OVERVIEW:
Wisdom’s invitation; the contrast between the righteous and the wicked; the contrast between the upright and the wicked.
HIGHLIGHTS & INSIGHTS:
As we begin chapter 9 today, just as we saw in chapter 8, wisdom is personified as a woman. Verse 1 of chapter 9 says, “Wisdom hath builded HER house…” In this chapter, the “WISE woman” is contrasted with the “FOOLISH woman”. Notice, also, in this chapter that both the “WISE” and the “FOOLISH woman” extend an invitation to the “simple” who is identified, in verse 4, as one who lacks or “wanteth understanding”. Both “women” have similar invitations, but very different motives and results!
Note in verse 1, that “…she (wisdom) hath hewn out her seven pillars”. These seven pillars are the seven manifestations of the Holy Spirit referred to in Revelation 4:5 as the “seven Spirits of God”. (See also Revelation 1:4; 3:1; 5:6) These “pillars” or “manifestations” are specifically identified in Isaiah 11:2 as:
- The spirit of the Lord.
- The spirit of wisdom.
- The spirit of understanding.
- The spirit of counsel.
- The spirit of might.
- The spirit of knowledge.
- The spirit of the fear of the Lord.
The invitation that is extended to the “simple” by both types of women (the “WISE woman” in verse 1, and the “FOOLISH woman” in verse 13) is to a “feast”. Notice that “wisdom” offers a feast of “bread” and “wine” in verse 5, which coincidentally enough, just happens to be the same elements of the Lord’s Supper. (1st Corinthians 10:16) The feast offered by the “foolish woman” is described in verse 17 as “stolen waters” and “bread eaten in secret”. Though the verse says that her water is “sweet” and her bread is “pleasant” it is only temporarily satisfying! That “bread” and “water” ultimately ends up being a stinky pile of worms in the place where the fire is not quenched! (See Exodus 16:20 and Isaiah 66:24!)
What the Lord reveals in 9:9–10 is a key truth in the book of Proverbs. To “increase in learning” we must possess the “fear of the Lord” and have the “knowledge of the holy”. (i.e. Holy God, Holy Word, Holy Spirit, Holiest of Holies, Holy Place, Most Holy Place, etc.) Anyone who does not acquire this “knowledge” will be unable to make sense out of the Bible, will be unable to tap into life’s purpose, and will be forced to come up with his own meaning and purpose for living which will be “foolish” and completely irrational to the mind, will, and word of the Lord.
Perhaps one of the most incredible qualities of the Bible is its ability to transcend time and culture. Though it is thousands of years old, its relevancy and application to today is nothing short of supernatural. Because of the way the book of Proverbs was designed and structured by the Holy Spirit, Proverbs is perhaps one of the easiest books in the entire Bible in which to make application to those of us living in the 21st century.
With that in mind, perhaps we will find it beneficial today to discuss what we might call the “big picture” of the book of Proverbs, which can be broken down into three “divisions”. (2nd Timothy 2:15) These divisions can be identified by the three times Solomon identifies himself as the author of Proverbs. (Proverbs 1:1; 10:1; 25:1)
- Division One — Proverbs 1–9
- Division Two — Proverbs 10–24
- Division Three — Proverbs 25–31
As we find ourselves, in today’s reading, moving into that second “division” (Proverbs 10–24), be aware that there are 375 actual proverbs (note that some proverbs extend into several verses) connected to one of three types of “couplets”:
- CONTRASTIVE COUPLETS. The “couplet” in these proverbs is normally identified by the word “BUT”. The intent is to catch your attention and present a truth by the compact presentation of some striking contrast, as in, “The lips of the righteous feed many: BUT fools die for want of wisdom.” (Proverbs 10:21)
- COMPLETIVE COUPLETS. The “couplet” in these proverbs is normally identified by the word “AND”. The second line of the proverb agrees with the first, and often adds to it, or “completes” it, as in, “In the fear of the Lord is strong confidence: AND his children shall have a place of refuge.” (Proverbs 14:26)
- COMPARATIVE COUPLETS. The “couplet” in these proverbs is normally identified by the word “THAN”. The focus in these proverbs is often to what is actually the more excellent of the two things being “compared” as in “Better is a little with righteousness, THAN great revenues with right.” (Proverbs 16:8)
CHRIST IS REVEALED: As ONE who HATES LYING – Proverbs 12:22 — (Revelation 21:5, 8 – “He that sat upon the throne said…all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.”)