The Sayings of the Wise – Part 2

THIRTY SAYINGS OF THE WISE

SAYING NUMBER ONE

“Do not exploit the poor because they are poor and do not crush the needy in court, for the Lord will take up their case and will exact life for life.” (Proverbs 22:22–23, NIV)

COMMENTARY

Wisdom ... the skill of living life includes this reality: God avenges the poor if they are exploited.  Poverty usually renders people defenceless and one of the axioms of life is this: You don't kick a man when he is down!  There is always a higher court in session.  The civic order of industry and government, including the private dealings of citizens may seem to go disregarded – but not by God.

Deuteronomy 15:4 gives us the most basic principle in regard to the poor. The New Testament gives us similar instruction.  In the providence of God He has not ordained that all people are wealthy.  Perhaps His purpose is to expose the poor to the community of people who have the means to share.  We see that principle lived out in the early Church.   

"The word 'exploit' is translated “rob” … in its other contexts, suggesting that exploitation is one way to take what belongs to another."^[1]  So the crime appears to be taking instead of sharing.  The context in this Proverb is the courtroom.  "The gate was the place of legal transactions; i.e., one should not use the courts to deprive the poor of their property.”^[2]  "The oppression pictured here may be in bounds legally, but it is out of bounds morally (e.g., similar to modern business ethics)."[3]

APPLICATION

Exploitation can take on various forms.  In our society where litigation is prevalent and where legal counsel is costly, the poor may indeed be exploited not only in direct ways, but indirect.  They may simply be unable to defend themselves fairly. "God is offended when we take advantage of those people who cannot help themselves."[4]

"Whatever our venue of service and employment, we are called to serve the neediest and weakest persons, not only refusing to abuse them but also doing all we can to protect them from those who would."^[5]

"If the ways of justice are perverted, let that man by whom oppression comes beware."^[6]

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^[1] Koptak, P. E. (2003). Proverbs (p. 535). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.

^[2] Crossway Bibles. (2008). The ESV Study Bible (p. 1173). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

[3] Expositor's Bible Commentary, The, Pradis CD-ROM:Proverbs/Exposition of Proverbs/IV. The Sayings of the Wise (22:17-24:34)/A. Thirty Precepts of the Sages (22:17-24:22), Book Version: 4.0.2

[4] Anders, Max. Holman Old Testament Commentary - Proverbs: 13 (p. 282). B&H Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

^[5] Koptak, P. E. (2003). Proverbs (p. 537). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.

^[6] Hindson, E. E., & Kroll, W. M. (Eds.). (1994). KJV Bible Commentary (p. 1239). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

Thirty Sayings of the Wise - Part 1

The Book of Proverbs

Proverbs. This is a book of wisdom.  The Hebrew idea behind the word wisdom is “skill in living.” As a Biblical text the Book of Proverbs is to give us skill for living life from God's perspective  The Wisdom begins with a fear of the Lord.  I believe that the "fear of the Lord" is analogous to love, in that it reflects such honor and love for Him, that one is fearful of causing His displeasure.

"An apple a day keeps the doctor away."  We know that there is healthy truth in that.  But if we were only to eat an apple a day we would die.  Proverbs are to be taken in a limited sense. They are general statements of truth, not universal, absolute promises.  They are never intended to be exact to the precise detail.  There is also a need to culturally interpret Proverbs and apply them to a contemporary scenario.  Proverbs rely heavily on imagery to make an impact.  Consider this warning to adultery: “Can a man carry fire next to his chest and his clothes not be burned?” (Proverbs 6:27, ESV)

Solomon is generally thought to have authored the entire Book of Proverbs except for three sections: the Sayings of the Wise in Proverbs 22:17-24:34, Proverbs 30, and Proverbs 31. He may have collected and compiled the Sayings of the Wise, but it is generally agreed that he did not write them. We do not know who wrote them.

Thirty Sayings of the Wise

Introduction

“Incline your ear, and hear the words of the wise, and apply your heart to my knowledge, for it will be pleasant if you keep them within you, if all of them are ready on your lips. That your trust may be in the Lord, I have made them known to you today, even to you. Have I not written for you thirty sayings of counsel and knowledge, to make you know what is right and true, that you may give a true answer to those who sent you?” (Proverbs 22:17–21, ESV).

Commentary

Wisdom calls us to a life of learning.  The pursuit of knowledge and applied wisdom is pleasant. but have you ever said to someone, "It's going in one ear and out the other?"  Wisdom helps us here to hear!  When we learn something, be ready to tell someone right away.  This helps us retain what we know. Meditate on what you learn.  Think about it.  Be ready to personalize and tell someone else. 

Why do we learn wisdom?  “That your trust may be in the Lord, I have made them known to you today, even to you.” (Proverbs 22:19, ESV).  The author's emphasize is clear: even you – yes, to you I am speaking.  We internalize and apply wisdom and when we do our faith increases.

An additional purpose of God's truth and Divine wisdom is summed up by the author this way: "That you 'know what is right and true, that you may give a true answer to those who sent you?'"^[1]  The author may have in mind some diplomatic or ambassadorial service, but what greater service do we have as messengers of the King of kings?  We learn, internalize, personalize, apply so that our own trust in God is magnified and our ability to represent Him is enhanced.

Application

"The general thought of the introductory paragraph is . . . that 'the pupil is to devote himself to study,

in order that his religious life may be firmly established, and that he may be able to give wise counsel to those who seek advice.'"[2]   "The two purposes (trust in Yahweh and skill in answering for [or to] a king or official) are complementary, not mutually exclusive. Sages who served as courtiers answered to two authorities, as did Joseph, who advised Pharaoh but ultimately served Yahweh."^[3]

1.  A great way to apply this in our lives is to tell someone – tell them why a lifelong pursuit of God's wisdom is important.

2.  We are sent to be envoys of God's wisdom.  When we stop learning and stop studying we will falter in our mission.  Are you consistently applying yourself to the study of God's wisdom?  If you are “it will be pleasant if you keep them within you, if all of them are ready on your lips.” (Proverbs 22:18, ESV).  If you are not, one would ask the question, "Do you fear God?"

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^[1] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2001). (Pr 22:21). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.

[2] Expositor's Bible Commentary, The, Pradis CD-ROM:Proverbs/Exposition of Proverbs/IV. The Sayings of the Wise (22:17-24:34)/A. Thirty Precepts of the Sages (22:17-24:22), Book Version: 4.0.2

^[3] Koptak, P. E. (2003). Proverbs (p. 534). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan.

My Rant on Google!

JUST GOOGLE-IT!   I'm pretty sure that my father would think I'm talking gibberish if he heard me say that!  "Just Google-it".   The Internet is the new world of information.  I've learned how to fillet fish, change the door pins on my truck and solve some of the most annoying computer problems.

I know people that Google health concerns for solutions.   We Google to find directions.   Today, at the tip of our fingers on most electronic devices we can just, "Google-it!"

The dangers of Googling-it are sobering.  I hear lots of people making disparaging remarks about the Internet and other digital media.  Some of it is true.  My biggest concern is that in many cases we are reading articles or opinions that form our opinion on what we are reading and they are not "source documents".

I was recently in a conversation where vitriol comments were made about a couple church leaders from days gone by.  Had that person read any source documents?  To be more self-debasing, I claim to NOT be a follower of James Arminius.  In reality I am only now starting to read the writings of James Arminius.  How unethical it would be for me to launch an assault on an individual based upon hearsay evidence.   Just Googling-It, is tantamount to hearsay evidence.  

Now there are source documents on the Internet.  But let's be honest, to read an article ABOUT someone is not the same as reading an article FROM someone.  If you are Christian, imagine would kind of progress you might make if you spent your time reading about the Bible, instead of reading the Bible?

Now the "push-back" that I've offered and you will offer is this: "I don't have time to read source documents on every person or issue."  That is true.  So that means we better refrain from a level of dogmatism that is arrives at a rigid intransigence.  Where we have not spoken to or read the source, we need to keep somewhat of a fair, charitable mind. 

Google did not exist in the 1st Century; and Christ did not use such resources.  But He did have something to say about judgment and decision.  He said, ““Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you.” (Matthew 7:1–2, ESV).  Now I'm the first to admit that this verse gets misused, big time!  But let me suggest that the judgment Jesus was condemning was a judgment that was prejudicial – pre-judgment – a judgment before knowing the truth.  I would be deeply wounded (and I have) when someone has made unfair, unsubstantiated accusations about me.  We need to be careful to not do the same.

Let us be careful about arriving at conclusive judgments without knowing the truth.   That detective, Joe Friday, on the TV Show Dragnet said it all: "Just the facts, Ma'am. Just the facts." Facts are what we know to be certain.  Articles about someone or something may be false; they may be misrepresented; and they may be slanted to support the author's bias.

Be guarded in "Just Googling It."  OK, I'm done now!

Wrong Thinking In Corinth

In the scope of my current preaching series: 1 Corinthians, Let the Church Be the Church, it is important, especially at this point of the study (1 Corinthians 11ff) to be aware of what probably[1] was the prevailing thinking that gave rise to some of the problems that Paul had to address.  Theologians refer to the prevailing paradigm as an over-realized eschatology.  Another term this goes by is premature triumphalism."   What that means in everyday language is that these Christians were making an assumption that much, if not all, of the promises of God's coming Kingdom had arrived in its fullness.  The broad idea is that the Corinthians were behaving as though they could lay claim to arrival of the endtime culmination.  They needed to return to the current reality of "already-but not yet"!

Fee writes, "Finally, and probably very closely related to the former, is the likelihood that they had a considerably “overrealized” eschatological view of their present existence, for which I have coined the inelegant expression, “spiritualized eschatology.” This would follow directly from their view of being pneumatikoi (people of the Spirit, whose present existence is to be understood in strictly spiritual terms). The coming of the Spirit belongs to the Eschaton, and they are already experiencing the Spirit in full measure."^[2]

They were already experiencing post-resurrection life when marriages would cease to exist.  Of course marriage belongs to this life not the future age.  Sexual celibacy was then honored as part of the future eschatological existence.  Some things like tongue-speaking[3] affirmed to them that they were speaking as angels. "This attitude toward corporeal existence is at least in part responsible for such things as the denial of a future bodily resurrection (15:12) and the otherwise contradictory nature of both the affirmation of sexual immorality and the denial of sexual relations within marriage (6:12–20 and 7:1–6)."^[4]

"In his landmark article, Thiselton lays out the evidence for an over-realised eschatology in Corinth by showing that it provides a ‘single common factor which helps to explain an otherwise diverse array of apparently independent problems at Corinth’.⁶ Thus, he detects in chapters 1-4 a Corinthian party challenging the need for spiritual leadership now that all believers have the Spirit;⁷ an anti-nomian party in chapters 5-10;⁸ the Lord’s Supper interpreted as an eschatological banquet in chapter 11;⁹ eschatologically driven pneumatic enthusiasts in chapters 12-14;¹⁰ and a denial of a future bodily resurrection in chapter 15."[5]

It was Paul task to bring this erroneous thinkers back to earth and back to reality. "Thus for Paul, believers are thoroughly eschatological people, determined and conditioned by the reality of the future that has already begun, but still awaiting the final glory. We are therefore both “already” and “not yet.”^[6]

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[1] I say "probably" because not all agree.  Principally, in my research Dr. Gordon Fee and Dr. Anthony Thiselton promote this view with enthusiasm.  Dr. D. Garland is somewhat favorable to it but not entirely.

³⁰ On this matter see esp. A. C. Thiselton, “Realized Eschatology at Corinth,” NTS 24 (1977/78), 510–26.

^[2] Fee, G. D. (2014). The First Epistle to the Corinthians. (N. B. Stonehouse, F. F. Bruce, G. D. Fee, & J. B. Green, Eds.) (Revised Edition., pp. 12–13). Grand Rapids, MI; Cambridge, U.K.: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.

[3] If tongues is understood as the “language of angels,” then their experience of glossolalia is evidence for them that they have already arrived (already they speak the language of heaven) - Fee, G. D. (2014). The First Epistle to the Corinthians. (N. B. Stonehouse, F. F. Bruce, G. D. Fee, & J. B. Green, Eds.) (Revised Edition., pp. 12–13). Grand Rapids, MI; Cambridge, U.K.: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.

^[4] Fee, G. D. (2014). The First Epistle to the Corinthians. (N. B. Stonehouse, F. F. Bruce, G. D. Fee, & J. B. Green, Eds.) (Revised Edition., p. 12). Grand Rapids, MI; Cambridge, U.K.: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.

[5] http://tandk.dyndns.org/over-realised-eschatology-in-1-corinthians/

^[6] Fee, G. D. (2014). The First Epistle to the Corinthians. (N. B. Stonehouse, F. F. Bruce, G. D. Fee, & J. B. Green, Eds.) (Revised Edition., p. 17). Grand Rapids, MI; Cambridge, U.K.: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company.

For Bible Students: Unraveling the Bible

I'm a far cry from an expert on sewing and knitting.  A seam went in a uniform of mine one day, just minutes before a parade.  My fix was a stapler that seemed to do the job.   So I'm not an expert, for sure.  However I do recall the days as a kid when I wore sweaters.  My Mom would caution me about pulling that loose thread.  She warned me that the sweater will start to unravel.

The Bible is very similar.  Pulling a few verses out and separating them from the source,causes the whole canon to unravel.  The Bible is an extremely cohesive and unified book. It is A Book!  It is also 66 Books.  Please note: The Bible is not a collection of verses.  It is not a vault containing cute sayings and words to live by.  The Bible is a Book.  It is a Book of Books, with Books.  To extract some verses and disassociate them with the Book is to cause the entire Canon to unravel.

I said to someone these words: "Not one single verse of the Bible can stand alone apart from its

context."  They vigorously disagreed with me offering John 3:16 as Exhibit A.  But again I assert: not one verse in the Bible can stand independent from its context.  The very first word in John 3:16 proves that point.  It starts with the English word "for".  And actually it is the first of two purpose statements regarding Jesus assertion to Nicodemus:

ASSERTION:  “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.” (John 3:14–15, ESV)

1. “FOR God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16, ESV);

2. “FOR God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.” (John 3:17, ESV); and

D. A. Carson sums it up nicely: "Because John 3:16 is sandwiched between vv. 14–15 and v. 17, the fact that God gave his one and only Son is tied both to the Son’s incarnation (v. 17) and to his death (vv. 14–15). That is the immediate result of the love of God for the world: the mission of the Son. His ultimate purpose is the salvation of those in the world who believe in him … Whoever believes in him experiences new birth (3:3, 5), has eternal life (3:15, 16), is saved (3:17); the alternative is to perish …There is no third option."^[1]

We should read, study, memorize (not verses) but context.  To simply pull verses out of the Bible endangers the Bible to become unraveled. 

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^[1] Carson, D. A. (1991). The Gospel according to John (p. 206). Leicester, England; Grand Rapids, MI: Inter-Varsity Press; W.B. Eerdmans.

For Bible Students: Selective Reading, It Is Also Written

H

Sometimes we can be accused of selective hearing.  Unfortunately, as Bible students, teachers and preachers we can often be accused of selective reading.  D. A. Carson, with more an academic evaluation notes that "As a general rule, the more complex and/ or emotional the issue, the greater the tendency to select only part of the evidence, prematurely construct a grid, and so filter the rest of the evidence through the grid that it is robbed of any substance."[1]

I think you will remember that Satan pulled this stunt on Jesus, “and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written, “ ‘He will command his angels concerning you,’ and “ ‘On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone’ ”” (Matthew 4:6, ESV).  He quoted from Psalm 91.  In many churches today he would have been applauded.  He brought a 'Bible-based' message.  Jesus far from applauded him.  “Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test’ ”” (Matthew 4:7, ESV).

Carson quotes an example that I will be dealing with in my preaching schedule.  He quotes 1 Corinthians 14: 33– 36 showing how some use this text to support the notion that women should always keep silent in the church. Unfortunately such people ignore the reality that three chapters earlier Paul gave instruction how women could pray and prophesy in a godly, orderly way.  That's far from being 'silent'.

The point is that when we read a passage that seems to delineate a truth we need to ask, "What else does the Bible say about this topic?"  Admittedly some of the problem is a unique pride that seeks to long for originality and a propensity to be right, rather than a desire to be faithful to the full revelation of Scripture.  The latter takes work.

The Book of Proverbs intentionally applies this principle.  For example in Proverbs 26:4 (ESV) we read, "⁴ Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest you be like him yourself."  Sounds good. But don't stop there!  In the next verse we read, “Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes.” (Proverbs 26:5, ESV).  Why the apparent contradiction?  The point of the Book is the need for wisdom to determine what course to take.  Do you answer?  Do you not answer?  "Proverbs 19:11 says it is a glory to overlook someone’s offense. However, 19:19 says not to spare a man of great wrath. In certain situations, the offense should be overlooked, but in other situations, it should not."^[2]

One of the very practical tools that I use (it is not all comprehensive) is the cross-referencing index in many good Bibles.  Another excellent resource is The Thomson Chain Reference Bible.

The bottom line is that we learn to ask, "What else does the Bible say about this?"  Often this kind of search gives to the Bible reader a balanced and a more comprehensive view of the matter.  It will also relieve some of the tension and conflict within the church because Christians start to see topics in a wider, more gracious fashion.

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[1] Carson, D. A.. Exegetical Fallacies (p. 93). Baker Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

^[2] Barry, J. D., Mangum, D., Brown, D. R., Heiser, M. S., Custis, M., Ritzema, E., … Bomar, D. (2012, 2016). Faithlife Study Bible (Pr 26:4–5). Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.

For Bible Students: Be Cautious Doing Word Studies - Part 3

There can be a massive difference between BIBLE-BASED information and BIBLE-CREATED information. Let me explain.  You can enter a Christian bookstore and find any amount of material that claims to be "bible-based".  You will see books on topics such as marriage to money, business to body-building. All claiming to be "bible-based".

That approach is simple: I want to talk about marriage and so as I consider the communicative aspects to marriage and pull out all the bible verses that relate to speech.  This approach is fraught with dangers.  Handle with care!  Just like word studies careful studious exegesis ON EACH VERSE must be experienced prior to using that verse as a supporting text.

For example, almost any book on business, personal productivity or even church growth exhorts the reader to create a vision statement.  Number one proof text, bar none, is “Where there is no vision, the people perish …" (Proverbs 29:18, AV).  Unfortunately that text has nothing to do with vision statements and everything to do with keeping God's law.  But the author claims that his or her assertion is "bible based".

I listened to one of the most popular lady speakers recently.  Her message was an encouragement that God sometimes works quickly to resolve our problems.  She based her talk on two things: One, some personal anecdotes; and Two, on a word study of the word "speedily" in the Bible.  The psalms (KJV) record the writers asking God to hear and answer "speedily".  She even augmented her thesis by suggesting that sometimes a "thousand days is like one" in God's economy (Therefore God answers speedily).  What was billed as a biblically based message was nothing more than motivational rhetoric.

You can make the Bible support any thesis you want; but the Bible does not support every thesis.

Biblically created information is that which emerges from the text, likely unknown to the student[1], but is consistent with sound hermeneutics and solid exegesis; it is what the author intended the first readers to understand; and more importantly it is the Spirit-induced message.

Biblically created messages emerge from the passage like a radiant flower, slowly opening its beauty to the reader with stunning radiance. Let the Bible speak for itself.  Don't make the Bible speak for you.

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[1] Many times I enter a passage of study with a pre-conceived notion of the message of that text and find that I am quite inaccurate once due exegetical work is accomplished. 

Does the Holy Spirit Cause You To Lose Control of Your Faculties?

If you asked John Owen what he thought of claims that people were empowered by the Spirit to bark like dogs, make animal noises, wiggle on the floor and hiss like a snake; and other seemingly bizarre behaviors, this is what he would say:

“Second, the Spirit of God tends to work in and through natural human faculties (i.e., mind, will, affections, and body), rather than against or outside of them. This point was important to him as many “enthusiasts” of his day were claiming the Spirit’s special presence, but during such experiences they would lose control of their bodies, their minds, and their affections. It is from witnessing such experiences that the pejorative titles “Shakers” and “Quakers” evolved. From Owen’s perspective, these experiences simply didn’t make sense, for the true Spirit affirms creation—including human nature—rather than undermining it. By this Spirit we are renewed in God’s image as he enlightens our minds, renews our wills, and redirects our affections toward God. When people claimed the Spirit made them act more like beasts than like humans, Owen would scratch his head with real skepticism about whether this was the true Spirit of God—he was fairly confident it wasn’t.”[1]

When we read our Bible we see that apart from the materialization of Satan into a snake and the judgment of God on King Nebuchadnezzar when he lifted his heart in pride to God (“Immediately what had been said about Nebuchadnezzar was fulfilled. He was driven away from people and ate grass like the ox. His body was drenched with the dew of heaven until his hair grew like the feathers of an eagle and his nails like the claws of a bird” (Daniel 4:33, NIV)).there is no such manifestation.

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[1] John Owen, edited by Kelly M. Kapic and Justin Taylor. Communion with the Triune God (Kindle Locations 652-659). Crossway Books.