The following video came from the YouTube site: The Word at Work
This video is the first of 12 in a series: Study on the book of Proverbs, chapters 1-9
Link to this 12-part study: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZMc95tZPrsMQQEhNQTi0rNYKQpHdZqSG
The videos range from 9-14 minutes in length, this is the longest video. I found the last video of this series because I wanted to blog on Proverbs 9 and after listening to it, I decided it would be beneficial to me and interested readers to blog the entire series for reasons that will become apparent in this video.
HIghlights:
- Chapters 1-9, the benefits of wisdom to its possessors
- The typical view of wisdom is that it would be nice to have it, but the book of Proverbs teaches that wisdom is essential to living a life that honors God and blesses our neighbors
- In this series, we will examine some of the longer sections of chapters 1-9 for meaning and application
- Verses 1-7 will be considered under the following headings: 1. What is wisdom? 2. Who is it for? and 3, How do we get it?
- WHAT IS WISDOM: Skillful living that is rooted in the knowledge and fear of the Lord
- Such might be called, skillful godliness or the art of living godly
- Proverbs will teach us the difference between right and wrong; moreover, it will teach us how to live the right way, skillfully, winsomely and fruitfully
- Wisdom has to do with the application of God’s word to the details of our everyday lives
- In verses 3 and 4, for example, wisdom is expressed via other words [underscored]: Proverbs 1:3 to receive instruction in wise dealing, in righteousness, justice, and equity; 4 to give prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the youth
- The following verse describes a proverb in various words: Proverbs 1:6 to understand a proverb and a saying, the words of the wise and their riddles
- That is, a proverb is a condensed statement of wisdom which is artfully crafted, thought provoking and memorable
- Verse 3 indicates that wisdom is also about wise dealing
- Verse 4 indicates that it gives prudence to the simple – prudence behavior is knowing how to plan your life
- That is, the type of learning taught in Proverbs concerns arriving at greater moral clarity via learning righteousness, justice and equity: learning the difference between right and wrong
- Various aspects of life are considered: communication, work, finances and sexual ethics
- The greater effect will be that one learns how to better cope with life, to deal with it rightly, per God
- WHO IS WISDOM FOR?
- It is for the wise, mature believer; the simpleton; young; old….
- WISDOM IS NOT FOR THE FOOL, as he already knows it all [in his own mind] and therefore, cannot receive knowledge
- [I learned in previous studies of Proverbs that the ‘simpleton’ is one who has never committed to wisdom and vacillates between wisdom and folly – that kind of life would likely fall in the category of the Fool from God’s perspective. That definition bothers me because it means that at periods of backsliding, I was partaking of the life of the foolish man, unable to receive instruction…]
- HOW DO WE GET WISDOM?
- We need to receive the teaching of God’s word; having embraced it, we will learn about God and ourselves [the second video below is a 10-minute reading from John Calvin’s Institute of the Christian Religion wherein he explains why we need to learn who we are in relationship to our Creator]
- The above is possible after one is converted [the very thing that is now outlawed in Canada, no one can attempt to convert a sinner by witnessing the gospel message]
- [That is, being born again is the same as being at the base of the mountain of the Christian life; thereafter, you have a difficult climb, or pilgrimage, through all the temptations and hardships of this earthly life. The classic book, The Pilgrim’s Progress portrays that pilgrimage and its struggles. After you’ve read through the Bible, it is a good book to read for insight into your struggles]
- By abiding in God’s word, a new convert comes to understand that God is holy… and he/she is a sinner
- [If one has put a lot of effort into living an obedient Christian life, he/she will understand that it is impossible, that the only hope is the righteousness provided by God the Father because of the atoning work of Christ and His living of the only righteous earthly life according to the commands of God – those are imputed at conversion and received by faith only, as is stated in Genesis 15:6; Romans 4 and Galatians; these graces are applied to the believer by the Holy Spirit]
- [It is necessary to understand that one is a sinner and that he/she will be judged by God after this life]
- Christ is the embodiment of wisdom
- We can receive forgiveness and begin learning to fear the Lord via the Lord Jesus Christ [abiding in Him is done by reading His word and prayer – other means of receiving His grace are hearing biblical preaching, fellowship with believers around the word, and receiving the Lord’s supper]
- Our transition from conversion to devotion is achieved by taking His words of instruction, meditating on them, memorizing them, and internalizing them. [This cannot be done apart from the Holy Spirit who helps those who are partaking of the means of grace]
- Proverbs is about helping one make the aforementioned transition
The following 13-minute video is a reading from the Institutes of the Christian Religion by John Calvin. It is from the YouTube site, Christian Sermons and Audio Books. The narrative and links are at the end of this post.
One word about this video, Calvin always begins his subsections with a highlight of each topic discussed in the portion of a given chapter. Don’t get bored when the female reader enumerates those topics, try to note what they are and prepare to hear an explanation thereafter.
For anyone interested in hearing readings of Calvin’s Institutes of the Christian religion, click the following link to the YouTube site, The Covenanter:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLb0Uy58Rx75ml_1WzKTvkoJxww9lKgu1x
At the following link, you may purchase the Institutes of the Christian Religion on Kindle for $1.99 and hardback for $26.68:
Narrative and links that accompanied video on Proverbs:
3,775 views Aug 5, 2021 Proverbs | Part 1 | The Importance of Wisdom.
Welcome to Episode 1 of our series in Proverbs 1-9. We begin with Prov. 1:1-7.
This passage tells us what Proverbs will do for us – it will give us wisdom. We see here what wisdom consists of (discretion, righteousness, insight, etc), who it is for (both the young and simple as well as the wise and mature) and how to get it (fear the Lord!).
Want to grow in wisdom? Stick with us as we work through these chapters, subscribe to our channel and become part of the Word at Work online community.
#theWordatWork #Proverbs #SeekWisdom #BeWise
Narrative and links from Christian Sermons and Audio Books:
3,401 views Aug 31, 2019
Knowledge of God and of Ourselves Mutually Connected – John Calvin / Institutes
From John Calvins “Institutes of the Christian Religion”
John Calvin / Calvinism playlist: http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list…
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John Calvin – (1509-1564) French reformer and theologian At the age of 14 Calvin went to Paris to study at the College de Marche in preparation for university study. His studies consisted of seven subjects: grammar, rhetoric, logic, arithmetic, geometry, astronomy, and music.
Toward the end of 1523 Calvin transferred to the more famous College Montaigu. While in Paris he changed his name to its Latin form, Ioannis Calvinus, which in French became Jean Calvin. During this time, Calvin’s education was paid for in part by income from a couple of small parishes. So although the new theological teachings of individuals like Luther and Jacques Lefevre d’Etaples were spreading throughout Paris, Calvin was closely tied to the Roman Church.
However, by 1527 Calvin had developed friendships with individuals who were reform-minded. These contacts set the stage for Calvin’s eventual switch to the Reformed faith. Also, at this time Calvin’s father advised him to study law rather than theology.
By 1528 Calvin moved to Orleans to study civil law. The following years found Calvin studying in various places and under various scholars, as he received a humanist education.
By 1532 Calvin finished his law studies and also published his first book, a commentary on De Clementia by the Roman philosopher, Seneca.
The following year Calvin fled Paris because of contacts with individuals who through lectures and writings opposed the Roman Catholic Church.
It is thought that in 1533 Calvin experienced the sudden and unexpected conversion that he writes about in his foreword to his commentary on the Psalms. For the next three years, Calvin lived in various places outside of France under various names. He studied on his own, preached, and began work on his first edition of the Institutes of the Christian Religion, an instant best seller.
By 1536 Calvin had disengaged himself from the Roman Catholic Church and made plans to permanently leave France and go to Strasbourg. However, war had broken out between Francis I and Charles V, so Calvin decided to make a one-night detour to Geneva. But Calvin’s fame in Geneva preceded him. Farel, a local reformer, invited him to stay in Geneva and threatened him with God’s anger if he did not. Thus began a long, difficult, yet ultimately fruitful relationship with that city.
He began as a lecturer and preacher, but by 1538 was asked to leave because of theological conflicts. He went to Strasbourg until 1541. His stay there as a pastor to French refugees was so peaceful and happy that when in 1541 the Council of Geneva requested that he return to Geneva, he was emotionally torn. He wanted to stay in Strasbourg but felt a responsibility to return to Geneva. He did so and remained in Geneva until his death May 27, 1564.
Those years were filled with lecturing, preaching, and the writing of commentaries, treatises, and various editions of the Institutes of the Christian Religion.