Wisdom’s House
08.14.24
Wisdom has built her house, she has hewn out her seven pillars. (Proverbs 9:1)
Last week we completed our consideration of the heart of the Book of Proverbs. In the 8th chapter we saw Wisdom personified. That personification was clearly pointing to the Lord Jesus Christ. We know this because He was shown to be with the Father before Creation. He was involved along with the Father in the act of Creation. And He demonstrated mutual love for the Father, and for mankind.
We come now to the last chapter in the Book that Solomon wrote in a structured form before He returned to that form for chapters 30, 31.
Proverbs 9 is symmetrical, with three groups of six verses. It presents contrasting offers from wisdom and folly. Each is seen as offering a feast to which all are invited. In the midst of these two offers, we are given a contrast between the wise man and the scorner.
In our lesson today we will begin to focus on the feast offered by wisdom (1-6). Wisdom has built her house, she has hewn out her seven pillars: (2) she has killed her beasts; she has mingled her wine; she has also furnished her table. (3) She has sent forth her maidens: she cries upon the highest places of the city, (4) “Whoso is simple, let him turn in here:” as for him that lacks understanding, she says to him, (5) “Come, eat of my bread, and drink of the wine which I have mingled. (6) Forsake the foolish, and live; and go in the way of understanding.”
The host of the feast pictured in these verses is once again Wisdom. Though pictured as a woman, the Lord Jesus Christ is the only one who can offer such bountiful provision to the human soul.
It’s wonderful when you get invited to a banquet, or to someone’s house for dinner. The feast in our text is a picture of the fellowship we can have with Jesus Christ now, and that will be more full and expansive one blessed day.
In love, Christ calls out to all mankind to come to His feast. It is free to all because Jesus purchased it with His own blood on the cross. To avail oneself of this feast, one need only repent of sin and believe the gospel—Jesus shed His blood, is risen, and He saves!
We focus now on Wisdom’s house. Notice how it is described. There are clearly three main qualities of this house.
It is first of all solid. Wisdom has built this house. There has been no scrimping at this construction site.
It is also spacious. It is made with seven pillars. There is room for everyone. Jesus put it this way, “In my Father’s house are many mansions [rooms].”
Third, this house is secure. It is constructed of hewn stone. This writer’s father-in-law was a mason, a bricklayer, by trade. Many were his projects including many solid, strong, lasting stone chimneys.
This is the kind of house God has made for those who trust in Him through His Son. Their eternal dwelling is solid, spacious, and secure.
There are four more aspects of Wisdom’s feast that we will take up next time—the meal, the invitation, the instructions, and the promise.
If we at Immanuel Baptist Church can be of any help to you, please feel free to call upon us.