(Read Prov. 8; 9)
PROVERBS 8 presents Wisdom to us, i.e., Christ—God’s blessed Son, the eternal Son of His bosom and the lover of our souls. We know this from a New Testament scripture, “Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God” (1 Cor. 1:2424But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. (1 Corinthians 1:24)). chapter 9 shows us the house that Wisdom built, what is in it, the way to it, and what is the result of getting into it. It shows us also what is the sad result of not listening to the voice of Wisdom.
The result of not listening to Wisdom’s voice is detailed in the end of chapter 9. Another call fell upon the ear with great power; that call has been heeded, and the result is given us. “He that wanteth understanding” listens to the voice of the foolish woman―the world that is all round about you, every voice but that of Christ. “Lest thou shouldest ponder the path of life, her ways are moveable, that thou canst not know them” (Prov. 5:66Lest thou shouldest ponder the path of life, her ways are moveable, that thou canst not know them. (Proverbs 5:6)). The point is this, there are the wise―those who, having heard Wisdom’s voice, know and those who do not know, the worldling’s end. “He knoweth not that the dead are there; and that her guests are in the depths of hell” (9:18).
There will be a mighty movement in your soul, my unsaved reader, when you wake up to find you are in the depths of hell. You say, I do not believe in hell. The devil is quite clever enough not to let you believe in hell, because he wants to get you there, but if once you got convinced there was a hell, and depths in it that no language could describe, you would cross the line, leave the company of the foolish, and get among the wise, the living. Where are they? In Wisdom’s house. Let me ask you, Would you rather live and die a fool, or a wise man?
But let us hear these rival voices. “Unto you, O men, I call; and my voice is to the sons of man” (8:4). This is the call of Wisdom, and there is no doubt as to its object. “I lead in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment. That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures” (8:20, 21). Is not that beautiful? Fancy being an eternal pauper; that is what an unsaved sinner is. But what does Wisdom propose to you and me? “That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures.” Lend your ear to the voice of the blessed Lord. He wants to reach your heart that He may “fill your treasure.” Whatever you may have in this world you must leave all behind. I want something for eternity and have it, thank God.
In verses 22-31 you get a wonderful description of who Wisdom is. Before creation He was. In the fullness of time He stepped into this world, and His name is Jesus. In bye-gone ages He says, “Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him” (vs. 30).
Wisdom is the eternal Son of the Father, the beloved Son. Go back into eternity, and what was the joy of God? Jesus, His blessed Son, and what was He thinking about? He says He was “rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth; and my delights were with the sons of men” (vs. 31). Before earth was created, He had His eye upon the men who should yet dwell there.
Perhaps you say, I am afraid of Him, I am such a sinner. Yes, but He is such a Saviour. Listen to His voice, “Now therefore hearken unto me, O ye children: for blessed are they that keep my ways” (vs. 32). He wants to get your confidence. Listen to Jesus, “Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not” (vs. 33). You say, I could not say I have refused it. Have you accepted it? Are you forgiven?
Listen again, “Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors. For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favor of the Lord” (vers. 34, 35). How does a man get life? By Him. Have you found Jesus yet? Take care lest you slight Him, for “He that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death” (vs. 36), How can you sin against Christ? It may not be some gross open sin that conscience will condemn. The crowning sin by and by will be this, that Christ has been presented to you, but you have not received Him.
Be wise as God gives you another opportunity of bowing to this blessed One. “All that hate me love death.” Are you not conscious of deep opposition to the Lord? Have you begun to repent?
You have found your life and your thoughts of God wrong. It is God’s grace leading you to the spot where salvation is found. But there is no salvation outside Christ. Wisdom’s house is not the church. Those who form it are the guests. The house is one thing, the guests another. In Luke 14 you have the thought of the house, and the one who spreads the supper says, “That my house may be filled.” God is looking for guests. Wisdom’s house is a figure of a spot where there is a home. A solitary life is not home. When I come to the house there is the thought of companionship and security.
“Wisdom hath builded her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars” (Prov. 9:11Wisdom hath builded her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars: (Proverbs 9:1)). What could give the idea of security, solidity, immovability like this? You come to the place God has prepared. Wisdom has built it; you have not to build it but to get into it, and you are told how. Her house has seven pillars. Seven, in Scripture, is the number of spiritual completeness. The seven pillars carry the thought of the absolute security of that house. Everything else will fail, heaven and earth will pass away, but will Wisdom’s house? Never.
Wisdom has built her house, and into it she calls the miserable, the hungry, the empty, the desolate. I believe the seven pillars furnish the idea of what God is in the blessedness of His own being. If I go round about Wisdom’s house and mark the pillars, I read “LOVE” on one of them. That is the mighty motive force that led God to act as He has done. He has acted love; He has given His Son, and His love has been demonstrated in that gift. “In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins” (1 John 4:9, 109In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. 10Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. (1 John 4:9‑10)). That is atonement, the atoning death of Christ.
See another pillar of Wisdom’s house, labeled “RIGHTEOUSNESS.” God is love, and He is light, but He is also righteous―He must maintain His own character. While He judged sin to the utter most at the cross, He demonstrated His love to the sinner at the same moment. The cross is the meeting place of God and man; it is where heaven, earth, and hell meet, and I see in Jesus’ death the demonstration of the righteousness of God. He must judge sin, because of the perfect holiness of His nature. Give me a house with the seven pillars of LOVE, RIGHTEOUSNESS, HOLINESS, TRUTH, MERCY, GOODNESS, and FAITHFULNESS, and without contradiction I have a perfect dwelling-place. The spot where my soul rests and revels before God in the enjoyment of His love, and the enjoyment of Christ, is a home that is based on the displayed nature and character of God, since all His attributes have been absolutely glorified in the death and resurrection of His blessed Son the Lord Jesus Christ.
It is very important to see that. Scripture is very emphatic as to the fact that holiness is maintained but sin is judged. While the sin is hated and absolutely dealt with, the one who has committed the sin is loved, and an effort to reach and bless him is made by God in the most wonderful way. Christianity is different from every other religion under the sun. In other religions God is either hard and vengeful, to be dreaded and avoided, that is the God of the heathen, a God a long way off—or, on the other hand, He is careless as to evil.
Some men say God would never judge man for his sin; that is making light of evil. The beauty of the cross of Jesus is that what God is, is there made perfectly manifest, while what man is is also made perfectly manifest. God is righteous, and man utterly unrighteous, so man could not get to God. But God can get to man, and He does so in the person of His dear Son, and you find in the atoning work of the Lord Jesus Christ that God’s holiness is absolutely maintained, since man’s sin is judged in the person of a holy sinless substitute.
How came Jesus to go to the cross? It was the activity of divine love. Love comes out, righteousness is maintained, while sin is dealt with, God’s nature and the doling of His throne are met and glorified by Christ’s death, and the result is that God is able to come out in the blessedness of His grace, proclaiming pardon and peace to the vilest; and then under the figure of a house, where He dwells, and where He wants companions, He sends out His messengers to fetch in those that will be His guests. There is a feast provided, and the deep need of man’s heart is all divinely met in the gospel.
Further, we read of Wisdom that “she hath killed her beasts; she hath mingled her wine; she hath also furnished her table” (vs. 2). Are you still in the outside place like the prodigal, feeding on the husks? His was not a “furnished table,” it was famine. What, unsaved one, is the state of your soul? Are you satisfied, happy and contented? No. You may have the “laughter of fools,” which is like “the crackling of thorns, under a pot,” but you have nothing solid. What you have is evanescent, is passing away. You are not at rest as you think of God and eternity; there is a want, and what is it? The knowledge of Christ.
The Lord said to a Samaritan sinner, “Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again, but whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst: but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life” (John 4:13, 1413Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: 14But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life. (John 4:13‑14)). What God wants is to fill your heart with deep and divine contentment in the knowledge of the Son of His love. The wine is mingled―a figure of joy; the table is furnished, there is no lack. Do you want forgiveness? You will get it whenever you cross the threshold. Are you seeking the knowledge of acceptance with God? Come to Jesus, and you will find yourself accepted in the Beloved.
Do you feel that you are guilty and have no righteousness? Then find Christ Jesus, “who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption” (1 Cor. 1:3030But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: (1 Corinthians 1:30)). There is not one single thing that your soul can possibly need that you do not find in Him. Is there a want in your soul, a craving? He says, “I am the bread of life.” If you are guilty He will justify you, His blood will cleanse you, and He will give you life. All that God could give is wrapped up in the person of Jesus, and the moment you touch that Blessed One who is Wisdom here, all is yours, for everything is yours the moment you have Christ.
Notice Wisdom’s earnestness. “She hath sent forth her maidens: she crieth upon the highest places of the city” (vs. 3). It is not merely that the house is built and the feast spread: there is the divine activity that sends out the maidens, and they go and cry in the high places of the city. Could a sister do this? I pity the one who does not, who does not carry to others that which fills her own heart. What does Wisdom do? She sends out her messengers. They pass out and scour the whole city to get hold of some poor, needy, empty, hungry soul, and bring it to a scene of light, joy, and blessing. How blessed to be told, “For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being pit to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit” (1 Peter 3:1818For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit: (1 Peter 3:18)). You are brought to God if you believe the gospel.
Now see who share Wisdom’s feast as she says, “Whoso is simple let him turn in hither: as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him, Come, eat of my bread, and drink of the wine which I have mingled” (vers. 4:5). The more simple you are the better; that is why so many young people get converted. About fifty-five Christians of every hundred are converted before the age of twenty. Your knowledge and wisdom, my grown-up friend, may yet sink you into hell. You have never yet been saved! No. Why? I have difficulties about Scripture Children have no difficulties, they are so simple. Yes, that is what God would have you be. “Whoso is simple” is called, and plainly told, “Except ye be converted and become a9 little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven” (Matt. 18:33And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 18:3)).
I have to give up my own thoughts and ideas to learn of God, and listen to what He says. Is there a simple soul reading this? “Let him turn in.” You are going on the wrong road, turn now. If anyone has woke up to see his state, and is saying, I am not right, I do not understand, listen to Wisdom: “Come, eat of my bread, and drink of the wine which I have mingled” (vs. 5). You cannot buy it, for God does not sell it, nevertheless “come, eat.” How simple. It is not, Buy, pray, work; no, “Come, eat of my bread.” It is the soul availing itself of the atoning death of Jesus, the blessed Son of God, who came down from heaven. He says, “I am the living bread that came down from heaven.”
Do you believe that the Lord Jesus Christ came right down from glory, and became a man in this world, and died that He might give His flesh for the life of the world? Do you believe it We live in a day when, alas, it is much doubted. Praise God for the old, blessed, glorious, simple gospel, that the Son of God left the heights of glory, became incarnate, and lived a man among men. He went in the blessed grace of His heart to the cross, and gave His life for ours; love, mighty, eternal, wondrous love was the love of Jesus, which demonstrated itself at the cross; which “is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth” (Rom. 1:1616For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. (Romans 1:16)).
Are you willing to taste of Wisdom’s supper, to turn in and eat? You say, I have no right. What was the title of any one to eat of this feast? They were invited. Have you never woke up to find God wanted you? “There is joy in heaven over one sinner that repenteth” (Luke 15:77I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance. (Luke 15:7)).
You had better heed Wisdom’s advice, “Forsake the foolish, and live; and go in the way of understanding” (vs. 6). What is that? You make a break. You come to a downright definite determination in your soul―I will have Christ. That is forsaking the foolish. Decide for Christ, make up your mind for Him: come to Jesus.
Perhaps you say, I am not quite persuaded. Read on― “He that reproveth a scorner getteth to himself shame: and he that rebuketh a wicked man getteth himself a blot” (vs. 7): Who is the scorner? The man that is not a believer. People are often angry with the man that points out their scorn. “Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee. Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning” (vers. 8, 9). Who are the wise people? All who have come to Jesus. Who are the scorners? Those who have not. God calls things by their right names, and it is a great thing that people should see where they are. You are either a wise person who has heeded Wisdom’s voice, or a scorner; a call may have come to you through a strange messenger, but you must not be angry with a speaker who tells you the truth. There is nothing will condemn men like religion without Christ. They have got a little religion―enough for the devil to hoodwink them with―but not salvation in Christ.
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding” (vs. 10). Where does Wisdom begin? You may get into her secret. Fear the Lord. “There is no fear of God before their eyes” is the testimony of the Psalmist as to an unregenerate man.
Some people have the idea that they will get to heaven because they belong to a Christian family: there is some hope for them on that ground they think. No. “If thou be wise, thou shalt be wise for thyself; but if thou scornest, thou alone shalt bear it” (vs. 12). Scorner, young man, child of Christian parents, you who have heard the gospel again and again, and have put it from you, and are thinking some day you will receive and believe, listen, “If thou scornest, thou alone shall bear it.”
Solitary existence in the depths of hell for all eternity, repenting the folly that missed God’s salvation on earth, will be an awful existence. Never let it be your experience.
Now notice the other voice: “A foolish woman is clamorous: she is simple, and knoweth nothing” (vs. 13). Here is the world, “knoweth nothing.” “For she sitteth at the door of her house, on a seat in the high places of the city. To call passengers who go right on their ways” (vers. 14, 16). This is imitation of Wisdom’s call. The devil has done nothing but imitate from the beginning. Wisdom has her messengers, and the devil has his. You have come to the parting of the ways here, and you are either going to decide for Christ or the world. Duties, and responsibilities, and engagements come to mind, and Satan says, What about this, that, and the other? This foolish woman is going to call you, and try to turn you aside.
“Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither; and as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him, Stolen waters are sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant” (vers. 16, 17). What an imitation! You might almost think it was the voice of Wisdom. No, it is the voice of evil. That which you have not a right to, it is suggested you would greatly enjoy. It is the way the devil allures souls until too late they find out their folly. “But he knoweth not that the dead are there, and that her guests are in the depths of hell” (vs. 18). Wisdom’s house is where life is and love reigns, but here it is the dead. Are you going to be the guest of Wisdom, or of the foolish woman; the guest of Christ, or spend eternity with the dead? The moment is coming when the Lord will come and see the guests. He says, I will have My house filled. That is why the gospel goes out. The grace of God goes on; He invites men, He is lingering, but the Lord is coming, and the door soon will be closed.
It will be an awful thing to find you have just missed God’s salvation by one night. You meant to receive it, but you were too late by one night. You have procrastinated and delayed. Believe now, turn now to the Lord and be His guest. I pity the man that finds himself for eternity among the dead, and the guests of folly. Make up your mind for the Lord, and He will save you on the spot.
W. T. P. W.