Providence Community Church

Physics is defined as: a science that deals with matter and energy and their interactions... the processes and phenomena of a particular system". Applying this concept to matters of the soul, the wisdom literature of Proverbs reads like a textbook on the processes & phenomena of morality. In Proverbs 21, Solomon reveals spiritual & ethical cause and effect relationships of life. A key vers...

In our passage today, we become more acquainted with Mordecai and are introduced to Haman. These two men are set in contrast with one another as the plot of the book develops according to themes woven through the entirety of scripture. We opened our study asking the question, where is God in Esther, and, so far, we have discovered him at every turn. Today's chapter is no exception as we see the ha...

In chapter 25 of his book, Isaiah foretells a time of jubilation, communion, and resurrection.  His words come alive in the context of the work & ministry of the Messiah Jesus Christ. In light of this, the apostle Paul cites a passage from Isaiah’s prophecy in the resurrection crescendo chapter of his 1st letter to Corinth.  These words first appeared in the midst of a reckoning oracle address...

Verse 23 in our text today reiterates the organizing theme of our study of Proverbs 20. Wisdom utilizes the mind, ears, eyes, and tongue as instruments God has created for applying wisdom. We are to take up the scales of wisdom with our faculties and weigh every area of life and thought to determine where things stand relative to the moral authority of God's revealed word in scripture.

Luke 18:9-14 records a parable of Jesus illustrating the moral and spiritual necessity of applying equal weights & measures. Verse 9 reveals the occasion for this illustration: “He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt:..”.  With this teaching Jesus identified how the perennial sin of pride influences us to be patien...

Extravagant pageantry continues, now with respect to choosing a more suitable queen for Ahasuerus.  The time and attention involved for this process was extraordinary in more than one sense.  Firstly, the beautifying protocol for the kings court is difficult to fathom for its sheer scale with 6 months required for oil and myrrh treatments with the rest of the year dedicated to enhancing with spice...

Placing life on the scale of wisdom, we discern what decisions, motivations, strategies, philosophies, assets, attributes, goals, character traits, cultures, habits, priorities, attitudes, identities, vows, governments, experiences, etc. are actually worth. Verses 10 & 23 of this chapter reprise a key metaphor of Biblical wisdom literature illustrating the necessity and effect of a transcenden...

The final request in Jesus’ model prayer for us reads: (Matthew 6:13) “lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.” Proverbs 19 teaches us that the fear of the Lord ultimately ensures that we will not be visited by harm.  Indeed, according to Solomon, through the fear of God applied we are delivered from evil.  The truths contained in this chapter have the power to order the economy of...

Our title today is drawn from the second of three promises/benefits connected to the fear of the Lord, listed in verse 23. Here Solomon proclaims that the fear of the Lord leads to life and those who have it rest satisfied. He goes on to assure us that the believer who fears the Lord will not be visited by harm. Our verses today give practical applications of godly fear that yield the satisfaction...

The record of significant events orchestrated in the providence of God to advance His purposes in history provide occasion to introduce characters of consequence in the book of Esther.  Among them, Mordecai, Esther’s cousin & adoptive father, and Esther (Hadassah) herself.  Last message we asked: “Where is God in Esther?” (Our heading question introducing the book). The answer continues to unf...

Paul’s letter reads like a lone voice crying in the wilderness of a pagan empire. Paul reveals in our text that he had pushback on other missionary fronts in addition to opposition he faces in Corinth as the truth of Christianity clashed with the sinful philosophy of the day.   Yet here we are over 2000 years later, and his voice has decisively won the battle of history. It is difficult these days...

Proverbs 19:23 serves well as a theme verse to outline this chapter of Solomon’s collection of wise sayings.   This verse reprises the meta-theme of wisdom literature: ‘The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom’, attaching it to practical blessings.   According to Solomon : “the fear of the Lord leads to life, and whoever has it rests satisfied, he will not be visited by harm.”   As with oth...

Proverbs 18:10 describes the name of the Lord as a strong tower. The renown and character of our great God is where the righteous man finds his identity, meaning, standards, safety, authority. provision, and assurance. Proverbs 18, indeed with much of the entire book, can be understood as revealing pathways to the tower of God's presence and power in the life of a believer. Today we learn to take...

Historical background: the kingdom and events unfolding in the book of Esther pick up roughly where the contemporary events of the book of Daniel had left off. The timeline of Kings and consequences coinciding with Israel's exile and return are relevant to the context of Esther. Nebuchadnezzar had conquered Jerusalem in 605 BC leading Daniel and others captive to the city of Babylon. The next king...

In the providence of God, the recurring challenge of heretical ideas infecting the understanding of the early church set the stage for outlining nonnegotiable Christian teaching.  When Paul addresses the doctrine of resurrection in this chapter, he is providing another example of gospel teaching essential to salvation provided the Corinthians, along with the church of all ages, would hold fast to...

How can we run to the name of the Lord as our strong tower? While the first 8 verses of Proverbs 18 primarily identify and refute enemies of wisdom inspiring towers of Babel, verses 9-18 direct us toward the true source of refuge established according to the character and renown of the Lord.  When counsel gleaned from the written Word of God is consistently applied, we ground our lives on the foun...

Taking verse 10 as an organizing analogy for Proverbs 18, this chapter presents a ‘tale of two towers’ in wisdom literature terms.  Will the foundation and framework of our lives be built on the attributes of God, or upon the shifting sands of foolishness? The answer hinges on the object of our soul’s attention.  Is it the character and renown, that is the NAME, of the Lord that we build our lives...

The Psalms, as summarized by the closing song in each of the first 4 book divisions in the Psalter, present Messiah Prayers in two senses.  First: they serve as prayers of petition for the Messiah to come. Secondly, they function as prayers of intercession for the Messiah to pray on behalf of His people.  The great high priestly prayer of Jesus in John 17 corresponds to the prayer requests of the...

Acts 7 records a Gospel sermon proclaimed to Paul before he was born again.  Paul, approving of Stephen’s execution, would have been aware of this testimony. Sometime later, Paul is brought to repentance and faith by the sovereign grace of God & now we read his own Gospel sermon preached to the church in Corinth in I Corinthians 15.
     I Cor 15:1-3 provides an outline for the remainder of th...

What is our relationship to the body of Christ, the Church? How are we to love one another? What is the greatest way to serve Christ?

According to Proverbs 25:4 “Take away the dross from the silver, and the smith has material for a vessel”. According to Proverbs 17:3 “The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold, and the LORD tests hearts.”  Taking these references together we can extend and apply the analogy of precious metal refining to the sanctification process of our hearts and lives. Analyzing Proverbs 17 with t...

Prov. 25:4-5 expounds & applies the analogy of pure metals vs. dross. Another example in Proverbs utilizing similar picture language to Prov. 17:3. When the heart is tested by the refining fires of life, the process is designed to remove some elements and refine others.  When the heat is turned up, the difference between precious metals and dross or impurities becomes increasingly apparent.  T...

Working through history's greatest hymnal one Psalm at a time, we may not realize or remember the bigger picture of how the collection is organized. Mirroring the Books of Moses, the psalter is also a 'Pentateuch'. The psalms are arranged in five books beginning with songs 1 through 41, followed by book two: 42-72, book three: 73-89, book four: 90-106, and finally book five: 107-150. Each final so...

In the 14th & 15th chapters of his epistle to Corinth, Paul outlines aims of Gospel ministry for the church age.  When the unbeliever witnesses the testimony of the Christian community, how should our message resonate?  As the Holy Spirit is pleased to activate it, the content and presentation of our gospel message should inspire repentance and faith in the hearts of our pagan neighbors and ex...

Verse three of our chapter presents a conceptual context for the virtues promoted in Biblical wisdom literature, including the immediate blessings and character traits endorsed by Solomon in Proverbs 17.  Testing, tempering, & purifying are in view here as uses for heat in processing precious metals.  This analogy serves well to illustrate the design and redemptive purpose of life’s trials, di...