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Notes – Compiled by Marc Bredenkamp
People, Wise And Otherwise – Part 2
24-12-2006
Prov 9:1-18 1 Wisdom has built her house, she has hewn out her seven pillars; 2 She has
slaughtered her meat, she has mixed her wine, she has also furnished her table. 3 She has
sent out her maidens, she cries out from the highest places of the city, 4
"Whoever
is
simple, let him turn in here!" As for him who lacks understanding, she says to him, 5
"Come, eat of my bread and drink of the wine I have mixed. 6 Forsake foolishness and live,
and go in the way of understanding. 7 "He who corrects a scoffer gets shame for himself,
and he who rebukes a wicked man only harms himself. 8 Do not correct a scoffer, lest he
hate you; rebuke a wise man, and he will love you. 9 Give instruction to a wise man, and
he will be still wiser; teach a just man, and he will increase in learning. 10 "The fear of the
LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
11 For by me your days will be multiplied, and years of life will be added to you. 12 If you
are wise, you are wise for yourself, and if you scoff, you will bear it alone." 13 A foolish
woman is clamorous; she is simple, and knows nothing. 14 For she sits at the door of her
house, on a seat by the highest places of the city, 15 To call to those who pass by, who go
straight on their way: 16 "Whoever is simple, let him turn in here"; and as for him who
lacks understanding, she says to him, 17
"Stolen water is sweet, and bread eaten in
secret is pleasant." 18 But he does not know that the dead are there, that her guests are in
the depths of hell. (NKJ)
In the previous session we looked in depth at the characteristics that govern the behaviors of the
wicked man, the fool, the scoffer and the simple. In particular we got better acquainted with
“the terrible trio” —the simple, the scoffers, and the fools. You will meet these three
frequently as you read the Book of Proverbs. You’ll recall that in her first invitation, Wisdom
called to all three of them (Prov. 1:22), but in her second invitation, she called only to the
simple and the fools ( Prov. 8:5). The scoffer wasn’t even interested in listening; he had dropped
out of the picture. Then, in her third invitation, Wisdom called only to the simple (Prov.9:4),
because the fools had turned away and joined the scoffers.
1.The wicked man.… Prov 6:12-19 12 A worthless person, a wicked man, walks
with a perverse mouth; 13 He winks with his eyes, he shuffles his feet, he points with his
fingers; 14 Perversity is in his heart, he devises evil continually, he sows discord. 15
Therefore his calamity shall come suddenly; suddenly he shall be broken without
remedy.16 These six things the LORD hates, yes, seven are an abomination to Him: 17 A
proud look, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, 18 A heart that devises
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wicked plans, feet that are swift in running to evil, 19 A false witness who speaks lies, and
one who sows discord among brethren. (NKJ) (Italics mine)
2. The foolish man…Prov 23:9 Do not speak in the hearing of a fool, for he will
despise the wisdom of your words. (NKJ) The English words “fool” and “folly” come from
the Latin “follies”, which means “bellows.” It also described a person’s puffed-up cheeks.
Follis indicates that a fool is a windbag, somebody full of air but lacking in substance. "Wise men
learn more from fools than fools from wise men." - Cato the Elder
In Proverbs, three different Hebrew words are translated “fool”: “kesyl”, the dull, stupid fool
who is stubborn; “ewiyl”, the corrupt fool who is morally perverted and unreasonable; and
“nabal”, the fool who is like a stubborn animal, the brutish fool. (See 1 Sam. 25.)
3. The simple…Prov 14:15 A simple man believes anything, but a prudent man gives
thought to his steps.(NIV)The simple are the naive people who believe everything, because
they don’t have convictions about anything. What they think is sophisticated “tolerance” is
only spiritual ignorance, because they lack the ability to discriminate between truth and
error. The simple are simple because they reject the truth of God’s Word that gives “prudence
[common sense] to the simple” According to them, whatever “feels good” down inside is
truth for you; nobody has the right to criticize you for what you believe.
4. The scorner… Prov.15:12 Know-it-alls don’t like being told what to do; they avoid
the company of wise men and women. (The Message Bible) Scorners are people who think
they know everything, and anybody who tries to teach them is only wasting time. “Proud and
haughty scorner [scoffer] is his name” (Prov.21:24). Scorners can’t find wisdom even if they
seek for it, because learning God’s truth demands a humble mind and an obedient will. What
scorners lack in knowledge they make up for in arrogance. Instead of sensibly discussing a
matter with those who could teach them, they only sneer at truth and deny it.
Today we will look at the characteristics and the behaviors that govern the wise!
Job 28:20-28 20 "From where then does wisdom come? And where is the place of
understanding? 21It is hidden from the eyes of all living, and concealed from the birds of
the air. 22 Destruction and Death say, 'We have heard a report about it with our ears.' 23
God understands its way, and He knows its place. 24 For He looks to the ends of the earth,
and sees under the whole heavens, 25 To establish a weight for the wind, and apportion
out the waters by measure. 26 When He made a law for the rain, and a path for the
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thunderbolt, 27 then He saw wisdom and declared it; he prepared it, indeed, He searched it
out. 28 And to man He said, 'Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to depart
from evil is understanding.' " (NKJ)
If we truly “fear the Lord,” we acknowledge from our hearts that He’s the Creator, we’re the
creatures; He’s the Father, we’re His children; He’s the Master, we’re the servants. It means to
respect God for who He is, to listen carefully to what He says, and to obey His Word; knowing
that our disobedience displeases Him, breaks our fellowship with Him, and invites His
chastening. It’s not the servile fear of the slave before the master but the reverential and
respectful fear of the child before the parent. Louis Goldberg says that wisdom means
exhibiting “His [God’s] character in the many practical affairs of life.”
Wisdom isn’t some abstract treasure that’s so far away we can’t grasp it. Through His Word and
by His Spirit, God is every day calling us to the life of wisdom. If we want to live wisely, we must
begin with commitment to Jesus Christ, who is “the wisdom of God” (1 Cor. 1:30). Wisdom and
Folly each want to control our lives, and we must make the choice. Educated and trained
people who ignore or reject Christ can succeed in making a good living, but without Him
they can never succeed in making a good life—one that glorifies God. The wisest thing a
person can do is to trust Christ and live in obedience to Him.
James 3:13-18 13 Do you want to be counted wise, to build a reputation for wisdom?
Here’s what you do: Live well, live wisely, live humbly. It’s the way you live, not the way
you talk, that counts. 14 Mean-spirited ambition isn’t wisdom. Boasting that you are wise
isn’t wisdom. Twisting the truth to make yourselves sound wise isn’t wisdom. 15 It’s the
furthest thing from wisdom—it’s animal cunning, devilish conniving.
16 Whenever you’re trying to look better than others or get the better of others, things fall
apart and everyone ends up at the others’ throats. 17 Real wisdom, God’s wisdom, begins
with a holy life and is characterized by getting along with others. It is gentle and
reasonable, overflowing with mercy and blessings, not hot one day and cold the next, not
two-faced. 18 You can develop a healthy, robust community that lives right with God and
enjoy its results only if you do the hard work of getting along with each other, treating
each other with dignity and honor. (The Message Bible)
•
The Hebrew word for wisdom “chockmah” refers to the knowledge, skill and ability to make
the right decisions and choices at the opportune times. Consistent right choices are a clear
indication of our relationship with God, maturity and the ability to discern the Divine will, tact,
and expertise in working “artfully” and correct To be enlightened, having understanding and
divine insight.
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1. He that knows not and knows not that he knows not; He is a fool—shun him!
2. He that knows not and knows that he knows not; He is simple—teach him!
3. He that knows and knows not that he knows; He is asleep—wake him!
4. He that knows and knows that he knows; He is a wise man—follow him!
—Gospel Herald —Encyclopedia of 15,000 Illustrations
5. Wisdom…Prov 4:7 Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom. And in all
your getting, get understanding. (NKJ)
Let’s consider some of the important characteristics of wise people.
1. Wise people listen to wise instruction, especially the Word of God. Prov 1:5 A wise man
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will hear and increase in learning, And a man of understanding will acquire wise counsel,
Wise people pay attention to spoken instruction as well as to the written Word of God (Prov
22:17–21). Jesus warns us to take heed what we hear (Mark 4:24) and how we hear (Luke
8:18).
Prov. 19:27 Stop listening to instruction, my son, and you will stray from the words of
knowledge (NIV).
Prov 23:23 Buy the truth, and do not sell it, also wisdom and instruction and
understanding (NKJV).
It costs something to acquire wisdom, there is a price to pay, but it’s worth it! This means that we
must diligently spend time reading and studying the Word of God, appropriating its truths into our
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hearts, and obeying what God commands. Those who are wise profit from rebuke and from
advice. They don’t think so highly of themselves that they can’t learn from others. If we’re “wise in
our own eyes,” we certainly won’t be wise in God’s eyes! Wise people remain humble otherwise
the negative side to developing the spiritual essential of knowledge is pride. This is the end result
of those who do not develop the fruit of the Spirit. Prov 8:1-2 1 Now let’s talk about food that
has been sacrificed to idols. You think that everyone should agree with your perfect
knowledge. While knowledge may make us feel important, it is love that really builds up
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the church. Anyone who claims to know all the answers doesn’t really know very much.
2.Wise people fear the Lord. Prov 1;7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. “Do
not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and depart from evil” (3:7). We’ve already
1New American Standard Bible : 1995 update. 1995 . The Lockman Foundation: LaHabra, CA
2Wiersbe, W. W. 1996, c1995. Be skillful. An Old Testament study. Victor Books: Wheaton, Ill.
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learned that “fearing the Lord” means respecting Him so that we obey His will and seek to honor
His name. Fearing the Lord is the opposite of tempting the Lord by deliberately disobeying Him
and then daring Him to intervene.
The fear of the Lord is “a fountain of life” (Prov. 14:27). It gives security (14:26), hope (23:17–
18), and the promise of long life (10:27). When you fear the Lord, you keep your priorities
straight. Prov 15:16 Better is a little with the fear of the Lord, than great treasure with
trouble (NKJV).
3. Wise people associate with wise people. Prov 13:20 Become wise by walking with the
wise; hang out with fools and watch your life fall to pieces. (The Message Bible)
As we read and study Scripture, we associate with the wise men and women of Bible history and
learn from them. By spending time with godly friends, we can learn wisdom and grow in our
knowledge of Christ. As I look back over my Christian pilgrimage, I thank God for the many
people the Lord brought into my life to help me better understand the wisdom and ways of the
Lord. Prov 12:26 A righteous man is cautious in friendship, but the way of the wicked leads
them astray (NIV).
One of the best ways to “walk with the wise” is to read and study church history and Christian
biography. I didn’t have the privilege of knowing personally J. Hudson Taylor, Amy Carmichael,
St. Augustine, Dwight L. Moody, Billy Sunday, G. Campbell Morgan, Fanny Crosby, Robert
Murray, M’Cheyne, Watchman Nee, Oral Roberts, William Branham, Billy Graham etc, but by
reading certain biographies, sermons and letters, I’ve benefited from their walk with the Lord.
4. Wise people preserve what they’ve gained and they use it. Prov 10:14 The wise
accumulate knowledge—a true treasure; know-it-alls talk too much—a sheer waste. (The
Message Bible)
Prov 10:14 Wise people store up knowledge, but the mouth of the foolish is near
destruction” (NKJV). If wisdom is stored in the heart, then we’ll say the right thing at the right
time, and people will be helped. But fools lose whatever wisdom they may have picked up, and
their words only bring destruction.
A parallel text is Prov 12:27: “The lazy man does not roast his game, but the diligent man
prizes his possessions” (NIV). The Scottish preacher George Morrison has a powerful sermon
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on this text entitled “Wasted Gains.” (The very title is a sermon!) What a tragedy it is when
people waste their gains by failing to use their education, the sermons and Bible lessons they’ve
2 2. George Morrison, Sunrise: Addresses from a City Pulpit (London: Hodder and Stoughton, 1903), 169-77. Kregel
Publications has embarked on the project of reprinting all of George Morrison’s books, and I recommend them to you. He was a
peerless preacher.
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heard, or the books they’ve read. Truly wise people treasure the knowledge and skills
they’ve worked hard to acquire and use this treasure to the glory of God.
Over the years, I have made good use of books that I’ve written in, notes that I have made, in my
Bible, note pads etc in which I’ve written the things God’s taught me and that I’ve learned from
others. Many times while preparing a sermon or writing a book; I have turned to these notes and
“invested” my gains. I have been horrified as I have watched students in Bible College take no
pride in their manuals prepared for them and even the notes prepared for our Sunday
teachings!!?
5. Wise people flee from sin. Prov 14:16 A wise man fears and departs from evil, but a fool
rages and is self-confident” ( NKJV). If we fear the Lord, we will hate evil. The self-confident
person isn’t wise. Joshua was self-confident and lost a battle (Josh. 7); Samson was selfconfident and became a prisoner (Jud. 16:20ff); Peter was self-confident and betrayed the Lord
three times (Luke 22:33–34). 1 Cor. 10:12Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed
lest he fall (NKJV).
Wise people don’t take unnecessary chances and experiment to see how close they can get to
the precipice without falling off. When Joseph was confronted with evil, he fled (Gen. 39:7ff)
6. Wise people discipline their speech. Prov 16;23 A wise man’s heart guides his mouth,
and his lips promote instruction (NIV). Prov 10:19 In the multitude of words sin is not
lacking, but he who restrains his lips is wise” (NKJV). The wise person realizes the power of
the tongue and keeps it under God’s control. “The fruit of the Spirit is . . . self-control” (Gal. 5:22–
23; see James 3). The speech of wise people will instruct and inspire, and you’re nourished as
you listen; the talk of fools only tears down and leaves you empty and discouraged
Eph 5: 1-7 Watch what God does, and then you do it, like children who learn proper
behavior from their parents. Mostly what God does is love you. Keep company with him
and learn a life of love. Observe how Christ loved us. His love was not cautious but
extravagant. He didn’t love in order to get something from us but to give everything of
himself to us. Love like that. Don’t allow love to turn into lust, setting off a downhill slide
into sexual promiscuity, filthy practices, or bullying greed. Though some tongues just love
the taste of gossip, Christians have better uses for language than that. Don’t talk dirty or
silly. That kind of talk doesn’t fit our style. Thanksgiving is our dialect. You can be sure
that using people or religion or things just for what you can get out of them—the usual
variations on idolatry—will get you nowhere, and certainly nowhere near the kingdom of
Christ, the kingdom of God. Don’t let yourselves get taken in by religious smooth talk.
God gets furious with people who are full of religious sales talk but want nothing to do
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with him. Don’t even hang around people like that.
3Peterson, E. H. 2003. The Message : The Bible in contemporary language . NavPress: Colorado Springs, Colo.
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Col 4:6 Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned, {as it were,} with salt, so that you
may know how you should respond to each person. (NAS)
7. Wise people are diligent in their work. Prov 10:4 Lazy hands make a man poor, but
diligent hands bring wealth. He who gathers crops in summer is a wise son, but he who
sleeps during harvest is a disgraceful son (NIV). Diligence and laziness are also key topics in
Proverbs. Solomon makes it clear that God has nothing good to say about careless, lazy people.
Wise people are working people, people who make the most of their opportunities and who carry
their share of the load. Hard work is a thrill and a joy when you’re doing the will of God; Scottish
novelist George MacDonald said, “It’s our best work that He wants, not the dregs of our
exhaustion.”
8. Wise people seek to influence others to trust the Lord. “Prov 11:30 The fruit of the
righteous is a tree of life, and he who wins souls is wise (NKJV). The word translated “wins”
means “to capture,” and the word “soul” means the “personality” The wise man knows how
to catch the person’s attention in such a way so as to be able to wisely present the good news.
Jesus told His fishermen disciples that they would be “catching men” instead of catching fish
(Luke 5:10). Wisdom leads to righteousness, and righteousness produces fruit (“a tree of life” ),
and this fruit “entices” those who are hungry for what is real and eternal. By both their lives
and their words, wise people seek to lead others to the Lord.
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