PROVERBS 9

PROVERBS 9

The ESV Study Bible note for the intro to Prov 9 writes, this chapter contains contrasting personifications of wisdom (9:1–12) and of folly (vv. 13–18). Each consists of a description of the women (Wisdom, vv. 1–3; Folly, vv. 13–15), a call to the simple (Wisdom, v. 4; Folly, v. 16), an invitation to eat (Wisdom, v. 5; Folly, v. 17), and a statement about where each invitation will lead (Wisdom, vv. 11–12; Folly, v. 18).

Pr 9:1 Wisdom hath builded her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars:

There are some commentators that see this 7 fold wisdom as that spoken of in Isa 11

• Isa 11:1 And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots: 2 And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him (1), the spirit of wisdom (2) and understanding (3), the spirit of counsel (4) and might (5) , the spirit of knowledge (6)  and of the fear of the LORD (7); 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:
• Since the number 7 speaks of perfection or completeness, it has been pointed out that it is only when we choose to walk in God’s wisdom that our lives are complete. They who listen to the wisdom of God, shall receive from her an abundance of all good things; but they who refuse to hear her voice, must perish in the greatness of their folly. FBN Study Notes

Wisdom has builded her house. Godly, heavenly wisdom is available, it’s prepared for those that would seek it. The invitation is there for you and I tonight to come and partake of it and learn.

• As I mentioned 2 weeks ago, 2 kinds of wisdom are revealed in Scripture (James 3.13-18). There is no 3^rd source of wisdom, any more than there is a 3^rd gender.
• Jas 3:13 Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom. 4 But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. 5 This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. 16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. 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.18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.
• What does godly wisdom build it house upon?
• The sure foundation of The Lord Jesus Christ (1 Cor 3.11)
• Godly wisdom is attained by hearing and applying God’s Word to every area of my life.
• Mt 7:24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: 25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. 26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: 27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.

Pr 9:2 She hath killed her beasts; she hath mingled her wine; she hath also furnished her table.

3 She hath sent forth her maidens: she crieth upon the highest places of the city,

Note the feminine gender attached to this godly wisdom. Some scholars suggest that the feminine gender suggests the oft overlooked attribute of the tenderness of God’s wisdom.

• Wisdom’s wine? - Luke 5.36 And he spake also a parable unto them; No man putteth a piece of a new garment upon an old; if otherwise, then both the new maketh a rent, and the piece that was taken out of the new agreeth not with the old. 37 And no man putteth new wine into old bottles; else the new wine will burst the bottles, and be spilled, and the bottles shall perish. 38 But new wine must be put into new bottles; and both are preserved. 39 No man also having drunk old wine straightway desireth new: for he saith, The old is better.
• Wisdoms wine is the Spirit filled walk. It is the new wine that is spoken of in Eph 5:18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit.
• Wisdom’s table? - speaks of a meal or provision. The wisdom that we feed on is the Word of God, which contains the wisdom of God.  Ps 23:5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies
• Once again we see that wisdom cries out….as we saw in chapter 8, God’s wisdom cries out in the public gate and in the private door of the house….God’s wisdom is meant to impact our public and vocational life as well as our domestic, family and personal lives.

Pr 9:4 Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: as for him that wanteth understanding (lacks sense or good judgment), she saith to him, 5 Come, eat of my bread, and drink of the wine which I have mingled. 6 Forsake (leave) the foolish, and live; and go in the way of understanding.

Wisdom cries out to the simple (Hebrew means naïve or gullible) and to him that lacks understanding.

In these 3 verses, one commentator has made the observation that we can see the gospel call to come to Christ and we can also see the call to surrender and the call to evangelism (fishers of men).

The blessed call of God to sinners often appears as an invitation to a banquet. Our Lord Jesus compared the kingdom of heaven to a great supper, Mt 22:2; Lu 14:16.

• Turn- Mr 1:15 And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.

• Come- Mt 11:28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
• Drink- Isa 55:1 ¶ Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price./John 7.37-39;
• Forsake- Mr 1:17 And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men. 18 And straightway they forsook their nets, and followed him.
• Go- Mt 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
• The heart of The Master is seen in this appeal of wisdom for sinners to come unto Him. Every Christian is called by God to be ambassadors of Christ, ministers of reconciliation (2 Cor 5.18-21).
• Forsake the foolish and live. Puritan author Charles Bridges writes: the blessings of the gospel can never be valued until the path of the foolish is forsaken. We either forsake sin or we forsake Christ, and when a person decides to do so, he or she remain in the congregation of the dead (Prov 21.16). To forsake the gospel, is to forsake the way of life and understanding (Prov 6.23; 15.24). It is not enough to forsake the foolish, but we must join ourselves with those that walk in wisdom, and walk in the same spirit and steps.

Pr 9:7 He that reproveth a scorner (mocker, arrogant cynic) getteth to himself shame (invites insult): and he that rebuketh a wicked man getteth himself a blot.

8 Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee (he will hate you for trying to help him): rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee.

Verses 7, 8 refer to the scorner and wicked man.

• A scorner is a mocker; a person who expresses extreme contempt or disdain for something or someone. Wretched is the person when the thought of God is an abomination unto him. We are living in a day and age when people hate those who stand for the uncompromising truth of God’s Word. 
• 2 Peter 3 tells us that in the last days there will be mockers beloved.
• 2Pe 3:3 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, 4 And saying, Where is the promise of his coming?
• They who most need instruction are least ready to receive it; because they understand not their own folly, and therefore hate and despise reproof. FBN

Verse 8 contrasts a scorner with a wise man.

• Note that when you rebuke a wise man, he will love you. Psa 141:5 Let the righteous smite me; it shall be a kindness: and let him reprove me; it shall be an excellent oil, which shall not break my head: for yet my prayer also shall be in their calamities. 
• Pr 28:23 He that rebuketh a man afterwards shall find more favour than he that flattereth with the tongue.
• Cp what Peter says about Paul in 2 Pet 3, the man that rebuked him in Gal 2. He calls him, our beloved brother Paul (2 Pet 3.15).  Peter doesn’t call Paul “that know it all, who does he think he is Paul”.
• A wise man knows that when he is rebuked in love, it is because you love him and care for him. A wise man will love you and respect you more for not leaving him to error. A scorner will hate you and insult you.

Pr 9:9 Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.

• Verse 9 tells us that a truly wise man is a person that has a teachable heart and he or she will keep on learning. A fool is a fool because he does not learn. He is like the dog who returns to its vomit (Prov. 26:11).

Pr 9:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning (foundation) of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.

Verse 10 gives the definition of true wisdom; the fear of The Lord. Do you want to be wise? Learn to reverence God. Have that holy fear of God. May God help each one of us know how to cultivate that awe of God. May God help us to contemplate on the greatness of God, the wisdom and the power of God.

• Pr 1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
• Pr 8:13 The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.
• Job 28:28 And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.
• The child of God has one dread-to offend his Father; and only one desire-to please and delight Him. Chas. Bridges
• What was Solomon’s conclusion about the real meaning of life? Eccl 12:13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
• The beginning of wisdom is to know our ignorance, and come to God for knowledge. The foundation of all true wisdom is the knowledge and fear of God.  A wicked heart separates men from God, and keeps them in darkness and self-delusion. FBN

The knowledge of The Holy (Isa 6; Rev 4) is understanding.

• Knowledge here is heart knowledge, not head academic knowledge.
• Jer 9:23 Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: 24 But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD.
• Joh 17:3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.
• 2Pe 3:18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.

What was Paul’s cry in Phil 3? That I might know Him.

What was Paul’s prayer for the church at Ephesus in chapter 1? Eph 1:16 Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers; 17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:

• K.P Yohanan, president of GFA  said in one of his books that The Father calls the church to be followers of Christ, not just students of Christianity.
• Intimacy with Christ, not information about Christ is what eternal life is all about (John 17.3).
• The true theologian is God’s eyes are those people who learn and apply the Word of God to their lives.

Pr 9:11 For by me thy days shall be multiplied, and the years of thy life shall be increased.

• Verse 11- Note the fruit of walking in the fear of The Lord and the knowledge of the Holy One. Our lives will be fruitful when we walk in the fear of The Lord, no matter how long we live.

Pr 9:12 If thou be wise, thou shalt be wise for thyself (you will benefit from It; your wisdom will reward you): but if thou scornest, thou alone shalt bear it.

This is a principle of life.

• Gal 6:7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. 8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
• My friends, if you are determined to go your own way or do your own thing, then you will be the loser, not God. In God’s moral government, man has been given the ability to choose wisely or unwisely, and we will reap the fruits of those decisions both here and hereafter.

Verses 13-18 now turn our attention once again to the foolish woman. This is not only a description of a woman, it also provides a picture of the world system

Pr 9:13 A foolish woman is clamorous: she is simple, and knoweth nothing.

• Clamorous- means noisy, loud. No moral restraint.
• She knows nothing; that is nothing of eternal value.
• Isn’t this a vivid description of the world system? Every day, 24 hours a day, it blasts us with its Christ-less, humanistic philosophy. It is brash, it is non-stop in its assault upon our 5 senses. This is one reason why God has given unto us the whole armor of God! Saints, to live for Christ in a Christ-less world is an all out war. The world’s view of life is contrary to the Scriptures.
• Psa 1:1 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. 2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. 3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

Pr 9:14 For she sitteth at the door of her house, on a seat in the high places of the city, 15 To call passengers who go right on their ways:

• Like the strange woman in chapter 7, in verses 14 & 15, this woman calls out to and makes herself available to any and all who will listen to her.

Pr 9:16 Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: and as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him,

We see in verse 16 that she also calls out to the simple and those that lack understanding.

• So we see in this chapter the battle for souls that is waged every single day. Not only does godly wisdom cry out to simple mankind, so too does the foolish woman make it‘s appeal as well.

• Although the direct context is a reference to her moral looseness, we can see in the foolish woman a picture of secular, earthly wisdom and how it makes an appeal to men’s senses.

Pr 9:17 Stolen waters are sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.

Verse 17 speaks of stolen waters.

• Stolen waters in this context speak of illicit sexual pleasures. Something that is stolen does not belong to you. Stolen waters in the sexual realm would be adultery, fornication, any form of pornography, any kind of homosexual acts.
• Beloved, your sexual longings and desires belong to your spouse and no one else. Single, unmarried saints, your sexual desires belong to your future spouse.
• These stolen waters are whatever sexual pleasures are sought after outside of God’s sole source of sexual pleasures which are found in the holy covenant of marriage between a man and a woman (Proverbs 5.15,16).
• Note that these stolen waters are eaten in secret. That means that they are done in darkness; they are covert acts. May we be aware of the fact that there is something in our fallen nature that finds excitement in trying to get away with sin.
• The delight of the soul fixed on anything but God and His grace, is but spiritual adultery. Dodati
• Prov 20:17 Bread of deceit is sweet to a man; but afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel.

Pr 9:18 But he knoweth not that the dead are there; and that her guests are in the depths of hell.

• Note that the promise in verse 17 is that stolen waters are sweet (and there indeed is pleasure in sin for a season). However, when it is time to reap the harvest of stolen waters, a person finds that the dead are there.
• After living a life of fame, fortune and pleasure, Lord Byron wrote these words shortly before he died: “the worm, the canker and the grief are mine alone.”
• Indeed the wages of sin is death; sin pays one wage and that is death. Death is separation from God and separation from people.
• May we be wise people tonight who choose to walk in the fear of The Lord (Prov 1.29) and the knowledge of The Holy One.

In this chapter we learn that the wisdom of God and the great deceiver of mankind stand before us all tonight. Both God’s wisdom and worldly wisdom are seeking entrance into our hearts, the one for life and the other for death. Both cry out to you and me day and night. Both spread out their “menu”, but how opposite are their ends?

Which voice allures and arrests your ear and heart beloved?

Which feast arrests your appetite and desires?

There is only one thing that can overcome the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life, and that is the love of Jesus Christ and the Spirit filled desire to bring glory to our Father in all that we do.