Proverbs Study – Lesson 8
Read Prov. 9:1-3 Solomon picks up where he left off in the middle of chapter 8. He talks about how wisdom applied benefits our life in practical ways. He says that wisdom builds a house. The impression is that wisdom not only builds and maintains and pays for the house, but it builds a foundation to make it a home. Every house should be a home, a sanctuary, a shelter, a haven. A home is the one place that you should be able to retreat to after slaying the dragons of life during the day. Solomon in the King James Version makes mention of slaying the beasts of life in the beginning of v. 2…she has killed her beasts. It’s a wild world out there. Home is the one place in life that we should have established and tamed. A real home is established by wisdom. Establishing a home by wisdom is the only plan that works. Not that you won’t have challenges at home, but at home in general you should find peace and it should a haven. The slaying her beasts may also have reference to the preparation of the meal spoken of in v.2.
He says in v. 1 that wisdom has hewn out her seven pillars. Architecturally and historically ancient buildings were constructed with seven pillars. One pillar on each of the four corners, and the other three in the middles of three sides, leaving the fourth side with a relatively open span for other use, like a courtyard. In chapter 8 we discussed one of the seven pillar virtues, prudence mentioned in 8:12. The seven virtues adopted by the early church fathers are prudence, justice, courage, temperance, faith, hope and charity and may apply here. Solomon in chapter 9 may be referring to seven pillars of wisdom. We don’t know for sure. But, the purpose of pillars is to add surety and stability to a foundation on which to build on, making the whole house stable. V. 2 goes on to say that wisdom puts food on the table, providing also for the practical parts of life. V. 3 reminds us again that wisdom has a goal, it has a mark to hit, and the target is us. It wants to be found. It makes itself available.
Read 4-9 Solomon again makes a plea to the simple to turn toward the direction of wisdom. Wisdom gives an invitation to come and sit down and partake. Come eat. For those that will take the time, she has prepared a feast. And, she has left nothing good out. It is all there!
In v.6 he, Solomon, asks us to make a decision. He brings us to a fork in the road. He asks us to choose a path for life. He asks us to forsake the way of the fool and foolish living and he asks us to face life and make a decisive choice choosing understanding. He is asking us to engage in the process of wisdom. Which path have you chosen? How has it worked? Solomon is encouraging us to make the way of understanding and wisdom a habit of life.
In v. 6 he also tells us to choose our friends. How bold! He tells us to forsake those that live foolish lifestyles. The company that we keep can and does affect us. Solomon tells us to forsake the foolish and live! Foolish people make foolish decisions and get painful outcomes. And yet, it seems that these people continue to go back and make the same foolish decisions again and again initiating yet more pain. It’s a way of life, and is directly related to a lack of discipline. Solomon warns us that if we are not careful the influence of their lifestyle will rub off on us and we will start getting the same result in life as they are getting.
He is not telling us to avoid those who are looking for answers and needs some help. He tells us not to waste our time on certain people and he specifically mentions the foolish because of their lifestyle and because they are un-teachable. There is a difference between a fool and someone that is unlearned or has lacked opportunity. When we first meet them they may appear similar to us and hard to tell apart. However, a fool won’t learn or take advice no matter what approach you use to help them. Someone who is unlearned or lacks experience is often looking for the opportunity to move forward. They are willing to learn if someone will just take the time to help them. Sometimes it takes patience in helping them. Solomon tells us in v. 6 to go in the way of understanding. Those who are looking for help will choose this path and are willing to make needed changes.
He is really telling us to invest our time wisely. He tells us to not waste our time also with a scoffer and a wicked man. A scoffer is someone that is always finding fault or mocking others. They are not really a critic. Constructive criticism can be helpful. Scoffers however often mock to justify their lifestyle, not willing to face the truth of their life and how they are living. Going head to head trying to speak sense to them will only get you into trouble, usually becoming the object of their scoffing or scorn. Our first thought when we meet a scoffer is to correct them and state what we think is a more accurate assessment. Solomon says that it will only bring you shame when you were just trying to help. He says that trying to reprove them is impossible and not to waste your time. Save your time for someone who has questions, but is also willing to listen in an attempt to find the answer. 2Pet 3:3 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts. Psalms 1:1 Blessed is the man who doesn't walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the way of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers. The Bible references scoffers frequently. Scoffers are more common than you may think.
He also tells us to not get involved with a wicked man. Rebuking a wicked man often gets convoluted and we may find ourselves in an awkward spot being associated with his folly. Solomon tells us to use our time and effort wisely. Much of the time in ministry is often wasted in these areas. All too often, we with good intentions, get involved in someone’s life trying to help them untangle the mess. But, they are not looking to untangle the mess. They are looking for help to patch up their present pain so they can just go on to the next crisis. It is true that even a wise man will need help and will get into trouble from time to time. But in v. 8 and 9 he tells us invest our time in those who really want help and are really looking for answers. He tells us to ‘rebuke a wise man and he will love you’ and ‘give instruction to a wise man and he will yet be wiser’ and to ‘teach a just man and he will increase in learning’.
In v. 10 Solomon again reminds us where real knowledge begins. But, his statement in v. 10 adds another dimension. He not only reminds us again that real knowledge begins in reverencing God, but he also says that knowing the Holy One or getting to know Him helps us to understand the mysteries and secrets of life. God set the world and universe in motion and knowing Him and His nature helps us to understand how it works. Knowing Him we understand His creation.
It is interesting to read stories of the people behind an invention. By understanding who they are we can often understand the reason behind and the workings of their creation. Knowledge of the Holy One helps us to look in the right direction for our answers often making them easier to find and understand. Without this perspective we can find ourselves going down the wrong road looking for answers finding ourselves eventually so far down that road that our logic gets confused and we try and force our unfounded logic to work rather than to honestly look for the truth. Evolution and when life begins are just two examples that I can think of for starters. Solomon is telling us that if we start in the right place we have a good chance of coming up with the right answers. Beginning with God is a good place to start our search. V. 10-1 mentions some of the practical benefits of wisdom. Life generally is increased by making good choices.
Read v. 13-8 Again Solomon reminds those with understanding not to listen to the calls of the foolish woman who has chosen the wrong path. Wisdom is found in common places and so is sin found in common places. You can find what you are looking for good or bad on the street. You choose. However, some places are worse than others. The prudent are wise enough to avoid places that they know hold potential trouble. Today in our culture we not only have the regular highway to cautiously navigate, but we also have the information highway, the internet, to beware of. The simple, which lack understanding, stop and listen to her call, taking it all in. The prudent being wise, pass it by on their way to better things choosing not to listen to her voice. The simple say ‘What will it hurt to listen.’ ‘What will it hurt to look.’ not realizing that destruction is one click away, or is just behind the door. The promise of temporary pleasure is a strong attraction. Don’t be fooled. The temptation of v. 17 is true, but she left out of the offer the reality and truth of the end V. 18.
This section of the first 9 chapters ends what some would call a rather length introduction to this book. The Scolfield reference Bible categorizes the next 15 or so chapters, chapter 10-24, as contrasting the way of righteousness with the ways of wickedness. The first 9 chapters are connected poems containing a series of verses concerning a specific theme so to speak, but this next section is more one liners like a series of wise quotes. Everyone enjoys reading the quote for the day. Here we begin to see the wisdom given Solomon in its vastness. His wisdom can be applied to every area of life and is more than enough wisdom for a lifetime.
Chapter 10 begins with the basic statement, ‘The Proverbs of Solomon’. Following that statement there are hundreds of jewels and golden nuggets to be mined. Think about it. This is a gold mine and in passing it by too quickly we miss the opportunity of a lifetime.
The impression is given that this collection of wise sayings is not meant as a one time study, but should be kept as a reference book or guide book to be easily accessible as we journey through life. It should undergird everything else that we are studying and doing in life. It would be a good idea to have a copy of this book on the coffee table and another on the bed stand. If this sounds a bit extreme it may be a good idea to reread the passages in Deut. 6 that gave the children of Israel the instruction to write this wisdom, God’s wisdom, over the door posts and on the front gate so they could be reminded of what it says. Today we have ‘the world’s influence and law on our coffee table (TV) and on the counter (radio) and with us when we go to sleep (computer) telling us how we should live. We would do better at life if we had a little more of Proverbs and God’s wisdom and a little (a lot) less of the other, the world’s agenda. As we begin this next section we will see that some of Solomon’s Proverbs will be obvious, needing little if any explanation. Other passages may need to be looked at in greater detail.
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