Knowing the Bible for Yourself (Pt. 11)

When one thinks of wisdom, what thoughts come to mind?  What images fill the head?   The response of the Christian to such questions will inevitably differ from those outside the faith.  The most up-to-date entry in the Cambridge online dictionary defines wisdom as: “The ability to use your knowledge and experience to make good decisions and judgments”.  The Biblical definition of wisdom whilst not contradicting this, begins from an entirely different premise from where the world begins.  The world begins from a worldview that excludes the God of Holy Scripture; whereas the Biblical definition of wisdom begins and ends with God (Prov. 9:10).

There are five books in the Bible that have been rightly identified as belonging to the Wisdom Literature.  These include Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Solomon.  In this first teaching part of two, we begin exploring this wisdom and endeavour to offer practical helps to enable one to better interpret the Book of Proverbs in order to understand the great wealth of wisdom that is contained in this precious book.

Download teaching notes (pdf)

https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/bethesdashalom/8_Interpreting_the_Books_of_Wisdom_Pt1.pdf

Matthew 13:1-9

J.C Ryle said of this parable; “The four kinds of hearts it describes are to be found in every assembly which hears the word.  These circumstances should make us always read the parable with a deep sense of its importance.  We should say to ourselves as we read it: “This concerns me. My heart is to be seen this parable. I, too, am here”.  Well said, Brother Ryle!!

The child of God ever runs the dangerous possibility of becoming overfamiliar with those texts which he hears the most.  The Parable of the Sower is perhaps at the forefront of this list.  May we listen to this sermon with ears and eyes afresh and in so doing, may God grant us to see the soil condition of our hearts.