THE BOOK OF PROVERBS

Lesson 12 : The Calls Of Two Women

The House Of Lady Wisdom

Proverbs 9:1-6 Has built her house

Hewn out seven pillars Prepared her food

(slaughtered her slaughter) Mixed her wine

Set her table Sent out her maidens

The Importance Of Her House

Seven pillars: number of fullness. The house of Wisdom is well built.

Similar thought: James 3:17 – “But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy.”

Wisdom’s Feast.

“The Palace of Wisdom is very attractive; well-built and well furnished, it rings with the sounds of hospitality; and, with its open colonnades, it seems of itself to invite all passers-by to enter in as guests.” Expositor’s Commentary

She sent out her maidens

Reminiscent of Matthew 22:3

Parable of the wedding feast

Maidens go out to invite all who will come in to the feast.

They are pure and allied with Wisdom.

The Call Of Wisdom

From the heights “Whoever is naïve, let

him turn in here! Come, eat of my food and drink of the wine I have mixed.” (vs. 4-5)

Vs. 6: “Forsake your folly and live, and proceed in the way of understanding.”

Her Message (In Brief)

For the naïve only Not for the scorner – waste of

time. (Matthew 7:6 – pearls before swine)

For the wise, to make them even wiser. (vs. 9)

Vs. 10: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

The Woman Of Folly

•Vs. 13-18•Is boisterous•Is naïve and knows nothing•Calls out to those who pass:•Vs. 16: “Whoever is naïve, let him turn in here…stolen water is sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.”

The Arrogance of Folly

•Interloper – builds her house where only Wisdom has the right.•As empty headed as her victims.•Her invitation is the same as that of Wisdom…at first.•Invitation to vice and destruction.

The Fall Of The Fools

•Vs. 18: “But he does not know that the dead are there, that her guests are in the depths of Sheol.”