Who's House Will You Enter - RJ
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Who’s House Will You Enter
Who’s House Will You Enter
Ps John’s message last week–Clip- was a great introduction to the structure and purpose of the book of Proverbs.
Proverbs was intended so that you could gain practical skills for living in God’s world – wisdom (Hebrew Khokhmah) relating to artisans or craft persons, something more than just acquiring knowledge, but the right application of that, knowledge or skill.
Wisdom and knowledge: (both recurring themes in the Bible), while related are not interchangeable. The dictionary defines wisdom as “the ability to discern or judge what is true, right, or lasting.” Knowledge, on the other hand, is “information gained through experience, reasoning, or acquaintance.”
Knowledge can exist without wisdom, but not the other way around.
Therefore, you can be knowledgeable without being wise.
To explain….Knowledge is knowing how to use a gun… wisdom is knowing when to use it and when to keep it holstered.
Knowledge is what is gathered over time through studying the word. Wisdom, is the proper application of that knowledge.
Knowledge understands the light has turned red; wisdom applies the brakes.
Knowledge learns about God; wisdom loves Him.
And so the structure of Proverbs is:
1. Letters from a father to a son, encouraging him to seek wisdom, the fear of the Lord and to shun foolish activity ()
2. The Proverbs themselves: short, poetic lines instructing us how to apply the skills of wisdom. ()
3. Finally 2 chapters of poems by Agur and King Lemual ()
Tonight I want to focus in on two characters, two women who are introduced to us in chapters 1-9, reading from chapter 9...... Lady Wisdom & Madam Folly.
Lets Pray
Lets Pray
Wisdom has built her house;
she has carved its seven columns.
She has prepared a great banquet,
mixed the wines, and set the table.
She has sent her servants to invite everyone to come.
She calls out from the heights overlooking the city.
“Come in with me,” she urges the simple.
To those who lack good judgment, she says,
“Come, eat my food,
and drink the wine I have mixed.
Leave your simple ways behind, and begin to live;
learn to use good judgment.”
Wisdom has built her house;
she has carved its seven columns.
She has prepared a great banquet,
mixed the wines, and set the table.
She has sent her servants to invite everyone to come.
She calls out from the heights overlooking the city.
“Come in with me,” she urges the simple.
To those who lack good judgment, she says,
“Come, eat my food,
and drink the wine I have mixed.
Leave your simple ways behind, and begin to live;
learn to use good judgment.”
Anyone who rebukes a mocker will get an insult in return.
Anyone who corrects the wicked will get hurt.
So don’t bother correcting mockers;
they will only hate you.
But correct the wise,
and they will love you.
Instruct the wise,
and they will be even wiser.
Teach the righteous,
and they will learn even more.
Fear of the Lord is the foundation of wisdom.
Knowledge of the Holy One results in good judgment.
Wisdom will multiply your days
and add years to your life.
If you become wise, you will be the one to benefit.
If you scorn wisdom, you will be the one to suffer.
The woman named Folly is brash.
She is ignorant and doesn’t know it.
She sits in her doorway
on the heights overlooking the city.
She calls out to men going by
who are minding their own business.
“Come in with me,” she urges the simple.
To those who lack good judgment, she says,
“Stolen water is refreshing;
food eaten in secret tastes the best!”
But little do they know that the dead are there.
Her guests are in the depths of the grave.
Proverbs 9:1-
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,
And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
For by me your days will be multiplied,
And years of life will be added to you.
If you are wise, you are wise for yourself,
And if you scoff, you will bear it alone.”
A foolish woman is clamorous;
She is simple, and knows nothing.
For she sits at the door of her house,
On a seat by the highest places of the city,
To call to those who pass by,
Who go straight on their way:
“Whoever is simple, let him turn in here”;
And as for him who lacks understanding, she says to him,
“Stolen water is sweet,
And bread eaten in secret is pleasant.”
But he does not know that the dead are there,
That her guests are in the depths of hell.
A foolish woman is clamorous;
She is simple, and knows nothing.
For she sits at the door of her house,
On a seat by the highest places of the city,
To call to those who pass by,
Who go straight on their way:
“Whoever is simple, let him turn in here”;
And as for him who lacks understanding, she says to him,
“Stolen water is sweet,
And bread eaten in secret is pleasant.”
But he does not know that the dead are there,
That her guests are in the depths of hell.
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,
And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
For by me your days will be multiplied,
And years of life will be added to you.
If you are wise, you are wise for yourself,
And if you scoff, you will bear it alone.”
A foolish woman is clamorous;
She is simple, and knows nothing.
For she sits at the door of her house,
On a seat by the highest places of the city,
To call to those who pass by,
Who go straight on their way:
“Whoever is simple, let him turn in here”;
And as for him who lacks understanding, she says to him,
“Stolen water is sweet,
And bread eaten in secret is pleasant.”
But he does not know that the dead are there,
That her guests are in the depths of hell.
A foolish woman is clamorous;
She is simple, and knows nothing.
For she sits at the door of her house,
On a seat by the highest places of the city,
To call to those who pass by,
Who go straight on their way:
“Whoever is simple, let him turn in here”;
And as for him who lacks understanding, she says to him,
“Stolen water is sweet,
And bread eaten in secret is pleasant.”
But he does not know that the dead are there,
That her guests are in the depths of hell.
Proverbs 9:10-
Here are invitations of two women. One is called Lady Wisdom and the other Madam Folly.
-
Proverbs 9
Imagine two door ways on stage..
Lady Wisdom has built her house, rock solid with seven pillars. (some commentators say 7 pillars refer to the complete work of creation through to salvation, the finished perfect work of Christ…even the church
(Ps John’s revelation of ecclesia) wisdom found in the church, whom Christ is the head.
2. Lady Wisdom offers a meal of meat & wine, but Madam Folly offers bread & water
Lady Wisdom has prepared a banquet of choice meat and fine wine. The table is set and she sends out messengers to cry out from the highest point of the city: “Let all who are simple come in here! Come, eat my food and drink the wine I have mixed. Leave your simple ways and you will live; walk in the way of understanding.”
Madam Folly copies Lady Wisdom, calling “Let all who are simple come in here! Stolen water is sweet; food eaten in secret is delicious!”
Difference…Lady Wisdom cries out. Madam Folly calls out. Concern Vs wanting to be heard. Things done in secret....STAY AWAY!!!
Lady Wisdom has prepared a meal of her own; Madam Folly has stolen hers.
Lady Wisdom has prepared a meal of her own; Madam Folly has stolen hers.
3. Lady wisdom speaks honestly, but Madam Folly makes deceptive offers
Lady Wisdom serves meat & wine; Madam Folly speaks of stolen water.
4. Lady Wisdom offers life/wisdom, but Madam folly deceptively offers life, while concealing death within her doors
Lady Wisdom sends out her servants to invite those who will come(indicating love, kindness and care; Madam Folly is loud, brash and indecent as she stands at her door and calls out herself.
Lady Wisdom is crying out to those who are on the wrong path to walk in the way of wisdom; Madam Folly is calling to those “who go straight on their way” to leave the straight path and follow her.
Lady Wisdom’s invitation leads to life; Madam Folly’s invitation leads to death.
1. Lady Wisdom’s invitation is a cry to fear the Lord.
The central verse in this chapter is verse 10, which says:
Fear of the Lord is the foundation of wisdom.
Knowledge of the Holy One results in good judgment.
If you want wisdom, fear the Lord! And not as in being scared or pulling away from Him, but having a healthy honour, respect and awe of God. Understanding that all things begin in Him, exist through Him and are complete in Him. That He is all powerful, all wise, all righteous!
All true revelation and wisdom is only found in Him. Anything else is a sad, lacking, incomplete attempt at truth.
Revelation through Relationship…all knowing comes from God as we draw near to Him, responding to the cry to come near.
2. Lady wisdoms call is to avoid deception
The deceit working in the world today is that everyone has their own truth, and you shouldn’t try to impose your truth on someone else.
The world attempts to claim that there is no transcendent, objective truth. The idea that God is the author of truth, and that the world is held together by his truth is not easily accepted.
The apostle Paul warned:
The apostle Paul warned:
The Worlds’ reasoning is that Truth is not discovered, it is created. Each person constructs their own truth within their frame of reference.
The man wanting to change his age story – while he may be trying to make a statement – it leaves you wondering where common sense has gone?
Society says “we make our own rules” but walking the way of Madam folly, will always lead to ruin.
Have many other examples, but probably not suitable for this forum.
Society says “we make our own rules” but walking the way of Madam folly, will always lead to ruin.
The apostle Paul warned:
Don’t let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers of this world, rather than from Christ.
· Society says “we make our own rules” but walking the way of Madam folly, will always lead to ruin.
. The deceit working in the world today is the attempt to claim that there is no transcendent, objective truth. Everyone has their own truth, and you should not try to impose your truth on someone else. Truth has fallen on hard times. The idea that God is the author of truth, and that the world is held together by his truth is no longer accepted in the public square. Truth is not discovered, according to current thinkers, it is created. Each person constructs their own truth within their frame of reference.· Society says “we make our own rules” but walking the way of Madam folly, will always lead to ruin.
Society says “we make our own rules” but walking the way of Madam folly, will always lead to ruin.
Problem is not knowledge. Today knowledge is increasing, but wisdom is lacking.
Have many other examples, but probably not suitable for this forum.
Problem is not knowledge. Today knowledge is increasing, but wisdom is lacking.
Wisdom begins with the fear of the Lord, when that is not the corner stone of a persons belief system, their world view, you are only left with a personal set of opinions, humanistic in its attempt to rationalise truth.
Earlier this year, as my world got a bit shaken, I mentioned to someone that to get through everything and to sort through my own understanding of God and His plan in the middle of the chaos, that I had resolutely settled in myself that I just needed to go back to the truth of Gods word EVERY SINGLE TIME.. I couldn’t even rely on my own opinion.
Madam Folly cried out many times….just open a bottle of wine.. that’ll make you feel better…run away from your problems..it’ll be ok….
2. Lady wisdoms call is to life!
Deuteronomy 30:
“Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live! You can make this choice by loving the Lord your God, obeying him, and committing yourself firmly to him. This is the key to your life. And if you love and obey the Lord, you will live long in the land the Lord swore to give your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.”
Wisdom is a tree of life to those who embrace her;
happy are those who hold her tightly.
Two invitations. Two choices. Two claims to truth. Two ways of approaching life. Two destinies. Who’s house will you enter?