Proverbs 4:1-9

Order of Service

• Call to Worship — Psalm 84:1-4
• Prayer of Invocation
• Prayer Requests and Pastoral Prayer
• Scripture Reading — Proverbs 4:1-9
• Sermon
• Benediction — 2 Corinthians 13:14

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Sermon Title: The Tradition, Ownership, and Honor of Wisdom

Scripture: Proverbs 4:1-9

I. The Tradition of Wisdom (vv. 1–4)

A. For the first time in Proverbs, instruction is addressed to sons (plural), representing wisdom passed down through the generations, not just to one child

1. The instructor recounts in v. 3–4 that his own father taught him — wisdom flows from generation to generation
2. Biblical precedent: Exodus 12 (Passover as memorial instruction), Deuteronomy 6:4-7 (the Shema), Psalm 145:4 (one generation commends God's works to another)

B. The loss of tradition leads to the loss of identity

1. When a culture or church scraps its traditions, definitions and labels lose all meaning
2. Labels are a friend — being able to say "reformed Protestant Presbyterian" communicates substantive doctrinal commitments and enables real conversation

C. Catechism is the biblical instrument of this tradition

1. The Greek word catecheo simply means to teach orally or instruct; catechism is not Catholic, it is biblical
2. The Reformation spread largely through catechizing — Martin Luther noted that a 15-year-old girl or boy then knew more Christian doctrine than university theologians once had
3. Parents are encouraged to use the Westminster Shorter Catechism and the Heidelberg Catechism to instruct their children in the doctrines of Scripture

II. The Ownership of Wisdom (vv. 5, 7)

A. The Hebrew word for get (v. 5, 7) can be translated buy or purchase, carrying the idea of personally owning wisdom

1. Some commentators see the metaphor of a man paying a dowry to acquire Lady Wisdom as his wife — pay whatever price is necessary to obtain her
2. The progression in the passage is significant: attentiveness (v. 1) → holding fast and keeping commandments (v. 4) → getting and owning wisdom (vv. 5, 7)

B. The Reformation's three components of saving faith parallel this progression

1. Notitia — the content of faith; the teaching received from the father
2. Assensus — intellectual assent to that content as true
3. Fiducia — personal entrustment and ownership; cf. James 2:19 (even demons give mere intellectual assent)

C. Application: Are you merely giving intellectual assent to the truths of Scripture, or are you owning Christ for yourself?

1. Matthew 13:44 — the kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field; the man sells all he has to buy it
2. The end goal of Christian instruction is not a receptacle of sound doctrine but a person who owns, cherishes, and lives by wisdom

III. The Protection and Honor of Wisdom (vv. 5–9)

A. Get wisdom, for she will bring protection (vv. 5–6)

1. This protection theme runs throughout Deuteronomy — obey the covenant King and he will protect you; disobey and protection is withdrawn
2. This reflects the ancient Near Eastern suzerainty treaty formula: the great king redeems a vassal people and vows protection on condition of obedience to his covenant statutes
3. The Ten Commandments follow this pattern — the preamble ("I am the LORD your God who brought you out of Egypt") establishes God as Redeemer King before issuing his law
4. Jesus follows the same pattern in his letters to the seven churches (Revelation 2–3): he declares who he is (Redeemer King), then warns that spurning his commandments results in the removal of his protection (the lampstand taken away)
5. As a new covenant community, the church must heed the wisdom of Christ the Redeemer King to remain under his protection and guardianship

B. Get wisdom, for she will bring honor (vv. 7–9)

1. There is a deliberate play on words: esteem wisdom highly and wisdom will esteem you highly; honor wisdom and wisdom will honor you
2. The Hebrew word for exalt is almost always used of God being exalted; when used positively of an individual, it describes exaltation that is found in God — cf. 1 Samuel 2:1 (Hannah: "My heart exalts in the LORD")
3. Israel was repeatedly warned never to view their exaltation as self-achieved — Deuteronomy 8:14, Deuteronomy 8:17: beware lest you say "my own hand has gotten me this wealth"
4. Any honor or exaltation God's people receive is a result of sharing in God's own exaltation — an Old Testament foreshadowing of the New Testament doctrine of union with Christ
5. Paul's drumbeat in Christ, in Christ, in Christ (Romans, Galatians, Ephesians) — we are justified, sanctified, and glorified in Christ
6. Our incentive to heed the wisdom of Christ is not the pursuit of our own glory, but beholding how glorious Christ is and longing to share in that glory — the crown of righteousness belongs to him and is received only by being united to him by faith