00:35:48.740
 To fear God

00:35:48.740 --> 00:35:49.559
 is to relate

00:35:49.559 --> 00:35:51.079
 and respond

00:35:51.079 --> 00:35:51.779
 to God

00:35:51.779 --> 00:35:53.119
 appropriately

00:35:53.119 --> 00:35:55.659
 with reverent obedience

00:35:55.659 --> 00:35:57.199
 and humble submission.

00:35:59.039 --> 00:36:00.279
 It doesn't refer

00:36:00.279 --> 00:36:01.279
 to being terrified.

00:36:01.920 --> 00:36:02.840
 It refers to being

00:36:02.840 --> 00:36:03.440
 in awe.

00:36:04.739 --> 00:36:05.739
 I've used Exodus

00:36:05.739 --> 00:36:06.500
 chapter 20

00:36:06.500 --> 00:36:07.400
 verse 20 before

00:36:07.400 --> 00:36:08.420
 as a case in point

00:36:08.420 --> 00:36:09.099
 to prove this.

00:36:09.500 --> 00:36:10.539
 After God appears

00:36:10.539 --> 00:36:11.099
 to the Israelites

00:36:11.099 --> 00:36:11.619
 to give them

00:36:11.619 --> 00:36:12.599
 the Ten Commandments,

00:36:12.940 --> 00:36:14.099
 Moses says to the people,

00:36:14.299 --> 00:36:15.500
 Do not fear,

00:36:15.920 --> 00:36:16.799
 for God has come

00:36:16.800 --> 00:36:17.480
 to test you

00:36:17.480 --> 00:36:18.340
 that the fear

00:36:18.340 --> 00:36:18.760
 of Him

00:36:18.760 --> 00:36:19.940
 may be before you

00:36:19.940 --> 00:36:21.360
 that you may not sin.

00:36:21.720 --> 00:36:23.039
 It's the exact same word

00:36:23.039 --> 00:36:24.100
 in both of those occurrences,

00:36:24.300 --> 00:36:24.960
 the word fear.

00:36:26.400 --> 00:36:27.060
 Don't fear

00:36:27.060 --> 00:36:27.880
 because God

00:36:27.880 --> 00:36:29.039
 has appeared to you

00:36:29.039 --> 00:36:29.800
 so that you might

00:36:29.800 --> 00:36:30.420
 fear Him.

00:36:31.440 --> 00:36:31.640
 Right?

00:36:31.660 --> 00:36:32.220
 And that's not

00:36:32.220 --> 00:36:32.960
 a contradiction.

00:36:33.800 --> 00:36:34.820
 Moses doesn't want

00:36:34.820 --> 00:36:35.220
 the people

00:36:35.220 --> 00:36:35.980
 to be terrified

00:36:35.980 --> 00:36:36.740
 and to flee

00:36:36.740 --> 00:36:37.560
 the presence of God.

00:36:37.620 --> 00:36:38.260
 He wants them

00:36:38.260 --> 00:36:38.900
 to stand

00:36:38.900 --> 00:36:40.360
 in awe of God,

00:36:40.580 --> 00:36:41.960
 to revere God

00:36:41.960 --> 00:36:43.420
 and to fear Him

00:36:43.420 --> 00:36:44.640
 in a healthy sense

00:36:44.640 --> 00:36:46.280
 so that it constrains

00:36:46.280 --> 00:36:47.100
 their behavior

00:36:47.100 --> 00:36:48.060
 and produces

00:36:48.060 --> 00:36:48.620
 obedience

00:36:48.620 --> 00:36:49.620
 in their life.

00:36:51.560 --> 00:36:52.680
 That's the fear of God.

00:36:52.740 --> 00:36:53.560
 To summarize it,

00:36:53.800 --> 00:36:54.920
 to fear the Lord

00:36:54.920 --> 00:36:55.780
 is to live

00:36:55.780 --> 00:36:57.600
 every waking moment

00:36:57.600 --> 00:36:59.640
 in the presence of God

00:36:59.640 --> 00:37:01.480
 under the authority of God

00:37:01.480 --> 00:37:03.160
 and for the glory of God.

00:37:03.700 --> 00:37:05.780
 That's what fear of God is.

00:37:07.040 --> 00:37:09.280
 To live before the face of God

00:37:09.280 --> 00:37:10.600
 as if He's always with you.

00:37:11.240 --> 00:37:12.600
 To do all things

00:37:12.600 --> 00:37:13.460
 and say all things

00:37:13.460 --> 00:37:14.380
 as if you're always

00:37:14.380 --> 00:37:15.460
 under His authority.

00:37:16.280 --> 00:37:17.340
 And to do everything

00:37:17.340 --> 00:37:18.560
 for the glory of God.

00:37:20.380 --> 00:37:21.900
 That's to fear God.

00:37:22.900 --> 00:37:23.940
 And this is a very

00:37:23.940 --> 00:37:24.780
 relevant reminder

00:37:24.780 --> 00:37:25.440
 as we go through

00:37:25.440 --> 00:37:25.980
 the Proverbs

00:37:25.980 --> 00:37:27.240
 because people

00:37:27.240 --> 00:37:29.540
 and there's a lot of you

00:37:29.540 --> 00:37:29.760
 out there

00:37:29.760 --> 00:37:30.660
 because this is Cambridge.

00:37:32.780 --> 00:37:34.060
 I include myself in this

00:37:34.060 --> 00:37:35.019
 so please don't be offended.

00:37:35.920 --> 00:37:37.380
 People with control issues

00:37:37.380 --> 00:37:39.519
 love the book of Proverbs.

00:37:40.780 --> 00:37:41.440
 They do.

00:37:41.440 --> 00:37:42.440
 Why?

00:37:44.019 --> 00:37:45.099
 Because they feel like

00:37:45.099 --> 00:37:46.740
 to use a rock climbing metaphor

00:37:46.740 --> 00:37:47.619
 like they feel like

00:37:47.619 --> 00:37:48.579
 Proverbs gives them

00:37:48.579 --> 00:37:49.820
 handles or holes

00:37:49.820 --> 00:37:51.539
 that they can use then

00:37:51.539 --> 00:37:52.480
 to scale

00:37:52.480 --> 00:37:54.059
 the wall of life.

00:37:55.519 --> 00:37:56.740
 Oh, this is straightforward.

00:37:56.980 --> 00:37:57.820
 I can do this.

00:37:58.519 --> 00:37:59.840
 If I do these things

00:37:59.840 --> 00:38:00.840
 then I will have

00:38:00.840 --> 00:38:01.639
 a materially

00:38:01.639 --> 00:38:02.240
 and spiritually

00:38:02.240 --> 00:38:03.300
 successful life.

00:38:03.679 --> 00:38:04.519
 This gives me

00:38:04.519 --> 00:38:05.460
 control.

00:38:05.940 --> 00:38:06.420
 Handles

00:38:06.420 --> 00:38:07.420
 for life.

00:38:11.099 --> 00:38:12.280
 But the book

00:38:12.280 --> 00:38:12.920
 is not intended

00:38:12.920 --> 00:38:13.760
 to be used that way.

00:38:14.559 --> 00:38:15.260
 It's intended

00:38:15.260 --> 00:38:16.059
 to make us

00:38:16.059 --> 00:38:17.440
 more dependent

00:38:17.440 --> 00:38:18.800
 trusting of

00:38:18.800 --> 00:38:19.480
 and submitted

00:38:19.480 --> 00:38:19.920
 to God.

00:38:21.360 --> 00:38:22.039
 That's why

00:38:22.039 --> 00:38:22.579
 even though

00:38:22.579 --> 00:38:23.619
 Proverbs chapter 4

00:38:23.619 --> 00:38:24.260
 verse 7

00:38:24.260 --> 00:38:24.920
 exhorts us

00:38:24.920 --> 00:38:26.000
 to get wisdom

00:38:26.000 --> 00:38:27.639
 and whatever you get

00:38:27.639 --> 00:38:28.599
 get insight

00:38:28.599 --> 00:38:29.759
 and then later

00:38:29.759 --> 00:38:31.059
 in Proverbs chapter 21

00:38:31.059 --> 00:38:31.739
 verse 30

00:38:31.739 --> 00:38:32.420
 it tells us

00:38:32.420 --> 00:38:33.579
 no wisdom

00:38:33.579 --> 00:38:35.239
 no understanding

00:38:35.239 --> 00:38:36.799
 no counsel

00:38:36.799 --> 00:38:37.639
 can avail

00:38:37.639 --> 00:38:39.039
 against the Lord.

00:38:41.519 --> 00:38:42.819
 If we think

00:38:42.819 --> 00:38:43.400
 that we can

00:38:43.400 --> 00:38:44.599
 manipulate God

00:38:44.599 --> 00:38:45.559
 by mastering

00:38:45.559 --> 00:38:46.460
 these Proverbs

00:38:46.460 --> 00:38:47.599
 we are deeply

00:38:47.599 --> 00:38:48.159
 mistaken.

00:38:51.380 --> 00:38:53.039
 Right apprehension

00:38:53.039 --> 00:38:53.900
 of the Proverbs

00:38:53.900 --> 00:38:55.679
 the right appropriation

00:38:55.679 --> 00:38:56.519
 of the Proverbs

00:38:56.519 --> 00:38:57.980
 begins with

00:38:57.980 --> 00:38:58.659
 the fear

00:38:58.659 --> 00:38:59.320
 of the Lord.

00:39:00.860 --> 00:39:01.719
 It begins

00:39:01.719 --> 00:39:02.619
 with humility.

00:39:03.320 --> 00:39:04.039
 It begins

00:39:04.039 --> 00:39:05.039
 with faith.

00:39:05.500 --> 00:39:06.039
 It begins

00:39:06.039 --> 00:39:06.780
 with submission

00:39:06.780 --> 00:39:07.619
 before God.

00:39:08.139 --> 00:39:08.460
 That's why

00:39:08.460 --> 00:39:09.099
 verse 7

00:39:09.099 --> 00:39:10.039
 contrasts

00:39:10.039 --> 00:39:10.820
 fearing the Lord

00:39:10.820 --> 00:39:12.119
 with despising

00:39:12.119 --> 00:39:12.639
 wisdom

00:39:12.639 --> 00:39:13.420
 and instruction.

00:39:14.139 --> 00:39:14.820
 Only when

00:39:14.820 --> 00:39:15.460
 we humble

00:39:15.460 --> 00:39:15.900
 ourselves

00:39:15.900 --> 00:39:16.519
 before God

00:39:16.519 --> 00:39:17.199
 in faith

00:39:17.199 --> 00:39:18.259
 are we truly

00:39:18.259 --> 00:39:18.800
 ready

00:39:18.800 --> 00:39:19.880
 to learn

00:39:19.880 --> 00:39:20.639
 wisdom.

00:39:24.000 --> 00:39:25.179
 And note well

00:39:25.179 --> 00:39:25.820
 that the fear

00:39:25.820 --> 00:39:26.259
 of the Lord

00:39:26.260 --> 00:39:27.180
 is the beginning.

00:39:27.700 --> 00:39:28.420
 It's not

00:39:28.420 --> 00:39:28.960
 the end.

00:39:29.880 --> 00:39:30.580
 It is

00:39:30.580 --> 00:39:31.420
 primary

00:39:31.420 --> 00:39:32.020
 not

00:39:32.020 --> 00:39:32.800
 secondary.

00:39:33.520 --> 00:39:34.000
 It's

00:39:34.000 --> 00:39:34.840
 foundational.

00:39:35.840 --> 00:39:36.300
 It's not

00:39:36.300 --> 00:39:37.060
 incidental

00:39:37.060 --> 00:39:37.600
 to wisdom

00:39:37.600 --> 00:39:38.060
 the fear

00:39:38.060 --> 00:39:38.520
 of the Lord.

00:39:39.020 --> 00:39:39.400
 It is

00:39:39.400 --> 00:39:40.420
 the principal

00:39:40.420 --> 00:39:40.920
 thing.

00:39:42.920 --> 00:39:43.820
 Bible scholar

00:39:43.820 --> 00:39:44.180
 Bruce

00:39:44.180 --> 00:39:44.540
 Walke

00:39:44.540 --> 00:39:44.980
 puts it

00:39:44.980 --> 00:39:45.340
 this way

00:39:45.340 --> 00:39:45.920
 what the

00:39:45.920 --> 00:39:46.440
 alphabet

00:39:46.440 --> 00:39:47.200
 is to

00:39:47.200 --> 00:39:47.760
 reading

00:39:47.760 --> 00:39:48.880
 notes

00:39:48.880 --> 00:39:49.620
 to reading

00:39:49.620 --> 00:39:50.240
 music

00:39:50.240 --> 00:39:51.000
 and

00:39:51.000 --> 00:39:51.540
 numerals

00:39:51.540 --> 00:39:51.720
 to

00:39:51.720 --> 00:39:52.300
 mathematics

00:39:52.300 --> 00:39:53.700
 the fear

00:39:53.700 --> 00:39:54.100
 of the

00:39:54.100 --> 00:39:54.480
 Lord

00:39:54.480 --> 00:39:55.080
 is to

00:39:55.080 --> 00:39:55.660
 attaining

00:39:55.660 --> 00:39:56.539
 the revealed

00:39:56.539 --> 00:39:57.060
 knowledge

00:39:57.060 --> 00:39:57.560
 of this

00:39:57.560 --> 00:39:57.900
 book.

00:40:02.780 --> 00:40:04.060
 Being wise

00:40:04.060 --> 00:40:04.460
 in the

00:40:04.460 --> 00:40:04.900
 dealings

00:40:04.900 --> 00:40:05.460
 of this

00:40:05.460 --> 00:40:05.800
 world

00:40:05.800 --> 00:40:06.340
 does not

00:40:06.340 --> 00:40:07.200
 begin with

00:40:07.200 --> 00:40:08.120
 reading about

00:40:08.120 --> 00:40:08.780
 the dealings

00:40:08.780 --> 00:40:09.080
 of this

00:40:09.080 --> 00:40:09.420
 world.

00:40:09.960 --> 00:40:10.340
 It does

00:40:10.340 --> 00:40:11.060
 not begin

00:40:11.060 --> 00:40:11.700
 with those

00:40:11.700 --> 00:40:13.140
 what they call

00:40:13.140 --> 00:40:13.560
 the books

00:40:13.560 --> 00:40:14.140
 for dummies

00:40:14.140 --> 00:40:14.640
 series.

00:40:15.460 --> 00:40:16.320
 It doesn't

00:40:16.320 --> 00:40:16.920
 begin with

00:40:16.920 --> 00:40:17.800
 watching how-to

00:40:17.800 --> 00:40:18.340
 videos on

00:40:18.340 --> 00:40:18.620
 YouTube.

00:40:18.619 --> 00:40:18.819
 YouTube.

00:40:20.019 --> 00:40:20.559
 If you

00:40:20.559 --> 00:40:21.019
 want to be

00:40:21.019 --> 00:40:21.819
 truly wise

00:40:21.819 --> 00:40:22.099
 in the

00:40:22.099 --> 00:40:22.480
 dealings

00:40:22.480 --> 00:40:22.779
 of this

00:40:22.779 --> 00:40:23.199
 world

00:40:23.199 --> 00:40:24.420
 you need

00:40:24.420 --> 00:40:25.119
 the fear

00:40:25.119 --> 00:40:25.659
 of God.

00:40:25.859 --> 00:40:26.259
 That is

00:40:26.259 --> 00:40:26.739
 the

00:40:26.739 --> 00:40:27.880
 foundational

00:40:27.880 --> 00:40:28.519
 principle.

00:40:29.199 --> 00:40:29.799
 It begins

00:40:29.799 --> 00:40:30.380
 with knowledge

00:40:30.380 --> 00:40:30.859
 of God.

00:40:31.920 --> 00:40:32.619
 And every

00:40:32.619 --> 00:40:33.059
 subsequent

00:40:33.059 --> 00:40:33.440
 proverb

00:40:33.440 --> 00:40:33.839
 that we

00:40:33.839 --> 00:40:34.239
 read

00:40:34.239 --> 00:40:34.619
 in this

00:40:34.619 --> 00:40:34.779
 book

00:40:34.779 --> 00:40:35.139
 we have

00:40:35.139 --> 00:40:35.759
 to read

00:40:35.759 --> 00:40:36.159
 in light

00:40:36.159 --> 00:40:36.619
 of this

00:40:36.619 --> 00:40:37.940
 reality.

00:40:39.659 --> 00:40:40.039
 And faith

00:40:40.039 --> 00:40:40.400
 in God

00:40:40.400 --> 00:40:40.739
 is not

00:40:40.739 --> 00:40:41.719
 this tells

00:40:41.719 --> 00:40:41.980
 us that

00:40:41.980 --> 00:40:42.339
 faith in

00:40:42.339 --> 00:40:42.539
 God

00:40:42.539 --> 00:40:42.819
 is not

00:40:42.819 --> 00:40:43.119
 something

00:40:43.119 --> 00:40:43.440
 that you

00:40:43.440 --> 00:40:43.799
 attain

00:40:43.799 --> 00:40:44.139
 at the

00:40:44.139 --> 00:40:44.579
 end

00:40:44.579 --> 00:40:45.299
 of your

00:40:45.299 --> 00:40:45.940
 lifelong

00:40:45.940 --> 00:40:46.480
 pursuit

00:40:46.480 --> 00:40:46.960
 of wisdom

00:40:46.960 --> 00:40:47.539
 and truth.

00:40:47.539 --> 00:40:48.880
 Some of

00:40:48.880 --> 00:40:49.099
 you are

00:40:49.099 --> 00:40:49.519
 not yet

00:40:49.519 --> 00:40:49.980
 believers

00:40:49.980 --> 00:40:50.360
 and followers

00:40:50.360 --> 00:40:50.739
 of Christ

00:40:50.739 --> 00:40:50.960
 and I

00:40:50.960 --> 00:40:51.699
 want to

00:40:51.699 --> 00:40:52.179
 exhort you

00:40:52.179 --> 00:40:52.639
 with this.

00:40:54.860 --> 00:40:55.340
 Don't

00:40:55.340 --> 00:40:55.779
 wait on

00:40:55.779 --> 00:40:56.119
 faith.

00:40:56.320 --> 00:40:56.800
 Faith is

00:40:56.800 --> 00:40:57.199
 not something

00:40:57.199 --> 00:40:57.900
 you arrive

00:40:57.900 --> 00:40:58.860
 at after

00:40:58.860 --> 00:40:59.460
 a lifelong

00:40:59.460 --> 00:40:59.960
 pursuit

00:40:59.960 --> 00:41:00.539
 of truth.

00:41:01.179 --> 00:41:01.639
 If you

00:41:01.639 --> 00:41:02.340
 don't know

00:41:02.340 --> 00:41:03.019
 God you

00:41:03.019 --> 00:41:03.599
 haven't

00:41:03.599 --> 00:41:04.920
 started on

00:41:04.920 --> 00:41:05.420
 your journey

00:41:05.420 --> 00:41:06.039
 of knowledge.

00:41:07.079 --> 00:41:08.039
 Because all

00:41:08.039 --> 00:41:08.699
 knowledge is

00:41:08.699 --> 00:41:09.779
 incomplete unless

00:41:09.779 --> 00:41:10.719
 it is situated

00:41:10.719 --> 00:41:11.539
 in its proper

00:41:11.539 --> 00:41:12.360
 context with

00:41:12.360 --> 00:41:12.920
 relation to

00:41:12.920 --> 00:41:13.179
 God.

00:41:14.739 --> 00:41:15.079
 This is

00:41:15.079 --> 00:41:15.320
 something,

00:41:15.500 --> 00:41:16.039
 this is why

00:41:16.039 --> 00:41:16.400
 I think

00:41:16.400 --> 00:41:17.519
 sometimes it's

00:41:17.519 --> 00:41:18.400
 difficult for

00:41:18.400 --> 00:41:20.099
 genuine

00:41:20.099 --> 00:41:21.099
 Christians to

00:41:21.099 --> 00:41:21.639
 defend

00:41:21.639 --> 00:41:22.199
 Christianity.

00:41:23.400 --> 00:41:24.159
 Not because

00:41:24.159 --> 00:41:24.599
 there are no

00:41:24.599 --> 00:41:25.300
 reasons for

00:41:25.300 --> 00:41:25.759
 their faith,

00:41:25.840 --> 00:41:26.139
 they have

00:41:26.139 --> 00:41:26.539
 plenty of

00:41:26.539 --> 00:41:27.000
 reasons for

00:41:27.000 --> 00:41:27.480
 their faith,

00:41:27.880 --> 00:41:28.259
 but they

00:41:28.259 --> 00:41:28.679
 just have a

00:41:28.679 --> 00:41:29.380
 hard time

00:41:29.380 --> 00:41:30.360
 articulating

00:41:30.360 --> 00:41:30.719
 that.

00:41:32.400 --> 00:41:33.179
 And G.K.

00:41:33.259 --> 00:41:33.599
 Chesterton

00:41:33.599 --> 00:41:34.179
 explains it

00:41:34.179 --> 00:41:34.579
 this way in

00:41:34.579 --> 00:41:34.960
 his book

00:41:34.960 --> 00:41:35.780
 Orthodoxy,

00:41:36.860 --> 00:41:37.739
 it is very

00:41:37.739 --> 00:41:38.559
 hard for a

00:41:38.559 --> 00:41:38.900
 man to

00:41:38.900 --> 00:41:39.380
 defend

00:41:39.380 --> 00:41:40.099
 anything of

00:41:40.099 --> 00:41:40.519
 which he

00:41:40.519 --> 00:41:41.400
 is entirely

00:41:41.400 --> 00:41:42.000
 convinced.

00:41:43.280 --> 00:41:43.659
 It is

00:41:43.659 --> 00:41:44.219
 comparably

00:41:44.219 --> 00:41:45.199
 easy when

00:41:45.199 --> 00:41:45.659
 he is only

00:41:45.659 --> 00:41:46.099
 partially

00:41:46.099 --> 00:41:46.679
 convinced.

00:41:47.519 --> 00:41:48.000
 He is

00:41:48.000 --> 00:41:48.460
 partially

00:41:48.460 --> 00:41:48.920
 convinced

00:41:48.920 --> 00:41:49.320
 because he

00:41:49.320 --> 00:41:49.820
 has found

00:41:49.820 --> 00:41:50.360
 this or

00:41:50.360 --> 00:41:50.900
 that proof

00:41:50.900 --> 00:41:51.159
 of the

00:41:51.159 --> 00:41:51.400
 thing,

00:41:51.800 --> 00:41:52.139
 and he

00:41:52.139 --> 00:41:52.719
 can expound

00:41:52.719 --> 00:41:53.000
 it.

00:41:53.460 --> 00:41:54.019
 But a man

00:41:54.019 --> 00:41:54.480
 is not

00:41:54.480 --> 00:41:55.000
 really

00:41:55.000 --> 00:41:55.480
 convinced

00:41:55.480 --> 00:41:55.820
 of a

00:41:55.820 --> 00:41:56.380
 philosophic

00:41:56.380 --> 00:41:57.360
 theory when

00:41:57.360 --> 00:41:57.840
 he finds

00:41:57.840 --> 00:41:58.559
 that something

00:41:58.559 --> 00:41:59.400
 proves it.

00:42:00.099 --> 00:42:00.960
 He is only

00:42:00.960 --> 00:42:02.219
 really convinced

00:42:02.219 --> 00:42:02.900
 when he

00:42:02.900 --> 00:42:03.820
 finds that

00:42:03.820 --> 00:42:04.440
 everything

00:42:04.440 --> 00:42:05.739
 proves it.

00:42:08.280 --> 00:42:08.840
 Sometimes

00:42:08.840 --> 00:42:09.320
 Christians have

00:42:09.320 --> 00:42:09.780
 a hard time

00:42:09.780 --> 00:42:10.099
 defending

00:42:10.099 --> 00:42:10.599
 Christianity,

00:42:10.820 --> 00:42:11.460
 not because

00:42:11.460 --> 00:42:12.380
 they have

00:42:12.380 --> 00:42:13.259
 these proofs,

00:42:13.340 --> 00:42:14.159
 they don't have

00:42:14.159 --> 00:42:14.920
 reasons for it,

00:42:14.920 --> 00:42:15.619
 because to

00:42:15.619 --> 00:42:15.940
 them,

00:42:16.119 --> 00:42:16.619
 everything

00:42:16.619 --> 00:42:17.900
 makes sense

00:42:17.900 --> 00:42:18.360
 in light of

00:42:18.360 --> 00:42:18.740
 Christianity.

00:42:19.740 --> 00:42:20.559
 Everything in

00:42:20.559 --> 00:42:21.340
 their life is

00:42:21.340 --> 00:42:22.400
 evidence of

00:42:22.400 --> 00:42:22.920
 Christianity.

00:42:23.700 --> 00:42:24.220
 C.S. Lewis

00:42:24.220 --> 00:42:24.980
 puts it eloquently

00:42:24.980 --> 00:42:25.440
 this way,

00:42:25.500 --> 00:42:26.400
 I believe in

00:42:26.400 --> 00:42:27.320
 Christianity as I

00:42:27.320 --> 00:42:28.200
 believe that the

00:42:28.200 --> 00:42:29.079
 sun has risen,

00:42:29.599 --> 00:42:30.500
 not only because

00:42:30.500 --> 00:42:31.340
 I see it,

00:42:31.780 --> 00:42:32.760
 but because by

00:42:32.760 --> 00:42:33.880
 it I see

00:42:33.880 --> 00:42:35.200
 everything else.

00:42:35.199 --> 00:42:38.960
 fear of the

00:42:38.960 --> 00:42:39.659
 Lord is the

00:42:39.659 --> 00:42:41.079
 beginning of

00:42:41.079 --> 00:42:41.579
 knowledge.

00:42:44.359 --> 00:42:45.279
 Yet there is

00:42:45.279 --> 00:42:46.059
 a conspicuous

00:42:46.059 --> 00:42:47.099
 absence of the

00:42:47.099 --> 00:42:47.539
 fear of the

00:42:47.539 --> 00:42:48.059
 Lord in our

00:42:48.059 --> 00:42:48.460
 world.

00:42:52.179 --> 00:42:52.980
 Quoting from

00:42:52.980 --> 00:42:53.739
 Psalms,

00:42:54.059 --> 00:42:54.539
 from the

00:42:54.539 --> 00:42:54.939
 Psalms,

00:42:55.039 --> 00:42:55.619
 Paul writes

00:42:55.619 --> 00:42:56.079
 in Romans

00:42:56.079 --> 00:42:56.779
 chapter 3,

00:42:57.659 --> 00:42:58.419
 none is

00:42:58.419 --> 00:42:59.019
 righteous,

00:42:59.399 --> 00:42:59.679
 no,

00:42:59.879 --> 00:43:00.579
 not one.

00:43:01.699 --> 00:43:02.219
 No one

00:43:02.219 --> 00:43:02.939
 understands,

00:43:03.179 --> 00:43:03.579
 no one

00:43:03.579 --> 00:43:04.359
 seeks God.

00:43:04.360 --> 00:43:05.440
 All have

00:43:05.440 --> 00:43:06.220
 turned aside,

00:43:06.360 --> 00:43:06.880
 together they

00:43:06.880 --> 00:43:07.360
 have become

00:43:07.360 --> 00:43:07.820
 worthless.

00:43:08.360 --> 00:43:08.800
 No one

00:43:08.800 --> 00:43:09.360
 does good,

00:43:09.460 --> 00:43:09.960
 not even

00:43:09.960 --> 00:43:10.380
 one.

00:43:10.860 --> 00:43:11.440
 There is

00:43:11.440 --> 00:43:12.720
 no fear

00:43:12.720 --> 00:43:13.420
 of God

00:43:13.420 --> 00:43:14.260
 before their

00:43:14.260 --> 00:43:14.720
 eyes.

00:43:16.280 --> 00:43:17.440
 That is

00:43:17.440 --> 00:43:18.160
 the single

00:43:18.160 --> 00:43:19.820
 most devastating

00:43:19.820 --> 00:43:20.720
 malady that

00:43:20.720 --> 00:43:21.440
 currently

00:43:21.440 --> 00:43:23.000
 humanity is

00:43:23.000 --> 00:43:23.620
 experiencing.

00:43:26.539 --> 00:43:27.320
 More

00:43:27.320 --> 00:43:27.900
 significant,

00:43:28.400 --> 00:43:29.039
 more

00:43:29.039 --> 00:43:29.579
 threatening

00:43:29.579 --> 00:43:30.680
 than even

00:43:30.680 --> 00:43:30.840
 the

00:43:30.840 --> 00:43:31.180
 coronavirus.

00:43:31.179 --> 00:43:31.460
 virus.

00:43:34.460 --> 00:43:35.299
 We are

00:43:35.299 --> 00:43:35.679
 a proud

00:43:35.679 --> 00:43:36.119
 people,

00:43:36.960 --> 00:43:38.359
 brazen

00:43:38.359 --> 00:43:38.819
 people,

00:43:39.179 --> 00:43:39.299
 a

00:43:39.299 --> 00:43:40.319
 foolhardy

00:43:40.319 --> 00:43:40.619
 people,

00:43:41.079 --> 00:43:42.039
 and we

00:43:42.039 --> 00:43:42.500
 desperately

00:43:42.500 --> 00:43:43.759
 need the

00:43:43.759 --> 00:43:44.319
 wisdom of

00:43:44.319 --> 00:43:44.659
 God.

00:43:45.339 --> 00:43:46.179
 And we

00:43:46.179 --> 00:43:46.879
 find that

00:43:46.879 --> 00:43:47.659
 wisdom in

00:43:47.659 --> 00:43:48.379
 the person

00:43:48.379 --> 00:43:49.419
 and work of

00:43:49.419 --> 00:43:50.139
 Jesus Christ

00:43:50.139 --> 00:43:50.519
 who is

00:43:50.519 --> 00:43:51.519
 described in

00:43:51.519 --> 00:43:52.000
 God's word

00:43:52.000 --> 00:43:52.759
 as the

00:43:52.759 --> 00:43:53.299
 wisdom

00:43:53.299 --> 00:43:54.299
 of God.

00:43:55.079 --> 00:43:55.759
 Please follow

00:43:55.759 --> 00:43:56.259
 along with me

00:43:56.259 --> 00:43:57.259
 as I read

00:43:57.259 --> 00:43:57.919
 1 Corinthians

00:43:57.919 --> 00:43:58.739
 chapter 1

00:43:58.739 --> 00:43:59.659
 verses 17

00:43:59.659 --> 00:44:00.359
 to 25.

00:44:01.219 --> 00:44:02.019
 For Christ

00:44:02.019 --> 00:44:02.480
 did not

00:44:02.480 --> 00:44:03.179
 send me to

00:44:03.179 --> 00:44:04.000
 baptize but

00:44:04.000 --> 00:44:04.639
 to preach

00:44:04.639 --> 00:44:05.179
 the gospel

00:44:05.179 --> 00:44:06.199
 and not

00:44:06.199 --> 00:44:07.119
 with words

00:44:07.119 --> 00:44:08.019
 of eloquent

00:44:08.019 --> 00:44:08.659
 wisdom,

00:44:09.199 --> 00:44:09.619
 lest the

00:44:09.619 --> 00:44:10.279
 cross of

00:44:10.279 --> 00:44:10.899
 Christ be

00:44:10.899 --> 00:44:11.619
 emptied of

00:44:11.619 --> 00:44:12.299
 its power.

00:44:12.879 --> 00:44:13.279
 For the

00:44:13.279 --> 00:44:13.779
 word of

00:44:13.779 --> 00:44:14.339
 the cross

00:44:14.339 --> 00:44:15.179
 is folly

00:44:15.179 --> 00:44:15.699
 to those

00:44:15.699 --> 00:44:16.000
 who are

00:44:16.000 --> 00:44:16.539
 perishing,

00:44:16.960 --> 00:44:17.339
 but to

00:44:17.339 --> 00:44:17.779
 us who

00:44:17.779 --> 00:44:18.179
 are being

00:44:18.179 --> 00:44:18.899
 saved it

00:44:18.899 --> 00:44:19.279
 is the

00:44:19.279 --> 00:44:19.899
 power of

00:44:19.899 --> 00:44:20.219
 God.

00:44:20.659 --> 00:44:21.059
 For it

00:44:21.059 --> 00:44:21.579
 is written,

00:44:21.859 --> 00:44:22.099
 I will

00:44:22.099 --> 00:44:23.039
 destroy the

00:44:23.039 --> 00:44:23.659
 wisdom of

00:44:23.659 --> 00:44:24.119
 the wise

00:44:24.119 --> 00:44:24.659
 and the

00:44:24.659 --> 00:44:25.239
 discernment

00:44:25.239 --> 00:44:25.460
 of the

00:44:25.460 --> 00:44:25.960
 discerning

00:44:25.960 --> 00:44:26.319
 I will

00:44:26.319 --> 00:44:26.819
 thwart.

00:44:27.480 --> 00:44:28.000
 Where is

00:44:28.000 --> 00:44:28.440
 the one

00:44:28.440 --> 00:44:28.739
 who is

00:44:28.739 --> 00:44:29.219
 wise?

00:44:29.219 --> 00:44:30.000
 Where is

00:44:30.000 --> 00:44:30.219
 the

00:44:30.219 --> 00:44:30.819
 scribe?

00:44:31.000 --> 00:44:31.379
 Where is

00:44:31.379 --> 00:44:31.500
 the

00:44:31.500 --> 00:44:32.139
 debater of

00:44:32.139 --> 00:44:32.639
 the sage?

00:44:32.919 --> 00:44:33.099
 Has

00:44:33.099 --> 00:44:33.519
 not

00:44:33.519 --> 00:44:33.959
 God

00:44:33.959 --> 00:44:34.379
 made

00:44:34.379 --> 00:44:35.019
 foolish

00:44:35.019 --> 00:44:35.539
 the

00:44:35.539 --> 00:44:35.919
 wisdom

00:44:35.919 --> 00:44:36.139
 of

00:44:36.139 --> 00:44:36.259
 the

00:44:36.259 --> 00:44:36.579
 world?

00:44:37.259 --> 00:44:37.500
 For

00:44:37.500 --> 00:44:38.019
 since

00:44:38.019 --> 00:44:38.480
 in the

00:44:38.480 --> 00:44:38.839
 wisdom

00:44:38.839 --> 00:44:39.059
 of

00:44:39.059 --> 00:44:39.379
 God

00:44:39.379 --> 00:44:39.719
 the

00:44:39.719 --> 00:44:40.039
 world

00:44:40.039 --> 00:44:40.279
 did

00:44:40.279 --> 00:44:40.579
 not

00:44:40.579 --> 00:44:40.879
 know

00:44:40.879 --> 00:44:41.319
 God

00:44:41.319 --> 00:44:41.539
 through

00:44:41.539 --> 00:44:42.019
 wisdom,

00:44:42.319 --> 00:44:42.559
 it

00:44:42.559 --> 00:44:43.039
 pleased

00:44:43.039 --> 00:44:43.359
 God

00:44:43.359 --> 00:44:43.539
 through

00:44:43.539 --> 00:44:43.799
 the

00:44:43.799 --> 00:44:44.159
 folly

00:44:44.159 --> 00:44:44.339
 of

00:44:44.339 --> 00:44:44.519
 what

00:44:44.519 --> 00:44:44.699
 we

00:44:44.699 --> 00:44:45.039
 preach

00:44:45.039 --> 00:44:45.399
 to

00:44:45.399 --> 00:44:45.819
 save

00:44:45.819 --> 00:44:46.239
 those

00:44:46.239 --> 00:44:46.439
 who

00:44:46.439 --> 00:44:47.059
 believe.

00:44:47.779 --> 00:44:48.039
 For

00:44:48.039 --> 00:44:48.519
 Jews

00:44:48.519 --> 00:44:48.879
 demand

00:44:48.879 --> 00:44:49.480
 signs

00:44:49.480 --> 00:44:49.719
 and

00:44:49.719 --> 00:44:50.059
 Greeks

00:44:50.059 --> 00:44:50.459
 seek

00:44:50.459 --> 00:44:50.899
 wisdom,

00:44:51.239 --> 00:44:51.339
 but

00:44:51.339 --> 00:44:51.599
 we

00:44:51.599 --> 00:44:52.099
 preach

00:44:52.099 --> 00:44:52.619
 Christ

00:44:52.619 --> 00:44:53.419
 crucified,

00:44:53.819 --> 00:44:53.980
 a

00:44:53.980 --> 00:44:54.459
 stumbling

00:44:54.459 --> 00:44:54.799
 block

00:44:54.799 --> 00:44:55.000
 to

00:44:55.000 --> 00:44:55.339
 Jews

00:44:55.339 --> 00:44:55.579
 and

00:44:55.579 --> 00:44:56.039
 folly

00:44:56.039 --> 00:44:56.239
 to

00:44:56.239 --> 00:44:56.859
 Gentiles,

00:44:57.059 --> 00:44:57.419
 but

00:44:57.419 --> 00:44:57.599
 to

00:44:57.599 --> 00:44:58.039
 those

00:44:58.039 --> 00:44:58.279
 who

00:44:58.279 --> 00:44:58.479
 are

00:44:58.479 --> 00:44:59.099
 called,

00:44:59.679 --> 00:45:00.139
 both

00:45:00.139 --> 00:45:00.519
 Jews

00:45:00.519 --> 00:45:00.699
 and

00:45:00.699 --> 00:45:01.079
 Greeks,

00:45:01.699 --> 00:45:02.159
 Christ

00:45:02.159 --> 00:45:02.799
 the

00:45:02.799 --> 00:45:03.299
 power

00:45:03.299 --> 00:45:03.519
 of

00:45:03.519 --> 00:45:03.799
 God

00:45:03.799 --> 00:45:04.399
 and

00:45:04.399 --> 00:45:04.799
 the

00:45:04.799 --> 00:45:05.459
 wisdom

00:45:05.459 --> 00:45:05.939
 of

00:45:05.939 --> 00:45:06.299
 God.

00:45:07.239 --> 00:45:07.879
 For

00:45:07.879 --> 00:45:08.079
 the

00:45:08.079 --> 00:45:08.659
 foolishness

00:45:08.659 --> 00:45:08.839
 of

00:45:08.839 --> 00:45:09.059
 God

00:45:09.059 --> 00:45:09.259
 is

00:45:09.259 --> 00:45:09.659
 wiser

00:45:09.659 --> 00:45:09.899
 than

00:45:09.899 --> 00:45:10.179
 men

00:45:10.179 --> 00:45:10.899
 and

00:45:10.899 --> 00:45:11.099
 the

00:45:11.099 --> 00:45:11.419
 weakness

00:45:11.419 --> 00:45:11.679
 of

00:45:11.679 --> 00:45:11.939
 God

00:45:11.939 --> 00:45:12.139
 is

00:45:12.139 --> 00:45:12.579
 stronger

00:45:12.579 --> 00:45:12.839
 than

00:45:12.839 --> 00:45:13.079
 men.

00:45:13.079 --> 00:45:14.860
 God

00:45:14.860 --> 00:45:15.400
 the

00:45:15.400 --> 00:45:15.940
 gospel,

00:45:16.440 --> 00:45:16.539
 the

00:45:16.539 --> 00:45:16.900
 good

00:45:16.900 --> 00:45:17.340
 news

00:45:17.340 --> 00:45:17.500
 of

00:45:17.500 --> 00:45:17.779
 Jesus

00:45:17.779 --> 00:45:18.199
 Christ

00:45:18.199 --> 00:45:18.400
 that

00:45:18.400 --> 00:45:18.599
 he

00:45:18.599 --> 00:45:18.880
 was

00:45:18.880 --> 00:45:19.500
 crucified

00:45:19.500 --> 00:45:19.900
 for

00:45:19.900 --> 00:45:20.119
 the

00:45:20.119 --> 00:45:20.360
 sins

00:45:20.360 --> 00:45:20.480
 of

00:45:20.480 --> 00:45:20.619
 his

00:45:20.619 --> 00:45:21.019
 people

00:45:21.019 --> 00:45:21.579
 and

00:45:21.579 --> 00:45:21.719
 that

00:45:21.719 --> 00:45:21.799
 he

00:45:21.799 --> 00:45:21.980
 was

00:45:21.980 --> 00:45:22.420
 raised

00:45:22.420 --> 00:45:23.219
 triumphantly

00:45:23.219 --> 00:45:23.579
 for

00:45:23.579 --> 00:45:24.819
 our

00:45:24.819 --> 00:45:25.420
 new

00:45:25.420 --> 00:45:25.880
 life

00:45:25.880 --> 00:45:26.019
 and

00:45:26.019 --> 00:45:26.559
 resurrection

00:45:26.559 --> 00:45:27.960
 so that

00:45:27.960 --> 00:45:28.079
 we

00:45:28.079 --> 00:45:28.239
 might

00:45:28.239 --> 00:45:28.440
 be

00:45:28.440 --> 00:45:29.179
 pardoned

00:45:29.179 --> 00:45:29.559
 of

00:45:29.559 --> 00:45:29.719
 our

00:45:29.719 --> 00:45:29.920
 sins

00:45:29.920 --> 00:45:30.059
 and

00:45:30.059 --> 00:45:30.340
 granted

00:45:30.340 --> 00:45:30.880
 citizenship

00:45:30.880 --> 00:45:31.079
 in

00:45:31.079 --> 00:45:31.199
 his

00:45:31.199 --> 00:45:31.460
 kingdom.

00:45:31.679 --> 00:45:31.840
 That

00:45:31.840 --> 00:45:32.440
 good

00:45:32.440 --> 00:45:32.860
 news,

00:45:32.980 --> 00:45:33.099
 that

00:45:33.099 --> 00:45:33.539
 gospel

00:45:33.539 --> 00:45:34.039
 is

00:45:34.039 --> 00:45:34.259
 the

00:45:34.259 --> 00:45:34.639
 wisdom

00:45:34.639 --> 00:45:35.380
 that

00:45:35.380 --> 00:45:35.799
 fools

00:45:35.799 --> 00:45:36.539
 despise.

00:45:39.139 --> 00:45:39.779
 In

00:45:39.779 --> 00:45:40.159
 Jesus,

00:45:40.319 --> 00:45:40.539
 God

00:45:40.539 --> 00:45:40.739
 has

00:45:40.739 --> 00:45:41.239
 destroyed

00:45:41.239 --> 00:45:41.719
 all

00:45:41.719 --> 00:45:42.139
 human

00:45:42.139 --> 00:45:42.819
 pretensions

00:45:42.819 --> 00:45:43.519
 to

00:45:43.519 --> 00:45:43.859
 save

00:45:43.859 --> 00:45:44.359
 themselves

00:45:44.359 --> 00:45:45.480
 because

00:45:45.480 --> 00:45:45.639
 if

00:45:45.639 --> 00:45:45.739
 you

00:45:45.739 --> 00:45:45.920
 look

00:45:45.920 --> 00:45:46.239
 around

00:45:46.239 --> 00:45:46.519
 our

00:45:46.519 --> 00:45:46.859
 world

00:45:46.859 --> 00:45:47.119
 is

00:45:47.119 --> 00:45:47.559
 full

00:45:47.559 --> 00:45:47.859
 of

00:45:47.859 --> 00:45:48.239
 human

00:45:48.239 --> 00:45:48.579
 wisdom

00:45:48.579 --> 00:45:48.839
 and

00:45:48.839 --> 00:45:49.219
 human

00:45:49.219 --> 00:45:49.759
 strategies

00:45:49.759 --> 00:45:49.980
 for

00:45:49.980 --> 00:45:50.440
 salvation.

00:45:53.539 --> 00:45:54.299
 Human

00:45:54.299 --> 00:45:54.659
 wisdom

00:45:54.659 --> 00:45:55.139
 believes

00:45:55.139 --> 00:45:55.440
 that

00:45:55.440 --> 00:45:56.420
 capitalistic

00:45:56.420 --> 00:45:57.000
 economies

00:45:57.000 --> 00:45:57.339
 and

00:45:57.339 --> 00:45:57.460
 the

00:45:57.460 --> 00:45:57.900
 generation

00:45:57.900 --> 00:45:58.119
 of

00:45:58.119 --> 00:45:58.579
 wealth

00:45:58.579 --> 00:45:59.639
 or

00:45:59.639 --> 00:45:59.839
 the

00:45:59.839 --> 00:46:00.480
 socialistic

00:46:00.480 --> 00:46:01.299
 redistribution

00:46:01.299 --> 00:46:01.579
 of

00:46:01.579 --> 00:46:01.980
 wealth

00:46:01.980 --> 00:46:02.859
 can

00:46:02.859 --> 00:46:03.519
 solve

00:46:03.519 --> 00:46:04.239
 poverty

00:46:04.239 --> 00:46:04.519
 and

00:46:04.519 --> 00:46:04.679
 all

00:46:04.679 --> 00:46:04.859
 these

00:46:04.859 --> 00:46:05.139
 human

00:46:05.139 --> 00:46:05.539
 ills.

00:46:07.379 --> 00:46:08.139
 Human

00:46:08.139 --> 00:46:08.480
 wisdom

00:46:08.480 --> 00:46:08.960
 believes

00:46:08.960 --> 00:46:09.139
 that

00:46:09.139 --> 00:46:09.299
 if

00:46:09.299 --> 00:46:09.480
 we

00:46:09.480 --> 00:46:09.759
 have

00:46:09.759 --> 00:46:10.059
 just

00:46:10.059 --> 00:46:10.480
 enough

00:46:10.480 --> 00:46:11.279
 technology

00:46:11.280 --> 00:46:12.000
 if

00:46:12.000 --> 00:46:12.140
 we

00:46:12.140 --> 00:46:12.360
 have

00:46:12.360 --> 00:46:12.680
 just

00:46:12.680 --> 00:46:13.000
 enough

00:46:13.000 --> 00:46:13.700
 scientific

00:46:13.700 --> 00:46:14.500
 advancements

00:46:14.500 --> 00:46:14.820
 that

00:46:14.820 --> 00:46:14.920
 we

00:46:14.920 --> 00:46:15.060
 can

00:46:15.060 --> 00:46:15.519
 solve

00:46:15.519 --> 00:46:15.820
 all

00:46:15.820 --> 00:46:15.920
 of

00:46:15.920 --> 00:46:16.019
 the

00:46:16.019 --> 00:46:16.420
 world's

00:46:16.420 --> 00:46:16.980
 problems.

00:46:18.560 --> 00:46:19.240
 Human

00:46:19.240 --> 00:46:19.600
 wisdom

00:46:19.600 --> 00:46:20.080
 believes

00:46:20.080 --> 00:46:20.260
 that

00:46:20.260 --> 00:46:20.700
 proper

00:46:20.700 --> 00:46:21.400
 education

00:46:21.400 --> 00:46:21.840
 will

00:46:21.840 --> 00:46:22.860
 bring

00:46:22.860 --> 00:46:23.100
 an end

00:46:23.100 --> 00:46:23.240
 to

00:46:23.240 --> 00:46:23.500
 human

00:46:23.500 --> 00:46:23.960
 ignorance

00:46:23.960 --> 00:46:24.160
 and

00:46:24.160 --> 00:46:24.780
 misdemeanors.

00:46:25.920 --> 00:46:26.500
 Human

00:46:26.500 --> 00:46:26.840
 wisdom

00:46:26.840 --> 00:46:27.260
 believes

00:46:27.260 --> 00:46:27.440
 that

00:46:27.440 --> 00:46:27.620
 through

00:46:27.620 --> 00:46:28.340
 self-help

00:46:28.340 --> 00:46:28.920
 techniques

00:46:28.920 --> 00:46:29.260
 like

00:46:29.260 --> 00:46:30.040
 yoga

00:46:30.040 --> 00:46:30.480
 and

00:46:30.480 --> 00:46:31.440
 mindfulness

00:46:31.440 --> 00:46:32.380
 and

00:46:32.380 --> 00:46:33.220
 dieting

00:46:33.220 --> 00:46:35.820
 that

00:46:35.820 --> 00:46:35.960
 we

00:46:35.960 --> 00:46:36.120
 could

00:46:36.120 --> 00:46:36.519
 attain

00:46:36.519 --> 00:46:37.019
 health

00:46:37.019 --> 00:46:37.260
 and

00:46:37.260 --> 00:46:37.580
 peace

00:46:37.580 --> 00:46:37.720
 in

00:46:37.720 --> 00:46:37.840
 the

00:46:37.840 --> 00:46:38.160
 world.

00:46:38.159 --> 00:46:40.119
 that's

00:46:40.119 --> 00:46:40.259
 like

00:46:40.259 --> 00:46:40.500
 telling

00:46:40.500 --> 00:46:40.859
 people

00:46:40.859 --> 00:46:41.039
 that

00:46:41.039 --> 00:46:41.159
 you

00:46:41.159 --> 00:46:41.319
 can

00:46:41.319 --> 00:46:41.519
 cure

00:46:41.519 --> 00:46:41.940
 cancer

00:46:41.940 --> 00:46:42.119
 by

00:46:42.119 --> 00:46:42.299
 eating

00:46:42.299 --> 00:46:42.779
 blueberries.

00:46:48.199 --> 00:46:49.000
 Human

00:46:49.000 --> 00:46:49.359
 wisdom

00:46:49.359 --> 00:46:49.859
 believes

00:46:49.859 --> 00:46:50.059
 that

00:46:50.059 --> 00:46:50.599
 advancement

00:46:50.599 --> 00:46:50.839
 of

00:46:50.839 --> 00:46:51.359
 philosophy

00:46:51.359 --> 00:46:51.719
 and

00:46:51.719 --> 00:46:52.119
 learning

00:46:52.119 --> 00:46:52.619
 can

00:46:52.619 --> 00:46:52.899
 lead

00:46:52.899 --> 00:46:53.079
 to

00:46:53.079 --> 00:46:53.559
 enlightenment

00:46:53.559 --> 00:46:54.239
 and

00:46:54.239 --> 00:46:54.819
 salvation.

00:46:56.099 --> 00:46:56.899
 Human

00:46:56.899 --> 00:46:57.259
 wisdom

00:46:57.259 --> 00:46:57.719
 believes

00:46:57.719 --> 00:46:57.920
 that

00:46:57.920 --> 00:46:58.480
 worshiping

00:46:58.480 --> 00:46:58.920
 idols

00:46:58.920 --> 00:46:59.460
 created

00:46:59.460 --> 00:46:59.940
 by our

00:46:59.940 --> 00:47:00.179
 own

00:47:00.179 --> 00:47:00.719
 hands

00:47:00.719 --> 00:47:01.639
 can

00:47:01.639 --> 00:47:01.920
 bring

00:47:01.920 --> 00:47:02.460
 salvation

00:47:02.460 --> 00:47:02.779
 to

00:47:02.779 --> 00:47:03.159
 people.

00:47:03.159 --> 00:47:05.920
 in

00:47:05.920 --> 00:47:06.579
 essence

00:47:06.579 --> 00:47:07.480
 human

00:47:07.480 --> 00:47:07.899
 wisdom

00:47:07.899 --> 00:47:08.579
 believes

00:47:08.579 --> 00:47:09.420
 that

00:47:09.420 --> 00:47:09.920
 we

00:47:09.920 --> 00:47:10.839
 have

00:47:10.839 --> 00:47:11.019
 the

00:47:11.019 --> 00:47:11.440
 power

00:47:11.440 --> 00:47:12.079
 to

00:47:12.079 --> 00:47:12.500
 save

00:47:12.500 --> 00:47:13.159
 ourselves.

00:47:15.639 --> 00:47:16.279
 That

00:47:16.279 --> 00:47:16.619
 is the

00:47:16.619 --> 00:47:16.960
 essence

00:47:16.960 --> 00:47:17.379
 of human

00:47:17.379 --> 00:47:17.659
 wisdom.

00:47:19.519 --> 00:47:19.739
 And

00:47:19.739 --> 00:47:20.359
 as such

00:47:20.359 --> 00:47:20.879
 there are

00:47:20.879 --> 00:47:21.599
 pretensions

00:47:21.599 --> 00:47:22.119
 of human

00:47:22.119 --> 00:47:22.559
 pride

00:47:22.559 --> 00:47:23.319
 and they

00:47:23.319 --> 00:47:23.659
 amount

00:47:23.659 --> 00:47:24.000
 to the

00:47:24.000 --> 00:47:24.299
 worship

00:47:24.299 --> 00:47:24.799
 of the

00:47:24.799 --> 00:47:25.199
 creature

00:47:25.199 --> 00:47:25.980
 instead

00:47:25.980 --> 00:47:26.259
 of the

00:47:26.259 --> 00:47:26.619
 creator.

00:47:29.679 --> 00:47:30.339
 But

00:47:30.339 --> 00:47:30.779
 God

00:47:30.779 --> 00:47:31.159
 has

00:47:31.159 --> 00:47:31.659
 made

00:47:31.659 --> 00:47:32.420
 foolish

00:47:32.420 --> 00:47:32.980
 the

00:47:32.980 --> 00:47:33.340
 wisdom

00:47:33.340 --> 00:47:33.700
 of the

00:47:33.700 --> 00:47:34.059
 world

00:47:34.059 --> 00:47:34.840
 by

00:47:34.840 --> 00:47:35.380
 ordaining

00:47:35.380 --> 00:47:35.700
 that

00:47:35.700 --> 00:47:35.960
 through

00:47:35.960 --> 00:47:36.200
 the

00:47:36.200 --> 00:47:36.840
 folly

00:47:36.840 --> 00:47:37.119
 of

00:47:37.119 --> 00:47:37.420
 what

00:47:37.420 --> 00:47:37.700
 we

00:47:37.700 --> 00:47:38.079
 preach

00:47:38.079 --> 00:47:38.460
 to

00:47:38.460 --> 00:47:39.039
 save

00:47:39.039 --> 00:47:39.539
 those

00:47:39.539 --> 00:47:39.960
 who

00:47:39.960 --> 00:47:40.740
 believe.

00:47:41.519 --> 00:47:42.019
 It's

00:47:42.019 --> 00:47:42.280
 not

00:47:42.280 --> 00:47:42.639
 those

00:47:42.639 --> 00:47:42.820
 who

00:47:42.820 --> 00:47:43.240
 claim

00:47:43.240 --> 00:47:43.599
 to be

00:47:43.599 --> 00:47:43.780
 able

00:47:43.780 --> 00:47:43.980
 to

00:47:43.980 --> 00:47:44.240
 save

00:47:44.240 --> 00:47:44.720
 themselves.

00:47:45.019 --> 00:47:45.360
 It's

00:47:45.360 --> 00:47:45.659
 only

00:47:45.659 --> 00:47:46.019
 those

00:47:46.019 --> 00:47:46.180
 who

00:47:46.180 --> 00:47:46.559
 believe

00:47:46.559 --> 00:47:46.740
 that

00:47:46.740 --> 00:47:46.920
 they

00:47:46.920 --> 00:47:47.280
 cannot

00:47:47.280 --> 00:47:47.740
 save

00:47:47.740 --> 00:47:48.240
 themselves

00:47:48.240 --> 00:47:48.680
 and

00:47:48.680 --> 00:47:49.099
 cast

00:47:49.099 --> 00:47:49.579
 themselves

00:47:49.579 --> 00:47:49.820
 at

00:47:49.820 --> 00:47:49.980
 the

00:47:49.980 --> 00:47:50.240
 feet

00:47:50.240 --> 00:47:50.400
 of

00:47:50.400 --> 00:47:50.760
 Jesus

00:47:50.760 --> 00:47:51.360
 saying

00:47:51.360 --> 00:47:51.559
 I

00:47:51.559 --> 00:47:51.840
 need

00:47:51.840 --> 00:47:52.019
 you

00:47:52.019 --> 00:47:52.260
 to

00:47:52.260 --> 00:47:52.519
 save

00:47:52.519 --> 00:47:52.700
 me

00:47:52.700 --> 00:47:53.119
 Lord.

00:47:54.119 --> 00:47:54.280
 I

00:47:54.280 --> 00:47:54.420
 need

00:47:54.420 --> 00:47:54.639
 your

00:47:54.639 --> 00:47:55.059
 grace

00:47:55.059 --> 00:47:55.240
 in

00:47:55.240 --> 00:47:55.400
 my

00:47:55.400 --> 00:47:55.639
 life

00:47:55.639 --> 00:47:55.900
 because

00:47:55.900 --> 00:47:56.099
 I

00:47:56.099 --> 00:47:56.360
 cannot

00:47:56.360 --> 00:47:56.720
 save

00:47:56.720 --> 00:47:57.139
 myself.

00:47:57.460 --> 00:47:57.780
 These

00:47:57.780 --> 00:47:58.019
 are

00:47:58.019 --> 00:47:58.200
 the

00:47:58.199 --> 00:47:58.559
 people

00:47:58.559 --> 00:47:58.819
 who

00:47:58.819 --> 00:47:58.980
 are

00:47:58.980 --> 00:47:59.460
 truly

00:47:59.460 --> 00:47:59.980
 wise.

00:48:00.839 --> 00:48:01.019
 They

00:48:01.019 --> 00:48:01.159
 are

00:48:01.159 --> 00:48:01.279
 the

00:48:01.279 --> 00:48:01.519
 ones

00:48:01.519 --> 00:48:01.639
 who

00:48:01.639 --> 00:48:01.759
 are

00:48:01.759 --> 00:48:02.079
 truly

00:48:02.079 --> 00:48:02.759
 saved.

00:48:03.879 --> 00:48:04.519
 Only

00:48:04.519 --> 00:48:05.119
 those

00:48:05.119 --> 00:48:05.519
 who

00:48:05.519 --> 00:48:06.039
 humble

00:48:06.039 --> 00:48:06.519
 themselves

00:48:06.519 --> 00:48:06.899
 before

00:48:06.899 --> 00:48:07.379
 God

00:48:07.379 --> 00:48:08.460
 attain

00:48:08.460 --> 00:48:09.480
 saving

00:48:09.480 --> 00:48:10.239
 wisdom.

00:48:10.239 --> 00:48:16.659
 So if

00:48:16.659 --> 00:48:16.779
 you

00:48:16.779 --> 00:48:17.039
 want

00:48:17.039 --> 00:48:17.319
 to

00:48:17.319 --> 00:48:17.959
 begin

00:48:17.959 --> 00:48:18.119
 in

00:48:18.119 --> 00:48:18.459
 earnest

00:48:18.459 --> 00:48:18.739
 your

00:48:18.739 --> 00:48:19.179
 quest

00:48:19.179 --> 00:48:19.399
 for

00:48:19.399 --> 00:48:19.859
 knowledge

00:48:19.859 --> 00:48:22.019
 to

00:48:22.019 --> 00:48:22.279
 start

00:48:22.279 --> 00:48:22.500
 your

00:48:22.500 --> 00:48:23.259
 journey

00:48:23.259 --> 00:48:23.519
 on the

00:48:23.519 --> 00:48:23.819
 path

00:48:23.819 --> 00:48:23.959
 of

00:48:23.959 --> 00:48:24.299
 wisdom

00:48:24.299 --> 00:48:28.459
 I

00:48:28.459 --> 00:48:28.739
 exhort

00:48:28.739 --> 00:48:28.859
 you

00:48:28.859 --> 00:48:29.079
 this

00:48:29.079 --> 00:48:29.279
 morning

00:48:29.279 --> 00:48:29.459
 to

00:48:29.459 --> 00:48:29.599
 come

00:48:29.599 --> 00:48:29.739
 to

00:48:29.739 --> 00:48:30.119
 Christ.

00:48:32.919 --> 00:48:33.439
 He

00:48:33.439 --> 00:48:33.639
 is

00:48:33.639 --> 00:48:33.779
 the

00:48:33.779 --> 00:48:34.000
 wisdom

00:48:34.000 --> 00:48:34.179
 of

00:48:34.179 --> 00:48:34.419
 God.

00:48:40.239 --> 00:48:42.879
 Please

00:48:42.879 --> 00:48:43.239
 take a

00:48:43.239 --> 00:48:43.559
 moment to

00:48:43.559 --> 00:48:44.039
 reflect on

00:48:44.039 --> 00:48:44.739
 that and

00:48:44.739 --> 00:48:45.259
 we're

00:48:45.259 --> 00:48:45.399
 going to

00:48:45.399 --> 00:48:46.439
 respond by

00:48:46.439 --> 00:48:46.779
 praying

00:48:46.779 --> 00:48:47.159
 corporately

00:48:47.159 --> 00:48:47.719
 together at

00:48:47.719 --> 00:48:47.839
 the

00:48:47.839 --> 00:48:48.099
 church.