THE AUDITORIUM SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS

DECEMBER 17TH, 2006

PROVERBS 1:24-28

THE FOUR SPECIFIC CRIES OF WISDOM

 

 

Introduction:     IN the last lesson, we learned that Wisdom cries out from the sinful places, and that a godly son will hear that voice.

 

 

I.     We are told that Wisdom cries out (20-21), but there are FOUR ways that Wisdom cries:

(24-25).

 

     A.     Wisdom’s cry is sometimes a “call.”   (24)

               -   “I have called, and ye refused.”

 

          1.     Wisdom cries out from the lips of preachers, teachers, and godly parents and grandparents.

 

          2.     Wisdom cries out from the human conscience.

 

          3.     God has ordained that His Word be preached and taught.

               -     This is Wisdom calling.

 

     B.     Wisdom STRETCHES OUT HER HANDS to the wicked generation.   (24)

 

          1.     A demonstration of  God calling with outstretched hands is Isaiah 65:1-3.

 

          2.     Wisdom can be seen in the welcoming  embrace of a godly parent embracing a wayward child; or, the open arms of a friend who has forgiven the wrongs committed against him.

 

     C.     Wisdom cries out sometimes in godly COUNSEL.   (25)

 

          1.     The Bible verses that you know act as a source of counsel.

 

          2.     The sermons and lessons that you hear are sources of counsel.

 

          3.     The training of godly parents and grandparents are really the cries of Wisdom’s counsel.

 

     D.     If  CALLS, OUTSTRETCHED HANDS, and COUNSEL are not effective, Wisdom’s last recourse is “REPROOF.”   (25)

 

          1.     If  men are not moved by the promises of Heaven, then maybe they will be moved by the threats of Hell.

 

          2.     The Word of God is full of reproof.   (Psalm 9:17 and Luke 13:3-5)

 

     E.     These are the four steps taken by God to turn wicked people to Himself.

 

          1.     The godly son observes the worldly rejection of all that is good and right.

 

          2.      Each cry of Wisdom is rejected by wicked men.

II.     The response of Wisdom when wicked men reject her.   (26-28)

 

     A.     When calamity finally comes, Wisdom laughs.

 

          1.     Wicked men have ridiculed  Wisdom.

 

          2.     Wicked men reject Wisdom, and Wisdom laughs at their folly.

 

     B.     Wisdom mocks at he fear of wicked men.   (26)

 

          -     When wicked men choose sin, they will be haunted by the cries of Wisdom in their consciences.

 

III.     The wicked generation is quickly destroyed.   (27)

 

     A.     Their fear will overwhelm them.   (27)

 

     B.     Their destruction will come as a whirlwind.   (27)

 

     C.     The end of a wicked life is filled with “distress and anguish.”   (27)

 

IV.     There is a line that wicked men can cross with God that is too far.   (28)

 

     A.     There is much debate about the invisible lines of God, and no opportunity to repent.

 

          1.     This verse states that sinners can go too far.

 

          2.     The Bible contains many examples of people going too far, and being destroyed.

 

     B.     Verse 28 describes people who are crying out to God AFTER the rejection of Wisdom’s cry.

 

          1.     They are not calling out to God in order to turn towards God, as stated in verse 23.

 

          2.     They are calling out to God to save them from the reproof of their own sinful ways.

 

          3.     Turning to God because your heart hates sin (repentance) brings salvation.   (23)

 

          4.     Turning to God to escape punishment of sin, without repentance, implies an unchanged heart towards sin.

 

          5.      There must be repentance in the heart, that coincides with fear in the mind.

 

 

 

Conclusion:     The godly son, ( verses 10 and 15), sees these lessons in the world, and they register in his mind.