THE AUDITORIUM SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS

OCTOBER 29TH, 2006

PROVERBS 1:3-4

REASONS FOR PROVERBS

 

 

Introduction:     We have learned that Proverbs was written for several reasons:

 

     1.     To know WISDOM - seeing life from God’s perspective.

 

     2.     To know INSTRUCTION - the explanation of God’s directions.

 

     3.     To perceive the WORDS OF UNDERSTANDING - having a godly frame of mind.

 

 

I.     The fourth purpose of Proverbs is “to receive instruction in FOUR areas of life:

 

     A.     Proverbs teaches instruction in WISDOM (3).

 

          1.     Godly wisdom is to be a main priority.   (4:7)

 

          2.     Godly wisdom is more valuable than worldly riches.   (16:16)

 

          3.     Godly wisdom make us stronger spiritually.   (19:8)

 

     B.     Proverbs teaches us instruction in JUSTICE  (3).

 

          1.     Justice is interwoven with ethics and morals.

 

               -     What is considered to be moral and right is protected, and violations against these values are punished.

 

          2.     Justice is usually associated with government or leaders who sit in some form of judgment.   (8:15)

 

          3.     Justice demands that what is right for one is right for all.

 

               -     Justice is secondary to Wisdom.

 

     C.     Proverbs teaches us instruction in JUDGMENT  (3)

 

          1.     Judgment is the ability to make right decisions based on the wisdom of God, and what has been decreed to be right under God.

 

          2.     Ultimate judgment belongs to God.   (29:26)

 

          3.     Solomon’s  judgments were famous for their WISDOM, JUSTICE, and JUDGMENT.  

                                                                 (I Kings 10:7-9).

 

          4.     The lesson for us is that decision-makers need wisdom from God, first of all; a knowledge of what is Biblically right and wrong, second of all; and, the ability to combine wisdom and justice when making decisions.

     D.     Proverbs teaches us instruction in EQUITY  (3).

 

          1.     Equity is the opposite of partiality.

 

          2.     A godly decision-maker makes judgments according to an equal scale.

 

          3.     The final decision will be made based on what is right, not what is biasly preferred by the Judge.

 

II.     The fifth purpose of Proverbs is “to give subtilty to the simple.”   (4)

 

     A.     The “simple” are those who are mentally unable to grasp the basics of life.

 

               -     They are easily fooled by those who take advantage of them.   (9:4)

 

     B.     Solomon’s Proverbs gives a degree of depth to the shallow-minded.

 

          1.     “Subtilty” means cleverness or unexpected mental ability.

 

          2.     Bob Jones Sr., used to say: “It’s not a sin to borrow brains if you don’t have any of your own.”

 

          3.     All of us have mental lapses of Judgment that can be reinforced by a constant reading and studying of Proverbs.

 

III.     The sixth purpose of Proverbs is to give “knowledge and discretion” to young people.   (4)

 

     A.     This “knowledge” is a knowledge about God, God’s Word, and God’s Will.

 

          1.     Ignorance of God’s knowledge is a threat to your security.   (Hosea 4:6)

 

          2.     Proverbs is a collection of individual proverbs that form a storehouse of knowledge.

 

          3.     Proverbs makes up for the inexperience of youth.

 

     B.     “Discretion” is the protection of innocence for young people.

 

          1.     A young woman who lives loosely is an example of a person without discretion.   (11:22)

 

          2.     The Book of Proverbs gives to young people a knowledge of God that is practical.

 

 

 

Conclusion:   We will continue this chapter next Sunday.