WISDOMfor LIVING

Week 3Welcome to

DingwallFree Church

Wisdom is… “a tree of life to those who embrace her; those who lay hold of her

will be blessed.”

Sermons from

ProverbsApril & May 2007

Psalm 63:1-6 (p. 295)

1 Lord, thee my God, I’ll early seek:

my soul doth thirst for thee;

My flesh longs in a dry parched land,

wherein no waters be:

Psalm 63:1-6 (2/5)

2 That I thy powèr may behold,

and brightness of thy face,

As I have seen thee heretofore

within thy holy place.

Psalm 63:1-6 (3/5)

3 Since better is thy love than life,

my lips thee praise shall give.

4 I in thy name will lift my hands,

and bless thee while I live.

Psalm 63:1-6 (4/5)

5 Ev’n as with marrow and with fat

my soul shall fillèd be;

Then shall my mouth with joyful lips

sing praises unto thee:

Psalm 63:1-6 (5/5)

6 When I do thee upon my bed

remember with delight,

And when on thee I meditate

in watches of the night.

Prayer

&

Children’s Talk

Wisdom is… “a tree of life to those who embrace her; those

who lay hold of her will be blessed.” Prov. 3:18

What Are You Dreaming About?

Psalm 89:15-18 (p. 345)

15 O greatly blessed the people are

the joyful sound that know;

In brightness of thy face, O LORD,

they ever on shall go.

Psalm 89:15-18 (2/4)

16 They in thy name shall all the day

rejoice exceedingly;

And in thy righteousness shall they

exalted be on high.

Psalm 89:15-18 (3/4)

17 Because the glory of their strength

doth only stand in thee;

And in thy favour shall our horn

and pow’r exalted be.

Psalm 89:15-18 (4/4)

18 For GOD is our defence; and he

to us doth safety bring:

The Holy One of Israel

is our almighty King.

Bible Reading

–

Proverbs 3:13-32

Page 637-8

Wisdom is… “a tree of life to those who embrace her; those

who lay hold of her will be blessed.” Prov. 3:18

Bible Reading (Pew Bible - page 637-8) Proverbs 3:13-32

• 13 Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gains understanding,

• 14 for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold.

• 15 She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her.

• 16 Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honour.

• 17 Her ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peace.

Bible Reading (Pew Bible - page 637-8) Proverbs 3:13-32

• 18 She is a tree of life to those who embrace her; those who lay hold of her will be blessed.

• 19 By wisdom the LORD laid the earth's foundations, by understanding he set the heavens in place;

• 20 by his knowledge the deeps were divided, and the clouds let drop the dew.

• 21 My son, preserve sound judgment and discernment, do not let them out of your sight;

• 22 they will be life for you, an ornament to grace your neck.

Bible Reading (Pew Bible - page 637-8) Proverbs 3:13-32

• 23 Then you will go on your way in safety, and your foot will not stumble;

• 24 when you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.

• 25 Have no fear of sudden disaster or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked,

• 26 for the LORD will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being snared.

• 27 Do not withhold good from those who deserve it, when it is in your power to act.

Bible Reading (Pew Bible - page 637-8) Proverbs 3:13-32

• 28 Do not say to your neighbour, "Come back later; I'll give it tomorrow"-- when you now have it with you.

• 29 Do not plot harm against your neighbour, who lives trustfully near you.

• 30 Do not accuse a man for no reason-- when he has done you no harm.

• 31 Do not envy a violent man or choose any of his ways,

• 32 for the LORD detests a perverse man but takes the upright into his confidence.

Psalm 88:8-14* (p. 116)

8 Closest friends you’ve taken from me;

loathsome to them is my plight.I am trapped—escape I cannot;

9 misery has dimmed my sight.

Psalm 88:8-14* (2/4)

Daily, LORD, I call upon you;

in your sight my hands I spread.

10 In the grave do you show wonders?

Are you worshipped by the dead?

Psalm 88:8-14* (3/4)

11 Is your love shown in Destruction—

in the grave your faithfulness?

12 Are your wonders known in darkness,

or in death your righteousness?

Psalm 88:8-14* (4/4)

13 But I cry to you for help, LORD;

at the dawn to you I pray.

14 Why, O LORD, do you reject me,

and why turn your face away?

Proverbs - Wisdom for Living Sermon Series - April / May 2007

• Proverbs 3:17-18, 27, 29. Her [wisdom’s] ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to those who embrace her; those who lay hold of her will be blessed… Do not withhold good from those who deserve it, when it is in your power to act... Do not plot harm against your neighbour, who lives trustfully near you.

Wisdom is a tree of life… Do not withhold good… when it is in your power to act.

IS LIFE SPECIAL?

1 – Meet Dr Death

• Worse than Miss Folly – meet Dr Death. (Presently in jail – responsible for 130 “right to die” deaths in the USA).

• 'Euthanasia' literally means “good death or dying well.”

• A Misleading use of words!Dr. Jack

Kevorkian (Dr. Death)

1 – Meet Dr Death

• Can medical CARE ever include the deliberate ending of a life?

• Can death be a treatment?• The Bible places a high

value on human life - but does not demand preserving life at all costs.

Dr. Jack Kevorkian

(Dr. Death)

1 – Meet Dr Death

• See past the apparent compassion of EXIT, etc.

• Comes down to intention: Dr, are you trying to treat or to kill?

• To help an actor to make a graceful end to a performance is NOT the same as pushing him off-stage before the end of the play.

Dr. Jack Kevorkian

(Dr. Death)

1 – Meet Dr Death

• Why shouldn’t a “Downs” baby be helped to die? Why shouldn’t a depressed person be allowed to say they have suffered enough?

• You would put an animal out of it’s misery – why not a person?

• The answer: Because of God’s WISDOM. Wisdom is a tree of

life… Do not withhold good… when it is in your power to act.

2 – Meet the God of Life

• Wisdom is God's truth, enabling God's people to live in God's world, in God's way.

• She is a Tree of LIFE, not death. (He is the Lord of Life!)

• Wisdom trains us to think biblically, not just emotionally.

• Wisdom gives three principles: Wisdom is a tree of life… Do not withhold good… when it is in your power to act.

2 – Meet the God of Lifea) The Principle of Love

• The most loving thing for dotty old granny?

• Proverbs 14:22 - show love (hesed) and faithfulness: compassion, like God’s love for Israel.

• It’s a costly love: it’s creative love, not giving up easily.

He who oppresses the poor shows

contempt for their Maker

Proverbs 14:31

2 – Meet the God of Lifeb) The Principle of Justice

• Will we be biased? Against the weak? Euthanasia was popular with Nazis.

• All non-voluntary euthanasia is a form of Nazism – deciding that another person’s life is in the way, it’s a worthless life.

`Those who plan what is good show

love & faithfulness.' Prov.

14:22

2 – Meet the God of Lifec) The Principle of Life

• Life is a gift of God - on loan to us.

• Death is an unwelcome intruder. (The fear of the LORD adds length to life, but the years of the wicked are cut short - 10:27.)

• Jesus is the great life giver.‘Long life is in

her right

hand’ Proverbs. 3:16

2 – Meet the God of Lifec) The Principle of Life

• 1 Pet. 2:24 - He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.

• All through history the church, following her Lord, has been committed to caring and healing.

• Life is precious – it is a gift.

‘Long life is in her right

hand’ Proverbs. 3:16

3 – Meet Dr Life1 - Meet Dr Death 2 - Meet the God of Life

• God’s way of wisdom – relieve pain, care for the needy, love as Christ loved.

• Bring spiritual care and hope to the living and the dying.

• The modern Hospice Movement is both Wise and Christian to the core.

Dame Cecily Saunders

1918-2005

3 – Meet Dr Life1 - Meet Dr Death 2 - Meet the God of Life

• What do we do for granny?• ‘Do not plot harm against your

neighbour…’ but plan to care.• “We consider the Lord Jesus Christ as the

one by whose death we can have peace with God and by whose resurrection we can have victory over death and the grave through faith. To him alone we must look for healing in body and soul, for time and eternity... What is aimed at in Bethesda is Christian treatment for all.” (Rev Alex Murdo MacLeod, Bethesda).

Highland Hospice

St Columba’s Hospice

3 – Meet Dr Life1 - Meet Dr Death 2 - Meet the God of Life

• Cecily Saunders started St Christopher's Hospice in 1967. She often said to her patients:

• “You matter because you are you, and we will not only enable you to die with dignity, but to live until you die.”

• Who would you rather care for you? Dr Death, or Dr Life?

Highland Hospice

Dame Cecily Saunders

1918-2005

3 – Meet Dr Life1 - Meet Dr Death 2 - Meet the God of Life

• Is the God of Life your God?

• Proverbs 3:7 - Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD, shun evil. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones.

The path of life leads upward for the wise to keep him from going

down to the grave. Proverbs 15:24

Psalm 82 (Michael Perry version)

God is KING - Be warned, you Mighty;God is Judge through all the land:order your affairs with justice,rule with firm but gentle hand.Help the weak, support the needy,take to heart the fatherless;prove the rights of those who suffer,meet the poor in their distress.

‘Ode to Joy’ 87.87.D

Psalm 82 (Michael Perry version 2/2 )

There are lands that have no honour,hear no wisdom, see no light;blind, they stumble in the darkness,leaderless they shake with fright.Tremble, all you mighty rulers;every nation, know God's worth:power and wealth are God's possession,who alone shall judge the earth!

Please join us inThe Church hall for a

Hot or Cold drink

God Calls Us to delight in Christ

and to ShareHis Hope.

Proverbs 27:19