Proverbs 3:23-26
Results of Sound Wisdom
SAFETY
23 Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely, and thy foot shall not stumble
1. The first result of sound wisdom is safety. When applied faithfully and consistently, wisdom will keep us safe—in every way (physically and spiritually).
2. Remember that these are proverbs. It is not a guarantee under every possible set of circumstances!
a. It doesn’t mean that if we walk in God’s wisdom that we will never stumble or have an accident!
b. Rather, his point is that following sound wisdom will lead us down safer roads in life!
3. Sound wisdom is NOT like a lucky rabbit’s foot or a St. Christopher medal. It is much more practical, more like a flashlight!
a. When you are walking in darkness, a flashlight will keep you from stumbling.
b. That doesn’t mean in each and every case. It is possible to be using a flashlight, and still trip.
c. BUT—you take a flashlight to AVOID that if at all possible!
d. Ps.119: 105 – God’s Word and wisdom is a lamp unto my feet.
e. Wisdom says, “Walk in the light, not in the darkness!”
4. Following wisdom’s advice, our chances of falling and stumbling are FAR less!
a. Prov. 2:16-18 – wisdom says to avoid the strange woman—the harlot. If we follow the advice of wisdom, it will keep our home safe and secure!
b. Prov.1:14-15 – fools cry out to us to follow them in their mischief and crimes. Wisdom says, “Stay away!” Following the advice of wisdom will keep us safe from the law!
c. Every word of wisdom found in this book is for our spiritual well being… for our good. Obey it—apply it—and it will keep you safe from trouble.
d. Violate the words of wisdom in this book, and there are serious consequences—which we will not be able to avoid!
COURAGE
24 When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid:
1. Many folks are afraid when they lie down to sleep at night. They are full of fear.
2. However, the man who incorporates God’s wisdom into his life need not be afraid at night.
3. If you have stolen money from your place of employment, you might lie in bed at night in fear of getting caught!
4. If we lied to someone at work, we might fear being discovered and exposed as a liar!
5. If you cheated on your income taxes, you might well lie in bed at night in fear of getting caught!
6. When we don’t do things right, we have good reason to fear.
7. But wisdom exhorts us to do things RIGHT… obey the laws… obey God’s Word… treat people honestly… and when we apply this sound wisdom to our life, we will NOT be afraid!
8. We will not fear! If our heart is right with God, we need not fear what men can do unto us.
PEACE
Yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet. (vs.24b)
1. Psalm 4:8 – The psalmist could sleep at night—because he trusted in the Lord to keep him safe!
a. Perhaps some of us worry at night. Will our house be broken into?
b. With all the violence in our country, many worry at night.
c. As Christians, we should be able to sleep… because we know a God who never slumbers or sleeps! (Ps.121:4-7)
2. Acts 12:6-7 – Peter slept like a baby!
a. vs.1 – James had just been killed with the sword. Peter was next.
b. But on the night in which he fully expected to be executed, Peter was in prison, sleeping like a baby!
c. Could you sleep under such circumstances? Peter did.
d. Vs. 5 – the church was praying for him.
e. But more importantly, he was in prison for preaching Christ. He had rest in his soul. He was at peace with God. Therefore, his sleep was sweet—even though his circumstances were not very sweet!
f. If Peter lied to get out of jail—if he told the authorities that he would not preach Christ again, he may have been released. However, he would not be able to sleep at night! He would have been tossing and turning with an aching, guilty conscience!
CONFIDENCE (vs.25)
25 Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh. 26 For the LORD shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken.
1. The one who is applying sound wisdom to his life need not fear sudden fear!
a. He need not fear the future…
• We need not fear WWIII—we trust in a sovereign God.
• We need not fear being laid off—we can trust in God who holds our future in His hand.
• We need not fear becoming suddenly ill—God has already determined our days.
b. There are many sudden calamities in life—things for which we could never adequately prepare, but they come anyway!
c. Such sudden calamities cause many people in the world to live in constant fear.
d. Part of the reason for this fear in man is the guilt of knowing that he is not right with God—and whatever evil befalls him, he deserves!
e. We need not live like that. Things that terrorize the unbeliever need not cause us to fear.
f. We can have the confidence of the Lord in our lives. (Deut.33:27) He is our Refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms. That should give us assurance and confidence!
g. When our heart is right with God, and we know how much He cares for His own, then we should be able to sleep like a baby—we are held up by His everlasting arms. (arms = strength)
2. Psalm 27:1-3 – no need to fear. If we know the Lord and trust Him, THAT is our confidence! That is all the confidence we need!
a. It matters not how tumultuous things are all around us. God is our Refuge. He is our strength. In Him there is no need to fear.
b. The LORD is our confidence!
3. Ps. 91:1-6 – we are under His wings… in a place of safety… security. In vs. One, the psalmist describes a relationship to the Lord by two similar figures.
a. Dwelling in the secret place of the Most High
• This speaks of abiding close to the Lord… the Sovereign Creator
b. Abiding under the shadow on the Almighty
• This is essentially the same thought …
• They both speak of the Lord as the place of “dwelling” for the believer.
• They both also speak of the Lord as the All Powerful One… hence, One who is quite ABLE to provide such safety and security.
c. Note here that he is not speaking about the Lord as One to whom we come running only when we are in trouble or danger.
d. Many people have that idea about God. When things are going fine we don’t need Him. But when we get in serious trouble, we pray… we seek His help… and when He helps us out, we don’t need Him any more!
e. Vs. 9-10 – Rather, the psalmist is speaking about an individual believer who DWELLS in the Lord… one who ABIDES… under the shadow of His wing.
• It is BECAUSE we have made the Lord our abiding place that we are safe…
• He uses the figure of a young chick under the shadow of the wing of the mother hen… the point: he LIVES there! That’s home! Safe and secure!
4. Psalm 112:7 – he shall not fear evil tidings.
a. Some worry about future “tidings”—what MIGHT happen!
b. Some folks lose sleep over things that haven’t even happened yet—and may not ever happen… but we worry.
c. Isn’t that kind of worrying a lack of trust in God to do what is right?
5. Isa. 41:10 – fear thou not for I am with thee…
a. If we were only MORE conscious of God’s Person, God’s Power, and God’s presence, we would worry less, and trust more!
b. Our sleep at night would improve!
c. Vs.13-14 – we may be but a worm, but we are a worm protected by the Almighty God! No need to fear!
6. I Pet. 3:14 –15 – Peter warns us NOT to fear men, even those men who may be persecuting us.
a. Instead of worrying about men, fear God! Sanctify Him in your heart!
b. That will put an end to our fear… even those sudden terrors!
c. The LORD is our confidence!
7. In a world that is so unstable and insecure, as Christians, we need to TRUST God and experience this rest and peace.
a. This is our testimony in the world too! It is a powerful testimony too.
b. Prov. 14:26 – In the fear of the LORD is strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge.
c. Sound wisdom will send us straight to God… sound wisdom will demand that our heart be right with God… and when that is so, we will experience assurance and safety. We will be able to sleep at night…
d. We will be able to trust God for our health… our future… our children and their future… for our job… people problems… all those things that so often cause worry and anxiety—we can turn over to God and let Him be God!