Proverbs 9 - Carpenter Flock Notes for 120122SS@TBC

Study Questions:

1. There are eighteen verses divided into three sections.  What is each section about?

2. What are the two middle verses in this chapter?  How is that significant?

3. The first six verses are an appeal by Wisdom and the last six are an appeal by Folly.  Make a list of similarities and a list of contrasts between their appeals.

4a. Look for statements that emphasize choosing to be wise (or not).

4b. Look for statements that connect deeds to destiny (or illustrate lack of connection).

4c. Look for the terms that describe the three kinds of people (have chosen Folly; have chosen Wisdom, still on the fence).

 Application Questions:

·         Based on this chapter, think of characteristics that make a child prone to choose Wisdom or prone to choose Folly. How much can parents shape them?

·         Who speaks for Wisdom and Folly in our culture? in your children's lives?

·         Is it possible for parents to keep their kids from hearing Folly? If yes, then how?  If no, then how do we prepare them?

·         Think about these statements...

      "People show their character by their response to correction." 
       “But how can we expect our children to want to come to a banquet if we never attend ourselves?”  --Paul Kiptak in The NIV Application Commentary

Teaching:
I. WISDOM OFFERS CORRECTION:

1) Wisdom demands a decision, a change of direction  (5, 6; turn in here, come, eat and drink, forsake, go in the way)
2) To receive correction or rebuke requires humility (vs. the arrogance of the mocker).  (7-9; The mocker, the contrast between the scoffer [wicked] and the wise, and the wise related to correction   "Whoever loves instruction loves knowledge, But he who hates correction is stupid." Prov. 21.1)

--> Do you teach your children how to respond to correction and why?  Be clear on your expectations and even roll play with them.  (What is the purpose of reproof and correction in 2 Timothy 3.16-17?  ...that the man on God might be....) 

3)  As we look at the middle verses we see that author is not neutral, but interjects comments in favor of wisdom.   Parents can't force a decision, but should be avocates.  Wisdom sent her maidens and shouted from the hill top.

II. WISDOM IS THEOLOGICAL

1) The knowledge and fear of God represent an understanding of The Holy One and the change it causes in our attitude.  Two sides of one coin.

2) Knowledge of God - "Knowing God becomes a basis for knowing how to live, and how to choose."  (Do you ever have the opportunity to tie the character traits and rules to the character God.  Be careful, consistent, and clear when (not if) making those connections.)

Ill. how we connect the character (attributes) of God to character traits in everyday life.

3) Fear of God - balance between watering down the meaning and being one dimensional in our understanding.  ("It is important to understand and teach that the same God who inspires fear tells us not to fear.")  

(What do you think about 1 Samuel 11.7?  Does it offer any help for parenting?)

III. WISDOM TEACHES DISCERNMENT

1) Children and adolescents are neurologically not well equipped to make those connections and need help.

2) Enforcing, teaching and then coaching an understanding of the connection between deeds and destiny.  The idea of James 4.17
v. 12  "the ultimate gainer or loser is the man himself.  Your character is the one thing you cannot borrow, lend, or escape, for it is you.  (cf. 14.10)"  --Kidner

3) Learning to contrast planning, consistency, and effort for lasting fulfillment with instant and temporary gratification.  

4) Learning to think in terms of eternity.  (6: live -- 18; the dead are there)

1 Samuel 14

1  Samuel

14. Saul shows himself to be an erratic and disorganized leader in this chapter.  

14.32  with blood...  I wonder how much this had to do with Saul's oath about nobody eating.

14.45  a face loosing moment for Saul.  Hoorah for the people and common sense.

14.49-50  This is one of those seemingly unimportant trivial sections that actually lays some groundwork to understand some of the dynamics of coming event.
     Ner -- Meaning: light / the father of Kish (1 Chr. 8:33). 1 Sam. 14:51 should be read, “Kish, the father of Saul, and Ner, the father of Abner, were the sons of Abiel”.   And hence this Kish and Ner were brothers, and Saul and Abner were first cousins (compare 1 Chr. 9:36).
http://www.christiananswers.net/dictionary/ner.html

14.50  I can hear Samuel saying, "I told you so."

1 Samuel 11-13

1 Samuel 

11.6  his anger was greatly aroused...   a  result of the Spirit o God coming on him that would cause one to think about what it means in Colossians three when it identifies anger with the old man.
11.7  the fear of the Lord fell on the people...  The result of Saul threatening to cut up everybody's oxen if they did not follow him into battle.   This is an interesting connection of cause and effect that I am thinking about.
12.3  witness against me before the Lord...   What an amazing thing for a man to say.  It would scare me to death to make a similar declaration to everybody I've know.  It also stands in stark contrast to the current political scene.  How many of our leaders would dare to do something like that.  It also gives us something to aspire to.
12.13  whom you have chosen...  an ominous declaration.  A reminder to be careful what you wish for.  You may just get it.

12.21  go after empty things which cannot profit or deliver, for they are nothing.  Now that will preach.  It also sounds like something from the book of Proverbs.

12.23-25  great leadership verses.
13.13  done foolishly...  Of all the things that Samuel could have said about Saul's disobedience, his choice of words is instructive and thought provoking.
13.19  Maybe it's the geeks and manufactures who really win the wars.