Proverbs 9 reminds me
of the old adage, there are two types of girls, the dating kind and
the marrying kind. I wonder if King Solomon was, like most parents
of young adults, concerned about his son’s choices for
companionship. In this proverb, he presents Wisdom as a keeper.
“Wisdom
has built her house; she has set up
its
seven pillars“.
People speculate about what that means, but since seven is
associated with perfection, I believe it means she honors God. She
is going to have a mixer with every detail planned, “She
has
prepared
her meat…
she
has also set her table.
She
has sent out her servants, and she calls from the highest point of
the city“.
And notice who she invites “Let
all who are simple come to my house!”
These are the inexperienced, untrained and open-hearted. Those that
have been bruised need time to heal; she is looking for someone still
unspoiled. To “those
who have no sense“,
she writes, “Come,
eat my food and drink
the
wine I have mixed.
Leave
your simple ways and you will live; walk in the way of insight“.
Wisdom is not afraid to toss out the undesirable, “Whoever
corrects a mocker invites insults… the
wicked
incurs abuse“.
Some people seem to attract mockers. She gives a simple test for
the rejects, “rebuke
mockers…
they will hate you;
rebuke
the wise and they will love you“.
She adds another observation for picking the best of the best,
“Instruct
the wise and
they
will be wiser still; teach the righteous and they will add to their
learning“.
Are you teachable?
But what about those
who have been around the block and are searching? Solomon reminds us
to begin building with a new foundation. “The
fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom,
and
knowledge of the Holy One is understanding“.
We can find new life even in middle age. The Jewish leader came to
Jesus at night and asked, “How
can someone be born when they are old?”
(John chapter 3). Jesus answered all who ask, “Just
as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man
must be lifted up,
that
everyone who believes may have eternal life in Him“.
This is the first step. Solomon adds, “For
through wisdom
your
days will be many, and years will be added to your life“.
He does offer you another choice, “if
you are a mocker, you alone will suffer“.
Are you tired of suffering alone?
The chapter closes
with a description of the end result of not being picky about who you
pick. He paints a picture of faded beauty no longer able to entice
anyone, sad, alone and pathetic. “Folly
is an unruly woman; she is simple and knows nothing.
She
sits at the door of her house… calling out to those who pass
by, who go straight on their way“.
No one notices: no one listens. She has not changed, “Let
all who are simple come to my house! Stolen water is sweet; food
eaten in secret is delicious!”
He writes, “her
guests are deep in the realm of the dead“.
Friend, with God there is always hope. Ephesians chapter 5 offers
this promise to even those who think they cannot recover. “Husbands,
love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up
for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water
through the word, and to present her to Himself as a radiant church,
without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and
blameless“.
Are you ready for a makeover?