The People of Proverbs

Lesson Six – The Wise

OverviewBy studying the simple, the sluggard,

the fool, and the scoffer we have already seen certain aspects of the wise man. He is viewed in contrast to these four characters. In this study we will look more directly into his personality by answering five questions from the Biblical text.

The five questions are:I. How is the wise man

characterized?II. Who does he influence?III. What are his rewards?IV. How is he illustrated?V. How can I become wise?

I. How is he characterized?

A. He is a Godward Man.Proverbs 3:7 Do not be wise in your own estimation; fear the Lord and turn away from evil.

The fool is characterized by earthly, temporal motivations: money, pleasure, popularity, power.

I. How is he characterized?

B. He seeks knowledge.Proverbs 18:15 The discerning person acquires knowledge, and the wise person seeks knowledge.Proverbs 10:14 Those who are wise store up knowledge, but foolish speech leads to imminent destruction.

I. How is he characterized?

C. He values advice and rebuke.Proverbs 9:8 Do not reprove a mocker or he will hate you; reprove a wise person and he will love you.Proverbs 12:15 The way of a fool is right in his own opinion, but the one who listens to advice is wise.

I. How is he characterized?

D. He has control of his emotions and speech.Proverbs 14:3 In the speech of a fool is a rod for his back, but the words of the wise protect them.Proverbs 16:23 A wise person’s heart makes his speech wise and it adds persuasiveness to his words.Proverbs 29:11 A fool lets fly with all his temper, but a wise person keeps it back.

II. Who does he influence?

A. People in general (society as a whole)1. He spreads knowledge and life.Proverbs 15:7 The lips of the wise spread knowledge, but not so the heart of fools.Proverbs 13:14 Instruction from the wise is like a life-giving fountain, to turn a person from deadly snares.Protects others from simple and foolish ways.He leads society away from politically wrong decisions.

II. Who does he influence?

A. People in general (society as a whole)1. He spreads knowledge and life.2. His words bring peace and healing.Proverbs 29:8 Scornful people inflame a city, but those who are wise turn away wrath. Proverbs 16:14 A king’s wrath is like a messenger of death, but a wise person appeases it. Proverbs 12:18 Speaking recklessly is like the thrusts of a sword, but the words of the wise bring healing.

II. Who does he influence?

A. People in general (society as a whole)

B. People in specific1. He brings joy to his FatherProverbs 10:1 The Proverbs of Solomon: A wise child makes a father rejoice, but a foolish child is a grief to his mother.

II. Who does he influence?

A. People in general (society as a whole)B. People in specific

1. He brings joy to his Father.2. He makes the fool his servant.Proverbs 11:29 The one who troubles his family will inherit nothing, and the fool will be a servant to the wise person.

II. Who does he influence?

A. People in general (society as a whole)

B. People in specific1. He brings joy to his Father.2. He makes the fool his servant.3. He gets rid of the wicked.Proverbs 20:26 A wise king separates out the wicked; he turns the threshing wheel over them.

II. Who does he influence?

A. People in general (society as a whole)B. People in specific

1. He brings joy to his Father.2. He makes the fool his servant.3. He gets rid of the wicked.4. He overcomes mighty.Proverbs 21:22 The wise person can scale the city of the mighty and bring down the stronghold in which they trust.

III. What are his rewards?

A. He inherits honor.Proverbs 3:35 The wise inherit honor, but he holds fools up to public contempt.

III. What are his rewards?

A. He inherits honor.B. Wisdom is its own reward.

Proverbs 9:12 (NET) If you are wise, you are wise to your own advantage, but if you are a mocker, you alone must bear it.Proverbs 9:12 (NIV) If you are wise, your wisdom will reward you; if you are a mocker, you alone will suffer.”

III. What are his rewards?

A. He inherits honor.B. Wisdom is its own reward.C. Wealth

Proverbs 14:23-24 In all hard work there is profit, but merely talking about it only brings poverty. 24 The crown of the wise is their riches, but the folly of fools is folly.

IV. How is he illustrated?

Wisdom comes in small packages.Proverbs 30:24-28 (NET)

24 There are four things on earth that are small, but they are exceedingly wise: 25 ants are creatures with little strength, but they prepare their food in the summer; 26 rock badgers are creatures with little power, but they make their homes in the crags; 27

locusts have no king, but they all go forward by ranks; 28 a lizard you can catch with the hand, but it gets into the palaces of the king.

IV. How is he illustrated?

Wisdom comes in small packages.“ants are creatures with little

strength, but they prepare their food in the summer;”

Ants have a since of preparation, foresight, unity and diligence (Farmer, Coach, businessman).

IV. How is he illustrated?

Wisdom comes in small packages.“rock badgers are creatures with

little power, but they make their homes in the crags;”

Vulnerable (dull teeth, poor smelling) but knows its limitations and where its protection is.

IV. How is he illustrated?

Wisdom comes in small packages.“locusts have no king, but they all go

forward by ranks;”Even though they have no leader

they move as one organized unit to a given purpose.

IV. How is he illustrated?

Wisdom comes in small packages.“a lizard you can catch with the hand,

but it gets into the palaces of the king.”

Small, vulnerable, but has specialized proficiency.

Proverbs 22:29 (NET)29 Do you see a person skilled in his work? He will take his position before kings; he will not take his position before obscure people.

V. How can I become wise?

A. Start with a wise relationship with God.1. Recognize personal limitations.Proverbs 3:5-7 5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding. 6 Acknowledge him in all your ways, and he will make your paths straight. 7 Do not be wise in your own estimation; fear the Lord and turn away from evil.

Romans 12:3 3 For by the grace given to me I say to every one of you not to think more highly of yourself than you ought to think, but to think with sober discernment, as God has distributed to each of you a measure of faith.

V. How can I become wise?

A. Start with a wise relationship with God.1. Recognize personal limitations.2. Know that wisdom comes from God.Proverbs 2:6 For the Lord gives wisdom, and from his mouth comes knowledge and understanding.

V. How can I become wise?

A. Start with a wise relationship with God.1. Recognize personal limitations.2. Know that wisdom comes from God.3. Reverence God.Proverbs 9:10 The beginning of wisdom is to fear the Lord, and acknowledging the Holy One is understanding. Proverbs 1:7 Fearing the Lord is the beginning of moral knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

V. How can I become wise?

A. Start with a wise relationship with God.1. Recognize personal limitations.2. Know that wisdom comes from God.3. Reverence God.4. Turn away from evil.Proverbs 8:13 The fear of the Lord is to hate evil; I hate arrogant pride and the evil way and perverse utterances.Proverbs 9:6 Abandon your foolish ways so that you may live, and proceed in the way of understanding.”

V. How can I become wise?

A. Start with a wise relationship with God.

B. Consider how you relate to other people.1. ListenProverbs 15:31-32 (NET)31 The person who hears the reproof that leads to life is at home among the wise. 32 The one who refuses correction despises himself, but whoever hears reproof acquires understanding.

V. How can I become wise?

A. Start with a wise relationship with God.

B. Consider how you relate to other people.1. Listen2. Observe at a distance the behavior and consequences of the simple, the sluggard, the fool and the scoffer.

V. How can I become wise?

A. Start with a wise relationship with God.B. Consider how you relate to other people.

1. Listen2. Observe at a distance the behavior and consequences of the simple, the sluggard, the fool and the scoffer.3. Walk with the wise.Proverbs 13:20 The one who associates with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm.

V. How can I become wise?

A. Start with a wise relationship with God.

B. Consider how you relate to other people.

C. Desire wisdom above all else.

Proverbs 2:1-5 1 My child, if you receive my words, and store up my commands within you, 2 by making your ear attentive to wisdom, and by turning your heart to understanding, 3 indeed, if you call out for discernment – raise your voice for understanding – 4 if you seek it like silver, and search for it like hidden treasure, 5 then you will understand how to fear the Lord, and you will discover knowledge about God.

Proverbs 8:33-36 (NET)33 Listen to my (wisdom) instruction so that you may be wise, and do not neglect it. 34 Blessed is the one who listens to me, watching at my doors day by day, waiting beside my doorway. 35 For the one who finds me finds life and receives favor from the Lord. 36 But the one who does not find me brings harm to himself; all who hate me love death.”

V. How can I become wise?

A. Start with a wise relationship with God.

B. Consider how you relate to other people.

C. Desire wisdom above all else.D. Turn to the source

1. God’s Word

2 Timothy 3:15-17 (NET)15 and how from infancy you have known the

holy writings, which are able to give you wisdom for salvation through faith in Christ

Jesus. 16 Every scripture is inspired by God and useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the

person dedicated to God may be capable and equipped for every good work.

V. How can I become wise?

A. Start with a wise relationship with God.B. Consider how you relate to other people.C. Desire wisdom above all else.D. Turn to the source

1. God’s Word2. Study at the feet of JesusMatthew 12:42 The queen of the South will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon – and now, something greater than Solomon is here!

Matthew 13:54 Then he came to his hometown and

began to teach the people in their synagogue. They were

astonished and said, “Where did this man get

such wisdom and miraculous powers?

Mark 6:2 When the Sabbath came, he began

to teach in the synagogue. Many who

heard him were astonished, saying,

“Where did he get these ideas? And what is this wisdom that has been

given to him? What are these miracles that are

done through his hands?

Luke 2:40 And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom, and the

favor of God was upon him.

1 Corinthians 1:30-31 30 He is the reason you have a relationship with Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom

from God, and righteousness and sanctification and

redemption, 31 so that, as it is written, “Let the one who

boasts, boast in the Lord.”

No Christ- No wisdom Know Christ - Know Wisdom

Colossians 2:2-3 (NET)2 My goal is that their hearts, having been knit together in love, may be

encouraged, and that they may have all the riches that assurance brings in their understanding of the knowledge

of the mystery of God, namely, Christ, 3 in whom are hidden all the

treasures of wisdom and knowledge.