[Linux4christians] Sunday - Proverbs 8 - 9

Sat May 28 22:59:27 EDT 2011

    Sunday

      Proverbs 8 - 9

The Appeal of Wisdom

8:1 Does not wisdom call out?

Does not understanding raise her voice?

8:2 At the top of the elevated places along the way, at the intersection 
of the paths she takes her stand;

8:3 beside the gates opening into the city, at the entrance of the 
doorways she cries out:

8:4 "To you, O people, I call out, and my voice calls to all mankind.

8:5 You who are naive, discern wisdom!

And you fools, understand discernment!

8:6 Listen, for I will speak excellent things, and my lips will utter 
what is right.

8:7 For my mouth speaks truth, and my lips hate wickedness.

8:8 All the words of my mouth are righteous; there is nothing in them 
twisted or crooked.

8:9 All of them are clear to the discerning and upright to those who 
find knowledge.

8:10 Receive my instruction rather than silver, and knowledge rather 
than choice gold.

8:11 For wisdom is better than rubies, and desirable things cannot be 
compared to her.

8:12 "I, wisdom, live with prudence, and I find knowledge and discretion.

8:13 The fear of the Lord is to hate evil; I hate arrogant pride and the 
evil way and perverse utterances.

8:14 Counsel and sound wisdom belong to me; I possess understanding and 
might.

8:15 Kings reign by means of me, and potentates decree righteousness;

8:16 by me princes rule, as well as nobles and all righteous judges.

8:17 I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me.

8:18 Riches and honor are with me, long-lasting wealth and righteousness.

8:19 My fruit is better than the purest gold, and what I produce is 
better than choice silver.

8:20 I walk in the path of righteousness, in the pathway of justice,

8:21 that I may cause those who love me to inherit wealth, and that I 
may fill their treasuries.

8:22 The Lord created me as the beginning of his works, before his deeds 
of long ago.

8:23 From eternity I was appointed, from the beginning, from before the 
world existed.

8:24 When there were no deep oceans I was born, when there were no 
springs overflowing with water;

8:25 before the mountains were set in place -- before the hills -- I was 
born,

8:26 before he made the earth and its fields, or the beginning of the 
dust of the world.

8:27 When he established the heavens, I was there; when he marked out 
the horizon over the face of the deep,

8:28 when he established the clouds above, when the fountains of the 
deep grew strong,

8:29 when he gave the sea his decree that the waters should not pass 
over his command, when he marked out the foundations of the earth,

8:30 then I was beside him as a master craftsman, and I was his delight 
day by day, rejoicing before him at all times,

8:31 rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth, and delighting in its 
people.

8:32 "So now, children, listen to me; blessed are those who keep my ways.

8:33 Listen to my instruction so that you may be wise, and do not 
neglect it.

8:34 Blessed is the one who listens to me, watching at my doors day by 
day, waiting beside my doorway.

8:35 For the one who finds me finds life and receives favor from the Lord.

8:36 But the one who does not find me brings harm to himself; all who 
hate me love death."

The Consequences of Accepting Wisdom or Folly

9:1 Wisdom has built her house; she has carved out its seven pillars.

9:2 She has prepared her meat, she has mixed her wine; she also has 
arranged her table.

9:3 She has sent out her female servants; she calls out on the highest 
places of the city.

9:4 "Whoever is naive, let him turn in here," she says to those who lack 
understanding.

9:5 "Come, eat some of my food, and drink some of the wine I have mixed.

9:6 Abandon your foolish ways so that you may live, and proceed in the 
way of understanding."

9:7 Whoever corrects a mocker is asking for insult; whoever reproves a 
wicked person receives abuse.

9:8 Do not reprove a mocker or he will hate you; reprove a wise person 
and he will love you.

9:9 Give instruction to a wise person, and he will become wiser still; 
teach a righteous person and he will add to his learning.

9:10 The beginning of wisdom is to fear the Lord, and acknowledging the 
Holy One is understanding.

9:11 For because of me your days will be many, and years will be added 
to your life.

9:12 If you are wise, you are wise to your own advantage, but if you are 
a mocker, you alone must bear it.

9:13 The woman called Folly is brash, she is naive and does not know 
anything.

9:14 So she sits at the door of her house, on a seat at the highest 
point of the city,

9:15 calling out to those who are passing by her in the way, who go 
straight on their way.

9:16 "Whoever is simple, let him turn in here," she says to those who 
lack understanding.

9:17 "Stolen waters are sweet, and food obtained in secret is pleasant!"

9:18 But they do not realize that the dead are there, that her guests 
are in the depths of the grave.

      Prayer

Lord, Your wisdom has a long history -- embedded in everything that You 
have done is perfect wisdom. May I seek the peace and safety of Your 
wisdom so that I am not seduced by the crass, shallow, and temporary 
temptations of folly.

      Commentary

Solomon began with a proclamation from the personified-wisdom "To you, O 
people, I call out, and my voice calls to all mankind ... Listen, for I 
will speak excellent things, and my lips will utter what is right ... 
All of them are clear to the discerning and upright to those who find 
knowledge ... wisdom is better than rubies, and desirable things cannot 
be compared to her."

He quoted wisdom "The Lord created me as the beginning of his works, 
before his deeds of long ago. From eternity I was appointed, from the 
beginning, from before the world existed."

He continued with the pleas of wisdom "So now, children, listen to me; 
blessed are those who keep my ways. Listen to my instruction so that you 
may be wise, and do not neglect it. Blessed is the one who listens to 
me, watching at my doors day by day, waiting beside my doorway. For the 
one who finds me finds life and receives favor from the Lord."

And a final warning "But the one who does not find me brings harm to 
himself; all who hate me love death."

Solomon then contrasted the personified characters Wisdom and Folly.

He began with a description of Wisdom "Wisdom has built her house; she 
has carved out its seven pillars. She has prepared her meat, she has 
mixed her wine; she also has arranged her table." and once 
thoughtfully-prepared she sends out invitations.

Then he contrasted the approach of Wisdom to people with different 
'hearts' "Do not reprove a mocker or he will hate you; reprove a wise 
person and he will love you. Give instruction to a wise person, and he 
will become wiser still; teach a righteous person and he will add to his 
learning."

Solomon then described Folly "The woman called Folly is brash, she is 
naive and does not know anything. So she sits at the door of her house, 
on a seat at the highest point of the city, calling out to those who are 
passing by her in the way ..."

He presents her clearly as shallow and crass ""Whoever is simple, let 
him turn in here," she says to those who lack understanding. "Stolen 
waters are sweet, and food obtained in secret is pleasant!""

And his conclusion of the consequences of trusting Folly "But they do 
not realize that the dead are there, that her guests are in the depths 
of the grave."

      Interaction

        Consider

Wisdom was created by the Lord God, of course not for Himself, but for 
His creation.

        Discuss

Does Solomon's use of personified characters and common images help make 
clear his teaching?

        Reflect

The choice we make between wisdom and folly is a reflection of the 
condition of our hearts.

        Share

When have you observed the different responses to wisdom from a wise 
person and a mocker?

      Faith in Action

        Prayer:

Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you a place where He wants to add to 
your wisdom, a place where your pride may be leading you to resist.

        Action:

Today I will prayerfully reflect upon my past week to discern the wisdom 
that the Holy Spirit desires to inject into my life.

        Be Specific ______________________________________________________

    Monday's text will be:

      Proverbs 10 - 11

-- 

Draw nearer to the Lord and He will bless you,
Have an http://Ultrafidian.com Day!
David M. Colburn, DMin. MaCo
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Personal Site: http://bibleseven.com
Bible Resources: http://bible.org
Teacher's Verse: John 7:16
Defend free speech or lose your freedom.
I don't google I SEARCH! Startpage.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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