Chapel - Dr. John MacArthur - Masculinity - Monday, 22 March 2021

thank you all for that and uh thanks for the invitation to come back to chapel again always a great privilege and joy for me i have been assigned the subject of biblical masculinity so this is particularly for you girls so that you know what you're looking for there are a lot of ways we could go talking about this subject i think of first corinthians 16 13 that says stand firm be strong act like men let everything you do be done in love men stand firm they're strong and they do what they do in love that same truth is repeated over and over again in the historic books of the old testament where someone says to a son or a commander be strong and courageous be strong and courageous that's what identifies men because they are the leaders the providers and the protectors of women and children in god's design one of the evidences of the corruption of the world is the empowerment of women feminist movement has managed not only to elevate women to a place god never intended for them but it also has managed to strip men of their place on the same level men have been lowered and women have been elevated and thus they have inverted god's design which is clearly stated when the apostle paul said god is the head of christ christ is the head of the man the man is the head of the woman that's not so much power and authority as it is responsibility to be the provider and the protector but in order for us to know what god has designed for men we have a marvelous portion of scripture and i want you to turn to it because we're going to be looking at much of this portion of the text and that's proverbs so turn to proverbs and we're going to bounce around in the opening ten chapters of proverbs because here we have god's revelation as to what men should be just to let you know that in chapter 1 verse 8 you read here my son your father's instruction and do not forsake your mother's teaching indeed there are graceful wreath to your head and ornaments around your neck again in chapter 2 verse 1 my son if you will receive my words and treasure my commandments within you make your ear attentive to wisdom incline your heart to understanding chapter 3 my son do not forget my teaching but let your heart keep my commandments chapter 4 hear o sons the instruction of a father now in verse 10 of chapter 4 hear my son down in verse 20 my son give heed or give attention to my words chapter 5 verse 1 my son give attention to my wisdom chapter 6 verse 1 my son again and it also appears in chapter 6 at verse 20 my son observe the commandment of your father do not forsake the teaching of your mother very much repeated from the opening chapter chapter 7 again my son keep my words and even over in chapter 8 verse 32 now therefore o sons listen to me for blessed are they who keep my ways so the opening chapters of the book of proverbs are designed for the training of sons the training of sons and again there was a couple of references to that even in chapter seven as the men go so goes the nation and uh our nation obviously is in profound trouble because women have usurped what is intended by god as the position and role of men even outside the church this leads to a functional society when men are in charge as the providers and the protectors that's god's design now what i want to do in these opening chapters obviously is a lot of material here and we're not going to be able to cover all of it but i want to introduce you to it because i think this is a place where you can always go to refresh your definition of what god expects of a son and therefore a man but let me add one other component to this and that is the component of wisdom in these opening chapters as throughout the book of proverbs you have wisdom contrasted with foolishness that is to say what god requires of us is wisdom and what we have to avoid is foolishness so look at chapter 2 just as an introduction let me read down to maybe verse 12. my son if you will receive my words and treasure my commandments within you make your air attentive to wisdom this is repeated again and again and again this is wisdom incline your heart to understanding if you cry for discernment lift your voice for understanding if you seek her as silver and search for her as for hidden treasures then you will discern the fear of the lord and discover the knowledge of god for the lord gives wisdom from his mouth come knowledge and understanding he stores up sound wisdom for the upright he's a shield to those who walk in integrity guarding the paths of justice and he preserves the way of his godly ones then you will discern righteousness and justice and equity in every good course for wisdom will enter your heart and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul discretion will guard you understanding will watch over you to deliver you from the way of evil from the man who speaks perverse things it's all about wisdom look over to the eighth chapter for just a moment does not wisdom call and understanding lift up her voice on top of the heights beside the way where the paths meet she takes her stand beside the gates at the opening to the city at the entrance of the door she cries out to you o men i call and my voice is to the sons of men o naive ones understand prudence and o fools understand wisdom listen for i will speak noble things and the opening of my lips will reveal right things for my mouth speaking of wisdom personified will utter truth and wickedness is an abomination to my lips verse 12 i wisdom dwell with prudence and i find knowledge and discretion it's all about wisdom knowledge discretion understanding wisdom the end of that chapter verse 36 or verse 35 for he who finds me wisdom finds life and obtains favor from the lord but he who sins against me wisdom injures himself all those who hate me wisdom love death wisdom is everything and in particular wisdom for how men are to live now there's a lot here and i i want to introduce it to you and sort of give you enough insight into these opening chapters of proverbs so that you can look at them yourself become familiar with them and enrich your life by digging deeper than we're able to go today so i want to give you 10 crucial lessons that every man should learn 10 great truths in proverbs that define what a man should be when a man exhibits these characteristics he is a man of wisdom and wisdom is the pathway to blessing first men are told fear your god that's where it all begins that's the first responsibility of a man chapter 1 verse 7 the fear of the lord is the beginning of knowledge fools despise wisdom and instruction and again in chapter 9 verse 10 the fear of the lord is the beginning of wisdom and the knowledge of the holy one is understanding so this is where it all begins it all begins and that's why verse 7 says the fear of the lord is the beginning of knowledge that's where everything starts the knowledge of the holy one fear reverential awe a true knowledge that is a knowledge that is defined by relationship fathers are to teach their sons to live with respect for god as sovereign and holy they are to respect his word his law his power his authority they are to fear his displeasure his right to chasten and even his right to judge this involves then teaching the character of god the attributes of god men you need to know your god so you can fear your god go down to verse 20 of chapter one wisdom shouts in the street she lifts her voice in the square this is again the personification of wisdom at the head of the noisy street she cries out at the entrance of the gates in the city she utters her sayings how long oh naive ones will you love being simple-minded and scoffers delight themselves in scoffing and fools hate knowledge turn to my reproof behold i will pour out my spirit on you i will make my words known to you because i called and you refused i stretched out my hand and no one paid attention and you neglected all my counsel and didn't want my reproof i will also laugh at your calamity i will mock when your dread comes when your dread comes like a storm and your calamity comes like a whirlwind when distress and anguish come upon you then they will call on me wisdom but i will not answer they will seek me diligently they will not find me because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the lord that is the pathway to spiritual oblivion failure to fear the lord this is where everything has to begin with fearing the lord over in chapter 3 if you look for a moment familiar verses five through eight trust in the lord with all your heart do not lean on your own understanding in all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight do not be wise in your own eyes fear the lord and turn away from evil it will be healing to your body and refreshment to your bones trust in the lord hebrew word for trust originally meant literally to lie helplessly face down before god lean is not inclined but support yourself the hebrew is to say support your life with the knowledge of god when god is feared so is sin let me just add some things that proverbs says fearing the lord prolongs life chapter 10 is more profitable than wealth chapter 15 brings abundant life chapter 19 and 14 keeps one from evil chapter 16 results in riches honor chapter 22 and breeds humility and that's repeated multiple times listen to that again proverbs says fearing the lord prolongs life is more profitable than wealth brings abundant life keeps one from evil results enriches honor and produces humility proverbs also says that the one who fears the lord sleeps satisfied and is untouched by evil chapter 19. the one who fears the lord has confidence chapter 14 the one who fears the lord will be praised chapter 31 the one who fears the lord back in chapter 1 verse 29 will have his prayers answered everything begins with fearing the lord that means having a reverential law for him essentially worship worship so if you want to be a man this is where it starts it starts with true-hearted worship of our god in all the fullness of his glory fear your god there's a second lesson that men need to learn guard your mind guard your mind look at chapter 3 and verse 3. do not let kindness and truth leave you bind them around your neck write them on the tablet of your heart that is a reference to the mind in chapter 3 and verse 23 then you will walk in your way securely and your foot will not stumble over in chapter 4 again this very familiar truth in verse 23 watch over your heart with all diligence for from it flow the springs of life your heart is the mind guard your mind guard your mind these graces that are laid out for us in the book of proverbs are basically to be the characteristics that define us back in chapter one don't forsake your father's instruction your mother's teaching they are graceful wreath to your head and ornaments around your neck chapter 2 verse 10 wisdom will enter your heart and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul and when that happens discretion will guard you understanding will watch over you to deliver you from the ways of evil from the man who speaks perverse things etc and you will avoid evil chapter 3 verse 1 do not forget my teaching but let your heart keep my commandments again heart always refers to the mind where the seat of thought resides chapter 4 give attention in verse one that you may gain understanding for i give you sound teaching do not abandon my instruction when i was a son to my father tender and the only son in the sight of my mother then he taught me and said to me let your heart hold fast my words keep my commandments and live verse 10 hear my son and accept my sayings and the years of your life will be many verse 13 take hold of instruction do not let go guard her for she is your life and then down in verse 20 give attention to my words incline your ear to my sayings again this is wisdom personified do not let them depart from your sight keep them in the midst of your heart for they are life to those who find them and health to all their body then comes that verse 23 watch over your heart with all diligence for from it flow the springs of life life is all about guarding your mind it's devotion to the truth one more text in chapter 6 verse 20 repeating what we read earlier my son observe the commandment of your father do not forsake the teaching of your mother bind them continually on your heart tie them around your neck when you walk about they will guide you when you sleep they'll watch over you when you're awake they will talk to you what a statement truth will talk to you it speaks in your heart in chapter 7 verse 1 my son keep my words treasure my commandments within you keep my commandments and live and my teaching is the apple of your eye bind them on your fingers write them on the tablet of your heart say to wisdom you're my sister and call understanding your intimate friend they may keep you from an adulteress from the foreigner who flatters with their words men are to fear god and guard their minds their minds are to be occupied with true spiritual wisdom that comes from the scripture let me inject another characteristic that god requires of men fear your god guard your mind thirdly obey your parents obey your parents that may seem like something that's supposed to be said to somebody who's a child in the home but it isn't obey your parents in this sense chapter 1 verse 8 hear my son your father's instruction and do not forsake your mother's teaching honor your parents obey your parents in the sense that you follow through on what they taught you that's why it keeps saying my son my son my son listen to what your parents told you this is ref enforcing the first commandment with a promise that is if you obey your parents your life will be long on the earth fathers are to teach their children the truth to love the truth to obey the truth they are to use a rod by the way to reinforce that they are to use corporal punishment they are to use a rod proverb says to drive folly in foolishness out of their sons so teaching them to obey what they have been taught demands some discipline and even some corporal punishment so that they associate disobedience with pain fear your god guard your mind honor your parents ladies let me just say this to you you want a man who has honor for his parents that that is a man who has been disciplined parents aren't perfect but where you have someone with believing parents and he honors those parents from his heart for what they have taught him what they have given him by way of the legacy of truth this brings a noble character to that man number four select your companions select your companions chapter 1 verse 10. my son if sinners entice you and they will do not consent if they say come with us let us lie and wait for blood let us ambush the innocent without cause let us swallow them alive like shield even whole as those who go down to the pit we will find all kinds of precious wealth we'll fill our houses with spoil throw in your lot with us we shall all have one purse my son do not walk in the way with them keep your feet from their path for their feet run to evil and they hasten to shed blood indeed it is useless to spread the baited net in sight of any bird but they lie and wait for their own blood they ambush their own lives so are the ways of everyone who gains by violence it takes away the life of its possessors teach your children to choose their friends the section says that for a fleeting moment of pleasure a seductive moment wicked men are willing to draw you in to their plans plans for evil plans for harm there is a certain rush a certain adrenaline excitement in such behavior such pointless senseless gang stupidity and violence don't get sucked in don't join them verse 14. when they say throw in your lot with us don't join them even though they know they may get caught that's part of the rush the whole appeal here is based on the attraction of excitement the attraction of power the attraction of doing harm and getting away with it being part of the gang over in chapter 2 verse 11 discretion will guard you understanding will watch over you to deliver you from the way of evil from the man who speaks perverse things so if you fear your god and have guarded your mind and have honored your parents by holding on to their instruction that discretion that wisdom that understanding will deliver you from those who try to seduce you into the way of evil from the man who speaks perverse things from those who leave the paths of uprightness to walk in the ways of darkness who delight in doing evil and rejoice in the perversity of evil whose paths are crooked and who are devious in their ways verse 20 so you will walk in the way of good men and keep to the paths of righteous of the righteous for the upright will live in the land and the blameless will remain in it but the wicked will be cut off from the land and the treacherous will be uprooted from it this reminds me of an incident when i was a kid in junior high there was a sort of a gang you could call our neighborhood a gang that long ago that liked to do mischief and i had engaged in some of the rather harmless mischief like sliding down the gutter drains all the way into the main water drain and then running up and down in those big concrete water drains my parents didn't know i was doing that that was mischief that was harmless but i i was suckered in and eventually they decided that they were going to go to sears as a gang and they were going to see what they could steal they were going to rush one department and take what they could take and get out the door and they drew me in and the next thing i knew there was a security officer with his hand on the back of my neck as i exited with my stash trying to belong i was put in a cell in the jail and my parents were called to come and let me out it was embarrassing to me embarrassing to my father the pastor it was also agonizingly painful to my backside is exactly what i deserved but i only did it once you choose your friends don't let them choose you chapter 4 verse 10 hear my son accept my sayings the years of your life will be many i've directed you in the way of wisdom i've led you in upright paths when you walk your steps will not be impeded if you run you will not stumble take hold of instruction do not let go guard her for she is your life do not enter the path of the wicked and do not proceed in the way of evil men avoid it do not pass by it turn away from it and pass on for they cannot sleep unless they do evil they eat the bread of wickedness choose your friends true friends choose the kind of people that lift you up not the kind of people that pull you down a man should be known by his friends and they should be close loving friends who are also committed to biblical wisdom who are honest and who lift us up you want to make friends of those who elevate you not those who pull you down so fear your god guard your mind honor your parents select your companions here we go a little deeper number five control your desires chapter five down to verse 22 his own iniquities will capture the wicked and he will be held with the cords of his sin he will die for lack of instruction and in the greatness of his folly he will go astray sin imprisons sin makes you a captive sin puts you in chains there's some illustrations of that here in proverbs back to chapter 2 and just pick it up at verse 16 to deliver you from the strange woman from the adulteress who flatters with her words that leaves the companion of her youth and forgets the covenant of her god for her house sinks down to death and her tracks lead to the dead none who go to her return again nor do they reach the paths of life so you will walk in the way of good men and keep to the paths of the righteous for the upright will live in the land and the blameless will remain in it but the wicked will be cut off from the land and the treacherous will be uprooted from it stay away from this strange woman the foreign woman away from home no accountability out of town no one knows teach your son's sexual purity now go over to chapter five again and look how it starts my son give attention to my wisdom incline your ear to my understanding that you may observe discretion your lips may reserve knowledge for the lips of an adulteress drip honey and smoother than oil is her speech seduction but in the end she is bitter as wormwood sharp as a two-edged sword her feet go down to death her steps take hold of sheol by the way we're talking about here illegitimate sex not necessarily a prostitute not necessarily some anonymous hookup we're talking about engaging in any kind of sexual sin sexual relationship outside of marriage is a pathway to death she doesn't ponder the path of life her ways are unstable she doesn't know it now then my sons listen to me and do not depart from the words of my mouth keep your way far from her do not go near the door of her house or you will give your vigor to others in your years to the cruel one and strangers will be filled with your strength and your hard-earned goods will go to the house of an alien you have sex with some person you don't know all of the implications of that you don't know about what it might destroy your life in a multiple of ways physically it's possible a aerial disease financially it's possible a child is conceived your hard-earned goods go to the house of an alien and you groan at your final end when your flesh and your body are consumed and you say how i have hated instruction and my heart's burned reproof i have not listened to the voice of my teachers nor inclined my ear to my instructors i was almost in utter ruin in the midst of the assembly and congregation there i was with the people of god knowing the truth and not listening and i engaged in what could be totally destructive chapter 6 verse 20 and we've looked at this verse drop down to verse 24. commandments teaching reproofs discipline are to keep you from the evil woman from the smooth tongue of the adulteress do not desire her beauty in your heart do not let her capture you with her eyelids for on account of a harlot in this case one is reduced to a loaf of bread and an adulterous hunt for the precious life the word adulterous here means alien this is this is getting caught outside your protected space this is when you're out of town this is when you're far away from accountability can a man take verse 27 fire in his bosom his clothes not be burned can a man walk on hot coals and his feet not be scorched so is the one who goes into his neighbor's wife whoever touches her will not go unpunished verse 32 the one who commits adultery with a woman is lacking sense he who would destroy himself does it wounds in disgrace he will find in his reproach will not be blotted out did you hear that his reproach will not be blotted out if you want to lead in the church and be above or approach you can't have that in your background and god will not spare in the day of vengeance nor will he accept any ransom nor will he be satisfied though you give many gifts that would be referring to first of all her husband but certainly would be god's attitude as well and then chapter 7 is a long statement on the same thing all the way through this chapter you have a picture of someone who is a fool because he is seduced if you just look down at verse six you see the drama unfold at the window of my house i looked out through my lattice i saw among the naive and discerned among the youths a young man lacking sense passing through the street near her corner and he takes away to her house this is the seductress in the twilight in the evening in the middle of the night and in the darkness and behold a woman comes to meet him dressed as a harlot and cunning of heart she's boisterous and rebellious her feet do not remain at home she's now in the streets now in the squares lurks by every corner seizes him kisses him with a brazen face she says to him i was due to offer peace offerings today i paid my vows therefore i have come out to meet you to seek your presence earnestly and i have found you this is a woman on the hunt and all the tactics are laid out i've spread my couch verse 16 with coverings colored linens of egypt sprinkled my bed with myrrh aloes and cinnamon let us drink our fill of love until morning let us delight ourselves verse 19 for my husband is not home my son guard your desires don't put yourself in a place where you're out of control it's disastrous go to verse 22. suddenly he follows her as an ox goes to the slaughter or as one in fetters to the discipline of a fool until an arrow piece that pierces through his liver and a bird hastens to this as a bird hastens to the snare so he doesn't know that it will cost him his life that's the kill so therefore in verse 24 my sons listen to me and pay attention to the words of my mouth do not let your heart run aside to her ways do not stray into her paths for many are the victims she has cast down in numerous are all her slain her house is the way to shield descending to the chambers of death and he is not done chapter 9 verse 13 the woman of folly is boisterous naive knows nothing sits at the doorway of her house on a seat by the high places of the city calling to those who pass by making their paths straight whoever is naive let him turn in here and to him who lacks understanding she says stolen water is sweet and bread eaten in secret is pleasant but he doesn't know that the dead are there that her guests are in the depths of sheol what does god require of a man that he subdue his evil desires number six be faithful to your wife be faithful to your wife back in chapter five verse 15 drink water from your own cistern and fresh water from your own well that's a euphemistic way of saying enjoy the relationship with your own wife should your springs be dispersed abroad streams of water in the streets let them be yours alone and not for strangers with you let your fountain be blessed and rejoice in the wife of your youth as a loving hind and a graceful dough let her breast satisfy you at all times be exhilarated always with her love for why should you my son be exhilarated with an adulteress and embrace the bosom of a foreigner for the ways of a man are before the eyes of the lord and he watches all his paths and his own iniquities will capture the wicked he will be held with the cords of his sin and he will die for lack of instruction this world is filled with seductive temptations that confront men and women men are particularly vulnerable that's why you make a covenant before god when you get married then you make a covenant with god to be pure then you make a covenant with your eyes then you make a covenant with your feet and you avoid the places of temptation what does god expect of a man fear your god guard your mind honor your parents select your companions control your desires enjoy your wife number seven watch your words watch your words go back to chapter 4 of proverbs this is so practical verse 24 put away from you a deceitful mouth and put devious speech far from you another way to say that tell the truth tell the truth tell the truth and speak the truth chapter 5 verse 2 observe discretion and your lips may reserve knowledge when you open your mouth you should be speaking truth chapter 6 verse 12 a worthless person a wicked man is the one who walks with a perverse mouth and then over in chapter 10 a number of statements are made here verse 11 the mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence hatred stirs up strife but love covers all transgressions on the lips of the discerning wisdom is found on the lips of the discerning wisdom is found verse 18 he who conceals hatred has lying lips that's flattery verse 19 when there are many words transgression is unavoidable but he who restrains his lips is wise verse 20 the tongue of the righteous is his choice silver verse 21 the lips of the righteous feed many verse 31 the mouth of the righteous flows with wisdom but the perverted tongue will be cut out the lips of the righteous bring forth what is acceptable but the mouth of the wicked what is perverted all through proverbs over and over and over again the mouth is addressed the lips of the righteous speak wisely the lips of the righteous bring eternal life the lips of the righteous are a fountain of life as we read chapter 15 the lips of the righteous are a tree of life as we read chapter 10 verse 20 the lips of the righteous are like choice silver they are satisfying chapter 12 they feed others chapter 10 they bring healing and deliverance again chapter 12. the lips of the righteous speak patiently kindly wisely truthfully honestly purely softly gently they speak the things of god on the other hand the mouth of fools pour out crooked speech folly violence hatred malice too many words strife ruin slander belittlement gossip disguise lying scorching fire mischief and perversity watch your words number eight in the practical design for sons for men pursue your work pursue your work work is a blessing yes it came as a curse but it is a curse that is essentially a blessing because it allows you to exercise productivity in a fallen world back in chapter 6 the proverbs address laziness as you know so here's industry illustrated by ants go to the ant oh sluggard chapter six verse six observe her ways and be wise which having no chief officer or ruler so there's nobody ruling over the ants and that is to say without some big ant cracking the whip they work they prepare food in the summer and gather provision in the harvest how long will you lie down oh sluggard when will you arise from your sleep a little sleep a little slumber a little folding of the hands to rest your poverty will come in like a vagabond and your need like an armed man laziness you are to be diligent in pursuing your work chapter 10 a couple of verses verse 4. poor is he who works with a negligent hand but the hand of the diligent makes rich he who gathers in summer is a son who acts wisely but he who sleeps in harvest is a son who acts shamefully if you don't work you rob yourself wasting time wasting talent wasting opportunity wasting ernie earning power all these things end up with self-inflicted poverty chapter 10 verse 2 ill-gotten gains do not profit you don't want to earn your money illegally crookedly you want to earn it by working hard according to proverbs the lazy man will suffer hunger chapter 19 poverty chapter 10 failure chapter 13 why because he is sleeping through the harvest because he wants but won't work for what he wants because he loves sleep he is glued to his bed and that's repeated several times in further portions of proverbs and he follows worthless pursuits and he tries illegally to profit on the other hand the man who pursues his work earns a good living chapter 10 12 13 has plenty to eat chapter 12 is rewarded for his effort effort chapter 12 earns the right to have respect even respect from kings chapter 22. work hard just a couple more number nine manage your money manage your money you're working hard you have a responsibility to be careful as a steward of what god has provided through your work chapter 3 verse 9 and here's how you manage your money honor the lord from your wealth honor the lord from your wealth use the money that you have to honor the lord and from the first of all your produce you tithe as in the old testament the first of the crop so your barns will be filled with plenty and your vats will overflow with new wine manage your money to honor the lord and the lord will bless you that's a promise over to chapter 6 a warning if you have become surety or that means to guarantee alone for your neighbor have given a pledge for a stranger if you have been snared with the words of your mouth and have been caught with the words of your mouth do this then my son and deliver yourself since you have come into the hand of your neighbor go humble yourself and plead with your neighbor give no sleep to your eyes nor slumber to your eyelids deliver yourself like a gazelle from a hunter's hand and like a bird from a hand of the fowler what is this talking about never cosign alone with a stranger why because you have abandoned your stewardship you have literally put your assets into a liability situation and you have no control because if you have co-signed unless it's obviously someone in your family you're liable for someone else's default you want to manage your money for the lord control your money to honor the lord take care of your financial obligations fulfill your own responsibility with your money i was with some people just this last week who were moaning very wealthy people moaning the fact that they put their assets as backing for someone who defrauded them this is very very common why is that wrong well it's wrong to be defrauded i mean it's wrong to defraud someone but but what proverbs is saying is you are responsible for this money you don't yield up that responsibility to someone else and one final lesson to round out the 10 serve your neighbor serve your neighbor chapter 3 verse 27 do not withhold good from those to whom it is due when it's in your power to do it do not say to your neighbor go and come back and tomorrow i will give it like in the new testament be warm be filled and give them nothing don't ever say go and come back and tomorrow i will give it when you have it with you do not devise harm against your neighbor while he lives securely beside you do not contend with a man without cause if he has done you no harm this is generosity in managing your money you honor the lord and one way you honor the lord the first commandment is to love the lord your god without your heart soul mind and strength second take a look at your neighbor and love your neighbor as yourself and one way you do that is by giving your neighbor what your neighbor needs when he needs it don't argue don't generate conflict with your neighbor serve your neighbor fear your god guard your mind honor your parents select your companions control your desires watch your words pursue your work manage your money serve your neighbor now that takes us through those ten but i want to give you kind of a final insight here you know who wrote all this right you know who wrote all this solomon yes solomon is the one who wrote all this or is referred to in chapter 31 by another name lemuel name according to ancient jewish tradition for solomon um solomon really didn't do too well with a lot of this did he no i'd say he is a a very disillusioned man when you read the book of ecclesiastes and he says about his own life all his emptiness and all his vanity solomon is saying throughout proverbs that you need to live wisely in fact it was he who when given the opportunity to ask for anything asked for wisdom so he had some understanding of its priority and importance in his early life i'm going to talk about not living wisely in his early life he was married to a maiden from shunam in lower galilee and about that marriage he wrote the song of songs or the song of solomon which is a celebration of marital love and the holy spirit inspired him to write that about love the long poem to his beloved wife as a very young man but then he went ahead and married 699 other women 699 other women oh yeah and in addition he had sexual relationships with 300 concubines he wasn't married to how can a man know this write this and live like that well the fact is he can but the payoff shows up in the emptiness of ecclesiastes the good news about ecclesiastes is he came back to god didn't he and he closes by saying remember your creator in the days of your youth what was the fallout for solomon well he had a son named rhea boehm rehoboam completely rejected god why did rehoboam reject god because no matter what his father said his father was a hypocrite you can know all the lessons but if you don't live them it just magnifies your hypocrisy the legacy is devastating to your sons this is wisdom imminently practical so that men can be real men before god let's pray father we thank you again for the clarity of your word as always thank you for not only giving us the word of god but giving us the spirit of god so that the word of god can be comprehended we thank you that we have the truth teacher residing in us who takes the truth and applies it to our hearts i pray for all of us to be faithful to learn these true principles of life i pray for every man here to be the kind of man that would honor you i pray for every young lady that she would by your grace find such a man who endeavors to live in wisdom and that the next generation produced will see genuine wisdom lived out and not hypocrisy we depend on your word and your spirit to keep us faithful for your glory in our savior's name amen

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Published: Mon Mar 22 2021