January 27, 2021
Attributes of the Wise #
Proverbs 24:23-26
Introduction
We have a nice little paragraph in which the author clearly states the purpose of this paragraph. “These things belong to the wise.” In other words, he lays out a few “Attributes of a Wise Person” to help us have a clear concise view of what they are. If you desire to be wise, you will take note of these few attributes, and strive to practice them in your life.
I. Arbitrate Accurately (23) #
Arbitrate = reach an authoritative judgement or settlement
Deut. 1:17 Ye shall not respect persons in judgment; but ye shall hear the small as well as the great; ye shall not be afraid of the face of man; for the judgment is God’s: and the cause that is too hard for you, bring it unto me, and I will hear it.
A. Respect of persons #
i. Don’t judge a book by it’s cover #
- James 2:1-4
- John the Baptist probably wouldn’t have been accepted in most of our circles!
ii. Don’t judge a person by their position #
- Some people may be prominent, that is not to be considered, when arbitrating accurately.
B. Be Accurate in judgement #
- Deut. 16:19 Thou shalt not wrest judgment; thou shalt not respect persons, neither take a gift: for a gift doth blind the eyes of the wise, and pervert the words of the righteous.
II. Acknowledge Accurately (24-25) #
Acknowledge - accept or admit the existence or truth
A. Wickedness is wrong! (24) #
i. Calling wickedness right… is an absolute abomination to God #
Prov. 17:15 ¶ He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to the LORD.
ii. That is being pushed by our Government today! #
- To say it is “ok” for two women to get married, is wickedness!
- To approve the slaughter of innocent babies is wicked.
- To approve of people changing genders… is wickedness!
- That is what a godless society does!
- Gen. 1:27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
iii. Jeroboam did that (1 Kings 12:28-31*) #
B. Wickedness should be rebuked! (25) #
i. Authority to judge, and authority to rebuke. #
- Just as Moses appointed Judges in Deut… they are selected, and should be respectable people, with good judgement.
- The office gives them the authority.