Wisdom has built her house;
she has hewn her seven pillars.
She has slaughtered her beasts; she has mixed her wine;
she has also set her table.
She has sent out her young women to call
from the highest places in the town,
In these three proverbs Solomon uses a word picture to personify Wisdom. Wisdom is seen as setting a picture perfect table setting and inviting all those passing by to enter in and to enjoy. Imagine that we set a big Thanksgiving type banquet on the front lawn of our church. On the marquee out front we put the words, “Free Meal!” The smells of the fresh baked food wafting out across the street would cause a traffic jam. It would be foolish for someone to pass by—but they would. So, too, wisdom and her call. She calls out to us; she sets a good setting; the smells and sights entice us—but we pass by. Wisdom is available for all who want to stop to enjoy her offerings. Do you drive by? Don’t! Stop and pull into wisdom. She is found in the pages of the Scriptures. Her settings are tasteful and her offerings meat for the soul. But a challenge we in the world today was predicted by Solomon. At the end of this chapter, he shows that Folly, too, has set up on the road and calls out:
Proverbs 9:13-15 (ESV Strong's)
The woman Folly is loud;
she is seductive and knows nothing.
She sits at the door of her house;
she takes a seat on the highest places of the town,
calling to those who pass by,
who are going straight on their way,
As the weary travel walks by they have on the one side the spread of Wisdom (verses 1-3) but on the other side, they have the teachings of Lady Folly. The picture cannot be more vivid. We have two teachings going on and both speaking out to us. Although man-kind will consistently choose Folly, only God’s wisdom will last and prepare us for eternity.
No comments:
Post a Comment