Thursday, 9th April 2020
Proverbs 9:1-18
If wisdom and folly was a person, what description would you give to them? In this passage, the author gives a picture of what wisdom looks like in real life. It was described as a woman with certain quality traits.
Firstly, the author tells us in verse 1 that wisdom “has sewn her seven pillars.” This is a description of wisdom’s perfection and prudence in building a house. Secondly, in verse 2 the author says wisdom has “slaughtered her beasts; she has mixed her wine; she has also set her table.” This is a description of wisdom’s delight through a feast. Lastly, verse 3 says wisdom “has sent out her young women to call from the highest places in the town.” This shows us that wisdom is inviting us! In other words, wisdom is just around the corner for us to lay hold on!
What do all these descriptions of wisdom mean for us today? Looking into verses 4-6, we see the author that Lady wisdom is calling and inviting us, who are simple-minded, to feast and grab hold of wisdom in her house! This is not to say we must have Einstein’s IQ. Rather, it is speaking about being simple in the sense of ignorant and not exercising wisdom. Lady wisdom is calling us who lack sense and simple to turn to her and “walk in the way of insight” (verse 6). Wisdom is there for us!
Moving on, verses 7-12 gives us descriptions and contrast between a wise and foolish person. The wise will love you, grow wiser and increase in learning when being corrected or instructed (v8-9). But a foolish person would hate the one who corrects them. This simply shows us what it means for us to be a wise person – do we hate being corrected or do we value it for our growth? Of course, the author goes on to say wisdom is attained through the fear of the Lord. It is not attained by self-discovery (or enlightenment) like how many gurus or motivational speaker described. Neither is it pursued by our own terms. It is pursued by God’s term (or His rule), which is to fear Him!
Lastly, the author describes lady Folly in verses 13-18. It is described that Lady Folly is loud, seductive and knows nothing (verse 1). It is waiting for us outside her doorsteps as we walk past it! That is to remind us that folly is everywhere. Sometimes it does look attractive to our sinful senses. However, verses 16-18 described Lady Folly who calls the simple (ignorant) and those who lack the sense to join her. Lady Folly would make folly look attractive when it is obviously distasteful (verse 17). Ultimately, Lady Folly would lead on into their spiritual death (v18).
As we come to the conclusion, let us as God’s Spirit to help us reflect on these questions in light of the passage we read:
- Are there any areas of our lives where we are pursuing Lady Folly without us realizing? (i.e. not willing to be corrected)
- Do we deliberately pursue Lady Folly, despite knowing the consequences, which is spiritual death?
- How do we respond to people’s correction and reproach? Is wisdom exercised as we listen to them?
- As we pursue Lady Wisdom, do we pursue it by the fear of the Lord by going to His Word in humility and prayer or do we pursue it on our own terms?
Brothers and sisters, wisdom is just around the corner and calling us to grab hold of her. Let us examine ourselves in light of this passage and ask God to give us wisdom in our lives. As James 1:5 reminds us “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.” As we pray, let us ask God for wisdom in faith, trusting and knowing He will give us wisdom as we live our lives in Christ.
Hon Sir Neng
xxx
箴言书 9:1-18
假設智慧與愚蠢如我們人一樣，我們會如何描述他呢？ 在這篇經文，作者讓我們看到真人智慧與愚蠢的形象。他用了女人的屏隔來描述。
在第一節，作者說到『智慧建造房屋、凿成七根柱子』。這從建築的角度來描述智慧歸人的完美和谨慎。然後，第二節說到智慧『宰杀牲畜、调和旨酒、设摆筵席』這是描述著智慧所欣喜的一段餐。最後，第三節說智慧『打发使女出去、自己在城中至高处呼叫』。這展現智慧在呼叫著我們。也就是說，智慧是我們可以得到的！
這對我們有什麼的含義呢？當我們讀四到六節，我們讀到智慧女人依然在呼叫著我們愚蒙的人去與她共享餐桌。這不代表我們一定要有愛因斯坦的聰明。乃是表示著不應用智慧的人。智慧歸人在呼叫著我們愚蒙人轉向她，使我們『并要走光明的道』。
來到七到十二節，我們讀到一個有智慧的人與愚蠢的人的比較。那裡描述到一位有智慧的人，會因著某某一位人的指著來愛他人，在智慧裡增長，指示义人，增長學問（八到九節）。但一位愚蠢的人會憎恨那與指著他的人。這是讓我們看見有智慧的人是怎樣的：我們到底看不起還是重視人們的指著。作者也理說當然的告訴我們敬畏耶和華是智慧的開端。而並不是來與如許多大師或勵志演說家所描述的個人發現或啟示。也不是在於我們自己的標準而得到的。寧可是在於敬畏耶和華而得到的。
最後，作者也在十三到十八節描述愚蠢歸人。他是喧嚷的，愚蒙和一無所知。他也坐在她人的大門口等著我們。這是提醒我們愚蠢的存在。許多時刻，我們的罪惡肉體裡是的確得對愚蠢的吸引力很大。然而，十六到十八節告訴我們愚蠢歸人呼叫著那愚蒙和無知的人跟隨她。愚蠢歸人的確把令人反感的愚蠢變得非常拿眼。但最後，愚蠢歸人將帶領跟隨她人的進入靈命的末亡。
來到終結，讓我們向神的靈來幫助我們在這段箴言來反思。
- 我們是否無知的追求愚蠢歸人？（比例：我們是否不願意被人指著）
- 我們是否知道後果，就是靈命末亡，也故意的追求愚蠢歸人？
- 我們對指著的反應是如何？我們是否有應用智慧來聆聽他人？
- 我們是否已敬畏耶和華的心，在他賜給我們的話語和禱告裡追求智慧？還是我們應著自己的標準來追求？
弟兄姊妹們，智慧已在呼叫著我們，以便我們可以得著。讓我們從這段經文來反思，向神祈求智慧，好易我們可以在我們的生活中應用。若雅各書一章第五節所寫的：『你們中間若有缺少智慧的，該求那厚賜與眾人又不斥責人的神，真必賜給他。』當我們禱告，讓我們以信心的來向神祈求智慧，相信他會賜給我們，以便我們可以在可以把智慧基督裡而活。
韓思能