Study of First Peter Chapter 2 Lesson 33
Review:
Rabbit Trail
- Examine some principles from Prov 1:2-3
This
section answers the question, What is the knowledge of
the Word, an understanding of Doctrine to provide us? Why is it so Important for us?
1.
To develop the Believer's moral skill
1:2a
"To know wisdom and instruction";
* The wisdom, chokmah, as seen
in the OT is quite distinct from all
other cultures of the ancient world.
(stands in contrast)
* There at least 4 things that make OT intelligence
distinctly different from everybody else.
1.
First of all chakam is based on revealed truth in
language.
2.
It revolved around a personal God who is holy and just.
3. The followers were to reflect that holiness; be like
their God; to reflect His character.
4. Wisdom of the OT was not theoretical, or
speculative. It was practical, based on revealed
principles of right and wrong that is to be lived out in the daily life.
Where do we get this wisdom? From our own innate
ability? No!
Thru
His commandments - Ps 119:98
leads to hw"c.mi
commandments refers to the authoritative declarations of God
What
about the instruction?? musar rs'Wm
-
It's correcting one's N&S's; the values of one's
conscience.
Examples:
Deut. 8:2-6; Deut. 11:1-7;
Prov 3:11-12 its related to His love for the one disciplined;
-
How valuable is this instruction? Prov
8:10-11
2.
Second Purpose: To help the believer develop mental skill.
"To discern the sayings of understanding."
- Key word here is discern; !yBi closely linked to the prep. !yBe
which is translated
most often between; (hiphil inf)
Biyn speaks of the ability to take facts, info, input; evaluate that input and to utilize it.
The
Word of God as it is learned is going to not only develop the moral skill we
need but give us discernment in the real life situations in which we will
inevitably find ourselves.
1:3a "To receive instruction in wise
behavior"
- Describes what will advance the student (believer) in
the area of moral skill;
This first phrase really emphasizes that!
- It helps define what is a part
of or involved with Moral skill;
1. "instruction"
= musar;
corrective instruction; again, the emphasis is not on mental skill or
acuity but on moral skill; putting it
all together: result is the ability to
live a life of integrity according to a standard.
2. This life of integrity is described here as being
characterized by
"wise behavior."
word is lkf
- The emphasis of sakal is that
your able to think through a complex series of ideas, with the end result your
enabled to have wise dealings with
others
3. Characteristics that are to be manifest in the life of
one with wisdom and instruction.
- 3
characteristics: righteousness, justice
and equity.
#1 Righteousness:
qd,c,
tsedeq;
basic = to be straight
it is a word that assumes absolute standards and in its use anything
that is called right or just, conforms
to these standards.
If
we are going to have absolute standards; where does it start?? Where is the reference point? Can only be one!!
Ps
145:17; Isa 45:18-19
*
Who is the righteous man?? Mal
Wise
behavior, is behavior that demonstrates righteousness,
tsedeq, moral skill and extends to every facet of
one's life, even to one's conduct in business.
Look
at Lev 19:35-36 it extends the moral and ethical standards of tsediq to your business life.
If
we are to live life wisely,
we must be instructed in this standard. Learn and live!! Remember the provision of grace for life from
Titus 2:12.
#2 Justice: jP'v.mi mishphat;
400+ most in a legal context of the government ruling thru a judicial
system.
The
nuance is that of legal decisions; decisions made by God the supreme Judge,
communicated to man;
Psa 119:75, Psa 119:106
Justice
then takes us also to the Word, the revelation of God,
It
must be the foundation of our norms and standards if we are to live wisely.
#3 Equity: ~yrIv'yme
mey'sharim;
to be straight/level; idea is integrity
No
deviation from what is straight. Describes one who operates
on the basis of fairness/justice.
From
the view of Proverbs: ** The truly wise one was also righteous and the intelligent
one was also godly.