Wise Up: Proverbs 9
Proverbs 9 (NIV)
1 Wisdom has built her house;
she has set up its seven pillars.
2 She has prepared her meat and mixed her wine;
she has also set her table.
3 She has sent out her servants, and she calls
from the highest point of the city,
4 “Let all who are simple come to my house!”
To those who have no sense she says,
5 “Come, eat my food
and drink the wine I have mixed.
6 Leave your simple ways and you will live;
walk in the way of insight.”
7 Whoever corrects a mocker invites insults;
whoever rebukes the wicked incurs abuse.
8 Do not rebuke mockers or they will hate you;
rebuke the wise and they will love you.
9 Instruct the wise and they will be wiser still;
teach the righteous and they will add to their learning.
10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,
and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
11 For through wisdom your days will be many,
and years will be added to your life.
12 If you are wise, your wisdom will reward you;
if you are a mocker, you alone will suffer.
13 Folly is an unruly woman;
she is simple and knows nothing.
14 She sits at the door of her house,
on a seat at the highest point of the city,
15 calling out to those who pass by,
who go straight on their way,
16 “Let all who are simple come to my house!”
To those who have no sense she says,
17 “Stolen water is sweet;
food eaten in secret is delicious!”
18 But little do they know that the dead are there,
that her guests are deep in the realm of the dead.
Whoever corrects a mocker invites insults;
whoever rebukes the wicked incurs abuse.
8 Do not rebuke mockers or they will hate you;
rebuke the wise and they will love you.
I looked up “mocker” in the original Greek and it means false teacher, so I think sometimes it doesn’t do any good to correct false teachers or the wicked because we are just putting ourselves in danger and we should let God handle the correction. On the other hand, we should loving correct the “wise” believer because it will just help to make them more wise in the Lord. And that goes for us receiving correction as well!
I agree here with Nancy. But I looked at it by turning the tables. If someone with wisdom confronts my behavior how do I react? Am I the arrogant cynic(Message version) or a scoffer? Or do I receive rebuke wisely, evaluating and prayerfully considering the remarks or advice. It says if we are wise (care about life) we will love them for speaking into our lives. Lord help me to receive truth from others and bring it under self examination so it might shape and mold me to be all that you want me to be. Give me ears to hear and eyes to see.
Thank you for pointing this out. I need to learn to take wise critism and heed it.
Proverbs 9:10
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
So far, the verses that are standing out to me from Proverbs all have to do with the importance of studying, learning, and knowing God’s Word. Knowledge of the Holy One leads to understanding. One way to gain this knowledge is through regular study of the Word.
Have a wonderful Saturday Sunridge!!
Both wisdom & folly (foolishness) call out to us everyday. We get to choose which one we will listen to. Those choices will determine the course or path of our lives. Lord, please help me to choose wise daily.