Call of Wisdom

• 1^st – Be wise… vs. 1-5
  • 1^st – The Treasure… vs. 1
    • My son – keep my words – and treasure my commands within you!
    • Solomon continues to give his WISDOM his SON [Rehoboam]
    • He demands [imperative] he not just to LISTEN – Proverbs 7:1
    • But KEEP [imperative] his words – and treat his commands like valuable TREASURE!
    • My father was not very wealthy – and when he passed there was no INHERITANCE…
    • But what he did give me was far more VALUABLE than money…
    • He lived his life with a passion for Jesus – and showed me how to follow the LORD!
    • The greatest gift we will ever give to our kids – is to point them to God…
    • Every other gift does not last – knowing the LORD is eternal!
    • Ephesians 6:4 – “Fathers… bring up [your children] in the training and admonition of the Lord.”
  • 2^nd – Do not forget… vs. 2-3
    • Keep my commands and live – and my law as the [pupil] of your eye.
    • Bind them on your fingers. Write them on the tablet of your heart!
    • If Rehoboam kept his commands – he would have a good LIFE…
    • Solomon gave him THREE keys to help him KEEP [imperative] the LAW [תּוֹרָה]
    • EYES – he needed to make sure to keep the WORD before his eyes…
    • FINGERS – he needed to TIE [imperative] the WORD to his fingers [reminder]
    • HEART – he needed to WRITE [imperative] the WORD on his heart!
    • I tend to be forgetful – and need reminders [I make notes on my phone]
    • I have tied strings to my finger – just so that I will be reminded of what I need to do!
    • We know it is a good idea to read our Bible – it gives us LIFE…
    • But we easily get caught up in the business of life – and FORGET to spend time with Jesus…
    • Therefore we should set up REMINDERS – post verses around the house…
    • So that we keep the WORD of God continually in front of our eyes…
    • Because the more we get into the WORD – the more the WORD will get into our HEART!
    • Psalm 119:11 – “Your word I have hidden in my heart that I might not sin against You.”
  • 3^rd – Protection… vs. 4-5
    • Say to wisdom: You are my sister – and call understanding your nearest kin.
    • That they may keep you from the immoral woman – the seductress who flatters with her words!
    • For the THIRD time Solomon warns his SON about women…
    • WISDOM says [imperative] – we are to treat the STRANGE [זוּר] woman – as a SISTER [relative]
    • Because that will keep [imperfect] us safe from her flattering [seductive] words!
    • I Timothy 5:2 – “[Treat the] younger women as sisters – with all purity.”
    • If we understand that others in the church are our FAMILY in Christ…
    • It helps us to interact with each other in a GODLY way [purity]
    • WOMEN help their BROTHERS – by being careful what they wear – I Timothy 2:9
    • MEN help their SISTERS – by being careful to what they do [guard their hearts]
    • Knowing how easy it is for us to stumble one another if we are NOT careful!

• 2^nd – Immoral Woman… vs. 6-27
  • 1^st – Not an accident… vs. 6-9
    • For at the window of my house I looked through my lattice.
    • I saw among the simple – I perceived among the youths – a young man devoid of understanding.
    • Passing along the street near her corner – and he took the path to her house.
    • In the twilight – in the evening. In the black and dark night!
    • Not every STRANGER [זוּר] is going to have our BEST interest at heart…
    • There are those who are PREDATORS – they come to DESTROY – John 10:10
    • And Solomon had seen it FIRST hand – watching out his WINDOW…
    • He saw a NAÏVE young man – who LACKED experience [did not understand the danger]
    • He MARCHED straight down to HER house [knew what he wanted]
    • He timed his ARRIVAL – so that he came in the DARKNESS of the night [to hide the sin]!
    • I do wonder if Solomon was not speaking for experience…
    • His window – was him looking back on the foolish choices he made as a young man…
    • When he allowed himself to be ruled by his HORMONES rather than his HEAD…
    • Rather than have his son repeat his MISTAKES – he wanted to SPARE him…
    • Because SIN always comes with consequences – and youth are WISE to avoid paying the PRICE!
    • Sin is NOT an accident – we do not FALL into sin – we JUMP…
    • We see something that we WANT – and the DESIRE for it consumes us…
    • We do NOT stop and consider the consequences – we are blinded by our LUST…
    • We MARCH down the road that ultimately leads to DESTRUCTION!
    • James 1:14-15 – “Each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. When desire has conceived it gives birth to sin. Sin when it is full grown brings forth death.”
  • 2^nd – Roaring Lion… vs. 10-12
    • There a woman met him – with the attire of a harlot – and a crafty heart.
    • She was loud and rebellious. Her feet would not stay at home.
    • At times she was outside – at times in the open square – lurking at every corner!
    • When the YOUNG man arrived – a WOMAN was there waiting…
    • She was wearing PROVOCATIVE clothing [harlot] – meant to CAPTURE his eyes…
    • She talked a LOT [noise] – and was REBELLIOUS – not content to be a WIFE [abide in her home]
    • She wandered around the city [outside – every corner] – looking for her PREY!
    • I Peter 5:8 – “The devil walks about like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour.”
    • Sin is NOT hard to FIND – in fact our ENEMY is like a LION hunting us…
    • He would like nothing more than to get us to COMPROMISE our FAITH…
    • He might tempt us with the images we see on a cell phone…
    • Or with the person who is wearing less than appropriate clothing!
    • Psalm 119:9 – “How can a young person stay pure? By obeying your word.” [NLT]
  • 3^rd – Run away… vs. 13-18
    • Catching her victim… vs. 13-15
      • So she caught him and kissed him. With an impudent face she said to him.
      • I have peace offerings with me. Today I have paid my vows.
      • So I came out to meet you – diligently to seek your face – and I have found you!
      • She OVERPOWERED him [sequential] – because he was LOOKING for trouble…
      • With VICTORY on her face – she KISSED him and told the poor FOOL…
      • She had just come from CHURCH [peace offering and tithes] – maybe they met in CHURCH…
      • Also perhaps a reference to being ceremonially clean from her period – Leviticus 15:28
      • She was ready for SEX – she had been looking for HIM – and now she had HIM!
      • II Timothy 2:22 – “Flee youthful lusts…”
      • On the main walkway in Ephesus – between the Theatre and Celsius library…
      • There is a foot carved into the road – pointing the way to the local brothel…
      • But to anyone with any common sense – it was the warning to go the other way!
      • FLEE youthful lusts – if you think we will compromise – stay away…
      • Do NOT be alone with the opposite gender – do NOT go into a room alone – stay in public…
      • It is NOT worth a little pleasure – risk falling into sin and damaging our walk with God!
    • Her preparation… vs. 16-18
      • I have spread my bed with tapestry – colored coverings of Egyptian linen.
      • I have perfumed my bed with myrrh – aloes – and cinnamon.
      • Come – let us take our fill of love until morning. Let us delight ourselves with love!
      • She had prepared her BED for him [this is when he should have RUN]
      • The BED was covered with FINE colorful linen from Egypt [1000 thread count]
      • She had SPRINKLED fragrant oils on her BED – is smelled NICE…
      • COME [imperative] – let us get DRUNK on LOVE until morning…
      • Let us [reflexive] enjoy LOVE [only here OT] – describing SEX [ἔρως in LXX]
      • Because the LOVE this world idolizes only lasts till MORNING…
      • Whereas the LOVE God intended for MARRIAGE lasts a LIFETIME! 
      • King David saw an unusually beautiful woman – taking a bath – II Samuel 11:2
      • He should have looked away right then [flee] – but instead he kept looking…
      • Then looking was NOT enough – he had to HAVE her [she was already married]
      • He ended up having an AFFAIR – then MURDERING her husband to cover it up!
      • We like to think we are STRONG – that we will make the RIGHT decisions…
      • It only takes ONE moment of weakness – to make a very POOR choice…
      • Be WISE – be SMART – keep your GUARD up and RUN when temptation comes!
  • 4^th – The Problem… vs. 19-20
    • For my husband is not at home. He has gone on a long journey.
    • He has taken a bag of money with him – and will come home on the appointed day!
    • This WOMAN was NOT single – she had a HUSBAND…
    • He was NOT [אֵין] at home – he had left on a long BUSINESS trip…
    • He took a large sum of money with him – and would not come home until a specific day…
    • In other words they would not be INTERRUPTED by his arrival!
    • I Peter 3:7 – “Husbands – likewise – dwell with [your wives]!”
    • DWELL [συνοικέω] only here in NT – to live in the same house with our WIVES…
    • Sometimes work may take us away from our families…
    • But it should be LIMITED – Husbands are NOT to be distant for long…
    • The problem is our enemy will use it as an open door for TEMPTATION!
    • I Corinthians 7:5 – “That Satan does not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.”
  • 5^th – Destruction… vs. 21-23
    • With her enticing speech she caused him to yield – with her flattering lips she seduced him.
    • Immediately he went after her – as an ox to the slaughter – or a fool to prison.
    • Till an arrow struck his liver – a bird hastens to the snare – he did not know it would cost his life!
    • She caused [hiphil] him to surrender with her INSTRUCTIONS [לֶקַח]
    • She forced him [hiphil] with the seductive words of her lips…
    • He IMMEDIATELY ran off with her – like a COW to the SLAUGHTER – or a FOOL on DEATH row…
    • Like an ARROW that strikes [piel] the LIVER [slow painful death]
    • Like a bird that is caught in a TRAP – who does not know he is already dead!
    • All FOUR illustrations carry the same idea – inevitable DEATH…
    • But in every instance the OX – FOOL – MAN – and BIRD do not know they are dead…
    • There is NO hope for them – their fate is already sealed!
    • We might think we are getting away with our SIN – but God is not mocked – Galatians 6:7
  • 6^th – Stay away… vs. 24-27
    • Now therefore – listen to me my children. Pay attention to the words of my mouth:
    • Do not let your heart turn aside to her ways. Do not stray into her paths.
    • For she has cast down many wounded – and all who were slain by her were strong men.
    • Her house is the way to hell – descending to the chambers of death!
    • Therefore Solomon tell us [children] – LISTEN [imperative] to him…
    • PLEASE [jussive] do NOT let your heart wander – or stray onto the wrong PATH…
    • Because LUST has wounded MANY – all [כָּל] who were killed THOUGHT they were STRONG…
    • But her HOUSE leads to GRAVE [שְׁאוֹל] – it takes you to HELL [chamber]!
    • God intends SEX to be ONLY for marriage…
    • The bed is pure – ONLY in a lifelong relationship between a husband and wife…
    • Anything outside of that is SIN – and SIN leads to DEATH!
    • Hebrews 13:4 – “Marriage is honorable among all – and the bed undefiled – but fornicators and adulterers God will judge.”

• 3^rd – Call of Wisdom… vs. 1-36
  • 1^st – Crying out… vs. 1-3
    • Does not wisdom cry out – and understanding lift up her voice?
    • She takes her stand on the top of the high hill – beside the way – where the paths meet.
    • She cries out by the gates – at the entry of the city – at the entrance of the doors!
    • Solomon again describes WISDOM as a woman YELLING to get our attention – Proverbs 1:20
    • She stands on the HIGH place [top of the hill] – so she can be SEEN…
    • She stands at the CROSS roads – where everyone can HEAR…
    • She stands in the GATES of the city – because she wants everyone to KNOW!
    • Wisdom is NOT limited to UNIVERSITIES – or to SEMINARIES [cemeteries]
    • Sadly – those places often are devoid of the WISDOM of God…
    • True WISDOM is available to EVERYONE – to the common man!
    • WISDOM is NOT hard to find – WISDOM is looking trying to get our attention…
    • And since we ALL lack WISDOM – and God is willing to give it to us – James 1:5
    • All we have to do is simply ask God – and we will have WISDOM!
  • 2^nd – Calling Everyone… vs. 4-11
    • Who Wisdom calls… vs. 4-5
      • To you – O men I call – and my voice is to the sons of men.
      • O you simple ones understand prudence – and you fools be of an understanding heart!
      • God wants to give His WISDOM to the sons of Adam [אָדָם] – to SINNERS…
      • So that the NAÏVE become [hiphil] WISE – and FOOLS are given [hiphil] UNDERSTANDING!
        
      • I was listening to a brilliant scientist – who also happens to be an ATHEIST…
      • He was talking about HOW to make a WISE choice in life…
      • As he does NOT believe in God – he fell back on the laws of PROBABILITY…
      • He concluded – the best he could do is make a CHOICE with a 37% chance of being GOOD…
      • The problem is he can NOT see the future – so he has to GUESS…
      • With all his INTELLECT – he is NOT very WISE – because he does NOT look to God!
      • Romans 1:22 – “Professing to be wise – they became fools.”
      • We are all FOOLS apart from God – and no amount of INTELLECT can give us WISDOM…
      • Wisdom is understanding we CANNOT see the future – we do NOT know…
      • Therefore go to God who see ALL things – and let HIM direct out steps – Proverbs 3:5-6
    • What Wisdom gives… vs. 6-9
      • Listen for I will speak of excellent things – from the opening of my lips will come right things.
      • For my mouth will speak truth. Wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
      • All the words of my mouth are with righteousness. Nothing crooked or perverse is in them.
      • They are all plain to him who understands – and right to those who find knowledge!
      • Therefore – LISTEN continually [imperfect] to WISDOM…
      • She will tell us [piel] what are the MOST important [chief] things in life…
      • And she always [imperfect] speaks the TRUTH – will never speak EVIL [abomination]
      • All [כָּל] of her words are RIGHTEOUS [צַדִּיק] – she will never [אִין] LIE [twist words]
      • All [כָּל] of her words are EASY to understand for those who seek to KNOW!
      • We have grown up with a list of priorities – given to us by the world…
      • We were told what need to get an EDUCATION – make lots of MONEY…
      • Jesus might have been part of the equation – but He was not FIRST – Matthew 6:33
      • That list was a LIE – it was not the TRUTH…
      • The TRUTH is only ONE thing matters – WISDOM says we are here for ONE reason…
      • And it is NOT hard to understand – it is the SIMPLE Gospel!
      • Romans 10:8 – “The message is very close at hand. It is on your lips and in your heart.” [NLT]
    • Value of Wisdom… vs. 10-11
      • Receive my instruction – and not silver – and knowledge rather than choice gold.
      • Wisdom is better than rubies – all the things one may desire cannot be compared with her!
      • TAKE [imperative] the DISCIPLINE of God – rather than choosing SILVER or GOLD…
      • Because His WISDOM is GOOD [טֽוֹב] – nothing in this life [rubies] compares to Him!
      • From the moment we are born – a clock starts ticking – counting down our days…
      • The question becomes – what we DO with the TIME we are given…
      • Do we waste our TIME – pursuing things in this life [silver – gold – gems]
      • Or have we LEARNED – the BLESSED life is just about knowing Jesus!
  • 3^rd – True Wealth… vs. 12-21
    • Fear of God… vs. 12-13
    • I – wisdom – dwell with [good judgement] – and find out knowledge and discretion.
    • The fear of the LORD is to hate evil. 
    • Pride and arrogance and the evil way and the perverse mouth I hate!
    • WISDOM is not just a CONCEPT [good judgement] – it is something that we DO [find]
    • What we do is FEAR the LORD [יִרְאַת יְהוָה] – 14x in the book of Proverbs…
    • To FEAR the LORD – means we hate what is EVIL…
    • EVIL – is defined by PRIDE – saying [perverse] we do NOT need God!
    • If I said I did not NEED air – you would call me a FOOL…
    • Because even my WORDS are powered by the very thing I DENY!
      
    • Yet people try and DENY their NEED for God…
    • When the only reason why they exists – is because God holds them – Colossians 1:17
    • Origin of Success… vs. 14-16
      • Counsel is mine – and sound wisdom. I am understanding – I have strength.
      • By me kings reign – and rulers decree justice.
      • By me princes rule – and nobles – all the judges of the earth!
      • GOOD counsel comes from God – He is the one who brings SUCCESS [sound wisdom]
      • Because He is the ONLY one who UNDERSTANDS [the future]
      • He is the one who has ALL the STRENGTH – the ALMIGHTY…
      • By God – kings are allowed to RULE – and princes are able to JUDGE!
      • There is a simple truth – if a plans WORKS – it is because it was from God…
      • If a plan FAILS – it is because God was NOT in it!
    • True Wealth… vs. 17-21
      • I love those who love me – and those who seek me diligently will find me.
      • Riches and honor are with me – enduring riches and righteousness.
      • My fruit is better than gold – yes than fine gold – and my revenue than choice silver.
      • I traverse the way of righteousness – in the midst of the paths of justice.
      • That I may cause those who love me to inherit wealth. That I may fill their treasuries!
      • God LOVES those who LOVE Him – those who SEEK [piel] Him early WILL find Him…
      • And He is the one who can give riches – honor – and RIGHTEOUSNESS [צַדִּיק]
      • The FRUIT He gives is GOOD [טֽוֹב] – better than GOLD or SILVER…
      • He LEADS [piel] us down the PATH of RIGHTEOUSNESS [צַדִּיק]
      • Causing [hiphil] those who LOVE Him to be inherit TRUE wealth!
      • There was a MISSIONARY name Jim Elliot who lived in Ecuador in the 1950s…
      • He was killed trying to reach out to a remote tribal group called the Huaorani…
      • His wife found these words in his journal…
      • A man is not fool to give up what he cannot keep to gain what he will never loose!
      • The world only values TWO things – they look for FAME and FORTUNE…
      • Because the THIRD thing – RIGHTEOUSNESS – ONLY comes from God…
      • But what God gives is far better the fleeting FAME or FORTUNE…
      • WISDOM says we follow God down the path that leads to TRUE wealth!
  • 4^th – Our Creator… vs. 22-31
    • Before the beginning… vs. 22-23
      • The LORD possessed me at the beginning of His way before His works of old.
      • I have been established from everlasting – the beginning – before there was ever an earth!
      • The LORD [יְהוָה] got [perfect] me before the BEGINNING [רֵאשִׁית] – Genesis 1:1
      • God ANOINTED [niphal] wisdom from EVERLASTING – before He created the EARTH!
      • Nothing existed but God before He created the Heavens and the Earth…
      • Which means that WISDOM is just another name for God!
      • John 1:1 – “In the beginning was the Word – the Word was with God and the Word was God.”
    • Before the Earth… vs. 24-26
      • When there were no depths I was brought forth – no fountains abounding with water.
      • Before the mountains were settled – before the hills – I was brought forth.
      • While as yet He had not made the earth or the fields – or the primal dust of the world!
      • When there was NOTHING [אִין] – no WATER no OCEANS [depths]
      • BEFORE the mountains and the hills has settled…
      • Before God made [עָשָׂה] the EARTH – before He made MAN [dust] – Genesis 2:7
      • The WISDOM of men says that all life EVOLVED from the oceans…
      • FOUR billion years ago – microscopic life spontaneously formed in the WATER…
      • The problem was NO person was there to SEE it – MAN was not around yet!
      • But the WISDOM of God was there before there were OCEANS…
      • Before GOD made the earth – BEFORE man was there to make up the lie of EVOLUTION…
      • God was already there – and WISDOM says – listen to the one who SAW creation…
      • Because when God CREATED life [בָּרָא] – it was something ONLY He could do – Genesis 1:21
    • Before the Heavens… vs. 27-29
      • When He prepared the heavens I was there – when He drew a circle on the face of the deep.
      • When He established the clouds above. When He strengthened the fountains of the deep.
      • When He assigned to the sea its limit – so that the waters would not transgress His command.
      • When He marked out the foundations of the earth!
      • When God created the HEAVENS [שָׁמַיִם] – WISDOM was there watching…
      • When God set CLOUDS [first heaven] above – and the OCEANS [depths] below…
      • When God told the SEA how far it could go – creating the dry LAND [מוֹסָד]!
      • There is a HUGE push in the world today to fight CLIMATE change…
      • One of the main arguments for CLIMATE change – is RISING ocean levels!
      • Man question the WISDOM of God – the WORD of God…
      • God is the one who TOLD the oceans how far they are allowed to go…
      • And they CANNOT disobey [transgress] His command! 
    • Delight of God… vs. 30-31
      • Then I was beside Him as a master craftsman – and I was daily His delight.
      • Rejoicing always before Him – rejoicing in His inhabited world.
      • And my delight was with the sons of men!
      • WISDOM was with God on EVERY day [יוֹם יוֹם] of creation…
      • Watching with delight [piel] as the MASTER builder did His work…
      • And the greatest JOY [piel] came when God created MAN [אָדָם]
      • Genesis 1:27 – “God created [בָּרָא] man in His own image.”
      • The IMAGE that God gave to us – was His TRIUNE nature…
      • We are BODY – SOUL – and SPIRIT – I Thessalonians 5:23
      • We live in a body – have conscious thought – AND have an eternal spirit…
      • The question we face every day – is which is in control of our lives!
      • We make all of our decisions with our conscious MIND [soul]
      • But is our MIND under the influence of either our BODY or SPIRIT…
      • WISDOM says we should DELIGHT [piel] in our CREATOR – and be led by the SPIRIT!
      • Romans 8:4 – “Do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.”
  • 5^th – Listen to Wisdom… vs. 32-33
    • Now therefore – listen to me – my children. For blessed are those who keep my ways.
    • Hear instruction and be wise – and do not disdain it!
    • SINCE wisdom calls to EVERYONE – and offers to give all TRUE wealth [righteousness]
    • SINCE God is the one who CREATED us – it is WISDOM for us to LISTEN [imperative] to Him…
    • Because His way is BLESSED [אֶשֶׁר] – only He can give us a GOOD life…
    • Therefore – LISTEN [imperative] to the DISCIPLINE of the LORD – do NOT [jussive] refuse it!
    • I have bought my fair share of inexpensive furniture…
    • It always comes UNASSEMBLED – and I often try to figure it out on my own…
    • But what was meant to be a BLESSING – inevitably becomes a CURSE – as I cannot figure it out!
    • Why would we go to the WORLD – or the ideas of MEN to try and find JOY…
    • The only place where we can find WISDOM – is from the instruction MANUAL [Bible]!
  • 6^th – The Choice… vs. 34-36
    • Blessed is the man who listens – watching daily at my gates – waiting at the posts of my doors.
    • For whoever finds me finds life – and obtains favor from the LORD.
    • But he who sins against me wrongs his own soul. all those who hate me love death!
    • The SINNER [אָדָם] who choses to walk the BLESSED [אֶשֶׁר] path…
    • Is the one who comes EVERY day [יוֹם יוֹם] and does THREE things…
    • LISTENS [infinitive] – they are always LISTENING to the WORD of the LORD…
    • WATCHES [infinitive] – they are always READING the WORD of the LORD…
    • WAITS [infinitive] – they do NOT go anywhere until DIRECTED by the LORD…
    • Because whoever finds WISDOM of God – finds the meaning of LIFE…
    • But whoever SINS [חָטָא] – to MISS the mark [not listen – not watch – not wait]
    • HARMS his own SOUL – because ANYONE [כָּל] who hates WISDOM – loves DEATH…
    • Solomon gave his SON a simple CHOICE – to follow WISDOM or reject it!
    • What we do with the WISDOM of God – the WORD of God that has been since the beginning…
    • The CHOICE is ours – WISDOM is calling – the WORD of God is waiting…
    • Do we come DAILY to LISTEN – READ – and WAIT upon the LORD so we have a BLESSED life…
    • Because if we REJECT it – we will ONLY end up HURTING ourselves!