Yes. Technology.
Well, today, I wanted to talk about Proverbs, which is a very, very interesting book.
I wanted to thank Fred Schwartfager for all the years of picking great speakers. About 15 years ago I was listening to a message very much like you.
And Fred had managed to have one of the speakers at a Mayis come. He was a professor. I don't remember his name.
And he spoke on Proverbs and he recommended a small book by Derek Kiddner.
Called Proverbs, thin little volume but it was packed with all sorts of things on the problems.
He had categorized them, put them, and I thought this is a fascinating study. And then of course after that, there are many others who have written extensively on Proverbs.
I want to do thank. Several speakers which I'll do throughout the my message here, but Proverbs is a dense book filled with wisdom, wisdom that we need for today.
And that's what I would like to cover. The topic today will be wisdom. And then I'll be back next Sunday to talk about foolishness.
What Proverbs has to say about it. We look at the book of Proverbs, the most frequent The topic that comes up is wisdom.
It's set about 65 times. The next most frequent topic is the fool foolishness or things related to foolishness and that occurs about 50 times.
So these are topics. We would like to look into today. So let's open with the word of prayer.
Our father, we come before you in Jesus name, are so grateful, Lord. To share from the Word of God, to read it, to study it.
Memorize it and to grow. In maturity by the words that are stated there. We thank you for fellowship among like-minded believers for this assembly.
And we are so grateful to be children of God and we pray this in Jesus name. So life is filled with proverbs.
Let me give you several of them. Blood is thicker than water. That's a proverb.
Another one is the journey of 1,000 miles begins with the first step. Another one is footprints in the sands of time are not made by sitting down.
Another one is if you think that nobody cares that you're alive try missing a few car payments. That'll get you done.
So we have problems all the time in life. Proper is an interesting book because it explains about 85% of life.
If you get up in the morning and you're diligent you're going to succeed. If you save for the future, you're going to succeed.
If you, excuse me, avoid the immoral woman. That would be a good thing to do.
If you listen to God's counsel, a very, very good thing to do. About 85% of life.
And then in the wisdom literature, Ecclesiastes explains the last 15% of life. This is where Solomon is is an aging man and he's musing on things.
He's sort of like an an aging rock star recalling his life and all the excesses.
And there he describes life as being meaningless or a better translation would be a vapor. And in that situation, it's almost like he likens it to fog or mist and we had a couple of days.
About a week ago where there was just this beautiful mist. Even my son mentioned that when I was bringing him to school.
It appears beautiful at a distance, but when you're in it, it can be confusing. It can be challenging.
It can be difficult to grasp. And so that's what he describes as being meaningless. But today we're looking at the sunny side of wisdom literature and that is the proverbs.
Let's take a look at a few topics here. And get my computer here to go down.
There we go.
The title of this sermon is Wisdom living successfully in a treacherous world. We're, but where can wisdom be found and where is the place of understanding?
Man does not know its value, nor is it found in the land of the living. God understands its way and he knows its place.
Job 28 says this. The social upheaval we've witnessed in last several years Really?
Provides a pretty vivid proof of what Paul talks about in his writings about the nature of man's depravity.
Here's what he writes in Romans one. He says, for even though they knew God, They didn't honor him as God or give thanks.
But they became futile in their speculations and their foolish heart was dark and professing to be wise.
They became fools. Western society, arguably the wealthiest and most educated society. In the in the history of humanities fast becoming most foolish, the most foolish and morally impoverished.
Robbie Zakaria said this, we're educating ourselves into imbecility.
If we look at But treachery of the present day, it's evident in at least 3 fundamental evils.
The first one is the rebellion against the law of cause and effect. The second one is a rebellion against the need for personal responsibility.
And the third one is a rebellion against the right of external authority. Professors in universities that claim the 2 plus 2 equals 4 is code language for ethnic oppression.
No single standard of measurement can be enforced equally on all. We have politicians who imagine out loud that emptying prisons and decreasing the enforcement of laws will bring greater safety to communities.
And they say it's only the enforcement of laws that creates criminality. That's what they say.
We have growing numbers of young men who believe they have an inherent right. To financial support even when they choose not to work.
After all, this is what loving one's neighbor looks like. Men who feel like they are women must be allowed to compete in women's athletic competitions since gender differences are social.
Inventions or constructions. This goes on. Foolishness is thriving, and society is crumbling under its weight.
But we are not the only generation to encounter these conditions. Foolishness is not something new that's under the sun.
It's shown itself in all forms since the fall of the atom, Genesis 3. Therefore, the question we asked today is the question asked many times over throughout history, even by men like Job.
Where can wisdom be found? Where is the place of understanding? Man does not know its value or is it found.
In the land of the living. Consequently, Jones, Job's own answer to this question is also very appropriate today in this place.
God understands wisdom's way and he knows it's place. Job 28. Here's the conclusion.
It is possible to navigate a treacherous world. In which we live only by turning wholeheartedly.
To God in search of the wisdom that only he can provide. As much as ever, especially as men, we need this wisdom.
The book of Proverbs is the place to go for it.
Doubtless, if the world were governed by the whole wisdom of this single book. It would be a new earth wherein dwelleth righteousness.
Charles Bridges said that. Here's another quote. If one had, if I had one message to give to CEOs, educators, political leaders, media pundits and social scientists of our day, it would be the preaching of proverbs which majors on making one wise unto salvation.
In Jesus Christ. So the possibility for success is here. The overall purpose of the book of Proverbs is to provide the young and simple with the knowledge and skill necessary to live successively before God and man.
The book is aimed specifically at those in need, young people. The young and ignorant, even though it's looking at their phones.
Provides that which is needed, knowledge and skill. It's goal is to achieve a specific outcome, successful living.
And that outcome is determined in 2 spheres. Horizontally toward God and vertically in relation to man.
And its purpose is summed up really in the introduction to problems in chapter one verses one through 7.
Let me read this. This is important. The Proverbs of Solomon, the son of David, King of Israel.
To know wisdom and instruction to perceive the words of understanding. To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, judgment, and equity.
First for to give prudence to the simple. To the young men knowledge and discretion. A wise man will hear and increase learning and a man of understanding will attain wise counsel.
To understand a proverb and an enigma or puzzle. The words of the wise and their riddles.
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge but fools despise wisdom and instruction. Bruce Walkie states the book of Proverbs remains the model of curriculum for humanity to learn how to live under God.
Before mankind. So what is the purpose of a sermon? It's disturbing people up to get us to think about things.
And in this particular case, Proverbs has a lot to say to us in a world that is awash in confusion.
The book of Proverbs has 2 more specific purposes. The first one is that Proverbs is intended to provide young men with an instruction manual.
For preparation for leadership. As Israel grew and flourished under Solomon, so did the need for administrative leadership in the kingdom.
Solomon understood the responsibility of training up men to take up leadership and it related to his own son.
He spends the first 9 chapters as a father talking to a son. To his son but also to sons in general.
References to kings at leadership responsibilities are evident throughout the book of Proverbs. And also.
Generally used to groom men for leadership. Second, Proverbs was intended to ride fathers with a curriculum for preparing their children.
Particularly their sons or in today's world. Their their daughters for success in life. The repeated references to my son and my sons along with references to fathers and mothers instruction and discipline.
Indicates the content of the book is particularly important for parents and highlight their responsibility to prepare sin bent children.
For successful living in a world that itself is bent. On doing evil. Proverbs provides the practical conversations needed when you sit in your house and you walk by the way.
This is what Deuteronomy 6 talks about. Instruction as Moses is. On the plane before he's going to enter into the Promise Land, Deuteronomy, the restatement of the laws.
He gives instruction for them before they enter. And one of them is that simple instruction there. So the fundamental emphasis in the book of Probers is wisdom, and this is a concept that we're going to talk about a little bit later.
One theologian has healthily summarized wisdom is the essence of what man needs for a proper life, practical knowledge of the laws of life in the world based on experience.
He explains that wisdom consisted in knowing that at the bottom of things, an order is at work, silently and often and scarcely noticeable way, making for a balance of events.
A person however has to wait for it to be able to wait for it and also to be capable of seeing it.
Van has to recognize this order or this meta narrative that God has designed for his creation and then live life patterned his life according to this narrative.
Meta narrative is a word that has been thrown around a lot. This is the overarching purpose and this is what Proverbs is talking about.
And of course Proverbs draws all sorts of illustrations from the natural world, from animals, plants, weather, common human experiences.
It emphasizes the reality that God is programmed into this order, this order into creation is very fabric.
And it's inescapable. To reject the norms conveyed by creation is the epitome of foolishness.
This is what Paul writes in Romans chapter one verse 18. For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteous of men who suppress or hold down the truth and unrighteousness.
Because what may be known of God is manifest in them for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world, his invisible attributes are clearly seen.
Being understood by the things that are made. Even his eternal power in God had said that man is without excuse.
Here's another one. Romans chapter one verses 26 and 27 for this reason God gave them up to vile passions for even their women exchanged the natural use of what is against nature.
Likewise also, the men leaving the natural use of the woman burned in their lust for one another.
Men with men committing what is shameful and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.
Paul does not mince words here. Paul's denunciation of homosexuality is contrary to nature is the point here.
And that's just one sin among many, many others, of course. The implication is that God through wisdom placed order in the very framework of the cosmos.
And does this make, does this shock or surprise anyone? Of course not. This is what God has been doing.
Here's the key. What one observes in the natural cosmos has implications for understanding the social and moral order.
But the natural world is not the only source by which Proverbs draws in order to explain God's order in life.
A more important order exists. One that is assumed throughout the entire book, The Law of God. It is the commandment that serves as a lamp.
It is the law that serves as light, Proverbs 6, Psala, 19, s Peter one.
It's the fear of the Lord. That serves as the beginning of knowledge and wisdom, Proverbs one verse 7.
These 2 springs, General Revelation and Special Revelation. Serve as the purpose from which knowledge is to be drawn.
For skillful living in a treacherous world. There can't be any excuse for foolishness and God has made his moral order.
Known completely. So One of the things that we can learn from Proverbs is that there are a couple of laws that are in effect.
The book of Proper's emphasizes 3 key ingredients for a life where wisdom can take root and flourish.
One is the submission to the law of cause and effect. This is a law of sewing and reaping.
And this is very clear what you sow you're going to reap, whether it is. To your sinful nature or to.
Toward righteousness. All ideas, choices and behaviors have consequences in response to this emphasis in Proverbs, a commentator wrote this.
There is a real, very real sense in which the entire progress of our lives may be viewed as a result of choices.
Choices chart the course of life. Second key ingredient is submission to the need for personal responsibility.
Connected to the law cause and effect is the reality of personal responsibility, taking ownership of that which one sews.
The book of Robbers repeatedly claims that gaining wisdom is a matter of life and death. And at the end of the day, the individual is always responsible for the path he chooses and the consequence he experiences.
And a third key ingredient is submission to the existence of eternal authorities. There's perhaps another book in the Bible that establishes the necessity of authority.
As does the book of Proverbs. At the most basic level, it is evident in the parent-child relationship and moves beyond that to teacher student relationship to king subject relationship.
And it's ultimately clearly shown in the relationship each individual has to his creator and judge. Wisdom is built upon the recognition that authority, the dirty structure is not only real, it's a part of the order God is programmed into creation.
So the key here is that there are the same principles that are under attack in society today. Tear these pillars down and nothing but confusion, disorder, and treachery results.
Let's take a look at what Proverbs has to say about wisdom.
And we're going to switch here. Here we go. This story about Canadian lumberjacks.
These are the guys that go in the bush. They're big, burly guys. They have 20 inch guns.
And they put a chainsaw on their back and they go into Canadian bush, the thick forests cut down trees for 2 or 3 weeks, get paid a lot of money and then come out of the camp again.
And one time there was a Canadian lumberjack that got saved. And he decided he was going to preach the gospel.
So he set himself right in the path of these guys coming out of the cabinet all sweaty and stuff.
And he gets on a box and starts preaching the gospel. And one of them in a group of a bunch of lumberjacks yells out, you know what?
I don't believe the Bible. I don't believe a single thing it says, prove to me one verse that's true.
And this guy's preaching the Word of God. Gets off, it gets up, runs down off of this box, goes up to him, gets in a headlock, and then twists his nose really hard until blood comes out and he says the Roberts, 30 verse 33, the ringing of the nose produces blood.
Word of God, very powerful, very practical too.
According to the book of Proverbs, ignorance is not bliss. Naivete and gullibility are not virtues to be adored, but vices to be rejected.
How blessed is the man who finds wisdom and the man who gains understanding, Proverse 3, 13.
Instead, bliss or happiness, a state of blessedness and contentment can only be experienced through the pursuit and acquisition of wisdom.
How should wisdom be defined? The Hebrew word for wisdom emphasizes skill, particularly skill in living.
The essence of wisdom is skill, the ability to do a job. A word that's related to the skill of the craftsmen when the tabernacle was being constructed.
These are men that knew how to set gems into metal. They knew how to do very, very intricate embroidery on the curtains.
They were the ones that came up with the perfume. The and the incense they came up with these things that were God-given abilities.
They were artisans who received wisdom from God. And this is the type of meaning behind this Hebrew word.
The essence of skill is the ability to do a job, like skilled craftsmen working on the tabernacle, skilled, the wisdom offer by the book of Proverbs is skill for living and the goal of wisdom is that you might achieve a life of beauty and significance so that at the end of your days you have a accomplished something worthwhile and lasting.
Trump or Longman provides another helpful death definition here. Wisdom is the skill of living. It's the practical knowledge that helps one know how to act and and how to speak in different situations.
Wisdom and tails the ability to avoid problems. And the skill to handle them when they present themselves. Wisdom also includes the ability to interpret other people's speech and writing in order to react correctly.
To what they're saying to us. Richard Mayhew writes this, wisdom reflects the intent and discipline to make godly choices in a world filled with sinful distractions and detours.
Wisdom represents the culmination of knowing and understanding carried to its practical and ultimate end. Finally, wisdom involves knowing the facts of divine revelation in scripture.
As well as understanding them in the sense of comprehending God's intention. That they lead to a life of redemption and practical sanctification.
Wisdom that engages the human intellect and will. To translate this knowledge and understanding into a pattern of godly experience as a habit of one's life.
In other words, the wizard about which the Bible speaks originates in God. And is made known through his revelation.
It's inherently practical. It's not speculative, it's not theoretical, it's not abstract.
It can only be practice. In the sphere of life one day at a time. Of each week.
And it speaks the whole of life and to all of life's seasons. It provides what's lacking in every man.
The know-how to navigate in the treacherous paths of life successfully to the glory and pleasure of God.
Now I would like to talk about 9 principles that we can extract from the book of Proverbs on wisdom.
Number one, wisdom, originates in God alone. Selman teaches that man is not born in ascent.
Nor does he become wise automatically with age. This is something that Hollywood really likes to do. Have a man who's got white hair and stuff and he's a guru.
He's achieved all of this knowledge and stuff. That's not what Proverbs says. And said, man's propensity from the very beginning is to resist wisdom.
And left to his own devices, he'll only become more entrenched in foolishness as he grows older.
Proverbs 19 and also 22 say this. Foolishness is innate. To him.
Wisdom on the other hand is external. One writer said it's alien but offered. It's alien to man in his falling condition.
But it's offered to him by God. Solomon teaches that wisdom is supernatural, not natural.
In the words of James, it's from above. Not from below. James chapter 3. Here's Proverbs 2 verse 6, for the Lord gives wisdom from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.
Wisdom is from God, directly from his mouth. It's noteworthy that Solomon doesn't simply say that God gives wisdom, he uses here as often throughout the book the personal name for the God of Israel, Yahweh.
The Lord to show that wisdom comes from him. Nots from some induscript or impersonal divine power.
It comes directly from God for us. Solomon also states that this was them comes from the Lord's mouth.
Selman recognized that even though he himself was an instrument for wisdom, it came from God. It was the disclosure from God.
Instructions, insertions, warnings of that wisdom were to be treated as coming from Yahweh himself.
It was Yahweh's special revelation. Here's Proverbs one verse 7 again.
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom. And there are many other citations in Proverbs, Job, Daniel, James that say the same thing, ultimately the Son of God, the Word is described as the one in which are hidden.
All the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Colossians chapter 2 verse 13. First principle. Second principle is wisdom is offered without prejudice.
It's offered to everyone. It's an equal opportunity teacher. Selman uses the image of a person or he personifies wisdom as a street vendor calling out to the public.
Lady Wisdom offers her blessings not to the elite. But to those in greatest need. She calls out specifically to the naive ones, to the simple-minded, to the scoffers and fools.
Lady Wisdom. Notice Proverbs chapter one verses 20 through 22 wisdom shouts in the streets.
She lifts her voice in the square 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 and I will make my words known to you.
When I was at UW, Milwaukee, I told the story once before, I was not a believer when I was in college and I remember reading it in the UWM Post which was the student newspaper and of course every student newspaper is written by kind of smart aleck.
Kind of editors, you know, and they're always making these comments and stuff. But there was a story about a girl that was assaulted right outside of campus.
It was a terrible story. This writer wrote the details and stuff and at the end he said God as usual had nothing to say.
And even as an unbeliever, I thought. Dude, you've got a little too far with that, you know?
But in reality, when I began to read the Bible, I found that the God actually has a lot to say.
And notice, like we did at Tosafest or any evangelism, you go where the fish are, right?
Lady wisdom goes right into the crowd and starts yelling out. To naive ones, simple-minded scoffers, fools.
I've got wisdom, come to me.
Proverbs 8 does not wisdom call and understanding lift up her voice. I'm the top of the heights.
That's where she goes. Beside the way where the paths meet. She takes her stand beside the gates at the opening of the city at the entrance of the door she cries out.
The primary demand in her invitation is to repent. Here the Hebrew word is to turn back to God.
And she promises blessing to each and every one who listens to the command. Turn to my reproof.
Behold, I will pour up my spirit on you. I will make my words known to you.
Even though lady wisdom calls clearly to all her voice is not the only one that's heard. Please listen to this in the marketplace of human life, there are many competing voices.
Solomon specifically arranges his instructions in the first 9 chapters of Propers around these competing calls.
The call of sinners. Versus the call of wisdom. The call of wisdom versus the call of the forbidden woman.
They call it the adulteress versus the call of wisdom. The call of wisdom versus the call of foolishness.
These competing calls appeal. To the same audience and sometimes even use the same words. But they are the opposite of true wisdom and lead down very different paths.
A third principle is that wisdom is possible only for the humble. Humility is the acknowledgement that the authority for knowing what you know lies outside of yourself.
When pride comes and comes dishonour but with the humble as wisdom. The way of the fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man as he who listens to counsel.
A key test for the presence of humility is to examine your use of the first person pronouns.
I, my, me. A dominant use of these pronouns. In a positive way, suggests pride and the resistance to your wisdom.
Use the dummy use of these words in a negative sense suggests humility and a desire to receive wisdom.
Pride is presumptuous and exaggerated self-confidence. Humility is a modest, cautious and lowly self-assessment.
That describes Jesus, doesn't it? He was lowly and meek and humble and he knew what it was like to be pushed around.
I borrowed that line from Bill McDonald. It's just a wonderful line. And that's our Jesus, isn't it?
Principal number 4, wisdom is imparted through otherwise men. Although wisdom originates in God, it is imparted to human channels, especially wise men.
Here's what Proverbs says. He walks with wise men will be wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.
And of course in our day, their wise men and wise women, certainly, but this is what Proverbs is saying.
Incline your ear and hear the words of the wise and apply your mind to my knowledge. For it will be pleasant if you keep them within you.
And they will be ready on your lips. In addition to the law of cause and effect, Salman also emphasized the law of assimilation.
Here both of these laws are essential for understanding proverbs. The law of assimilation teaches that one assimilates or absorbs convictions and attitudes and behaviors of those with whom he associates most closely.
You can see this all the time. Jesus said, where I am, my servant will be also. If you know Jesus, you want to hang around him.
If you don't know him or if you're confused about it, something's going to fill that void.
What is it, friends, heroes, favorite musicians, news or podcasts, blog pundits, social media accounts, preachers, whatever it is.
This influence extends even to a person's development of vocabulary, speech patterns, preferences, and opinions in life.
As created beings, we are inevitably impacted by the environment of ideas and people with whom we associate.
Jeff Nicholson told me a story one time where you were up at a Christian home. His father was a very well-known very known, well known in brethren circles.
And he took a job while he was getting a degree in biology. And he was doing graphic arts in a company.
Not necessarily a lot of believers around and so he's working away and these guys were using profanity all the time every single day.
So you see he's driving home. Somebody like cut him off and the first thing out of his mouth was a whole slew of profanity and he realized, oh my goodness, this is making such an impact on me.
And then he saw whatever choice he made, but it's easy for us to be. To be impacted by the world and that's what this is saying.
Assimilation the law of assimilation can lead to disaster. And it can also lead to successful living.
And God has created man to be influenced but by the right people. Ultimately, this assimilation is designed to occur in the most basic.
Form of influence, the father's son relationship. Another principle is that wisdom is acquired with difficulty. Solomon places the responsibility to acquire wisdom squarely on the shoulders of each individual.
This pursuit is never passive, it requires effort. And it's a quest that never ends.
Here's Proverbs chapter 4 over 7. Wisdom is the principal thing, therefore get wisdom.
And in all you're getting, get understanding. A keyword in proverbs is the term translated instruction or discipline.
It's a term used to refer to chastisement or correction. Training warning. It's especially common in raising children.
Properties uses that context quite often. The one truly committed to wisdom recognizes the value of chastisement and rebuke and correction in many forms.
It's happened to me. It's happened to anybody that's following the Lord. Why?
Because he wants you. To be holy, not like the world. And the mature believer accepts this and allows that.
Chastening to correct him or her and as James says to get back in line like a soldier. Consequently, a wise man will hear an increase in learning and a man of understanding will acquire counsel.
Wisdom, we're talking about wisdom. Principal number 6, I've only had a couple more wisdom is more valuable than wealth.
Solomon teaches the pursuit of wisdom should far exceed the pursuit of material wealth. Your efforts at obtaining this is more than what one should put into obtaining wealth here is the point.
Proverbs 3, happy as the man who finds wisdom and the man who gains understanding. For her proceeds are better than the profits of silver and her game than fine gold.
She's more precious than rubies and all the things you may desire can't compete with her or compare with her.
This comparison strikes really at a lot of the fundamental problems of men and women today. The allure of the material.
People may affirm the value of wisdom, but their daily practice shows a preoccupation with careers or possessions, vacations, those types of things.
Solomon teaches their riches should be used to acquire wisdom. He says, by truth.
Don't sell it. Get wisdom and instruction in understanding that the other way around. Another principle, principle 7 of 9 here, wisdom shows itself in righteousness.
Wisdom doesn't exist in secrecy. Those around a wise man aren't gonna be shocked that that he's pursuing wisdom.
A wise man will be recognized by his fruit, dignity, truthfulness, justice, simplicity. Here's Proverbs 8 again, listen.
I will speak of excellent things and from the opening of my lips will come right things. For, for my mouth will speak truth.
Wickedness is an abomination of my lips. All the words in my mouth are with righteousness.
Nothing crooked or perverse is in them. They are all playing to him, understands and write to those who find knowledge.
Another principle is that wisdom produces the rewards of a fulfilled life. Here we have again the law of cause and effect.
The one who sows wisdom will reap blessings as a general principle. Blessed is he who listens to me.
I'm sorry, but he listens to me shall live securely and be at ease. With the dread of evil from the dread of evil.
A blessed is the man who finds wisdom in the man who gains understanding. Solomon wasn't a prosperity preacher.
But he recognized the immense benefits of following God's wisdom and the hard path of the fool. Finally, the last principle here, I've got a giant clock that's telling me time.
Here's another problem. Time waits for no man.
Wisdom spreads joy to others. Whereas foolishness creates collateral damage, the acquisition of wisdom creates the reverse, a rippling effect of expanding join blessing to those around them who grow in wisdom.
So what's the conclusion, folks? God's desire is that we would become skilled at living life, especially in this crooked and perverse world.
And we can do this. We follow his ways as described in the Bible. Amen. Amen.
I'd like to thank a few people. I'd like to think Bruce Clawson, who is a professor, master's seminary, did a wonderful series on Proverbs.
Derek Kiddner also, Bruce Wolke. And many other commentators who are just have special insights.
Let's close in a word of prayer before a brother Joel comes up. Father, we just give you thanks and praise for the depth of the wisdom that's available to us as we walk with you.
Lord help us to maintain this path of following you. And a desire to learn. Fetus as your children.
That we might produce righteousness in his life and attract others to the knowledge of you and we give you thanks in Jesus name.
And then.
2 85 to 85
We are called to live a life of wisdom and we cannot do it alone. We need a Redeemer.
And we need