Purpose for Which Wisdom is Given

In this part of the sermon: This section delves into the specific meaning of 'guard the paths of justice' and 'preserve the way of his saints,' defining 'guard' as military protection and 'preserve' as…

The word 'guard' is explained as a military concept, protecting something valuable from an enemy, to illustrate God's active protection of the paths of justice.

Well, the word guard is obviously a military concept. You guard what is valuable from the intrusion of your foe or your enemy. The paths of justice are the paths of those who walk uprightly. Who walk in their integrity.

10:07 - 10:25 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: This section delves into the specific meaning of 'guard the paths of justice' and 'preserve the way of his saints,' defining 'guard' as military protection and 'preserve' as…

The word 'preserve' is explained as literally meaning 'to hedge about,' illustrating God's protective enclosure around the way of His saints.

Cast its shadow back upon the first. And preserve the way of his saints. Now the word preserve is a little different from guard. It literally means to hedge it about.

11:12 - 11:25 Read in full sermon

The point: Do not wrench passages about God's preservation loose from their context to claim preservation without evidence of persevering in holiness.

A lengthy quote from Mr. Lawson is used to beautifully articulate God's mighty defense of those who walk uprightly, likening Him to a fence and a wall of fire against enemies.

He preserves the way of his saints. And so the certainty of the saints of God persevering in the ways of justice and in the ways of holiness is rooted in the purpose of God himself. Listen as Mr. Lawson commenting on this passage states it so beautifully.

21:40 - 22:02 Read in full sermon

The point: Cry to God until you understand the balance of keeping yourself while trusting entirely in God for safety.

Another quote from Lawson is used to explain the paradox of believers needing to keep themselves while entirely trusting in God, highlighting the balance of divine preservation and human responsibility.

And this text is one of those that asserts so clearly that the saints have a relationship to the way of justice and the way of holiness one in which they keep themselves as they expose themselves continually to the ways and to the words of God. Again I quote from Lawson He that is born of God keepeth himself and the wicked one toucheth him not we cannot by our utmost care keep ourselves in safety but a true discipline of God and the principles upon God will dispose us to be as sober and vigilant as if we had none else to keep us while we yet trust entirely in God and not in ourselves knowing t...

30:15 - 31:37 Read in full sermon

The point: Read the scriptures privately and come to public exposition with the attitude and disposition commended in Proverbs 2:1-4, recognizing it as God's means to keep you in the way.

The example of Bunyan's Christian and the 'dropouts' from Pilgrim's Progress is used to illustrate that getting through the gate is just the beginning, and perseverance in the way is essential for reaching heaven.

and the knowledge of your ways what's the whole goal of it here it is and never forget it that you might be unable to persevere in the path of holiness that path which alone leads unto eternal life now when you've got that clearly fixed in your mind it'll make a tremendous difference in how you read the scriptures you don't come to the scriptures as though this were some kind of religious luxury you realize if I'm going to be kept in this way in which I must be kept or I'll never make heaven for it's the narrow way that leads to life isn't that what the bible says not just the gate but the way...

40:45 - 42:15 Read in full sermon

The point: When faced with seemingly impossible demands in God's Word, look to Christ as the perfect embodiment of wisdom and for grace and strength to obey.

The anecdote of George Whitfield spending half the night pouring over scriptures after preaching multiple times is used to illustrate the vital importance of constant exposure to God's Word for preservation amidst great temptations.

that's right but how did he do it what was the means the one thing they all had in common well they had different views on the sacraments different views on a lot of things one thing they had in common was that they all acknowledged that it was the powerful inward effectual influence of this book that preserved them from sin not this book treated as a book of religious notions but this book treated as the divine means appointed for their preservation some of you have read the biography of Whitfield haven't you why when the man had preached sometimes three or four times in the day and was half ...

45:13 - 46:41 Read in full sermon