Nepaug Bible Church - http://www.nepaugchurch.org - Pastor's Adult Sunday School Notes - http://www.nepaugchurch.org/bb/bb20110619.htm

THRU THE BIBLE EXPOSITION
Proverbs: Motivating Teens And Adults To Align With God's Fixed Moral Order
Part II: Explaining The Value Of Heeding God's Fixed Moral Order, Proverbs 1:8-9:18
L. Informing Maturing Teens On Avoiding Divisive People And Their Characteristics
(Proverbs 6:12-19)
  1. Introduction
    1. As humans, we are social beings who must relate with others in society to succeed in life.
    2. Thus, for blessing, we must avoid developing divisive tendencies and being close to divisive people.
    3. Solomon knew it was imperative that his sons, princes who would one day rule others, be cooperative in relationships, so Proverbs 6:12-19 in his Egyptian sboyet format gave insight on avoiding divisiveness:
  2. Informing Maturing Teens On Avoiding Divisive People And Their Characteristics, Prov. 6:12-19.
    1. The focus throughout the Proverbs 6:12-19 section is the vice of divisiveness in human relationships:
      1. Solomon noted that the party described in Proverbs 6:12-15 in the end stirs up division, Prov. 6:14b.
      2. Also, the numerical proverb that follows this section in Proverbs 6:16-19, in using the "x plus (x+1)" formula teaches that the "(x+1)" characteristic is the quality most stressed in the proverb, Bible Knowledge Commentary, Old Testament, p. 917. That quality in the Proverbs 6:16-19 numerical proverb at hand is thus divisiveness as we identify it in Proverbs 6:19b.
      3. Thus, Solomon had as his key focus throughout Proverbs 6:12-19 the theme of the vice of divisiveness.
    2. Accordingly, Solomon described the characteristics of the divisive person in Proverbs 6:12-19, characteristics one should not only use to identify divisive people and to avoid their fellowship, but also to avoid adopting himself that he enjoy God's blessing by adhering to His fixed moral order (as follows):
      1. Divisiveness and divisive people arise from unbiblical, evil speech, Proverbs 6:12b NIV.
      2. Divisiveness and divisive people arise from deceitful, dishonest speech, Proverbs 6:19a.
      3. Divisiveness and divisive people arise from excessive body language that manipulates others with evil intentions or ends, Proverbs 6:13-14.
      4. Divisiveness and divisive people arise from track records of constant divisiveness (Proverbs 6:14b), meaning there is a lack of self-evaluation, self-correction and/or self-restraint in habitual divisiveness.
      5. Divisiveness and divisive people arise due to pride, and that comes from not revering God, Pr. 6:17a.
      6. Divisiveness and divisive people arise from a lack of consideration for the value and concerns of other people to make one heartlessly cruel and destructive to vulnerable people around them, Prov. 6:17c.
      7. Divisiveness and divisive people arise from a lack a sense of accountability to God and His moral order, leaving one swift to rush recklessly into evil, Proverbs 6:18b.
      8. Divisiveness and divisive people arise from a lack a sense of morality and conscience as one pours out lies even in public hearings to serve his selfish objectives, Proverbs 6:19.
      9. Divisiveness and divisive people characteristically see disaster overtake them very suddenly, and that without remedy, either due to human revenge or due to divine punishment since God hates the stirring up of dissension among brothers, Proverbs 6:15, 16, 19b; Ibid.
    3. Observing the opposite of these characteristics leads to cooperative behavior God blesses (as follows):
      1. We should use Biblically correct and honest speech to build wholesome relationships with others.
      2. We should avoid using excessive body language, but look directly at others and speak the truth.
      3. We should assess our thoughts and acts after a break in a relationship and correct ourselves if needed.
      4. We should revere God and stay humble in relating to others to build good relationships.
      5. We should consider the value and feelings of other people to edify and build good relationships.
      6. We should sense our accountability to God and evaluate our path in life to build good relationships.
      7. We should evaluate our morals and follow our conscience to do what is right over our own objectives.
      8. We should evaluate our way of life if we face sudden calamity in order to correct ourselves as needed.
Lesson: As we must relate cooperatively with others in society for success and to avoid God's discipline as being an unloving person, aligning to God's fixed moral order requires us to apply Proverbs 6:12-19.

Application: May we apply Proverbs 6:12-19 to relate well with others in society for God's blessing.