Posted by Jeff Short on January 4, 2017 · Leave a Comment
Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him,
– Proverbs 9:4
The word for
simple means silly or gullible. It describes one uninitiated in the ways of the world, and so easily led (Proverbs 14:15).
Wanteth understanding means lacking intelligence. These are the early stages toward becoming a fool and scorner if wisdom is not received by them. Wisdom calls for those who need wisdom to
turn in to her. This means to turn aside from the way you are on and to go to wisdom and her way. The rest of the call continues in the next two verses.
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Posted by Jeff Short on January 3, 2017 · Leave a Comment
She hath sent forth her maidens: she crieth upon the highest places of the city,
– Proverbs 9:3
Empty talk is one of the marks of folly (Ecclesiastes 5:3; Proverbs 14:23). Wisdom prepares and invites when ready. As before, wisdom issues an open invitation. She cries openly from an elevated and visible point to all the city.
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Posted by Jeff Short on January 2, 2017 · Leave a Comment
She hath killed her beasts; she hath mingled her wine; she hath also furnished her table.
– Proverbs 9:2
Consistent with the teaching of wisdom, the hostess has thought ahead, considered, and prepared her feast. The meal pictured will be nutritious, delicious, and enjoyable. The words of wisdom are rich and palatable. Good food provides strength for the body and the teaching of wisdom provides strength for life. The mingling of wine refers primarily to mixing with spices to enhance and brighten the flavor profile. Fresh meat and a well-ordered table make for a meal that is an experience of beauty and goodness, not a utilitarian eating for subsistence. Thus it is with the words of wisdom to those who love them.
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Posted by Jeff Short on January 1, 2017 · Leave a Comment
Chapter 9 completes this particular character sketch of wisdom using the motif of a banquet and the juxtaposition of the foolish woman’s banquet. Both characters are making appeals to gain a hearing as they are portrayed as hostesses inviting diners to their feasts. Verses 1-6 picture the feast of the wise woman. Every detail speaks of honor and dignity. It is a noble banquet. Verses 7-12 admonish the simple to receive wisdom and live. The progression of either wisdom or folly is shown. Verses 13-18 describe folly’s banquet. Folly is contrasted with wisdom and folly is depicted as a wicked hostess. She also calls to the simple to come in and the character of her guests is unmasked.
Wisdom hath builded her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars:
– Proverbs 9:1
The previous chapter ended with wisdom among the godhead and the first six verses in chapter 9 return wisdom to the world of men. She is once again among the people of the earth. Here she is a hostess who has prepared her noble house for a feast and invites the simple to come in. Her house is built up or established. The seven pillars have been subjected to various and sundry fanciful interpretations. Seven is the number that often represents completion or fullness. From the context, it indicates her house is complete and fully suited to furnish all guests. In other words, all who come to her house have no need of supplementary provision. Pillars are columns that provide structural support to the roof and can function in an aesthetically pleasing way. The pillars indicate that wisdom’s house is a noble and stately house.
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Posted by Jeff Short on December 31, 2016 · Leave a Comment
But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death.
– Proverbs 8:36
The word for
sinneth against here means to miss and answers to finding wisdom in the previous verse.
Wrongeth means to do violence to, and in this case it is his own
soul. Finally, to neglect or refuse wisdom is to hate wisdom and life. It is to
love death. Proverbs refers to death over twenty times and it is the most often the fate of the fool and the wicked (Proverbs 5:32). It is not merely a physical death but also a loss of all hope for the wicked man (Proverbs 11:7).
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Posted by Jeff Short on December 30, 2016 · Leave a Comment
For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favor of the LORD.
– Proverbs 8:35
Finding wisdom hearkens back to the admonition to seek wisdom (Proverbs 2:1-5).
Life is paired with the
favor of the LORD and speaks of spiritual life more than mere physical existence. From the following verses, we know life and death are in view. While wisdom does bring material blessings to physical life (Proverbs 15:27; 16:15), there are greater blessings of life in the immaterial and spiritual sense (Proverbs 3:22; 10:16).
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Posted by Jeff Short on December 29, 2016 · Leave a Comment
Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.
– Proverbs 8:34
The blessed state or happy condition is enjoyed by those who hear, watch, and wait for wisdom. Hearing is giving careful attention and obedient attention. Watching is being sleepless as in those who keep watch or guard. Waiting has the idea of hedging about or keeping guard as in protecting. We are commanded to diligently seek wisdom, but as here, we must also patiently wait wisdom’s instruction. We cannot expect to gain all in a moment. It is a lifelong pursuit and that is why we must also judiciously guard what we already have lest we lose it.
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Posted by Jeff Short on December 28, 2016 · Leave a Comment
Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not.
– Proverbs 8:33
Instruction is discipline or correction. It carries the idea of a warning. The instruction of wisdom teaches us the way of wisdom. If we hear it intelligently so that we learn from it, we avoid the rod and correction from failure (Proverbs 24:32). Therefore, we are to pay attention and
be wise. However, those who ignore, or
refuse it, head to poverty and shame (Proverbs 13:18) without any consideration for their own soul (Proverbs 15:32) and their end reward is death (Proverbs 5:32).
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Posted by Jeff Short on December 27, 2016 · Leave a Comment
Now therefore hearken unto me, O ye children: for blessed are they that keep my ways.
– Proverbs 8:32
Verses 32-36 make the application of the description of wisdom in this chapter.
Hearken is the call again to hear intelligently. It is pressed upon children, or sons, and is the address of wisdom to all who will hear. Keeping wisdom’s
ways results in blessing. Many blessings, both material and immaterial, have been mentioned to this point in the book and the whole of blessing is comprehended here.
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Proverbs 9:4
Posted by Jeff Short on January 4, 2017 · Leave a Comment
Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him,
The word for simple means silly or gullible. It describes one uninitiated in the ways of the world, and so easily led (Proverbs 14:15). Wanteth understanding means lacking intelligence. These are the early stages toward becoming a fool and scorner if wisdom is not received by them. Wisdom calls for those who need wisdom to turn in to her. This means to turn aside from the way you are on and to go to wisdom and her way. The rest of the call continues in the next two verses.– Proverbs 9:4
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