The Call of Lady Wisdom--Proverbs 1:8-33

Introduction

Today we're going to begin our journey into the second week of the book of proverbs. The first 9 or so chapters of proverbs actually don't look as much like traditional proverbs as they do statements or warnings.

Last week we were introduced to this idea of wisdom. We understood that the fear of the Lord is where wisdom starts. And when we fear God we will know well how to live in God's world. Today we're going to start to see a beginning to some of the warnings of proverbs.

The Call to Make a choice

Today we will also see the beginning of wisdom’s cry for us to make a choice. We can choose between the voice of folly and the voice of wisdom.

It's profound isn't it how much hinges simply on the decision we make. Some of the greatest changes in our lives simply start with a choice. And this is exactly what the book of proverbs calls us to today.

Proverbs 1:7 ESV

7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.

In our world there are and immense number of influences on our lives. Our children are influenced in many different ways whether they are attending school or hanging out with friends or all grown up and reading and learning from sources on their own. And yet one constant remains true. It is essential for us as parents to instruct and to teach our children. We are responsible for the instruction and growth of our kids. We cannot hand over their development to a waiting world.

The Israelites were reminded of their responsibility, they were commanded to pass on their faith to their children.

Deuteronomy 6:6–7 ESV

6 And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.

And in the same way in the New Testament parents are given the responsibility to teach their children.

Ephesians 6:4 ESV

4 Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

His introduction the statement my son is used many times in the first nine chapters of the book of proverbs. It's meant to highlight another group of instructions. one of the main purposes of the book of proverbs is to prepare young men and women to assume the responsibilities and work of being an adult.

Proverbs 1:8–9 ESV

8 Hear, my son, your father’s instruction, and forsake not your mother’s teaching, 9 for they are a graceful garland for your head and pendants for your neck.

Christina is already at the age where she is starting to think and discuss more of what she's going to wear. She doesn't want to wear pink or unicorns. And she does want her clothes to kind of sort of match. Perhaps the first and most important lesson we can teach our children is that the best outfit they can wear his faithfulness yeah following our instructions and to boil it down this is the wisdom of the proverbs. If you want a good outfit, honor the wise instruction of your parents. They will make you look good. :)

People often judge children by how they look on the outside as well. Or we feel self-conscious about how people perceive our children. But instead we need to remember that the greatest outfit our children can wear is for them to be listening to our instructions. It's more important for our kids to listen to the wisdom we are passing on to them than for them to wear the nicest clothes or for them to look physically good. Whether our children are 2 or 52 we need to remember this truth.

The sad truth is that many parents are so busy taking care of their children and providing the best stuff for them that we neglect our responsibility to train our children in the Lord.

Now the writer turns from the encouragement to listen to the wisdom of your parents to the enticement of sinners. It is Almost always true that sin looks good. but the warning of wisdom is to say no.

What is it that sin and foolishness say to us?

Proverbs 1:10–12 ESV

10 My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent. 11 If they say, “Come with us, let us lie in wait for blood; let us ambush the innocent without reason; 12 like Sheol let us swallow them alive, and whole, like those who go down to the pit;

The opening salvo of this temptation is to say let's take advantage of someone else. Let's totally defeat them. In the same way that death swallows up the living, let us swallow up and defeat another person.

No don't distance yourself too far from these violent words. Because you've never been tempted to swallow someone or draw someone elses blood through violence. Or at least I hope. But perhaps in making a joke at someone else's expense we've taken advantage of them. Perhaps in taking something that didn't belong to us we've taken from someone else. Perhaps in the times we've had our own selfish way in our marriage instead of honoring our spouse we've ambushed them without reason.

But let's not defang these verses. The end result of foolish living is physical destruction. As bad as attacking another person.

OK what's the motivation that we have for taking something that doesn't belong to us? In other words what is the motivation that we have that drives us to actually do something crazy like taking advantage of someone else? Let's read:

Proverbs 1:13–14 ESV

13 we shall find all precious goods, we shall fill our houses with plunder; 14 throw in your lot among us; we will all have one purse”—

The temptation to take advantage of someone else is almost never rooted in any desire to be mean. None of us want to think of ourselves as a bad person. Second but it is when we focus on the things that we want that we discovered the temptation to do wrong. Second the temptation for this young man is defined precious goods and houses full of plunder. second isn't that always the temptation? The temptation is to do wrong... but to do a little wrong in order to receive a great reward.

What's more this band of fools offers a second family. They offer a place to belong. And that's the first temptation that many men and women face when being tempted to leave the wisdom of God's word. They are invited to join another community. Another family.

We as a church community and we as families need to devote time and energy into building relationships. The world outside of the church it is just as invested in building families. We need to invest in relationships with our children. We need to invest in relationships with each other in the church. Because the world outside the church wants to show us that you can have a warm and loving family while on the road of foolishness and sin. We must believe that following God will yield life. And we must build family and relationships to hold onto each other through thick and thin.

The writer of the proverbs delivers this warning in response to this temptation.

Proverbs 1:15–19 ESV

15 my son, do not walk in the way with them; hold back your foot from their paths, 16 for their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed blood. 17 For in vain is a net spread in the sight of any bird, 18 but these men lie in wait for their own blood; they set an ambush for their own lives. 19 Such are the ways of everyone who is greedy for unjust gain; it takes away the life of its possessors.

He starts off with this language of a path. Let's talk about paths for a moment. We walk on a path both to get somewhere and to experience something. Walking on a path is a way of getting somewhere. It is a way of being. And the temptation is to be a different person and to walk on this path where you can get a lot of financial gain.

But here is the problem with this path. The people who walk on this path are quick to get into evil and to shed blood.

In our world today we don't think about the the ugliness of evil enough. We live in a postmodern world where right is right for you and wrong is wrong for you but maybe not wrong for me. But the reality is evil is hate, evil is backbiting, evil is lying, evil is painful and destructive and many hurtful things. Those who promise quick profit at the minor expense of someone else are also the same ones that are likely to lie to you and take advantage of you.

They have feet that are quick to run into evil.

This is the classic quandary of someone who has an affair and leaves their spouse for the person they are having an affair with. The question must always linger... if this man is willing to leave his wife for me, how easy would it be for him to leave me for someone else? If you throw in with people who are willing to take advantage of others for profit... how long will it be until they're willing to take your vantage of you for their profit.

But the writer to the proverbs not only calls for this son too not walking these paths for the sake of protecting the sun. but he also points out how foolish it is what they are attempting.

Think about it even the birds if they see a net get spread out to catch them, they will avoid the net. And what the writer is saying is that these men who lay and prepare to ambush someone else. They are really setting an ambush for their own lives. When we are greedy for gain that we haven't rightfully earned, that game can take away our own lives.

And so the warning is for us to be careful we don't get lured into quick gain at the expense of others. Such gain is never worth it. In fact it has the capacity to destroy us.

In short, the challenge from these first verses is to choose your companions wisely.

1 Corinthians 15:33 ESV

33 Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.”

Now the writer is going to turn and start to help us see this personification. We're going to see this theme often throughout the book of proverbs. Lady wisdom will show up to cry out for the young man and the young women to listen.

Pay Attention to Wisdom Before It’s Too Late

Proverbs 1:20-33

Proverbs 1:20–22 ESV

20 Wisdom cries aloud in the street, in the markets she raises her voice; 21 at the head of the noisy streets she cries out; at the entrance of the city gates she speaks: 22 “How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple? How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing and fools hate knowledge?

First of all wisdom cries out in public spaces for attention. Wisdom cries out with a message and a question.

Wisdom is portrayed as a woman crying out. She wants to give abundant blessings.

Proverbs 4:6–8 ESV

6 Do not forsake her, and she will keep you; love her, and she will guard you. 7 The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom, and whatever you get, get insight. 8 Prize her highly, and she will exalt you; she will honor you if you embrace her.

Proverbs 3:18 ESV

18 She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her; those who hold her fast are called blessed.

Four categories of fools

Proverbs 1:22 ESV

22 “How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple? How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing and fools hate knowledge?

Naïve—committed to nothing good or bad

This person is worth pursuing and calling them back to wisdom.

Fool— Hebrew keciyl.

He has rejected wisdom and embraced evil. –not worth your time.

Fool -- Hebrew eviyl

He not only rejects, he despises the things of God.—let them experience the effects of their sin.

Scoffer—A cynic who mocks at the idea of God.

Elite actors and wealthy people. We need to be careful to not let our thinking be influenced by scoffers.

Wisdom cries out in frustration.

Proverbs 1:23 ESV

23 If you turn at my reproof, behold, I will pour out my spirit to you; I will make my words known to you.

aren't those challenging words? How many times in our lives have we had the opportunity to turn to the reproof of wisdom?

Times when we've had the opportunity to turn to and listen to our parents. Times when we've been reminded we should have said no to sin and yes to God. So many times if we would listen to wisdom we would not only have the knowledge of wisdom and words of wisdom but the spirit of wisdom inside of us. Isn't that what we want? The peaceful deep seated capacity and spirit and ability to do what's right to want to do it right.

James 1:5 ESV

5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.

but instead many times it's easy to ignore wisdom and the consequence can come painfully.

Proverbs 1:24–27 ESV

24 Because I have called and you refused to listen, have stretched out my hand and no one has heeded, 25 because you have ignored all my counsel and would have none of my reproof, 26 I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when terror strikes you, 27 when terror strikes you like a storm and your calamity comes like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come upon you.

In this passage were reminded that Lady wisdom is not father God. God is wisdom personified yes. Got understands and knows all. But...when we have ignored the counsel and reproof of wisdom…..wisdom laughs to make her point.

This sounds heartless but isn’t it true that when we are in the middle of a mess we’ve made that wisdom reminds us of times we chose to ignore her?

You sass your mother growing up and as you come too several minutes later you remember the proverbs telling us to honor our parents.

You cram a sleepless night before a test and remember proverbs about working hard over time.

You panic at bills you should have remembered and are reminded of the wisdom of managing your money well.

There truly is a sense where wisdom mocks us when we are experiencing the devastation of our sin. We need that at least a little bit. We need to understand the reason for the pain we’re suffering.

Proverbs 1:28–30 ESV

28 Then they will call upon me, but I will not answer; they will seek me diligently but will not find me. 29 Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the Lord, 30 would have none of my counsel and despised all my reproof,

When we are in the middle of the disaster caused by our foolishness wisdom will allow us to experience the pain of our sin

Proverbs 1:31–32 ESV

31 therefore they shall eat the fruit of their way, and have their fill of their own devices. 32 For the simple are killed by their turning away, and the complacency of fools destroys them;

Again we need to remember that being willfully simple and ignorant is something the Bible demonstrates to be dangerous.

We can find security in seeking wisdom

Proverbs 1:33 ESV

33 but whoever listens to me will dwell secure and will be at ease, without dread of disaster.”

But if instead we listen to the call of wisdom we will find ourselves dwelling secure and living without dread of danger.

Conclusion

Wisdom is the voice of God.

We need to remember in reading the book of proverbs that the voice of wisdom really is the voice of God call in two hours to respond.;

Jesus is the voice of wisdom

And as New Testament believers we need to remember that Jesus is wisdom Incarnate

1 Corinthians 1:30 ESV

30 And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption,

Jesus spoke God's word crying out to a world to listen and repent. And find life.

We are the voice of wisdom to a foolish world.

Romans 10:18 ESV

18 But I ask, have they not heard? Indeed they have, for “Their voice has gone out to all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world.”

And in the same way as many fools reject lady wisdoms call throughout the book of proverbs there will be many who don't listen to the words of wisdom God speaks through us. And yet some will. Some will hear and turn and find salvation.

Are You Wise?

So are you wise today? Have you chosen to take the path of following God? Or are you choosing the way of fools? Wisdom …. God cries out to each and everyone of us holding out life and goodness and hope. If we choose to follow God and livE by his wisdom we will experience a truly profound life.