WISE LIVING - PURSUING GOD’S WISDOM (Proverbs part 1)

Beloved brothers and sisters in Christ, what a joy it is to gather today and delve into the profound depths of God's Holy Word. Pastor Sam Merigala, in his inspiring sermon, "Pursuing God's Wisdom: Lessons from Solomon and Proverbs," opens our eyes to a crucial truth that resounds through the ages: true wisdom is not merely about what we know, but about what we do with that knowledge in obedience to our Lord. This message is a beacon of light, guiding us to live lives that truly honor and please God, making a profound difference in a world so desperately in need of divine wisdom.

Let us first turn our gaze to the life of King Solomon, a man uniquely blessed by God. Pastor Sam reminds us that Solomon was indeed the wisest man who had ever lived. When God appeared to him, Solomon humbly asked for a "discerning heart" and the ability to "distinguish between right and wrong" to govern God's people. The Lord was so pleased with this unselfish request that He not only granted Solomon a wise and discerning heart, promising that there would never be anyone like him, but also bestowed upon him "riches and honor" beyond measure, making him unequaled among kings during his lifetime. He completed the magnificent temple that his father David instructed him to build, designed and constructed a grand palace, and commanded an annual income equivalent to a staggering $328 million in our modern currency. He even earned the respect and admiration of the entire world.

Yet, despite this unparalleled blessing and abundance, Pastor Sam reveals a startling paradox. When we read Solomon's own words in the book of Ecclesiastes, we find a man who, late in life, surveyed all his accomplishments and declared them "meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun". How could a man who seemingly "had everything" fall into such despair? This, dear friends, is the central warning from Solomon's life that Pastor Sam calls us to heed.

The answer, as Pastor Sam teaches us, lies not in a lack of knowledge, but in a profound failure of obedience. He proposes a powerful formula for wisdom: "wisdom = knowledge + obedience". Solomon possessed all the knowledge; he always knew what God wanted him to do. The tragedy was, he simply didn't do it. There is a vast difference, Pastor Sam explains, between knowing the right thing to do and actually doing it. True wisdom, therefore, is demonstrated through a life of obedience, applying that knowledge in ways that honor and please the Lord. As James 1:22 powerfully declares, "Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says". Pastor Sam suggests that Solomon, in hindsight, should have asked the Lord not only for wisdom but also for the desire to be obedient.

Pastor Sam illuminates three specific sins that led to Solomon's demise, providing us with invaluable lessons to avoid similar pitfalls:

1. He did not trust in the protection of the Lord. God had explicitly forbidden Israel's kings from accumulating great numbers of horses and chariots, as this could lead them away from trusting solely in the Lord as their protector (Deuteronomy 17:16). Yet, Solomon flagrantly disobeyed, amassing "four thousand stalls for chariot horses, and twelve thousand horses". Instead of relying on God, he placed his trust in his own military might.
2. He did not trust in the promise of the Lord. Solomon constructed numerous fortified cities like Gezer, Hazor, and Megiddo, building a vast defensive perimeter around his kingdom. The irony, as Pastor Sam points out, is that God had promised Solomon's father, David, that during Solomon's reign, there would be peace and rest from all enemies (1 Chronicles 22:9). Solomon's extensive fortifications were a clear sign that he did not truly believe or trust in God's explicit promise of peace.
3. He did not trust in the provision of the Lord. Again, the Lord had forbidden the kings of Israel from marrying foreign women and accumulating large amounts of wealth (Deuteronomy 17:17). Solomon, however, ignored these divine instructions, acquiring "seven hundred wives of royal birth and three hundred concubines" to forge political alliances and secure peace, and he "amassed silver and gold" for himself. These actions directly contradicted God's command not to accumulate large amounts of silver and gold.

Pastor Sam asks us directly: are these the actions of a wise man applying knowledge to a lifestyle of obedience, or a man foolishly trusting in himself? Solomon, unfortunately, did not practice what he preached, and he suffered the consequences. But praise be to God, we can learn from his example and practice what he preached in the Proverbs, choosing to obey God's Word rather than ignoring it.

This brings us to the glorious book of Proverbs itself. Pastor Sam rightly asserts that we live in an information age, but certainly not an age of wisdom. Many are brilliant with technology but lack the skill to make a success of their own lives. What is desperately needed today is wisdom.

The book of Proverbs, Pastor Sam explains, is all about "godly wisdom, how to get it and how to use it". It's about priorities and principles, not quick fixes, teaching us how to be skillful in "the lost art of making a life". The major theme, underscored by the word "wisdom" being used at least 125 times, is to help us acquire and apply God's wisdom to the decisions and activities of our daily lives. As part of the Old Testament's "wisdom literature," alongside Job and Ecclesiastes, Proverbs challenges us to engage our minds and think seriously about life's problems from God's point of view, loving the Lord with our minds as well as our hearts and souls.

Biblical wisdom, Pastor Sam elaborates, is far more than mere education or intellectual capacity. It is the ability to use knowledge rightly, to grasp the meaning of a situation, and to know what and how to do something at the right time. Dr. Roy Zuck's definition, which Pastor Sam admires, beautifully captures it: "Wisdom means being skillful and successful in one’s relationships and responsibilities observing and following the Creator’s principles of order in the moral universe". This wisdom is rooted in a right relationship with the Lord, believing in Him as Creator and Ruler, and recognizing the divine order and moral law He has embedded in His creation. It has little to do with IQ, but everything to do with moral and spiritual understanding, character, and values, seeing the world through the lens of God's truth. The Hebrew word for "wise," hakam, describes practical skill, such as the artisans building the tabernacle and temple. Wisdom is not theoretical; it's intensely practical, bringing order, purpose, discernment, and fulfillment to every area of life, all to the glory of God. It keeps us in harmony with God's principles, enabling us to deal successfully with trials, grow spiritually, and fulfill His purposes. This is the skill not just for "making a living," but for "making a life" that is successful and satisfying.

Regarding the authorship of Proverbs, Pastor Sam confirms that King Solomon is indeed the primary author, with chapters 1:1, 10:1, and 25:1 specifically attributing proverbs to him. God's unparalleled wisdom given to Solomon drew people from all corners of the earth. While Solomon spoke three thousand proverbs, only those selected by the Holy Spirit for God's people in every age are included in this book. Other contributors, guided by God's Spirit, include "the men of Hezekiah" who compiled chapters 25-29, and Agur and King Lemuel for chapters 30 and 31. It is truly tragic, Pastor Sam reiterates, that Solomon, who began so wisely, ended his life in great folly, failing to obey the very precepts he wrote.

The literary approach of Proverbs is also fascinating. Pastor Sam describes proverbs as "pithy statements that summarize in a few choice words practical truths relating to some aspect of everyday life". They are like "burrs that stick in your mind," easy to recall and quote. The Hebrew word mashal, translated as "proverb," "parable," or "allegory," fundamentally means "a comparison," and many of Solomon's proverbs use comparisons or contrasts.

But the book of Proverbs is far more than just clever human sayings; it is "a part of Scripture and therefore is inspired by the Spirit of God" (2 Timothy 3:16-17). As such, it is divine revelation, connecting human life to God and the eternal. Pastor Sam reminds us that "All Scripture is... profitable" for four things: for doctrine (what's right), for reproof (what's not right), for correction (how to get right), and for instruction in righteousness (how to stay right). Proverbs fulfills all these purposes, teaching us about God, man, sin, and creation, rebuking sin, offering correction, and showing us how to remain on the path of wisdom. Unlike conflicting man-made maxims, the proverbs in Scripture are consistent with one another and with the total pattern of divine truth. Furthermore, we have the Holy Spirit, the "Spirit of wisdom," to guide us as we seek God's wisdom in His Word.

Pastor Sam explains that Solomon used proverbs because they are brief and pictorial, making them easy to memorize, recall, and share. In a time when the average Jewish adult didn't own copies of sacred books and depended on memory, proverbs ensured that God's truth could be readily meditated upon and discussed. These truths touch upon every important area of life: wealth, friendships, home, temptation, controlling feelings, disciplining the tongue, and building godly character.

The arrangement of Proverbs, while not strictly topical, is by divine design. As Derek Kidner notes, it is "no anthology, but a course of education in the life of wisdom". This non-linear approach allows the Spirit of God the freedom to teach us about various subjects as we read, preparing us for whatever topic we might need most on any given day, much like a kaleidoscope. The book is structured into units: the first nine chapters emphasize "wisdom" and "folly" personified as women, calling us to choose between salvation, wealth, and life, or immediate satisfaction leading to condemnation, poverty, and death. Chapters 10-15 then present vivid contrasts between the life of wisdom and the life of folly, and faith versus unbelief, obedience versus disobedience. The closing chapters (16-31) offer further counsel for developing spiritual discernment and making wise decisions.

My dear friends, wisdom is not an abstract, distant treasure. Through His Word and by His Spirit, God is daily calling us to a life of wisdom. If we desire to live wisely, our journey must begin with a complete commitment to Jesus Christ, who is "the wisdom from God" (1 Corinthians 1:30). Both Wisdom and Folly vie for control of our lives, and we must make a conscious choice. Having committed ourselves to the Lord and His wisdom, we must acknowledge that our decisions carry consequences. Let us embrace the principles found in Proverbs to develop spiritual discernment and make choices that reflect our obedience to God.

As Pastor Sam so aptly concludes, may we all be among those who understand and practice the skills involved in building a godly life. Let us not repeat Solomon's mistakes, but instead, with humble hearts, pursue and apply God's wisdom every single day. Amen!