Proverbs 9 – NIV -
1 Wisdom has built her house;
she has hewn out its seven pillars.
2 She has prepared her meat and mixed her wine;
she has also set her table.
3 She has sent out her maids, and she calls
from the highest point of the city.
4 "Let all who are simple come in here!"
she says to those who lack judgment.
5 "Come, eat my food
and drink the wine I have mixed.
6 Leave your simple ways and you will live;
walk in the way of understanding.
q Wisdom is a generous hostess to all who will come.
q Verse 4 – The invitation is to ALL who lack judgment. It is in our LACK that God wants to supply His abundance.
q Verse 6 – All that is necessary to LIVE is to LEAVE our simple ways.
q LEAVE
o Let go of prejudicial thinking.
o Embrace God’s truth.
o Accept instruction and correction.
o Value the gift of wisdom.
o Enter into the school of truth.
q There are some choices to make with regard to our thinking:
o You can live on excuses or by extension.
o You can be a loser or a learner.
o You can stay where you are or soar to new heights.
q WALK in the WAY of understanding.
q WALK – Requires:
o Willingness
o Attitude of a learner.
o Leaving the old and Living what you Learn.
q The WAY –
o It is the way of the Word.
o It is the way of Acceptance. (Come and eat)
o It is the way of the Yoke (Matthew 11)
Contrasts
7 "Whoever corrects a mocker invites insult;
whoever rebukes a wicked man incurs abuse.
8 Do not rebuke a mocker or he will hate you;
rebuke a wise man and he will love you.
9 Instruct a wise man and he will be wiser still;
teach a righteous man and he will add to his learning.
q There are two kinds of people described here who need instruction and correction:
o One responds with hate.
o The other responds with love:
§ He will get wiser.
§ He will add to his learning.
q Lesson for teachers: Invest your best time and energy with people who are willing to receive what you have to offer.
It all starts with reverence for God!
*10 "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom,
and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
q The FEAR of the Lord:
o Faith – Someone greater than me.
o Education – (
o Astonishment
o Rejects evil (from last week’s lesson)
Some Rewards of Wisdom
11 For through me your days will be many,
and years will be added to your life.
12 If you are wise, your wisdom will reward you;
if you are a mocker, you alone will suffer."
q Living many years but few days.
q Living few years and many days.
q Living every day to the fullest.
Folly
13 The woman Folly is loud;
she is undisciplined and without knowledge.
14 She sits at the door of her house,
on a seat at the highest point of the city,
15 calling out to those who pass by,
who go straight on their way.
16 "Let all who are simple come in here!"
she says to those who lack judgment.
17 "Stolen water is sweet;
food eaten in secret is delicious!"
18 But little do they know that the dead are there,
that her guests are in the depths of the grave. [a]
q Folly is:
o Loud in demeanor
o Lazy in discipline
o Lacking in knowledge
o Lewd in conduct (14-15)
o Licentious in morals
o Lustful in presentation
o Lying in intent
q And folly kills.
q FOLLY – Follow the Odor of Lies and the Life you lose is Yours.
Footnotes:
- Proverbs 9:18 Hebrew Sheol
Lessons from this Chapter
1. Choices, choices, choices
2. Both folly and wisdom invite us.
3. Folly leads to death.
4. Wisdom leads to life.
5. Getting a right relationship with God is the starting place for wisdom.
6. If we fear God, we can trust Him and love Him.
7. Be a seeker and learner for life.
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