Wisdom's Invitation
Book of Proverbs Chapter 9
Without a doubt, the Bible is the place to find "wisdom" and "understanding" of the things in our lives today and the things going on in this world.
We can see much of God's wisdom in His creations, especially in the nighttime sky. However, we can also see the great wisdom of God in childbirth, new life, and all of His other creations.
He created humanity; we did not come from monkeys.
The theory of evolution is the doctrine of atheists!
The Bible tells us that "wisdom" is the principal thing, or the most important thing, for understanding the things of this world and of course God's World to come.
Pro 4:7 Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.
The Bible says that without wisdom, we cannot even apply our hearts to understanding.
The Bible tells us where to find this wisdom:
Pro 9:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.
So, what are these 7 pillars of wisdom so that we can build our house of understanding?
Let's jump right into our lesson today.
*****Pro 9:1 Wisdom hath builded her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars:
James, the Half-Brother of Jesus, gives these seven pillars of wisdom to us:
Jas 3:17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.
1) The wisdom from Heaven and God is first "Pure":
In other words, these 7 pillars of wisdom must first be built upon Jesus Christ:
Jesus Christ is our foundation for wisdom:
Mat 16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
Remember, it is not Peter that is the "Rock," it is what Peter had just said!
Mat 16:16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
This can happen only one way:
Tit 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
Tit 3:6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;
Without the purity of Jesus Christ, the other pillars will fall.
2) The wisdom from God is next "Peaceable":
The Bible says:
2Ti 2:4 No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.
2Ti 2:5 And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully.
2Ti 2:6 The husbandman that laboureth must be first partaker of the fruits.
3.) The man of wisdom must next be "Gentle":
Every child of God must be a gentleman or gentlewoman.
Again, the Bible says:
Tit 3:2 To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men.
4) The man of wisdom must next be "Easy to Be Entreated":
This is being reasonable when it comes understanding the Word of God.
2Ti 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
5) The man of wisdom must next be "Full of Mercy and Good Fruits":
This is always helpful and considerate!
The Bible says:
Col 1:10 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;
6) The man of wisdom must next be "Without Partiality"
The word "race" is not in the Bible. The word "tongues" meaning languages suggests only other cultures, and "race" is irrelevant!
The Bible says:
1Ti 5:21 I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels, that thou observe these things without preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality.
7) And the man of wisdom must be without "Hypocrisy"
Again, the Bible says:
1Pe 2:1 Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings,
1Pe 2:2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:
Being a Christian is not putting on a show, but "It Is" being sincere in speech and our actions.
We must be "doers of the Word," not hearers only!
There is no "Wisdom without the Lord," and your house of "Wisdom" will fall without these "Seven Pillars"!
Here again, we see wisdom in the sense of a female, and King Solomon shows us two females, or we could say hostesses serving up a meal to guests in their homes.
As we are filled with the Holy Spirit of Jehovah, we also have the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit.
Isa 11:2 And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD.
Isa 11:3 And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the LORD: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears:
With the wisdom of God as described by James, the stepbrother of our Lord Jesus, we begin to see that wisdom is the source of life-giving nourishment.
The woman of wisdom is the builder and the dweller of a beautiful house who has prepared her meal and sends her maids out to invite guests.
The woman of folly is pictured as a lewd woman who sits on a chair at the door of her house and lures passersby to come to her, and she has also prepared her feast.
True wisdom is revealed in the Lord Jesus Christ: Col 2:2 That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ;
Col 2:3 In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
*****Pro 9:2 She hath killed her beasts; she hath mingled her wine; she hath also furnished her table.
Pro 9:3 She hath sent forth her maidens: she crieth upon the highest places of the city,
Pro 9:4 Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him,
Pro 9:5 Come, eat of my bread, and drink of the wine which I have mingled.
Pro 9:6 Forsake the foolish, and live; and go in the way of understanding.
All those who lack wisdom are searching for something, but they do not understand what it is.
They do not know that they need this wisdom to live, but are easily influenced by foolishness.
To accept the woman of wisdom is to have life and have it more abundantly; pleasure is not mentioned.
To accept the woman of folly means to enter into the realm of the dead. Pleasure is mentioned so she can hide the death that is in the end.
The woman of wisdom addresses all those who are without discernment to all who would attend.
2Pe_3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
Those who accept the invitation of the woman of wisdom, which results in a major life change.
They choose to forsake their foolish ways of the world and go in a different direction.
It is called to repent.
Wisdom's house is not on the path to destruction but upon the road of life.
Those who are simple are those who are foolish, who are traveling on the road to destruction and every foolish way.
To accept the woman of wisdom is to make a choice.
To accept the foolish woman to remain on the path they are already traveling on the road of pleasure that leads to death.
*****Pro 9:7 He that reproveth a scorner getteth to himself shame: and he that rebuketh a wicked man getteth himself a blot.
Who are those who will now be called foolish? Those who reject the wisdom of God!
They are the scorners.
They are the wicked souls of mankind.
2Ch 36:16 But they mocked the messengers of God, and despised his words, and misused his prophets, until the wrath of the LORD arose against his people, till there was no remedy.
There is no remedy for those who reject the wisdom of God.
Pro 15:12 A scorner loveth not one that reproveth him: neither will he go unto the wise.
As we have found out, not many will accept the truth of the Messiah.
Not many will accept the truth of God.
Most people will refuse to change their lifestyles just because we tell them they must be saved.
They will get angry, and God's messengers, and we know that Christian persecution is on the rise.
Mat 24:9 Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake.
They remain lost because they refuse to believe that they are lost!
There is only one path to tru life, and there can only be one path!
Joh 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Joh 14:7 If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.
Then how are we to continue as the messengers of God?
*****Pro 9:8 Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee.
Pro 9:9 Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.
Pro 9:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.
1) Do not reprove or rebuke a mocker, someone who is unteachable and filled with pride.
The Lord Jesus said: Mat 7:6 Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.
2) Rebuke only those who humbly acknowledge their sinful condition and accept that they need to repent of their sinful ways.
3) Instruct the wise, and they will grow wiser. This is discipleship.
4) Teach the righteous, and they will seek to know more.
5) We must all know the beginning point of wisdom, which is the fear of the Lord. We must trust the Lord as we begin a personal relationship with Him. We begin to know by experience as we see what He has done in our own lives.
Wisdom will reward its messengers.
*****Pro 9:11 For by me thy days shall be multiplied, and the years of thy life shall be increased.
Pro 9:12 If thou be wise, thou shalt be wise for thyself: but if thou scornest, thou alone shalt bear it.
We must be real with ourselves! Every person will bear the consequences of the choices they make in this life!
Wise choices will produce good fruit.
Foolish choices will result in decay and death.
For all those who accept wisdom's invitation will receive sweet fruit.
One of the rewards for accepting this wisdom is long life, many days, and additional years.
Pro 3:2 For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.
Pro 3:16 Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand, riches and honour.
Pro 4:10 Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings; and the years of thy life shall be many.
We do not know how many more days or how many more years are still in the hands of God, but we know they all are.
Jas 4:14 Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.
Jas 4:15 For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.
Pro 10:27 The fear of the LORD prolongeth days: but the years of the wicked shall be shortened.
We can be sure that the wisdom from Heaven will enrich every day we have left upon us.
What do we know for sure?
1) The Lord Jesus is building a house for all those who accept Him.
2) Our Father's house can hold many mansions.
3) The Lord has extended an invitation to anyone who believes in the marriage supper of His Son.
4) The Lord Jesus Christ is the embodiment of wisdom.
5) Every believer is commissioned to deliver the Lord's message to the world.
6) Every believer can expect to be persecuted in this world.
7) The way of the foolish is death!
*****Pro 9:13 A foolish woman is clamorous: she is simple, and knoweth nothing.
Pro 9:14 For she sitteth at the door of her house, on a seat in the high places of the city,
Pro 9:15 To call passengers who go right on their ways:
Pro 9:16 Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: and as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him,
Pro 9:17 Stolen waters are sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.
Pro 9:18 But he knoweth not that the dead are there; and that her guests are in the depths of hell.
The woman of Folly, the foolish, also has her house.
This woman is loud, boisterous, and noisy.
She is naive and gullible, and lacking in judgment.
She is prone to pitfalls. just like those who are taken by her.
She knows nothing.
She is ignorant of the truth.
She does not have good sense.
She is ignorant of the fear of the Lord.
She sits in her doorway to lure in her prey.
Her house sits on a hilltop, so she can be easily seen.
She loves to be seen and heard as passersby go past her.
Her house is neither spacious nor is it safe to enter.
She has prepared nothing for those who enter.
She is lazy and selfish.
She is always on the lookout for her next victim.
She always sits in the best location.
She calls out to all who pass by, even those who are minding their own business.
She invites them all into her house of doom, especially those who are trying to find her.
She lives on the road to destruction.
She especially tries to distract those who ignore her.
She finds many on this road to destruction who do not know where they are.
She targets those who are simple and lost.
She entices them all with her secret sin.
Her folly fulfills all those who reject the Lord Jesus Christ.
Wisdom is a life built upon the "Fear of the Lord" and the repentance from our sin nature!
Folly is a life built upon the rejection of the Lord.
Jesus gives us a description of the sin that cannot be forgiven: Jhn_16:8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:
Jhn_16:9 Of sin, because they believe not on me;
Folly is a deceptive harlot and an unworthy wife.
She serves only water and makes it thrilling by the fact that she has stolen it.
There is no substance in her drink, nothing of lasting value.
There is good reason to believe that these things speak of immorality, but we will not go there for now.
She is wicked and immoral, and those she traps are doomed to Hell.
So, we can see this lesson is about the choices we make in this life.
The woman of wisdom and the woman of folly are both trying to capture souls.
If we choose wisdom, we will live wisely by building our lives around the "Fear of the Lord".
We will turn away from all paths to destruction.
God will reward us!
If we choose folly, we will build our lives around sin, we will reject the Lord Jesus, and we will continue traveling that road to destruction.
We will remain separated from our Creator and our God!
The only choices that we need to make are:
1) Choose wisdom.
2) Choose Christ Jesus.
Choose Life.
Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
We should know that Satan is the king of folly.
Satan offers nothing to those caught up in his grasp.
He is a thief and a counterfeiter and a murderer.
He takes what he steals from God and then corrupts it.
He will tell the same lies that he told Eve.
Gen 3:3 But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.
Gen 3:4 And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:
Gen 3:5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.
We need to be aware of the choices we make in this life and just choose our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.
Amen.
