Proverbs is more than clever sayings. It is a book which reveals the wisdom of God in how you are to live your daily life.
What a wonderful opportunity this Sunday to explore a unique style of preaching. Since the text is on Proverbs you have a chance to use the Proverbial Structure.
“This sermon structure works with the prevalence of proverbs in contemporary discourse (like advertising slogans and sound bites) and seeks to use that experience for the purpose of proclaiming the divine wisdom tradition. In this structure, the sermon develops a single proverb for the hearers by using it as a refrain throughout the sermon. Often this proverb arises out of the text itself. For example, Jesus tells His disciples that “whoever saves his life with lose it and whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.” The sermon consists of offering the hearers various life situations in which this proverb is reflected upon. In each case, the hearer needs wisdom to discern the application of the proverb, and the sermon offers that contemplative wisdom which discerns how the proverb applies. At one point in the sermon, the proverb is related to the proclamation of the gospel. By moving from biblical stories to contemporary situations and punctuating each situation with a statement of and reflection upon the proverb, the preacher forms hearers who enter the world remembering the proverb and seeing situations wherein it guides their daily life with godly wisdom.”[1]
In the case of our text, we will single out verse 2 for our main focus: “It is the glory of God to conceal things, but the glory of kings is to search things out.”
In order to build the progression of the sermon, you may want to talk about the purpose of the book of Proverbs. Developing key moments in the sermon which are progressively different will help create the “gospel reveal” in this pericope otherwise devoid of any Gospel.
It is important to recognize that the book of Proverbs is meant to be read with two other books of the Old Testament wisdom tradition. The purpose of reading these three books together and in sequence reveals deeper truths behind the Biblical Wisdom tradition. You are meant to read Proverbs first, because the book of Proverbs is more than clever sayings. It is a book which reveals the wisdom of God in how you are to live your daily life. If you live this way everything will be great, and you will benefit from God’s wisdom. But then you are supposed to read Ecclesiastes next and learn that doing the right things the right way without the fear of the Lord leads you to a life of meaninglessness. Finally, you move on to reading the book of Job who is, in fact, a man living wisely and does everything right, yet is still filled with suffering. This is where He found God, in the midst of suffering, and God delivered Him.
Spend time after the introduction to Proverbs unpacking at least three of the Proverbs in this text while saving verse 2 for the end. By briefly touching on the truth in each proverb, you will show them the wisdom of the Word of God. Finally, you land on verse 2 and you start out by saying, “It is wisdom to conceal a thing.” Notice the slight twisting of the parable. You intentionally start with a rewording so you can evaluate that claim and use it as an opportunity to exploit a “Gospel Handle” in this gospel-less text.
By briefly touching on the truth in each proverb, you will show them the wisdom of the Word of God.
Everyone can agree that it is wise to conceal a thing. In fact, we conceal things all the time and thank you very much for doing so (a bit of humor for the obvious). It is especially wise to conceal a thing if “it is the glory of kings to search a thing out.” We do not want people to know our business, so we wisely conceal things. There is nothing wiser than concealing your sins by the way. After all you do not want people to see all that or know all that. Hey maybe the Bible is right! Maybe it is wise to conceal a thing. Except that is not what the Proverb says.
It actually says, “It is the GLORY OF GOD to conceal things.” Uh oh, that is not what we thought at all! In fact, God knows all things in our hearts, minds, and lives (Psalm 139:4; Jeremiah 23:24). He knows our sin no matter how hard we try to conceal it. It is for this reason He sent forth His Son Jesus Christ to save us from what we call wisdom but is actually only foolishness and sin. Just look at what Paul said in 1 Corinthians 3:19-20: “For the wisdom of this world is folly with God. For it is written, ‘He catches the wise in their craftiness,’ and again, ‘The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile.’”
God sent forth Christ for the purpose of His Glory which is revealed in the cross and empty tomb. God’s glory is seen in the message of the Gospel which is Christ crucified and risen again. Unfortunately, that does not look like wisdom to the world. The message of the Gospel is a backwards kind of wisdom which may actually prove why it is Godly wisdom. The ways of the Lord are opposite of the world.
Again, listen to what Paul says in 1 Corinthians 1:21: “For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe.” In Christ’s substitutionary death and resurrection, God has hidden our sins from His face (Psalm 51:9) and concealed them in the blood of Christ. Hidden in Christ we are covered by His blood, and it conceals the “things” we do not want on display to God. All praise and GLORY TO GOD for this great salvation. It is the Glory of God to conceal our sin and brokenness under the atoning blood of Christ. In Jesus, there is a new way of thinking and organizing our life and future. Listen again to Paul in Colossians 3:2-3: “Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.”
In the sufferings of Jesus, we meet God and He delivers us on account of Christ. The glorious King of the Kingdom of Heaven has searched us out and found us buried six feet under our sins and trespasses and He has redeemed us with His precious blood (Psalm 72:14; 1 Peter 1:19). With this new life in Christ through Word and Sacrament, the Holy Spirit works in us a life of purpose and freedom from sin. Thanks be to God that it was His glory to conceal a thing which would have otherwise separated us from Him eternally.
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Additional Resources:
Craft of Preaching-Check out out 1517’s resources on Proverbs 25:2–10.
Concordia Theology-Various helps from Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, MO to assist you in preaching Proverbs 25:2–10.
Lectionary Kick-Start-Check out this fantastic podcast from Craft of Preaching authors Peter Nafzger and David Schmitt as they dig into the texts for this Sunday!
The Pastor’s Workshop-Check out all the great preaching resources from our friends at the Pastor’s Workshop!
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[1] https://concordiatheology.org/sermon-structs/dynamic/proverbial/
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