Facts About True Wisdom

Driving home: What then is the substance of true wisdom? It consists in this experimental acquaintance with the living and the true God.

Martin quotes Lawson's commentary to eloquently describe the inseparable connection between the fear of the Lord and the knowledge of God, and how religious fear is founded in true apprehensions of God's character.

as I have stated, the right knowledge of and a right relationship to the living God. And so the writer to the Proverbs says to a right relationship to God, which brings us to the Old Scottish commentator speaking on this text, said this, and I want to read this paragraph, because to alter it, to try to assimilate it and make it my own is to spoil its beauty, and so I shall quote it to you. It's from Lawson's commentary on the book of Proverbs. The fear of the Lord and the sound knowledge of God are inseparably connected.

8:54 - 9:26 Read in full sermon

Driving home: God is the author and the giver of wisdom. Man is reader and receiver. But in the pride of his heart you know what man wants to say? I am the discoverer if not the very creator of wisdom.

He uses the analogy of human speech, framed by air passing over the larynx and out the mouth, to explain 'out of His mouth cometh knowledge' and 'all scripture is breathed out of God,' emphasizing God's verbal communication.

Hence the statement in 2 Timothy 3.16 All scripture is breathed out of God. As you listen to me speak tonight you are listening to those sounds which are framed as air passes over my larynx and out through my mouth. And some of you know what has happened with people who either in wartime or due to cancer have had the voice box removed.

27:37 - 28:04 Read in full sermon

Driving home: God is the author and the giver of wisdom. Man is reader and receiver. But in the pride of his heart you know what man wants to say? I am the discoverer if not the very creator of wisdom.

He gives the example of people who speak by manipulating burps after having their voice box removed, further illustrating the concept of framing words and communication.

They're able to speak by manipulating their burps is what they do. Some of you perhaps even heard people who speak that way. They're still able to force air up over their lips. The muscular structure here and are able to frame words.

28:05 - 28:19 Read in full sermon

Driving home: As one man has said a good life is the best key to scripture.

Martin addresses the distraction of a skunk odor, using it as an example of God's providence and encouraging the congregation to bear with it.

May I say if we wanted to demonstrate some degree of general maturity we'll not let the present odor of little Mr. Skunk be the only throw us.

35:49 - 36:01 Read in full sermon

Driving home: But ah my friend when you come to finding the knowledge of God and coming to this issue of true wisdom there are ethical moral religious demands made upon you.

He contrasts a profligate musician or brilliant scientist, who can excel in their fields despite moral failings, with the spiritual realm where ethical and moral state determines the ability to learn true wisdom.

Man can live the life of an absolute profligate. Chase around with women booze it up and then get sober and go in and create music that will astound and thrill people for centuries after.

37:44 - 37:59 Read in full sermon

The point: Cry to God for greater measures of the grace of spiritual integrity and walking uprightly.

Martin shares an observation as a pastor: a person with limited mental ability can outstrip a brilliant person in spiritual sensitivity and knowledge if they walk in greater uprightness and integrity, highlighting the unique nature of spiritual learning.

and therefore we before God must cry to him for greater measures of the grace of spiritual integrity greater measures of the grace of walking uprightly and then we'll be amazed at how our understanding has increased. I think one of the most astounding things as a pastor is to see some people that in any other field of human knowledge are way down here in the scale of ability but you put a Bible in their hands and turn them loose and they outstrip people who are far far superior in their basic mental acumen and ability and you say what's the difference? After five years

47:22 - 48:05 Read in full sermon