PROVERBS 9
Biblical wisdom is ready to teach verse 1- 3
Wisdom has built her house – she has hewn out her seven pillars
she has killed her beasts – she has mingled her wine
she has also furnished her table
she has sent forth her maidens
she cries upon the highest places of the city
Biblical wisdom calls to all who will listen verse 4- 6
Whoso is simple – let him turn in hither
as for him that wants understanding
she says to him
Come – eat of my bread
and drink of the wine which I have mingled
Forsake the foolish – and live
and go in the way of understanding
Biblical wisdom understands who is willing to learn verse 7- 9
He that reproves a scorner gets to himself shame
and he that rebukes a wicked man gets himself a blot
Reprove not a scorner – lest he hate you – rebuke a wise man
and he will love you
Give instruction to a wise man – and he will be yet wiser
teach a just man – and he will increase in learning
Biblical wisdom begins with the fear of the LORD verse 10- 12
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom
and knowledge of the holy is understanding
for by me thy days shall be multiplied
and the years of your life shall be increased
IF you be wise – you shall be wise for yourself
BUT IF you scorn – you alone shall bear it
Worldly wisdom doesn’t understand Biblical wisdom verse 13
A foolish woman is clamorous – she is simple
and knows nothing
Worldly wisdom entices the simple verse 14- 17
For she sits at the door of her house
on a seat in the high places of the city
to call passengers who go right on their way
whoso is simple
let him turn in hither
and as for him that wants understanding
she says to him
Stolen waters are sweet
and bread eaten in secret is pleasant
Worldly wisdom leads to hell verse 18
BUT he knows not that the dead are there
and that her guests are in the depths of hell
COMMENTARY:
DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers
: 8 Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate you: rebuke a wise man and he will love you. (3198 “rebuke” [yakach] means prove arguments, judge, chasten, correct, plead, plead or reason.)
DEVOTION: This Hebrew word is used twice in the same verse. In the King James Version it is translated differently. Two different individuals are involved.
One individual is a scorner or one who is a fool and likes to argue. In some of churches we have individuals who like to be “the devil’s advocate.” The devil needs no advocate in our churches. People who think this is necessary should be corrected but most of them think they need no correction. They think they are always right. He likes to make fun of people and beliefs. He speaks as one having authority but not really knowing what he is talking about. These individuals are not concerned about eternity or their relationship with God. They appear to be believers but don’t manifest a humble teachable attitude. The Bible states that correcting them is a waste of time.
The second individual is called a wise man. A wise man is one who learns truth and can apply them Biblically to his life. He is one that has the capacity to understand the truth and wants to learn more about it. He realizes that the only truth in our world is found first in the fear of the LORD. He is one who fears the LORD and wants to help others know the truth of the Word of God. If he is chastened for a wrong belief or action, he will appreciate it. In fact, he will be attracted to an individual who corrects him in a loving manner. He is a lifelong learner.
These are two different men with two different reactions to correction in their lives. One will mock and one will love. One of the tests to see where we are in our Christian life is how we react to correction. We all make mistakes on a daily basis, but some don’t want to correct that behavior. Some of us are slow learners and need correction for the same thing many times. The LORD is longsuffering with us. HE knows the hearts of those who are slow learners. HE is one that never gives up on an individual. Praise HIM.
We all need a friend who loves the LORD and us with a purpose of correcting us in a loving manner. Pray that the LORD gives us such a friend.
CHALLENGE: Be such a friend to those who we truly love in the LORD. Challenge them when they act sinfully. Encourage them when act correctly.
DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers
: 9 Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning. (3948 “learning” [leqach] means doctrine, fair speech, insight, instruction, persuasiveness, or belief.
DEVOTION: One of the goals of sending out this Daily Meat Devotional is to help those who trying to mature in their faith to mature. There are some who will have a problem with their doctrine because there are so many voices out there that are not teaching the truth of the Word of God. Some are saying they are teaching truth but they are not giving a book by book study of the Word of God to show a consistent doctrinal study of what God thinks is important.
There are so many voices going in different directions that only a consistent study of each book will help give a consistent world view that is Biblical. We have to watch who we read and listen to by checking them out with the Word of God. Any subject is covered throughout the Word of God is worth knowing and teaching others.
God would like all believers to spread the good news of salvation through Jesus Christ alone. Salvation is not based on good works. Salvation is not based on emotion. It is based on the truth that is taught in the Word of God. Once this truth is learned there will be works that are pleasing to the LORD. They will not earn our salvation but show our salvation.
CHALLENGE: Good doctrine is important to spreading the message of the Word of God. Insight into the teaching of the Word of God the Bible is necessary and should be growing each day.
DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers
:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding. (8462 “beginning” [tachillah] means the event consisting of the start of something, the first time, first principle, or a point of time at the very start of a duration)
DEVOTION: The starting point to obtaining Biblical wisdom is to have the fear of the LORD. We have to make sure that we have a proper relationship with the LORD for HIM to give us the wisdom we need to live the Christian life.
As we reverence the LORD, we can start to understand what HE is doing in our life as HE has done in the lives of those who were HIS followers before us.
We have the history of the Bible beginning in the book of Genesis to help us understand who God is and what HE has done since before time began. HE created the world out of nothing and called all the animals by name. HE created the first man and woman and placed them in the Garden of Eden.
HE showed us their failure to trust HIM and HIS judgment on mankind from that point on. But HE also showed us a way of escape from hell for eternity through the blood sacrifice of an animal until the sacrifice of HIS SON Jesus on the cross for our sins.
As we read through the Bible, we see HIS plan for those who are willing to follow HIM. HE gives them wisdom and knowledge to act in a way that is pleasing to HIM.
We are to never stop learning about what God expects of us on a day- to-day basis if we are to please HIM. Our understanding is based on our willingness to serve HIM in spirit and in truth.
CHALLENGE: Are we learning from the Word of God each day regarding how we should live the Christian life in a way that is pleasing to HIM?
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: 13 A foolish woman is clamorous: she is simple, and knows nothing (1993 “clamorous” [hamah] means murmur, growl, roar, be boisterous, make noise, restless, or tumultuous.
DEVOTION: The contrast is great between those who are teachers of truth and those who are teachers of falsehood. The problem we have today is that many of those who teach falsehood are in the pulpits of the churches of the world. There are many who want to mix falsehood with truth. Some don’t even care to pretend to teach the truth.
The boisterous woman that is used as an example of someone who doesn’t have Biblical wisdom calls out to the simple in the world, just like Biblical wisdom calls for those who are willing to listen.
Two voices calling everyone. One voice leads to hell and the other leads to heaven. It is interesting that Solomon states that one voice “knows nothing.” It is that voice that thinks they know everything even though they don’t understand Biblical truth and think it has nothing to do with true knowledge.
The New Atheists think that those who believe in God are ignorant. They are putting out more books and passing more laws to combat Christianity. They would like to have Christianity outlawed. They would like all their children taken from them because they think that parents are brainwashing their children. The true enemy of Christianity is Satan. He is using all of his means that the LORD allows to cause problems for the TRUE CHURCH.
Our time is short while we are here on this earth to learn how to be more Christ-like in our actions. The Holy Spirit wants to teach us Godly wisdom. HE has a desire to help us daily make wise choices. We need to be willing learners.
CHALLENGE: Acknowledge the fact that there are two types of wisdom. Learn to listen to the right voice. Once you have learned from the LORD share them with others.)
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DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:
BODY
Chastity (Purity in living)
Wisdom verse 1- 12
Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)
Sacrifice (Giving up something we want to serve the LORD)
Submission (Willing to listen to others and LORD)
Solitude (Going to a quiet place without anyone)
SOUL
Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)
Frugality (wise use of resources)
Journalizing (Writing down what you have learned from the LORD)
Study and Meditation (Thinking through your study in the Word)
Secrecy (Doing your good deeds without others knowing but God)
SPIRIT
Celebration (Gathering around a special occasion to worship LORD)
Confession (Tell the LORD we are sorry for our sins on a daily basis)
Prayer (Conversation with God on a personal level)
Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)
Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)
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DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:
Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)
God the Father (First person of the Godhead)
LORD – Jehovah (Covenant keeping, Personal) verse 10
Fear of the LORD verse 10
God the Son (Second person of the Godhead –God/man, Messiah)
God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)
Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)
Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)
Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)
Simple verse 4, 13, 16
Wise man verse 8, 9
Foolish woman verse 13
Guests verse 18
Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)
Foolish verse 6, 13
Scorner verse 7, 8, 12
Wicked verse 7
Hate verse 8
Clamorous verse 13
Simple verse 13, 16
Knows nothing verse 13
Foolish woman calls the simple verse 13
False teaching verse 16
Stolen waters [adultery] verse 17
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)
Wisdom verse 1, 10, 12
Want understanding verse 4, 6, 10
Forsake the foolish verse 6
Go in the way of understanding verse 6
Rebuke verse 8
Love verse 8
Give instruction to a wise man verse 9
Teach a just man verse 9
Learner verse 9
Fear of the LORD verse 10
Knowledge of the holy = undersatnding verse 10
Long life verse 11
Wise verse 12
Israel (Old Testament people of God)
Church (New Testament people of God)
Last Things (Future Events)
Dead verse 18
Depths of hell verse 18
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QUOTES regarding passage
7–8a The scoffer has been met before in the book. He is the person who will not live by wise and moral teachings and is not content to let others do so without his cynical mocking. The warning is that anyone who tries to correct a mocker is asking for trouble. “Strife” or “insult” (qālôn) and “abuse” (mûmô) are second nature to this cynical heckler (v. 7). The only response such rebuke will receive is hatred; so the warning is put in the form of a negative jussive: “Do not rebuke” (ʾal-tôḵaḥ, v. 8a). The idea of hatred is a spontaneous rejection as well as a dislike for the one trying to correct the mocker. (Ross, A. P. (1991). Proverbs. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs (Vol. 5, p. 949). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.)
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9:7–8a. A mocker. (see comments on 1:22), who is wicked, is unteachable. When someone corrects him he responds in an attitude of hatred by lashing out with insulting verbal abuses (9:7–8a). Abuse (mûm) means a blotch or defect. When corrected, a wicked person hurls back the rebuke by defaming his would-be counselor. Such a mocker is hardened in his ways. (Buzzell, S. S. (1985). Proverbs. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 1, p. 924). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
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Of course, when the simple people accept the invitation, it means leaving the old crowd, and the fools and scoffers will try to talk them into staying (Prov. 9:6–8). Sinners don’t want to be rebuked and reproved, but wise people will accept and benefit from both. Fools, scoffers, and the simple like to have their own way and be told they’re doing fine, but wise men and women want the truth. Teach wise people and they’ll accept the truth and become wiser; try to teach fools and they’ll reject the truth and become even greater fools. (Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). Be Skillful (p. 32). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
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9:7–9 Wise people receive reproof and rebuke with appreciation; fools do not. (MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (2006). The MacArthur study Bible: New American Standard Bible. (Pr 9:7–9). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers.)
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Ver. 7. He that reproveth a scorner getteth to himself shame, &c.] Intimating, that though the simple, and such as want understanding, and of whom there is hope of doing them good, are to be invited into Wisdom’s house; yet not the haughty scorner, the abandoned sinner, the scoffer at all religion, who walks after his own lusts, and is quite irreclaimable; it is but casting pearls before swine, and giving that which is holy to dogs, to reprove and exhort such persons; though the Gospel is to be preached to every creature, yet when men despise it, and make a mock at it, they are to be turned from, and no more is to be said to them; as the Jews of old, they were the first invited to the Gospel feast, the same that is described in the context; they made light of it, contradicted and blasphemed the word, and so judged themselves unworthy of it; wherefore Wisdom’s maidens, or Christ’s ministers, were bid to turn from them, and go to the Gentiles, and preach it to them; for it is to no purpose to address such persons; shame is the sure consequence of it, because a man is disappointed of the end he has in view, which is doing good. And he that rebuketh a wicked man getteth himself a blot; this shews who is meant by a scorner, a very profligate man, bent on his wicked ways, and quite incorrigible; to rebuke such an one is not only labour lost, and in vain, but the rebuker getteth himself an ill name, and is sure to have the dirt of reproach and scandal cast upon him; though this a man might patiently bear, if there was any hope of doing good. (Gill, J. (1810). An Exposition of the Old Testament (Vol. 4, p. 390). London: Mathews and Leigh.)
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7–12. These are so many various ways of setting forth the happy consequences of those, that at wisdom’s call are made wise unto salvation. They find all the blessed effects of that grace in the heart, in following what is here said, and giving themselves up to the guidance of wisdom. (Hawker, R. (2013). Poor Man’s Old Testament Commentary: Proverbs–Lamentations (Vol. 5, p. 35). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.)
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7. He that reproveth a scorner getteth to himself shame: and he that rebuketh a wicked man getteth himself a blot. 8. Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee. 9. Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.
Wisdom’s messengers must discriminate in the proclamation of their message. Only the simple will welcome it. The scorner and wicked will rebel. “Let them alone.” Yet we must distinguish between the ignorant and the wilful scorner—between one who rejects from the first rising enmity, and one, who deliberately refuses the blessing—self-excluded from the general ministerial commission.
This is also the rule of Christian prudence. The Gospel is a thing too holy to be exposed to scoffing fools. Why should we reprove, where more harm than good may be occasioned? Avoid irritations. Await a favorable opportunity. Sometimes a sad, serious, intelligible silence is the most effective reproof. Whereas open rebuke might stir up a torrent of hatred and abuse;10 and, under provocation of spirit, the reprover might get to himself a blot.
Yet this prudence must not degenerate into cowardice, and compromise the primary obligation boldly to rebuke sin, and confess our Master.13 Every sinner is not a scorner. And a “word spoken in due season, how good is it!” That false delicacy therefore, which recoils from an unflinching profession, is treachery to our Lord, and deep—perhaps eternal—injury to our fellow-sinners. Has not each of us a tongue to speak? To suffer any therefore to rush into perdition without opening our mouths to save them is a sin of omission, which will cause a bitter pang to the awakened conscience.
The wise and just man gladly encourages well-timed reproof. Conscious of his own failings, he loves his reprover as a friend to his best interest; and would receive instruction from the lowest, as a means of becoming yet wiser and increasing in learning.
After all—wisely to give, and humbly to receive, reproof, requires much prayer, self-denial, love, and sincerity. But where the mind of Christ is mutually exhibited, it cements a bond of the warmest affection. “Faithful are the wounds of a friend.”4 Happy is that church, which receives the loving admonitions of the Christian pastor with humility and thankfulness! (Bridges, C. (1865). An Exposition of the Book of Proverbs (pp. 76–77). New York: Robert Carter & Brothers.)
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FROM MY READING:
(Remember the only author that I totally agree with is the HOLY SPIRIT in the inerrant WORD OF GOD called THE BIBLE! All other I try to gleam what I can to help me grow in the LORD!!)
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Questions regarding purpose of the ministry:
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- Would a yearly gathering of the devotional family in your area help?
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THE CROSS SPEAKS TO US
…the blood of sprinkling, that speaks better things than that of Abel.
Hebrews 12:24
Has the cross of Christ ever spoken to you? Have you heard its message? The cross of Christ preaches. The cross of Christ speaks. The blood of the cross speaks. It has something to say. Have you heard it? The writer to the Hebrews thanks God that this blood speaks something better than the blood of Abel spoke. You remember the story of Cain and Abel, the first two sons of Adam and Eve, and the story of how Cain slew his brother Abel and shed his blood. He murdered him. And the blood of Abel, spilled there upon the ground, spoke as it cried out for vengeance, punishment, and retribution. The blood of Abel spoke.
And God tells us through the writer to the Hebrews that is not the blood that you and I have come to. We have come to a blood of sprinkling that “speaks better things than that of Abel.” This is why all these men in the New Testament rejoice in it. This is why the saints of the ages rejoiced in it. The blood speaks, and it speaks the best things that the world has ever heard.
Let me call your attention to some of the things that the cross of Christ, the blood of the cross, speaks and says to men and women today. In other words, let us listen to the cross speaking in the form of exposition. There is nothing that so expounds the truth of God to us as the cross of Christ. The Bible expounds the same truth. The cross of Christ lays it open before us and makes it speak to us. Have you ever regarded it as a sermon and sat and listened to it, and have you heard what it has to say to you? What an exposition of truth there is in that cross on Calvary’s hill!
A Thought to Ponder
There is nothing that so expounds the truth of God to us as the cross of Christ.
(From The Cross, pp. 154-155, by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
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Blessed Assurance
“And the work of righteousness shall be peace; and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever.” (Isaiah 32:17)
As expressed in the old gospel hymn, the “blessed assurance, Jesus is mine” is a “foretaste of glory divine.” According to our text, this “assurance for ever,” together with true peace of soul and quietness of spirit, are products of the “work of righteousness.”
The New Testament exposition of genuine righteousness makes it clear that we who have received Christ’s work of righteousness by faith have been “made the righteousness of God in him” (2 Corinthians 5:21). “To him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness” (Romans 4:5).
Thus, salvation is the priceless possession of those to whom Christ’s work of righteousness has been imputed, through faith. On the other hand, the assurance of salvation, accompanied by quietness and peace of heart, is “experienced” only by saved believers who practice the work of righteousness in their daily walk with the Lord. If we truly have salvation, then we ought to manifest the “things that accompany salvation….For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have showed toward his name….And we desire that every one of you do show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end” (Hebrews 6:9-11).
We can, indeed, know that we are saved simply through faith in His work and His Word (e.g., 1 John 5:13). Nevertheless, to know that one’s faith itself is genuine, God has given us this test of faith. “And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments” (1 John 2:3).
This is surely blessed assurance of salvation and a foretaste of glory divine!
(HMM, The Institute for Creation Research)
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Why Not Now?
Behold, now is “the acceptable time,” behold, now is “the day of salvation.” 2 CORINTHIANS 6:2
R. V. Brown is a giant of a man, a four-year college football letterman who received Christ while still on campus and was turned loose with a fire to introduce his Savior to the youth of America. But one night, this man with the bulging biceps and the evangelist’s heart woke up in a sweat, worried sick about the condition of his dad’s soul.
Willie “Fish” Brown had been a model of faithfulness and sacrifice. The son of a slave, he had shielded his family from the bitterness felt by so many of his race because of the discrimination they had endured throughout their lives.
Instead—illiterate and uneducated though he was—he had imparted to his 17 children the qualities of hard work, generosity, deep love for wife and family, and kindness to fellow men.
Still, R. V. didn’t know if his father was a Christian or not. So on his next visit home, he sat down with his dad—who was then over 100 years old—and asked him if he was assured of going to heaven when he died. Willie said he wasn’t.
So R.V. opened the Word and showed his father what was required of a man to embrace the salvation of God He got down on his knees with his aged father, led him to the base of the cross and opened for him the throne room of heaven.
That’s not easy to do. Parents, grandparents, brothers and sisters, aunts, uncles and cousins are often the hardest ones for us to engage in spiritual conversation or ask eternal questions. But the risk of offending them is miniscule compared to the issue of their eternal destiny. Humbly engage in a conversation. God in His grace may use you to break through to even a 100-year-old heart! (Moments with You Couples Devotional by Dennis and Barbara Rainey)
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