This document provides an overview and summary of a Sunday school lesson on wisdom from the books of Proverbs 1-2. It discusses King Solomon's early life and how he was blessed and prepared to rule. It also examines the seven pillars of wisdom according to Dr. David Jeremiah from Proverbs 9:1 - wisdom involves development, discipline, discernment, dignity, discretion, depth of understanding, and devotion to God. The document concludes with definitions of wisdom from various sources and biblical references on obtaining wisdom from God through faith in Jesus Christ.

1. Proverbs 1&2
Charted Waters
Wisdom
June 7, 2020
His Followers Sunday School Class
First Baptist Church
Jackson, Mississippi
USA
What’s the number one thing?
The glory of God!
1 Corinthians 10:31 NIV
31 So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.
References
• Jeremiah, David, Seeking Wisdom-Finding Gold (Atlanta, GA, Walk Thru
the Bible Ministries, 1994).
• MacArthur, John, The MacArthur Study Bible (Nashville, Nelson Publishing,
1997). NKJV
• Palmer, Edwin H., The NIV Study Bible (Grand Rapids, Zondervan, 1985).
Focus of the Lesson
• Review the story of Solomon’s early life.
• Study the 7 pillars in the house of wisdom by Dr. David Jeremiah.
• Look at the Apostle John’s scripture about fear and love.
Introduction to The Book Proverbs
• A collection of 513 of the over 3,000 proverbs pondered by King Solomon
(Reign 971-931 BC).
• Proverb means “to be like.” – A comparison between the common truths
and life’s profound truths.
• Solomon is credited with writing most of Proverbs, but King Hezekiah (715-
686 BC) is credited with assembly.

2. The Book of Proverbs
• Proverbs 1:1 NIV
1 The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel:
• Mashal [mah SHAWL] – An ancient Israelite saying.
• Book of Proverbs – Used as a textbook for Solomon’s royal academy.
King Solomon – The Early Years
1. Blessed before he was born.
2. Blessed upon his birth.
3. Pointed out as Israel’s king.
4. Prayed for God’s blessing.
5. God’s special blessing.
6. Prepared for the challenges.
1. Blessed before he was born – Son of King David
• 1 Chronicles 22:9-10 NIV
9 But you will have a son who will be a man of peace and rest, and I will
give him rest from all his enemies on every side. His name will be Solomon,
and I will grant Israel peace and quiet during his reign. 10 He is the one
who will build a house for my Name. He will be my son, and I will be his
father. And I will establish the throne of his kingdom over Israel forever.’
2. Blessed upon his birth
• 2 Samuel 12:24-25 NIV
24 Then David comforted his wife Bathsheba, and he went to her and lay
with her. She gave birth to a son, and they named him Solomon. The Lord
loved him; 25 and because the Lord loved him, he sent word through
Nathan the prophet to name him Jedidiah.
• Jedidiah means “loved by the Lord” (The blessing name for Solomon).
3. Pointed out as Israel’s king
• 1 Chronicles 28:5-7 NIV
5 Of all my sons—and the Lord has given me many—he has chosen my
son Solomon to sit on the throne of the kingdom of the Lord over Israel.
6 He said to me: ‘Solomon your son is the one who will build my house and
my courts, for I have chosen him to be my son, and I will be his father. 7 I
will establish his kingdom forever if he is unswerving in carrying out my
commands and laws, as is being done at this time.’
4. Prayed for God’s blessing – David’s prayer
• 1 Chronicles 29:19 NIV
19 “And give my son Solomon the wholehearted devotion to keep your
commands, statutes and decrees and to do everything to build the
palatial structure for which I have provided.”

3. 5. God’s special blessing
• 1 Chronicles 29:25 NIV
25 The Lord highly exalted Solomon in the sight of all Israel and bestowed
on him royal splendor such as no king over Israel ever had before.
6. Prepared for the challenges
• 1 Chronicles 28:10-12 NIV
10 “Consider now, for the Lord has chosen you to build a house as the
sanctuary. Be strong and do the work.”
11 Then David gave his son Solomon the plans for the portico of the temple,
its buildings, its storerooms, its upper parts, its inner rooms and the place of
atonement. 12 He gave him the plans of all that the Spirit had put in his
mind for the courts of the temple of the Lord and all the surrounding
rooms, for the treasuries of the temple of God and for the treasuries for the
dedicated things.
King Solomon’s request
• 1 Kings 3:5-15a NIV
5 At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon during the night in a dream,
and God said, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you.”
6 Solomon answered, “You have shown great kindness to your servant, my
father David, because he was faithful to you and righteous and upright in
heart. You have continued this great kindness to him and have given him
a son to sit on his throne this very day.
7 Now, Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of my
father David. But I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out
my duties. 8 Your servant is here among the people you have chosen, a
great people, too numerous to count or number. 9 So give your servant a
discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right
and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?”
10 The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this. 11 So God said to
him, “Since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for
yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for
discernment in administering justice, 12 I will do what you have asked. I will
give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been
anyone like you, nor will there ever be. 13 Moreover, I will give you what
you have not asked for—both wealth and honor—so that in your lifetime
you will have no equal among kings. 14 And if you walk in obedience to
me and keep my decrees and commands as David your father did, I will
give you a long life.” 15a Then Solomon awoke—and he realized it had
been a dream.

4. God blesses King Solomon
• 1 Kings 4:29-34 NIV
29 God gave Solomon wisdom and very great insight, and a breadth of
understanding as measureless as the sand on the seashore. 30 Solomon’s
wisdom was greater than the wisdom of all the people of the East, and
greater than all the wisdom of Egypt. 31 He was wiser than anyone else,
including Ethan the Ezrahite—wiser than Heman, Kalkol and Darda, the
sons of Mahol. And his fame spread to all the surrounding nations. 32 He
spoke three thousand proverbs and his songs numbered a thousand and
five. 33 He spoke about plant life, from the cedar of Lebanon to the hyssop
that grows out of walls. He also spoke about animals and birds, reptiles
and fish. 34 From all nations people came to listen to Solomon’s wisdom,
sent by all the kings of the world, who had heard of his wisdom.
The Queen of Sheba visits King Solomon
• 1 Kings 10:1-5 NKJV
1 Now when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon concerning
the name of the Lord, she came to test him with hard questions. 2 She
came to Jerusalem with a very great retinue, with camels that bore spices,
very much gold, and precious stones; and when she came to Solomon,
she spoke with him about all that was in her heart. 3 So Solomon answered
all her questions; there was nothing so difficult for the king that he could
not explain it to her. 4 And when the queen of Sheba had seen all the
wisdom of Solomon, the house that he had built, 5 the food on his table,
the seating of his servants, the service of his waiters and their apparel, his
cupbearers, and his entryway by which he went up to the house of the
Lord, there was no more spirit in her.
What is wisdom?
• Charles H. Spurgeon: “The right use of knowledge.”
• Samuel Coleridge: “Wisdom is common sense in an uncommon degree.”
• Cicero: “Wisdom is the knowledge of things human and divine of the
causes by which those things are controlled.”
• Mark Twain: “Wisdom is knowledge using its head.”
The Behavior of Belief by Spiros Zodiates
• Wisdom is a synonym of the Word, and it refers to that perfection and
eternity which is to be found only in God the Father, manifested to the
world through His Son, the Lord Jesus, and existing in the world today only
through the Holy Spirit. The wise man is he who has given himself to Jesus
Christ, and who, by the help of the Holy Spirit, keeps his intellect in
submission to the will of God.

5. Wisdom according to Dr. David Jeremiah
• In Scripture, wisdom always refers to knowledge of the course of action
that will please God and make life what God wants it to be. When God
promises wisdom, He promises a way of life that is superior to the way of
the world. He guarantees that we will find “that good and acceptable
and perfect will of God” (Romans 12:2).
How does wisdom come to believers?
• 1 Corinthians 1:30 NIV
30 It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us
wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.
• Jesus Christ is our wisdom from God.
• He (wisdom) dwells in us through the Holy Spirit.
How does the believer obtain wisdom?
• James 1:5-6 NIV
5 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to
all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. 6 But when you ask, you
must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave
of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.
Seven Pillars in the House of Wisdom
• Proverbs 9:1 NIV
1 Wisdom has built her house;
she has set up its seven pillars.
• Seven pillars indicates wisdom is a “large” house.
• The 7 pillars provide the “framework” or “supporting principles” for
understanding the wisdom of God that is given to man.
• The number 7 indicates perfection and completeness.
The 7 Pillars of Wisdom in Proverbs 1:1-7 according to Dr. David Jeremiah
1. Wisdom is Development.
2. Wisdom is Discipline.
3. Wisdom is Discernment.
4. Wisdom is Dignity.
5. Wisdom is Discretion.
6. Wisdom is Depth of Understanding.
7. Wisdom is Devotion to God.

6. 1. Wisdom is Development.
• Proverbs 1:1-2a NKJV
1 The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel:
2a To know wisdom and instruction,
• Wisdom is a developed skill or knowledge learned over time.
• You are not born with wisdom.
• Other translations: for attaining; for gaining.
• Proverbs 9:9 NKJV
9 Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser;
Teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.
• Luke 2:52 NKJV
52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and
men.
2. Wisdom is Discipline.
• Proverbs 1:1-2a NKJV
1 The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel:
2a To know wisdom and instruction,
• Other translations of instruction: discipline; reproof; correction.
• Discipline for true wisdom involves Bible study, memorizing
Scripture and prayer.
2. Wisdom is Discipline – An intentional pursuit.
• Proverbs 2:1-5 NIV
1 My son, if you receive my words,
And treasure my commands within you,
2 So that you incline your ear to wisdom,
And apply your heart to understanding;
3 Yes, if you cry out for discernment,
And lift up your voice for understanding,
4 If you seek her as silver,
And search for her as for hidden treasures;
5 Then you will understand the fear of the Lord,
And find the knowledge of God.

7. 3. Wisdom is Discernment.
• Proverbs 1:2 NKJV
2 To know wisdom and instruction,
To perceive the words of understanding,
• Other translations: for understanding words of insight.
• Root word from which we get “to separate.”
• The ability to make wise choices and decisions and to know the
difference between good and evil.
3. Wisdom is Discernment – Solomon’s Prayer.
• 1 Kings 3:9 NKJV
9 “Therefore give to Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your
people, that I may discern between good and evil. For who is able to
judge this great people of Yours?”
• Wisdom from God is the ability to make proper choices.
Paul’s desire for the Philippians – discernment
• Philippians 1:9-11 NKJV
9 And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in
knowledge and all discernment, 10 that you may approve the things that
are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of
Christ, 11 being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus
Christ, to the glory and praise of God.
4. Wisdom is Dignity.
• Proverbs 1:3 NKJV
3 To receive the instruction of wisdom,
Justice, judgment, and equity;
• Proverbs 1:3 NIV
3 for receiving instruction in prudent behavior,
doing what is right and just and fair;
• Learning to behave with propriety and tact.
• Wise people reveal their wisdom through their dignified actions.
• Titus 2:2 NIV
2 Teach the older men to be temperate, worthy of respect, self-controlled,
and sound in faith, in love and in endurance.
• Ecclesiastes 3:1 NKJV
1 To everything there is a season,
A time for every purpose under heaven:
• Romans 12:15 NKJV
15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.

8. 5. Wisdom is Discretion.
• Proverbs 1:4 NKJV
4 To give prudence to the simple,
To the young man knowledge and discretion—
• The quality of having or showing good judgment; the quality of
being discreet.
• Be careful of what you say and do.
• Think before you speak.
Jesus’ instructions to the disciples
• Matthew 10:16 NIV
16 “I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd
as snakes and as innocent as doves.”
• Matthew 10:16 ESV
16 “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be
wise as serpents and innocent as doves.”
• Genesis 3:1 NKJV
1 Now the serpent was more cunning (crafty) than any beast of the field
which the Lord God had made.
Wisdom is knowing the enemy is Satan
• Ephesians 6:10-12 NIV
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full
armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s
schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the
rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and
against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
6. Wisdom is Depth of Understanding.
• Proverbs 1:5-6 NKJV
5 A wise man will hear and increase learning,
And a man of understanding will attain wise counsel,
6 To understand a proverb and an enigma,
The words of the wise and their riddles.
• Listen to wise counsel of others and learn from them.
• “Learn the ropes.”
• 2 Timothy 2:1-2 NKJV
1 You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2 And
the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit
these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.

9. 7. Wisdom is Devotion to God.
• Proverbs 1:7 NKJV
7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge,
But fools despise wisdom and instruction.
• Proverbs 9:10 NKJV
10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,
And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
• “fear of the Lord” – reverential trust.
Fear of the Lord = Obedience
• Deuteronomy 6:1-2 NIV
1 These are the commands, decrees and laws the Lord your God directed
me to teach you to observe in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to
possess, 2 so that you, your children and their children after them may fear
the Lord your God as long as you live by keeping all his decrees and
commands that I give you, and so that you may enjoy long life.
Wisdom is Devotion to God
• Paul and David described man’s sinful nature as “no fear of God.”
• Romans 3:18 NKJV
18 “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”
• Psalm 36:1 NIV
1 I have a message from God in my heart
concerning the sinfulness of the wicked:
There is no fear of God
before their eyes.
Fear of the Lord
• Fearing God is the starting point for godliness.
• This fear includes commitment to His revealed will (God’s written Word).
• Fearing God means that we keep Him and His statutes as the focus and
center of our attention.
• Matthew Henry: “Where no fear of God is, no good is to be expected.”
Why is fear of the Lord the beginning of knowledge and wisdom?
• It acknowledges that God is the creator and source of knowledge and
wisdom.
• It acknowledges that God is truth.
• If we do not keep the fear of God before our eyes, we cannot do anything
else that is pleasing to Him.

10. Apostle John describes when fear progresses to love.
• 1 John 4:9-18 NIV
9 This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son
into the world that we might live through him. 10 This is love: not that we
loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice
for our sins. 11 Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love
one another. 12 No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another,
God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.
13 This is how we know that we live in him and he in us: He has given us of
his Spirit. 14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to
be the Savior of the world. 15 If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son
of God, God lives in them and they in God. 16 And so we know and rely on
the love God has for us.
God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. 17 This is
how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on
the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. 18 There is no fear in
love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with
punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.
Summary of John’s message on fear and love
• As the believer grows to be like Christ (sanctification), one understands
that Christ has paid the price for their sins to God.
• There is no fear of God’s judgment because genuine love confirms
salvation.
• The believer lives a life of service because of love for God instead of fear
of punishment.
Closing Scriptures
• 1 Corinthians 1:30 NIV
30 It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us
wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.
• John 16:33 NIV
33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this
world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
The Plan of Hope & Salvation:
John 3:16-17 NIV
16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever
believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his
Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”

11. John 14:6 NIV
6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the
Father except through me.”
Romans 3:23 NIV
23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
Romans 6:23a NIV
23a For the wages of sin is death,
• Death in this life (the first death) is 100%.
• Even Jesus, the only one who doesn’t deserve death, died in this life to
pay the penalty for our sin.
• The death referred to in Romans 6:23a is the “second death” explained in
Revelation 21:8.
Revelation 21:8 NIV
8 “But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually
immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—their place
will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.”
• Anyone who’s lifestyle is one or more of the sins listed in Revelation 21:8,
will experience the “second death,” if they do not repent.
• To Repent means to turn around, to go in the opposite direction, to turn
away from sin and believe in Jesus.
Romans 5:8 NIV
8 But God demonstrates His own love for us, in this: While we were still sinners,
Christ died for us.
Romans 6:23b NIV
23b but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Revelation 21:7 NIV
7 “He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his God and he will be My
son.”
• Romans 10:9-10 explain to us how to be overcomers.
Romans 10:9-10 NIV
9 That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart
that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart
that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and
are saved.
Romans 10:13 NIV
13 for “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

12. Do you have questions?
Would you like to know more?
Please, contact First Baptist Church Jackson at 601-949-1900 or
http://firstbaptistjackson.org/contact/