TWO CENTRAL PASTORAL ISSUES 1. THE IMPORTANCE OF LITURGICAL PRACTICE – VERTICAL PASTORAL CARE 2. THE IMPORTANCE OF INTER- PERSONAL PRACTICE - HORIZONTAL.

TWO CENTRALPASTORAL ISSUES

1. THE IMPORTANCE OF LITURGICAL PRACTICE –

VERTICAL PASTORAL CARE

2. THE IMPORTANCE OF INTER-PERSONAL PRACTICE

- HORIZONTAL PASTORAL CARE

You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and

strengthAnd your neighbor as

yourself

Horizontal Spirituality

Ve

rti

ca

l S

pir

itu

ali

ty

GODHeaven

Believer

s

GOD in Other

(s)Creatio

n

There is a relationship of mutuality and

dependence between the disciplines of the

vertical and the horizontal spiritual life

of the believer

Wisdom TextsProverbial –

Discourse levelParenesis

LiturgicalTexts

PsalterDoxologyHymns

My Son, HearHorizontal

He

ar,

O L

ord

Ve

rti

ca

l

GODHeaven

Believer

GOD in Other

(s)Creatio

n

Proverbial WisdomEcclesiastes – Song of

Solomon

Job

PSALMS

The wisdom of the NT

Sermon on the Mount

ParablesAphorisms

Parenesis / JamesCHRIST as Wisdom

Of God

The Beginning of Wisdom

is the Fear of the Lord

PRO 3:7DO NOT BE WISE IN YOUR OWN EYES; FEAR

JEHOVAH AND DEPART FROM EVIL.PRO 16:6

BY MERCY AND TRUTH, INIQUITY IS PURGED, AND BY THE FEAR OF THE LORD MEN TURN

AWAY FROM EVIL.(1TI 6:11)

BUT YOU, O MAN OF GOD, FLEE THESE THINGS AND FOLLOW AFTER

RIGHTEOUSNESS, GODLINESS, FAITH, LOVE, PATIENCE, AND MEEKNESS.

The Invitation of Wisdom= The Skill to choose Good over Evil

Theodicy

The Tree Lost - The Tree Restored

Gen 2:9 And out of the ground Jehovah God caused to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food. The tree of life also was in the middle of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.

Rev 22:2 In the midst of its street, and of the river, from here and from there, was the Tree of Life, which bore twelve fruits, each yielding its fruit according to one month. And the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.

WORKING ON THREE LEVELS

OF WISDOM

WISDOM MODEL

Three Levels: Inter-Dependence

Level I:The wisdom of the

CREATION ORDER

Level II:The wisdom of the

COUNTER ORDER

Level III:The wisdom of the COMING ORDER

Illustration

Level I:The wisdom of the

CREATION ORDER

Level II:The wisdom of the COUNTER ORDER

Level III:The wisdom of the COMING ORDER

Ps. 37:25 Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken, Nor his descendants begging bread.

Eccl. 7:15 There is a just man who perishes in his righteousness

Matt 5:10 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Illustration

Level I:The wisdom of the

CREATION ORDER

Level II:The wisdom of the COUNTER ORDER

Level III:The wisdom of the COMING ORDER

Pro 22:2 The rich and poor meet together; The Lord is the Maker of them all.

Ecc 5:8 If you see the oppression of the poor, and violent perverting of judgment and justice

in a province, do not marvel at the matter.

Jas 2:5 . . . has not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith and heirs of the kingdomwhich He has promised to those who love Him?

Scale of Theodicy

Song of S Ecclesiastes Gospels REV Proverbs Job – Laments Parenesis

LEVEL I

Power of SinControlledBy trust in

Righteous lifeDisciplines

RIGHT LIVING

LEVEL II

Power of SinBeyond Human Control

Doubt and LamentFinal Trust in God

COMPASSION

LEVEL III

Power of SinOvercomeIn Christ

Living in theEschaton

FAITH - HOPE

EDENIC PRESENT EVIL CONDITIONS NEW EDEN

Wisdom Level I – Leads to Life

(Pro 3:2) for (the ways of wisdom) shall add length of days, and long life, and peace to you.

(Pro 4:10) Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings; and the years of your life shall be many.

(Pro 4:13) Take fast hold of instruction; do not let go; keep her; for she is your life.

(Pro 8:35) For whoever finds me finds life, and shall obtain favor from Jehovah.

(Pro 9:11) For by Me your days shall be multiplied, and the years of your life shall be increased.

Wisdom Level II – Questions and GriefIn the face of Calamity and Death

Ecc 1:18 For in much wisdom is much grief; and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow.

Ecc 7:23-24 All this I have proved by wisdom; I said, I will be wise; but it was far from me. That which is far off and exceedingly deep, who can find it out?

Ecc 9:15 And a poor wise man was found in it, and he by his wisdom delivered the city; yet no man remembered that poor man.

Ecc 9:18 Wisdom is better than weapons of war; but one sinner destroys much good.

Job 30:31 And my lyre has turned to mourning, and my flute to the sound of weeping.

Wisdom Level III – Leads to New Life and Peace

Mat 5:2-12 (2) And He opened His mouth and taught them, saying,

(3) Blessed are the poor in spirit! For theirs is the kingdom of Heaven.

(4) Blessed are they that mourn! For they shall be comforted.

(5) Blessed are the meek! For they shall inherit the earth.

(6) Blessed are they who hunger and thirst after righteousness! For they shall be filled.

(7) Blessed are the merciful! For they shall obtain mercy.

Wisdom Level III – Leads to New Life and Peace

(8) Blessed are the pure in heart! For they shall see God.

(9) Blessed are the peacemakers! For they shall be called the sons of God.

(10) Blessed are they who have been persecuted for righteousness sake! For theirs is the kingdom of Heaven.

(11) Blessed are you when men shall revile you and persecute you, and shall say all kinds of evil against you falsely, for My sake.

(12) Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for your reward in Heaven is great.

Three Levels: Inter-Dependence

Level I:The wisdom of the

CREATION ORDER

Level II:The wisdom of the

COUNTER ORDER

Level III:The wisdom of the COMING ORDERSHALOM

Three Levels : Goals

Level I:

FAIRNESSJustice

Retribution

Level II:

FRIENDSHIPCompassion in Struggle

AcceptanceUnconditional Love

Level III:

FAITHHope

Future

Three Levels : Direction

Level I:

PASTLearning

Form Tradition

Level II:

PRESENTStruggle forNew Insight

Level III:

FUTUREAnticipated

Solution

Three Levels : Direction

Level I:

OrderingProverbsParenesis

Level II:

CopingLAMENT PSALMS

73,77, 89

Level III:

HopingMat 5-7

Three Levels : Dealing with Sin

Level I:

(F)ACTS of sin

Level II:

VICTIMof sin

Level III:

VICTORover Sin

Three Levels : Methods

Level I:

LearningDiscipline

Level II:

CopingCompassion

Patience

Level III: PATIENCE

Faith

Three Levels in Isolation: Dangers

Level I:Legalism

PerfectionismTraditionalist

Fundamentalism

Level II:Social Gospel

Humanistic ReligionLiberalism

Level III:Unrealistic Faith

Isolation from worldEvangelicalism

Three Levels: Dangers

Level I:Legalism

PerfectionismFundamentalism

Level II:Social Gospel

Humanistic ReligionLiberalism

Level III:Unrealistic Faith

Isolation from worldEvangelicalism

Three Levels: Dangers

Level I:Legalism

PerfectionismFundamentalism

Level II:Social Gospel

Humanistic ReligionLiberalism

Level III:Unrealistic Faith

Isolation from worldShallow Evangelicalism

Scale of Theodicy

Song of S Ecclesiastes Gospels and Proverbs Job – Laments Parenesis

LEVEL I

Power of SinControlledBy trust in

Righteous lifeDisciplines

RIGHT

LEVEL II

Power of SinBeyond Human

ControlLament

Trust in God’sHelp and Covenant

COMPASSION

LEVEL III

Power of SinOvercomeIn Christ

Living in theEschaton

FAITH - HOPE

EDENIC PRESENT EVIL CONDITIONS NEW EDEN

Three Levels: Inter-Dependence

Level I:The wisdom of the

CREATION ORDER

Level II:The wisdom of the

COUNTER ORDER

Level III:The wisdom of the COMING ORDERSHALOM

Level I wisdom

Observations

Counseling People from a Wisdom Perspective

PRO 15:33THE FEAR OF JEHOVAH IS THE

INSTRUCTION (MUSAR) OF WISDOM,

AND BEFORE HONOR IS HUMILITY.

The KEY to Wisdom Level I= DISCIPLINE and

LEARNING

Level I – Creating Order through Discernment(Waltke)

Pro 24:30-34 (30) I went by the field of the lazy man, and by the vineyard of the man without understanding; (31) and, lo, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face of it, and its stone wall was broken down.

(32) Then I saw; I set my heart on it; I looked and I received instruction.

(33) A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to lie down; (34) then your poverty comes stalking, and your want like a man armed with a shield

OBSERVATION

INSIGHT through Discernment

The Proverb

PS 104:24O LORD, HOW MANY ARE

YOUR WORKS! IN WISDOM YOU HAVE

MADE THEM ALL; THE EARTH IS FULL OF

YOUR RICHES.

The Realm of Wisdom= The Created World

CREATION DISPLAYS THE WISDOM OF GOD

Proverbs 8 - Psalm 104 - RomansCREATION AS TEACHER

Proverbial Sayings - JobCREATION AS THE THEATER OF GOD’S

PROVIDENCE

Selected Proverbs Wisdom characters (Joseph)

Wisdom and Creation

Creation Displays the Wisdom of God

Pro 3:19 Jehovah has founded the earth by wisdom; by understanding He has founded the heavens.

Psa 104:16-24 (16) The trees of Jehovah are full, the cedars of Lebanon which He has

planted; (17) where the birds make their nests; the fir trees are the house of the

stork. (18) The high hills are for the wild goats, and the rocks are a refuge for

the badgers. (19) He appointed the moon for seasons; the sun knows its going down. (20) You make darkness, and it is night, in which all the beasts of the

forest creep forth. (21) The young lions roar after their prey, and seek their food from God. (22) The sun rises; they are gathered, and go to their dens to lie down. (23) Man goes out to his work and to his labor until the evening. (24) O Lord, how many are Your works! In wisdom You have made

them all; the earth is full of Your riches.

Pastoral Care – Level 2 Wisdom

First level is limitedWhen situation is “normal”Friends of Job – Accuse Job of moral failureIntroduction to second level

Understanding the second levelEcclesiastes – our human understanding is limited• we cannot fully understand the ‘under the sun’ world• We can perhaps only manage our own smaller world

Job – our human understanding is limited• We do not know the things in heaven• We must learn to ‘wait on the Lord’

Lamentations – our human understanding is limited• We do not understand God’s ways• See Lament Psalms and Prophetic Expression (Jeremiah)

The Claims of Innocence Ps 17:1-6Hear the right, O Jehovah; listen to my cry; Give ear to my prayer

for it is not in lips of deceit. • Let my judgment go out from Your presence;

let Your eyes behold uprightly. – You have proved my heart;

– You have visited me in the night; You have tried me, and You will find nothing;

– my thoughts do not pass beyond my mouth. • Concerning the works of men, by the Words of

Your lips, I am kept from the paths of the destroyer.

My steps have been held in Your paths, so that my footsteps have not slipped.

I have called on You, for You will hear me, O God; bow down Your ear to me; hear my speech.

Christ – Greater than Solomon

The women claiming the same baby Use of

psychological insight

Level I wisdom Truth oriented No compassion No faith

The woman at the well Use of Moral

insight Level I, II and III

Truth oriented Compassion Faith