2/15/12 TWO INVITATIONS
2/15/12 TWO INVITATIONS
Kevin Jesmer NIU UBF, Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Proverbs 9:1-18 Key Verse: 9:10
“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. 10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.”
Dear Father, Son, Holy Spirit. Thank you for your love and your grace in my life. Thank you for granting me your truth and wisdom, peace and direction. Lord, fill the hearts of American people with the truth of God and may they find deep satisfaction and joy in you. Illuminate my heart with your words today. I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen!
1. Wisdom’s invitation (1-12).
Verses 1-12, “Wisdom has built her house; she has set up its seven pillars. 2 She has prepared her meat and mixed her wine; she has also set her table. 3 She has sent out her servants, and she calls from the highest point of the city, 4 ‘Let all who are simple come to my house!’ To those who have no sense she says, 5 ‘Come, eat my food and drink the wine I have mixed. 6 Leave your simple ways and you will live; walk in the way of insight.’ 7 Whoever corrects a mocker invites insults; whoever rebukes the wicked incurs abuse. 8 Do not rebuke mockers or they will hate you; rebuke the wise and they will love you. 9 Instruct the wise and they will be wiser still; teach the righteous and they will add to their learning. 10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. 11 For through wisdom your days will be many, and years will be added to your life. 12 If you are wise, your wisdom will reward you; if you are a mocker, you alone will suffer.”
Wisdom invites everyone to a lavish banquet in a beautiful mansion. Her servants call out from the highest point of the city for everyone to come. She serves the best meat and wine. Accepting her invitation requires humility and repentance. The righteous and the wise may be rebuked and corrected, but they love wisdom for it. They grow wiser and add to their learning. True wisdom begins with the fear of the Lord. We can have understanding about our lives and our daily affairs when we know and fear God.
I thank God for the wisdom of God. Before meeting Jesus my “modus operandi” was hedonistic,. enlightened self interest and taking the way of least resistance. I denied myself in order to work or study, just enough to make money so that I could maintain my pleasure seeking life. When I was faced with a choice to make, I thought that the wisest choice was to take the easiest path. I don’t have to tell you where this philosophy of life was taking me. I was becoming a fruitless man with no noble achievements and I falling into deeper and deeper sins. I surely would have died with the words on my lips, “It might have been.”
But Jesus invited me to a better, more fruitful and satisfying truth, the wisdom of God from the Bible. It is a wisdom that helps me to grow in wisdom. It is very satisfying to my soul. It helps me to fear God and walk strong in this world into the next. It is the healthiest and best wisdom. I want to grow in that wisdom and help other people to do so also. Thank you, Lord Jesus for the wisdom that you give us. It is a gift. I was so lost and eroding my mind, body and soul with the wisdom that this world has to offer. May your wisdom permeate our culture and may it guide the new generation. I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen!
It is hard to understand mockers. At least they should learn something from the Bible. I am willing to learn from the holy books of other religions. We should learn all things, without neglecting Jesus, so that we can understand this world and help others to know the wisdom of Jesus. I repent of all mockery and disrespect that may arise in my heart towards the wisdom of God. I pray that I may simply and humbly learn and grow.
2. Folly’s invitation (13-18).
Verses 13-18, “Folly is an unruly woman; she is simple and knows nothing. 14 She sits at the door of her house, on a seat at the highest point of the city, 15 calling out to those who pass by, who go straight on their way, 16 ‘Let all who are simple come to my house!’ To those who have no sense she says, 17 ‘Stolen water is sweet; food eaten in secret is delicious!’ 18 But little do they know that the dead are there, that her guests are deep in the realm of the dead.”
Folly’s invitation is a contrast in every way to wisdom’s invitation. She knows nothing. She has no servants. Instead of meat and wine, she serves stolen water and stolen food. Fools accept her invitation. In fact, it is an invitation to death.
I can see that there is a certain draw of foolish philosophies and foolish wisdom. But it will surely lead us into the paths of destruction and fruitlessness and futility. I know, because when I was following folly that is where I was being led. Why is it easier to follow folly instead of God’s ancient and proven wisdom? It has to do with our sinful nature. It may make a person feel wise with no commitment of sacrifice. It is easier to accept folly. But we need to seek God’s wisdom as searching for a treasure.
Prayer: Lord, thank you for inviting us to walk in the way of wisdom. Help me to be humble as I listen to you.
One Word: Dine with wisdom
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