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Rev. Ronald C. Purkey, an ordained
Baptist minister, claims no
originality for this Bible study outline.
However,
every Bible study posted on this website has been taught by Rev. Purkey.
To see more Bible study outlines go
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THE MEN OF
PROVERBS
June 7, 2020
SCRIPTURE: Proverbs 1:1-10
(Proverbs 1:1-10) 5 The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king
of Israel; 2 To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the
words of understanding; 3 To receive the instruction of wisdom,
justice, and judgment, and equity; 4 To give subtilty to the
simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion. 5 A wise man
will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain
unto wise counsels: 6 To understand a proverb, and the
interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings. 7 The
fear of the Lord is the
beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction. 8 My
son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother:
9 For they shall be an ornament of grace unto thy head, and
chains about thy neck. 10 My son, if sinners entice thee,
consent thou not.
KEY VERSE: A wise man will hear, and will increase learning;
and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels: (Proverbs 1:5)
BACKGROUND: The truly wise person will (1) hear the Word of God (Proverbs 1:5)
and (2) obey it (Proverbs 12:15); (3) store up what is learned (Proverbs 9:9;
10:14); (4) win the lost (Proverbs 11:30); (5) turn from sin (Proverbs 14:16);
(6) control the tongue (Proverbs 10:19; 16:23); and (7) be diligent (Proverbs
10:5).
The wise person will (1) inherit glory (Proverbs 3:35); (2) bring joy
to others (Proverbs 10:1; 15:20); (3) have his or her needs met (Proverbs
21:20); and (4) have strength for war (Proverbs 24:5–6).
INTRODUCTION: Today we are
looking at “The Men of Proverbs” -- Wise Men! In the dictionary
"WISE" means: Properly having knowledge, hence having the power of
discerning and judging correctly, or of discriminating between what is true and
what is false. It is the discrete use or application of knowledge.
INSIGHT: The Hebrew
word "WISE" means: To be wise in (1) mind, (2) word, or (3) act.
Notice: Knowledge + Understanding = Wisdom (Proverbs 2:6).
I. ACTIONS OF
THE WISE MAN
A. He Listens.
“A wise man will hear, and will increase
learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels.”
(Proverbs 1:5)
B. He Accepts Correction.
1. “Reprove not
a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee.”
(Proverbs 9:8)
2. “Give
instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he
will increase in learning.” (Proverbs 9:9)
3. “The ear that
heareth the reproof of life abideth among the wise.”
(Proverbs 15:31)
4. “A reproof entereth more into a wise man than an
hundred stripes into a fool.” (Proverbs 17:10)
5. “The rod and
reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame.”
(Proverbs 29:15)
C. He Prepares.
1. “He that gathereth in summer is a wise son: but he that sleepeth in harvest is a son that causeth
shame.” (Proverbs 10:5)
D. He Follows Instruction.
1. “The wise in
heart will receive commandments: but a prating fool shall fall.” (Proverbs
10:8)
2. “A wise son
heareth his father’s instruction: but a scorner heareth not rebuke.” (Proverbs
13:1)
3. “Hear
counsel, and receive instruction, that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end.”
(Proverbs 19:20)
E. He Gains Knowledge.
1. “Wise men lay up knowledge: but the mouth of the foolish is near
destruction.” (Proverbs 10:14)
F. He Refrains His Tongue.
1. “In the
multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that
refraineth his lips is wise.” (Proverbs 10:19)
2. “Even a fool,
when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he
that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of
understanding.” (Proverbs 17:28)
3. “A fool uttereth all his mind: but a wise man keepeth
it in till afterwards.” (Proverbs 29:11)
G. He Wins Souls.
1. “The fruit of
the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth
souls is wise.” (Proverbs 11:30)
H. He Hearkens To Counsel.
1. “The way of a
fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth
unto counsel is wise.” (Proverbs 12:15)
2. “Only by
pride cometh contention: but with the well advised is wisdom.” (Proverbs 13:10)
3. “Hear
counsel, and receive instruction, that thou mayest be wise in thy latter end.”
(Proverbs 19:20)
I. He Walks With Wise Men.
1. “He that
walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be
destroyed.” (Proverbs 13:20)
J. He Departs From Evil.
1. “A wise man feareth, and departeth from evil:
but the fool rageth, and is confident.” (Proverbs
14:16)
K. He Abstains From Liquor.
1. “Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived
thereby is not wise.” (Proverbs 20:1)
L. He Obeys God's Law.
1. “Whoso keepeth the law is a wise son: but he that is a companion
of riotous men shameth his father.” (Proverbs 28:7)
M. He Gets Understanding.
1. “Counsel is
mine, and sound wisdom: I am understanding; I have strength.” (Proverbs 8:14)
2. “In the lips
of him that hath understanding wisdom is found: but a rod is for the back of
him that is void of understanding.” (Proverbs 10:13)
3. “It is as
sport to a fool to do mischief: but a man of understanding hath wisdom.”
(Proverbs 10:23)
4. “Wisdom resteth in the heart of him that hath understanding: but
that which is in the midst of fools is made known.” (Proverbs 14:33)
5. “Wisdom is
before him that hath understanding; but the eyes of a fool are in the ends of
the earth.” (Proverbs 17:24)
N. He Fears God.
1. “The fear of
the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is
understanding.” (Proverbs 9:10)
2. “The wisdom
of the prudent is to understand his way: but the folly of fools is deceit.”
(Proverbs 14:8)
3. “The wise in
heart shall be called prudent: and the sweetness of the lips increaseth learning.” (Proverbs 16:21)
O. He Shows Respect For Others.
1. “He that is
void of wisdom despiseth his neighbour:
but a man of understanding holdeth his peace.”
(Proverbs 11:12)
P. He Knows Prudence (i.e., Discretion).
1. “I wisdom
dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of witty inventions.” (Proverbs
8:12)
2. “The wisdom
of the prudent is to understand his way: but the folly of fools is deceit.”
(Proverbs 14:8)
3. “The wise in
heart shall be called prudent: and the sweetness of the lips increaseth learning.” (Proverbs 16:21)
II.
CHARACTERISTICS OF THE WISE MAN.
A. He Is Fair And Just.
1. “The mouth of
the just bringeth forth wisdom: but the froward
tongue shall be cut out.” (Proverbs 10:31)
2. “These things
also belong to the wise. It is not good to have respect of persons in
judgment.” (Proverbs 24:23)
B. He Is Patient.
1. “Scornful men
bring a city into a snare: but wise men turn away wrath.” (Proverbs 29:8)
C. He Is Humble.
1. “When pride
cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom.” (Proverbs 11:2)
III.
CONSEQUENCES OF THE WISE MAN.
A. He Receives Honor.
1. “Length of
days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches
and honour.” (Proverbs 3:16)
2. “The wise
shall inherit glory: but shame shall be the promotion of fools.” (Proverbs
3:35)
B. He Has A Glad Father.
1. “The proverbs
of Solomon. A wise son maketh a glad father: but a
foolish son is the heaviness of his mother.” (Proverbs 10:1)
2. “A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish man despiseth
his mother.” (Proverbs 15:20)
3. “My son, if thine
heart be wise, my heart shall rejoice, even mine.” (Proverbs 23:15)
4. “The father
of the righteous shall greatly rejoice: and he that begetteth
a wise child shall have joy of him.” (Proverbs 23:24)
5. “My son, be
wise, and make my heart glad, that I may answer him that reproacheth
me.” (Proverbs 27:11)
6. “Whoso loveth
wisdom rejoiceth his father: but he that keepeth company with harlots spendeth
his substance.” (Proverbs 29:3)
C. He Obtains Favor.
1. “For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall
obtain favour of the LORD.” (Proverbs 8:35)
2. “The king’s favour is toward a wise servant: but his wrath is against
him that causeth shame.” (Proverbs 14:35)
3. “He that handleth a matter wisely shall find good: and whoso trusteth in the LORD, happy is he.” (Proverbs 16:20)
D. He Has Length of Days.
1. “Length of
days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches
and honour.” (Proverbs 3:16)
E. He Possesses Riches.
1. “Length of
days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches
and honour.” (Proverbs 3:16)
F. He Has Ways Of Peace And
Pleasantness.
1. “Her ways are
ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.” (Proverbs 3:17)
G. He Has Happiness.
1. “Happy is the
man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.” (Proverbs 3:13)
2. “She is a
tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her.” (Proverbs 3:18)
H. He Is Protected.
1. “Forsake her
not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee.” (Proverbs
4:6)
I. He Is Rewarded.
1. “So shall the
knowledge of wisdom be unto thy soul: when thou hast found it, then there shall
be a reward, and thy expectation shall not be cut off.” (Proverbs 24:14)
J. He Is Delivered.
1. “He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh
wisely, he shall be delivered.” (Proverbs 28:26)
DOES GOD WANT
YOU TO SUCCEED?
Read:
Proverbs 16:1-3
·
Is success a legitimate goal for believers? Is this
something God wants for His children?
The answers depend upon your definition
of success. Many people define it as the achievement of wealth, prominence, or
fame. If that’s what you’re seeking, then you are following the world’s
definition, not the Lord’s.
·
In His eyes, true success begins internally -- the
first step is a relationship with Jesus, whereby you have trusted Him as Savior
and are following Him obediently.
His goal for you is ongoing growth in
Christlike character and spiritual maturity, but that’s not all. He also has
some work for you to accomplish here on earth (Ephesians 2:10). God planned
these tasks specifically for you and designed them with your personality,
talents, abilities, and spiritual gifts in mind. You could think of them as
your unique calling and responsibility in life.
·
Genuine success involves doing what the Lord has
called you to do, not just occasionally but continually.
It has to do with persistence rather
than perfection. When this is your definition of success, you can know that the
Lord wants you to succeed. And He’s committed to helping you become the person
He designed you to be -- and to accomplish the goals He’s set for you.
·
The ultimate evaluation of our success will take
place when we stand before God and give an account of our life (Romans 14:12).
Any self-centered earthly achievements
will be left behind. But if we’ve lived by His definition of success, our
treasure will await us in heaven -- along with the words “Well done!”
-- Adapted from Charles Stanley, In Touch
Ministries, June 4, 2019
CONCLUSION: What does God
want you to do?
1. He wants you to trust Jesus Christ as
your Savior and Lord. (See Acts 16:31 and John 3:16)
2. He wants you to read and obey the
Bible as best that you can.
3. He wants you to be a man (or woman)
of prayer.
4. He wants you to make Jesus the model
for the life you live.
5. He wants you to ask God to bless you
and help you – He will!
THOUGHT TO REMEMBER: “Everything I have, You have given me, Father. Now give
me wisdom to use these gifts completely in Your will.”
* * *
REFERENCES: References used in the Bible study
are the King James Bible (KJV), The Moody Bible Commentary, Dr. J.
Vernon McGee © Thru the Bible Radio Network ( www.ttb.org ), the Scofield Study Bible,
the Believer’s Bible Commentary, Dr. Charles J. Woodbridge Bible Outlines, Dr.
Lee Roberson’s Sermons, Dr. Charles Stanley: ( http://www.intouch.org/
), Don Robinson’s
Bible Outlines, Women’s Study Bible, The Bible Reader’s Companion Ed. 3, The
Nelson Study Bible: New King James Version, KJV Bible Commentary, Wiersbe’s
Expository Outlines of the New Testament ed. 4, Dr. David Jeremiah: ( http://www.davidjeremiah.org/site/ ), Dr. Cliff Robinson’s Bible
Outlines, Wiersbe’s Expository Outlines of the Old Testament, With the Word
Bible Commentary, Wiersbe’s “Be” Series: Old & New Testaments, RBC
Ministries ( http://rbc.org/ ), selected illustrations, and other
references.
REV. RONALD PURKEY’S OFFICE
E-mail: Ronald Purkey
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