Study Notes: Proverbs: The Power of Wisdom, Discernment & Choices
Main idea: Scripture is constantly putting before us two choices, two
paths (see Joshua 24:14-15; I Samuel 12:24-25, Matthew 7:13-14)
Proverbs speaks of the way of wisdom and the way of foolishness.
The way of wisdom will lead to life, blessing and goodness and the
way of foolishness will lead to devastation and eventually death. Every
day we make 100s if not 1000s of decisions about different thingssome have little impact on us like shall I have a cup of tea or a cup of
coffee; other decisions (despite at times seeming small) have much
more significance on our lives. Proverbs provides godly wisdom for
daily living. As we read it and learn from it we ask God for His wisdom,
discernment and strengthening in the life choices we make.
The passage that we will focus on invites us to follow the way of the
Lord – it is a great invitation beckoning us to trust in God
wholeheartedly.
Activity Ideas:
1. Video summary www.goldhill.org/proverbs
2. Getting through life- make a list of things that you rely on to get you
through the day. Your list might include coffee, a conversation with a
friend, a bowl of Scottish Porridge oats, a warm shower… encourage
people to be honest. What would they not be able to do without?
3. Some of you would have used Diamond 9s in the 1 Kings study. Use
the same method to have a discussion on sources of wisdom/voices
speaking into your life. Criteria may include obviously God ☺,
Parents, Bible, friends, horrorscope, magazines, colleagues, …
4. Play physical trust exercise- learning to lean/fall into someone else’s
arms and they catch you. What helps you trust the person and their
ability to catch you?
Study
Spend time worshipping God together during the study at some point.
It might be good to simply listen to God for each other. What would
the Lord say to you to share with someone in the group? As leaders
pray specifically for this prior to the session. If the book of Proverbs
is a collection of sayings of wisdom from God is there one that God
places on your heart for someone specific speaking into the
situation(s) they find themselves in?
Today’s study is focusing in on two key and quite well known verses from
the book of Proverbs. Use one of the activities suggested above to start
your study time together as a way in and then read these verses (It may be
helpful to print these and other varied translations out for the group to
hear as they each help understand the thrust of the verse’s instruction).
Proverbs 3:5-6 (NRSV) Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not
rely on your own insight. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will
make straight your paths.
Proverbs 3:5-6 (NLT) 5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend
on your own understanding. 6 Seek his will in all you do, and he will show
you which path to take.
Proverbs 3:5-6 (AMP) 5 Lean on, trust in, and be confident in the Lord with
all your heart and mind and do not rely on your own insight or
understanding.6 In all your ways know, recognize, and acknowledge Him,
and He will direct and make straight and plain your paths.
Proverbs 3:5-12 (MSG) 5-6 Trust GOD from the bottom of your heart; don’t
try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for GOD’s voice in
everything you do, everywhere you go; he’s the one who will keep you on
track.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding ..”
In whom are we invited to trust? In what are we told to abandon? Note: To
trust means “to lean our whole weight upon”. We are invited to place our
whole weight upon God.
Are there times when you find it easy to trust in God? Give examples. Are
there times when you find it hard to trust in God? Give examples. What
have you learned about God after those hard times? What barriers may
there be to leaning not on our own understanding?
God is immeasurable. He is the awesome Lord most High. He is the God of
Angels Armies. Therefore… we can trust in him. We can place the whole
weight of our worries upon him because he is able to take them and he
invites us to place them on him. Consider reading a passage like Isaiah
40:9-31 picturing God in his greatness and then read 1 Peter 5:7 (NB also
note verse 6 in 1 Peter 5- humility first as we come before God- fear of the
Lord, recognition of Him in his greatness- (Proverbs 1:7)).
What does it say about God’s strength, might and power? How is God
superior to “your own understanding? Does this affect the amount of trust
you have in Him?
What does the proverb say is to be the quality of our trust? Is it to be
partial? What would it look like for you to trust God wholeheartedly with
your finances? What would it look like for you to trust God
wholeheartedly with your marriage? What would it look like for you to
trust God wholeheartedly with your faith? We are called to wholeheartedly
trust- our whole life- every part!
.... In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.”
What are some ways that we can “acknowledge” God in our daily living
and decision making?
What does this proverb say will be the result of trusting God
wholeheartedly? How have you experienced God’s leading in your life?
What does it look like?
For reflection:
There’s an old hymn entitled, “He Leadeth Me.” The chorus goes like this:
“He leadeth me, He leadeth me, by his own hand he leadeth me; His
faithful follower I would be for by his hand he leadeth me.”
We know from Scripture that God leads us. He led Abraham out of his
country of Ur of the Chaldeans into Canaan. He led the Israelites out of
Egypt. He led Nehemiah in the restoration of the walls of Jerusalem.
He led the disciples to be his witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and
the ends of the earth. God will lead you too. All it takes is trust. We are
called to place the whole weight of our troubles, worries, cares, decisions
and desires upon Him. We can rest assured that as we do this
wholeheartedly - God will lead us, hold us and care for us.
For prayer:
Spend time giving thanks to God for those times in life when you have
known his leading. Rededicate yourself to trusting Him with all areas of
your life. It might be that some group members want to share specific
needs and requests for God to give wisdom. You may have words or
pictures given by God to be shared- do weigh and test as to whether it is
appropriate to share directly and publically with that person and share
them humbly and sensitively.