Week 40 Believe in God's Ways
“The way we behave toward pepople indicates what we really believe about God.”
Warren W. Wiersbe
Passage
2Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: But the Lord pondereth the hearts.
3To do justice and judgment Is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.
Proverbs 21:2–3 (KJV 1900)
"Reflection of a candle" by Infomastern is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.
Background
Quote-Warren Wendall Wiersbe (May 16, 1929 – May 2, 2019) was an American Christian clergyman, Bible teacher, conference speaker and a prolific writer of Christian literature and theological works. Wiersbe is perhaps best known for his series of 50 books in the "BE" series: Be Real, Be Rich, Be Obedient, Be Mature, Be Joyful, etc., and other theological works. He pastored the Moody Church in Chicago (1971–1978) and succeeded Theodore Epp as director of the Back to the Bible radio ministry.
Passage-The genre of Proverbs is mainly “Proverbs” as the name describes, there are also some Parables and Poetry. This book was written mainly by Solomon, the wisest king ever to rule, however some of the later sections are written by Lemuel and Agur. It was written during Solomon’s reign 970-930 B.C. He asked God for wisdom to rule God’s nation and He granted the request.
The main purpose of this book is to teach wisdom to God’s people. Proverbs are short clever explanations, which are easy to remember. They contain truisms. These are things which are typically true however, not always. For example, "He who tills his land will have plenty of bread" (12:11), it is typically true that one who works his land will have bread but it is not a guarantee to always be true. They deal with life, principles, good judgment, and perception. They often draw distinctions between a wise man and a foolish man with parable type examples.
Lesson Notes
Opening Statement
When we talk about God, we conjure up this ephemeral being that has no form, no physicality we can all point to and identify as the unique and all-powerful God Almighty. Jesus is somewhat easier to do given the amount of art produced purported to represent Him. However, perhaps the simplest way to envision what God might look like is to look in the mirror to see His image then consider what He might say about what He sees there?
Ask: Re-read verse 2 of today’s passage. What does it mean that, “…the Lord pondereth the hearts?”
Point: God knows the motivations and unspoken reasons behind why people do the things they do.
First Reading Proverbs 24:12 (NASB95)
Ask: What is a sacrifice?
Point: See Definitions.
Second Reading Leviticus 22:19–21 (NASB95)
Ask: Why must the sacrifice be “perfect and without blemish?”
Point: the definition of a sacrifice is something given up that is desireable or counted as a loss. It must be something we want to keep because we like it.
Re-read verse 3 of Today’s Passage
Ask: What does it mean “…to do justice and judgement?”
Point: Third Reading Genesis 18:17–21 (KJV 1900)
Ask: If “the way of the Lord” is “to do justice and judgment” what is “the way of the Lord?”
Point: In short it is doing things the way God would do them if He were getting ready to do whatever it is we are contemplating doing.
Ask: How do we know how God would do something?
Point: We’ve been given a demonstration of how God does things in the Bible.
Ask: Where in scripture is a demonstration of how God does things?
Point: Anywhere Jesus was, what He did, and how He acted.
Ask: Is the life of Christ the only example we have to learn from?
Point: No. The entire Bible is necessary to understand why Jesus did what He did, who He was, and what He meant when He spoke.
Ask: That’s a lot to learn and know. Is there something we can carry with us as a watch-word while we study and learn?
Point: Fourth Reading Matthew 7:12–14 (NASB95)
Ask: What does it mean with the wide and narrow gates?
Point: The narrow gate and the narrow path mean making the hard or difficult decisions, doing the hard or difficult things, and taking on the tasks that no one else wants.
Closing Statement
8O taste and see that the Lord is good; How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him! Psalm 34:8 (NASB95) God is good, all the time. All the time. We may not see it, may not understand it, and may not want to agree that He is good, but He is. His path is the good and just path. His ways are the right and true ways. His rules are the only ones that matter because He made it all. It is His to do with as He pleases. Like Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden, it has pleased Him to assign us the task of treating others as we would want to be treated. However, if we want to go a step further, if we want to truly cement our future through the narrow gate, we won’t treat people as we would want to be treated. Instead, let’s go one better and treat people the way God would treat them.
Questions for the Week
Question 1 Contemplate and or write down you you would like to be treated by God.
Question 2 Evaluate what you’ve written from the perspective of other people being treated this way.
Question 3 Read all of Proverbs 21 (included at the back of this lesson.)
Question 4 Re-evaluate what you’ve written about how you’d like God to treat you from the perspective of Proverbs 21 and you treating other people you meet in this fashion.
Scripture
First Reading
12If you say, “See, we did not know this,” Does He not consider it who weighs the hearts? And does He not know it who keeps your soul? And will He not render to man according to his work?
Proverbs 24:12 (NASB95)
Second Reading
19for you to be accepted—it must be a male without defect from the cattle, the sheep, or the goats.
20‘Whatever has a defect, you shall not offer, for it will not be accepted for you.
21‘When a man offers a sacrifice of peace offerings to the Lord to fulfill a special vow or for a freewill offering, of the herd or of the flock, it must be perfect to be accepted; there shall be no defect in it.
Leviticus 22:19–21 (NASB95)
Third Reading
17And the Lord said, Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do;
18Seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him?
19For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord, to do justice and judgment; that the Lord may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.
20And the Lord said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous;
21I will go down now, and see whether they have done altogether according to the cry of it, which is come unto me; and if not, I will know.
Genesis 18:17–21 (KJV 1900)
Fourth Reading
12“In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets.
13“Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it.
14“For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.
Matthew 7:12–14 (NASB95)
Definitions
sacrifice
sak-ruh-fahys
noun
The offering of animal, plant, or human life or of some material possession to a deity, as in propitiation or homage.
The person, animal, or thing so offered.
the surrender or destruction of something prized or desirable for the sake of something considered as having a higher or more pressing claim.
The thing so surrendered or devoted.
A loss incurred in selling something below its value.
An Explanation of Justice and Judgement
1The king’s heart is like channels of water in the hand of the Lord; He turns it wherever He wishes.
2Every man’s way is right in his own eyes, But the Lord weighs the hearts.
3To do righteousness and justice Is desired by the Lord more than sacrifice.
4Haughty eyes and a proud heart, The lamp of the wicked, is sin.
5The plans of the diligent lead surely to advantage, But everyone who is hasty comes surely to poverty.
6The acquisition of treasures by a lying tongue Is a fleeting vapor, the pursuit of death.
7The violence of the wicked will drag them away, Because they refuse to act with justice.
8The way of a guilty man is crooked, But as for the pure, his conduct is upright.
9It is better to live in a corner of a roof Than in a house shared with a contentious woman.
10The soul of the wicked desires evil; His neighbor finds no favor in his eyes.
11When the scoffer is punished, the naive becomes wise; But when the wise is instructed, he receives knowledge.
12The righteous one considers the house of the wicked, Turning the wicked to ruin.
13He who shuts his ear to the cry of the poor Will also cry himself and not be answered.
14A gift in secret subdues anger, And a bribe in the bosom, strong wrath.
15The exercise of justice is joy for the righteous, But is terror to the workers of iniquity.
16A man who wanders from the way of understanding Will rest in the assembly of the dead.
17He who loves pleasure will become a poor man; He who loves wine and oil will not become rich.
18The wicked is a ransom for the righteous, And the treacherous is in the place of the upright.
19It is better to live in a desert land Than with a contentious and vexing woman.
20There is precious treasure and oil in the dwelling of the wise, But a foolish man swallows it up.
21He who pursues righteousness and loyalty Finds life, righteousness and honor.
22A wise man scales the city of the mighty And brings down the stronghold in which they trust.
23He who guards his mouth and his tongue, Guards his soul from troubles.
24“Proud,” “Haughty,” “Scoffer,” are his names, Who acts with insolent pride.
25The desire of the sluggard puts him to death, For his hands refuse to work;
26All day long he is craving, While the righteous gives and does not hold back.
27The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination, How much more when he brings it with evil intent!
28A false witness will perish, But the man who listens to the truth will speak forever.
29A wicked man displays a bold face, But as for the upright, he makes his way sure.
30There is no wisdom and no understanding And no counsel against the Lord.
31The horse is prepared for the day of battle, But victory belongs to the Lord.
Proverbs 21:1–31 (NASB95)