The Ambassador Group

The Book of Proverbs

1. Proverbs: The Call of Wisdom

0. Proverbs: Introduction to the Book of Proverbs

2. Proverbs: From Ears to Feet

3. Proverbs: A Matter of Life and Death

4. Proverbs: Divine Wisdom

5. Proverbs: The Blessings of the Righteous

6. Proverbs: What You See Is Not What You Get

7. Proverbs: Dealing With Fights

8. Proverbs: Words of Wisdom

9. Proverbs: Words of Truth

10. Proverbs: Behind the Mask

11. Proverbs: Living By Faith

12. Proverbs: The Humility of the Wise

13. Proverbs: Women and Wine

A Matter of Life and Death 2 brothers were left home alone, but given a strict warning by their mother not to eat the cake that she had just baked.

To make sure that the boys would obey, she added the threat of punishment.

When she left, it took the boys only a few minutes to decide to eat the cake anyway.

This is not a matter of life and death, they reasoned.

For the teacher in Proverbs, though, the issue he speaks about is indeed a matter of life and death.

His language is strong and sometimes graphic.

Of course, Jesus used very strong language himself when talking about matters of eternal life and death.

Listen to this example in Matthew 5, verses 21-30.

Ye have heard that it was said of them of old time, Thou shalt not kill, and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment.

But I say unto you, that whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment.

But I say unto you, that whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment, and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council.

But whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in the danger of hell-fire.

Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee, leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way.

First be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.

Agree with thine adversary quickly, while is thou art in the way with him, lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the Judge, and the Judge deliver thee to the Officer, and thou be cast into prison.

Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing.

Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, thou shalt not commit adultery.

But I say unto you, that whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her, hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.

And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee, for it is profitable for thee that 1 of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.

And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee, for it is profitable for thee that 1 of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.

And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee, for it is profitable for thee that 1 of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell." Jesus used strong language, and no wonder.

In the end, our ultimate destiny, our eternal destiny, And what could be more important than that rests upon the choices that we make here now.

So we should take the urgency of the strong language at face value.

The Law in Our Life Let me read 2 verses for you.

Proverbs 6 verse 21 and Proverbs 7 verse 3.

Bind them continually upon thine heart, and tie them about thy neck.

Bind them upon thy fingers, write them upon the table of thine heart.

How do you understand the bodily images used in these texts regarding how we should relate to God's law?

Binding or tying God's law to our heart, our neck, and fingers, it's part of us, wherever we go.

As we have already learned, in Proverbs, The heart represents the seat of emotions and thoughts.

By telling us to bind the law upon our hearts, Proverbs 6, verse 21, the teacher means that we should always be in close connection with the law.

There is no moment we may lose contact with the law, because the law is what defines sin, according to Romans 7, verse 7.

The teacher in the book of Proverbs also insists that this law should be even written on the tablets of the heart, Proverbs 7, verse 3, Just as the Decalogue was written by God on the stone tablets.

To speak about the law written on the heart means that the law is not just an external set of rules imposed on us.

The Law should penetrate our motivations, our secret intentions, and so be part of our intimate self.

It's another expression of having the Pauline promise found in Colossians 1, verse 27 of "...Christ in You, the Hope of Glory, the A Reality in Our Lives.

To tie the law around the neck also means that we should keep it close to ourselves.

Ancient people used to tie their precious belongings around their necks.

The neck is a place through which air travels to the lungs, allowing breath and life, an association of thoughts that is attested in the Hebrew word nephesh, which means soul, which refers to life, and is derived from a word meaning throat and breathing.

To bind the law on one's fingers means to bring the law into the domain of actions.

The Teacher focuses on the fingers to suggest the most delicate and intimate actions.

The law should affect not only the grand choices we make, but the smaller ones as well, as Luke 16, verse 10 tells us that Jesus said, He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much, and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much." Although the biblical intention of these images was purely symbolical, it is noteworthy that these symbols have been taken literally in Jewish, Christian, and Muslim traditions.

It is seen through the use of the Jewish tephaline around the head and the fingers, the Christian crosses around the neck, and the Muslim, as well as some Christians, tie rosaries around the fingers.

Symbols can be helpful, but let's be careful not to mistake the symbol for the reality it represents.

Proverbs 6, verse 23 says, LIGHTS AND LIFE Proverbs 6 verse 23 says, According to that verse, how is the law related to light?

Could we say that the commandment, law and reproofs reveal the way to live?

In the Bible, the Word of God or His law has been compared to light.

Psalms 119, verse 105 says, Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

In the Hebrew mind, there is a connection between the idea of law and of light.

Just as the lamp illuminates the path where we walk, the law will help us stay on track.

That is to say, when we face moral choices, it will help us to know what the right choice is, even if at times reason or personal expedience would tempt us to disregard the law.

What examples can you find in the Bible of those who chose to follow God's law despite powerful reasons not to?

Now that you have those examples in mind, let's go 1 step further.

In what cases, if any, did their choice to be faithful seem to be the wrong 1, at least from a human perspective?

We talked about Proverbs 6, verse 23, which again tells of the values of the law in your life.

For the commandment is a lamp, and the law is light, and reproofs of instruction are the way of life.

Let's add to that Proverbs 7, verse 2, which says, Keep my commandments and live, and my law as the apple of thine eye.

Now let's ask the same question, why is the law related to life?

Would you agree that God's law helps us to really live?

Since the fall of humankind, our hope for eternal life cannot be found in the Law, but only through faith in Christ.

However, having acknowledged that, we must also acknowledge that obedience to the Law and the principles it represents continues to play a central part in the life of faith.

Matthew 19, 17 And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good?

But if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.

Revelation 14, verse 12, Here is the patience of the saints.

Here are they that keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.

We obey because, as the Lord said to Israel thousands of years ago, I am the Lord your God.

The law of God is related to life, simply because of who God is, the source of our life.

This principle represents true spirituality.

In other words, we trust God and His promises for our present life, just as we trust His promises for eternal life.

He who follows me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.

John 8, verse 12, New King James Version.

Friend, How have you experienced the reality of this promise in your daily walk with the Lord?

Fighting Temptation As we have heard, the author of Proverbs 6 verse 23, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, directly links light and life to God's law.

In the next verse, he gives a solid example of how the law, as light and life, can offer us powerful spiritual protection.

To keep thee from the evil woman, from the flattery of the tongue of a strange woman.

Besides that, what is another subtle warning given?

When a religious person is tempted, the greatest temptation is to find a religious reason to justify the iniquity.

Using God to rationalize bad behavior is not only a terrible form of blasphemy, it's powerfully deceptive.

After all, if someone thinks that God is with me, then what can we say in reply?

This can happen even in cases of adultery.

They might say, God has shown me that this man or woman is the 1 I should be with." If that's what they believe, who or what can trump what God has shown them?

Notice too, it's not just her physical beauty that lures him.

She uses language, flattering words, to draw the victim into her trap.

How often have men and women been led into compromising situations by subtle and seductive words, sometimes even couched in religious language?

The author of the book of Proverbs seeks to warn us against this deception.

The law is the perfect antidote against the flattering tongue of a seductress.

Only the imperative of the law and the duty of obedience will help us resist her alluring words, which can sound so true and beautiful.

Back to Menu

Series

The Book of Proverbs

3. Proverbs: A Matter of Life and Death

Transcript

Parent Series

Sponsor

Recorded

A Day to Remember

28m

The Remnant Reviled

1h

Navigating the Mind Field

50m

The Ten Commandments By Philip Mills

Do Not Lie & It’s Not about the Tesla

55m

Doctrine of Peace

1h 15m

God's Last Message: Christ Our Righteousness

God’s Last Message: Christ Our Righteousness, Part 2

53m

Principles of Health for Students

43m

Apologetics

The Law and Morality

57m

Moral Identity and the Time of the End

58m

Healing Rain: The Latter Rain for the Soul

4. Emotionally Disconnected

51m

Restoration 2023

God Behind Closed Doors…The Worst Possible Scenario

47m

The Sanctuary

10. The Highest Form of Worship

48m

Sound Doctrine