Words of the Wise

Dennis Tuuri

Outline: The Thirty Sayings of the Wise Sermon Notes for March 7, 2004 by Pastor Dennis Tuuri The First Four Commandments Sayings of the Wise, First Set of Three Tens 22:17-23:11 Intro to all 30 sayings – 22:17 -21 I. Saying 1 – YHWH Saying Concerning the Objects of Grace, Vertical, Father vv. 2,23 II. Saying 2 – Concerning Friendships (warning against angry men), Horizontal, Son vv. 24,25 III. Saying 3 – Concerning Covenants (warning against surety) Spirit IV. Sayings 4-10 – Work and Its Rewards, 4 th Commandment A. Don’t Steal B. Be Skillful At Work (Only positive saying, stressing this set’s theme of work.) C. No Gluttony D. No Greed C. No Gluttony B. Warning Against Fools (the Slothful?) A. Don’t Steal Note that the warning here forms a bracket to entire set of 10, returning to God’s care for the poor. From A Son to a Householder Sayings of the Wise, Second Set of Three Tens 23:12 -24:4 Warnings against bad company, drunkenness and the immoral woman are set in the context of admonitions to have a correct relationship between parents and children, and the establishment of a home by wisdom. I. Parent-Child Admonitions Saying 1. Seek Wisdom Saying 2. Parents: Discipline Your Children Saying 3. Children, Cause Your Parents to Rejoice Saying 6. Children, Cause Your Parents to Rejoice II. Warnings A. Warning Against Bad Company (Saying 4) B. Warning Against Drunkenness (Saying 5) C. Warning Against The Immoral Woman (Saying 7, like commandment) B’. Warning Against Drunkenness (Saying 8) A’. Warning Against Bad Company (Saying 9) III. Establishment of the Home By Wisdom (Saying 10) Note that the two great warnings found at the beginning and end of the introductory chapters to the Book of Proverbs, bad company (1:10ff) and the immoral woman (9:13ff) are repeated here. Also, this set of ten ends with the establishment of the house by wisdom, the positive conclusion of the introduction (9:1ff). Victory Through the Strength of Wisdom Sayings of the Wise, Third Set of Three Tens 24:5-22 The first set of ten sayings stressed God’s law. The second stressed the maturation of a son into a householder. This third set stresses the maturation of the householder into a ruler. 1. Summary Statement, Source of Strength - Wisdom 2. Fool Won’t Rule in Gate 3. No Strength in Evil Schemes 4. The Test of Strength is in Times of Trouble (Sabbath Evaluation) 5. Obligation to Use Strength to Rescue Fools (Parent-like) 6. Wisdom Has Hope With It 7. The Righteous Are Victorious in the Long Run 8. Be Gracious In Victory 9. The Wicked Are Conquered in the Long Run 10. YHWH and the King Bring Judgment to the Wicked Conclusion – Diligence!!