Sermon Tone Analysis

Proverbs 3:1-12

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stephen Caswell © 2000

 

Introduction

 

*/John Wesley/ said this:* When I was young I was sure of everything; in a few years, having been mistaken a thousand times, I was not half so sure of most things as I was before; at present, I am hardly sure of anything but what God has revealed to me.

Since tonight is a Youth Service I have prepared something to encourage our young people.

In this passage Solomon shares some wisdom with his son.

Wisdom is applied knowledge.

Solomon teaches his son how to apply wisdom to life's pathway.

The key verses are verses 5–6.

A promise God’s people have often claimed as they have sought the Lord’s direction for their lives.

And this promise has never failed them, if they have obeyed the conditions God has laid down in verses 1–12.

There are four things that Solomon emphasizes in this passage: */Study God's Word,   Seek God's Will,   Share God's Blessing,   Submit To God's Discipline/*

 

/Firstly /Study God's Word

/ /

*Pr 3:1, 3* /My son, do not forget my law, But let your heart keep my commands; Let not mercy and truth forsake you; Bind them around your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart,/

/ /

/a.

Learn It/

 

Solomon began with God's Word.

He kept the Lord's command regarding fathers teaching their children God's Law.

There is no better place for a young person to start.

Solomon emphasized it both positively and negatively.

He told his son not to neglect God's Word.

He mustn't forget God's Word or forsake His Law.

If your desire is to walk the right way in life then you must not forget or forsake God's Word.

*Psalm 119:9* /How can a young man cleanse his way?

By taking heed according to Your word.

/

/ /

Solomon then turned this into a positive command.

He commanded his son to bind God's Word around his neck.

He was to wear it like a fine necklace of gold.

It was to adorn his life as it gave him beauty and godly character.

God's Word was to be his constant companion.

Solomon also instructed his son to write God's Word on his heart.

/Why?/

Our hearts determine our actions in life.

Therefore, God's Word must rule over lives.

Young person it is so important to study God's Word while you are young before your life is ensnared by sin.

*Psalm 119:11* /Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You!/

  

/b.

Live It/

/ /

Being a wise man Solomon didn't just command his son to */learn/* God's Word, he also told him to*/ live/* it.

Knowing the right way to live is only the first step of Bible study.

Obeying God's Word is the second step.

Writing God's Word upon our heart enables us to know right from wrong which is important.

But we mustn't stop there.

We must then obey God's Word.

Football Games

 

The footy season is now over and it was great to see the Bronco's win the grand final.

When two teams play they also need referees.

/Why?/

The ref's don't actually play.

To enforce the rules.

All the players know the rules backwards.

But that knowledge doesn't mean that they keep them.

In fact they often break them.

This is why the referee's have to enforce them.

*James 1:22-25* /But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.

For if anyone is a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror: For he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was.

But whoever looks into the perfect law of liberty, and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does./

/ /

/c.

The Promises/

/ /

*Proverbs 3:2, 4* /For length of days and long life and peace they will add to you.

And you will find favor and high esteem in the sight of God and man/.

/ /

Solomon also shares the blessings that come from obedience to God's Word.

If these instructions are part of one’s inner */life,/* three benefits will be realized: */a long life,/* was a sign of God’s blessing, and */peace/.*

The word for*/ peace/*, shalom, is often translated */prosperity/*.

Though it includes /peace/ and /prosperity,/ it is broader in meaning.

It also suggests wholeness, health, and harmony.

This peace is not just absence from war but the enjoyment of God's fullest blessings.

A further blessing from obedience is */favor /*and*/ high esteem/*.

The righteous person enjoys favor with both God and man.

A right relationship with God enables us to live peacefully with our fellowman too.

Application

/ /

/Do you study God's Word?

Do you read it daily?

Are you learning what it means and how it applies to your life?

Are you hiding it in your heart by memorizing it?

Are you obeying God's Word?

Is God's Word your authority for life?

Is your life one that God can bless?/

/ /

/Secondly/ Seek God's Will

 

This requires 4 things /Faith In The Lord, Follow The Lord, Fear The Lord & Forsaking Evil./

/ /

/a.

Faith In The Lord/

/ /

*Proverbs 3:5*/ Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding;/

/ /

If we want to know God's will we must trust Him completely.

The word translated */trust/* in verse 5 means */to lie helpless, face dow/*n.

It pictures a servant waiting for the master’s command in readiness to obey, or a defeated soldier yielding himself to the conquering general.

We must believe that God is wise and He knows what is best for us.

So often we think that we can mix our wisdom with God's wisdom and come up with a perfect plan.

Solomon, the wisest man ever, told His son */to trust in the Lord completely/*.

We must trust God with */all our hearts/*.

That leaves no room for self confidence or doubt.

You can't trust God and doubt Him at the same time.

Faith means, *F*orsaking *A*ll* I* *T*rust *H*im.

The danger, of course, is that we lean on our own understanding and thereby miss God’s will.

Our wisdom is futile and can't be relied on.

This warning doesn’t suggest that God’s children turn off their brains and ignore their intelligence and common sense.

It simply cautions us not to depend on our own wisdom and experience or the wisdom and experience of others.

We must recognize that God is sovereign; He is able to bring his plans to pass.

We don't know the future, only God does.

Only He knows what's best for us.