The Importance of Applying Wisdom in Your Life – Shown Through Solomon’s Foolishness (1 Kings 10)

Scripture is clear that applying wisdom is one of the most important parts of the Christian life. If we don't apply wisdom, which is to say we aren't applying the knowledge we've received, we're being foolish. Solomon is the best example in Scripture of the need to apply wisdom. https://youtu.be/SDr0BVGI1WI Applying wisdom is one of the most important parts of the Christian life. If we don't apply knowledge we've received, we're being foolish. Table of ContentsSermon Lessons for The Importance of Applying Wisdom in Your Life - Shown Through Solomon's FoolishnessFamily Worship Guide for The Importance of Applying Wisdom in Your Life - Shown Through Solomon's FoolishnessSermon Notes for The Importance of Applying Wisdom in Your Life - Shown Through Solomon's FoolishnessLesson 1: God wants leaders trusting him.Lesson 2: the typology (part 1) Egypt is a type of the world.Lesson 2: the typology (part 2) Moses is a type of the law.Lesson 2: the typology (part 3) Joshua is a type of Jesus.Lesson 2: the typology (part 4) Israel's journey is a type of our journey.Lesson 3: wisdom must be applied Sermon Lessons for The Importance of Applying Wisdom in Your Life - Shown Through Solomon's Foolishness Lesson 1: God wants leaders ________________ ______ (Deuteronomy 17:14-17; Psalms 20:7, 33:16; Proverbs 14:34, 11:28). Lesson 2: The typology: Part I: Egypt is a type of ______ __________ (Exodus 1:5 cf. Exodus 12:37). Part II: Moses is a type of ______ ______ (Romans 3:20). Part III: Joshua is a type of __________ (Hebrews 4:1-10). Part IV: Israel’s journey is a type of ______ ______________ (2 Kings 18:21; Isaiah 36:6; and Ezekiel 17:15). Lesson 3: Wisdom must ____ ______________ (1 Kings 3:14, 10:26-29). Family Worship Guide for The Importance of Applying Wisdom in Your Life - Shown Through Solomon's Foolishness Day 1: Read Deuteronomy 17:14-17; Psalms 20:7, 33:16; Proverbs 14:34, 11:28, and discuss: Although we don’t have a king, what application do you see from these verses for this presidential election season? Why did God single out horses, wives, and wealth? What might presidents put their trust in today that kings put their trust in in the Old Testament? How can any leaders, including fathers and husbands who serve as the heads of their home, ensure that they are trusting in God versus something else? Day 2: Read Exodus 1:5, Exodus 12:37, Romans 3:20, Hebrews 4:1-10, 2 Kings 18:21, Isaiah 36:6, and Ezekiel 17:15 and discuss: How is Egypt a type of the world, Moses a type of the law, Joshua a type of Jesus, and Israel’s journey a type of our journey? Why were kings told not to return to Egypt? Do you see any other typology that Pastor Scott did not mention? Day 3: Read 1 Kings 3:14, 10:26-29, and discuss: Describe Solomon’s compromise before he received wisdom. What are high places? After God gave Solomon wisdom, why did he still tell him he needed to obey? What does it mean to apply wisdom? Why don’t we always apply wisdom? What does it mean to be under Moses vs. being under Joshua? Hint: consider what each man represents. Sermon Notes for The Importance of Applying Wisdom in Your Life - Shown Through Solomon's Foolishness We’re going to begin by looking at some verses in Deuteronomy 17 if you’d like to turn there. We’ve been in a series on wisdom, and in the last two sermons we looked at Solomon. I want you to see how important it is not just to receive wisdom, but to apply it, and Solomon is the best example in Scripture. These verses will help us see that Solomon didn’t apply the wisdom he received. Also, these verses have some application to the presidential election season. The first presidential debate – and I use the word debate loosely – took place this past week. Personally, I didn’t think it was easy to watch. These verses reveal what God wanted for the king of His people. We don’t have a king, but I think these verses help inform what we should look for in a national leader. Back in 2008 when I was serving at Grace Baptist, Barack Obama was running for president. He received an A+ rating from Planned Parenthood. During a speech he was very vocal about his support of murdering babies. I was really fired up and I told Pastor Joe that we needed to show the church a clip of his speech. Pastor Joe responded by having me listen to a sermon by Martin Lloyd Jones. This was one of those messages that I will never forget, and it greatly impacted my preaching. If I had to summarize the point of the sermon, it was this… As pastors we have two choices with our congregations: We can tell them how to vote. This is what I was advocating to Pastor Joe. The weakness of this approach is it doesn’t deal with people’s hearts. People are simply doing what they’re told, versus – in the language of Rom 14:5 – being convinced in their own mind. The other approach, which Martin Lloyd Jones advocated for, was to preach the gospel, preach Christ, preach the Word so people’s hearts are changed. Then they will vote, not b/c of what their pastor told them, but b/c of how God directed them. I never forgot this sermon and it’s helped me stay the course over the years when people came to me with political agendas they wanted me to preach from the pulpit. Here are a few examples of how this can work practically… If a pastor preaches what the Word says about theft and the importance of self-responsibility his congregation won’t vote for socialists If a pastor preaches what the Word says about the value of life and that every human being is made in the image of God, his congregation won’t vote for candidates who murder babies If a pastor preaches what the Word says about marriage, then his congregation won’t vote for candidates who support homosexuality If a pastor preaches what the Word says about debt, then his congregation will vote for candidates with the least government spending Look w/ me at verse 14… Deuteronomy 17:14 “When you come to the land that the Lord your God is giving you, and you possess it and dwell in it and then say, ‘I will set a king over me, like all the nations that are around me,’  God knew that in the future the people would ask for a king so they could be like the nations around [them]…instead of being the holy and separate nation God wanted them to be. Deuteronomy 17:15 you may indeed set a king over you whom the Lord your God will choose. One from among your brothers you shall set as king over you. You may not put a foreigner over you, who is not your brother. The king couldn’t be a foreigner, which is to say he had to be an Israelite. When God wanted to punish Israel he put them under a foreign king by having another nation oppress them…but they couldn’t have a foreigner as their king. God chose Saul as their first king, but it was never His plan for Saul to establish a lasting dynasty, because he was from the tribe of Benjamin and the Messiah would be from the tribe of Judah. So why did God choose Saul? There are two reasons… First, he was the king the people wanted. They wanted someone who was physically impressive so he could lead them into battle like the kings of other nations. Saul was head and shoulders taller than everyone else in Israel. The second reason God chose Saul was to judge the people for rejecting Him. One of the strongest ways God punishes people is by giving them what they want. Later God rejected Saul and graciously choose David to take his place. God had restrictions for the king, which are outlined in verses 16 and 17. Let me tell you what to look for… Kings had so much power they could typically get whatever they wanted. This would allow kings to put their trust in earthly resources instead of in God Himself. So four times in these verses the king is told not to acquire things for himself. And this brings us to lesson 1… Lesson 1: God wants leaders trusting him. Look at verse 16… Deuteronomy 17:16 Only he must not acquire many horses for himself or cause the people to return to Egypt in order to acquire many horses, since the Lord has said to you, ‘You shall never return that way again.’ Horses were like OT tanks. To forbid the king from multiplying horses was to forbid him from trusting the strength of his army. He was supposed to trust God instead. Consider these two verses: Psalms 20:7 Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God. Psalms 33:16a The king is not saved by his great army We’ll talk a little later about why they weren’t to return to Egypt. For now look at verse 17… Deuteronomy 17:17a And he shall not acquire many wives for himself, lest his heart turn away,  Obviously kings could obtain many wives for themselves b/c of lust, but often in the Old Testament kings obtained wives for political reasons. Alliances between nations were ratified by the marriage of the son of one king to the daughter of another. The idea is you’re not going to attack the nation that your son or daughter is part of. God forbid kings from doing this for two reasons… First, if a king multiplied wives for political reasons, where would he get these women? From foreign, or pagan, nations, which is why God warned that they could turn the king’s heart away to their false gods. It’s an issue of being unequally yoked. God wanted His people staying holy – or separate – from the surrounding nations…not making alliances with them. Second, kings engaged in these alliances to strengthen their nations, but God wanted kings trusting Him. The nation should be strong, not b/c of the political, but b/c of the spiritual… Proverbs 14:34 Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people. Look at the rest of verse 17… Deuteronomy 17:17b nor shall he acquire for himself excessive silver and gold. Like horses,...