Proverbs:Choosing between

Lady Wisdom and Madame Folly

Two paths: ‘the way of wisdom’ and ‘the way of folly’

Proverbs gets its Hebrew name from a word meaning likeness

Many pictures will be presented what wisdom looks like - in advise to a son- in poetically stringing a set of one liners together, like pearls- as one liners, like loose pearls

Two main views:

Proverbs are maxims - rules of thumb generally true RC Sproul’s view

andProverbs are all 100% true but in ensemble, qualifying each other

Bruce Waltke’s view

Pv 1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Importance of the fear of God

• Proverbs 1:7 - The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.

• Proverbs 14:27 - The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, that one may avoid the snares of death.

Wisdom speaks

Proverbs 1: 20 Wisdom cries aloud in the street, in the markets she raises her voice; 21 at the head of the noisy streets she cries out; at the entrance of the city gates she speaks: 22 “How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple? How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing and fools hate knowledge? 23 If you turn at my reproof, behold, I will pour out my spirit to you; I will make my words known to you.

Pv 3:7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the

LORD and shun evil.

Wisdom speaks

• Pv 3:11-12 My son, do not despise the Lord's discipline or be weary of his reproof, for the Lord reproves him whom he loves, as a father the son in whom he delights.

Wisdom speaks

Pv 3:13 Blessed are those who find wisdom, those who gain

understanding,

Proverbs 3:1-4 My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments,2 for length of days and years of life and peace they will add to you. 3 Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart. 4 So you will find favor and good success[ in the sight of God and man.

Proverbs 3:5-6 (ESV) 5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.6 In all your ways acknowledge him,  and he will make straight your paths.

A TRUST LINKED TO DISCIPLINES OF GRACE

Pride and humility

• Proverbs 16:18 - Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before stumbling.

Wisdom with God at creationProverbs 8:22-31 (ESV) 22 “The Lord possessed me at the beginning of his work,     the first of his acts of old.23 Ages ago I was set up,     at the first, before the beginning of the earth.24 When there were no depths I was brought forth,     when there were no springs abounding with water.25 Before the mountains had been shaped,     before the hills, I was brought forth,26 before he had made the earth with its fields,     or the first of the dust of the world.27 When he established the heavens, I was there;     when he drew a circle on the face of the deep,28 when he made firm the skies above,     when he established the fountains of the deep,29 when he assigned to the sea its limit,     so that the waters might not transgress his command,when he marked out the foundations of the earth,30 then I was beside him, like a master workman, and I was daily his[d] delight,rejoicing before him always,31 rejoicing in his inhabited world     and delighting in the children of man.

Pv 14:1 The wise woman builds her house, but with her own hands …

… the foolish one tears hers down.

Two women call to the simple

Lady Wisdom…

spoiler alertand another lady to follow

more on that later

Proverbs 2My son, if you receive my words and treasure up my commandments with you,2 making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding; 3 yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, 4 if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, 5 then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God.

• Pv 13: 1 A wise son heeds his father’s instruction, but a mocker does not respond to rebukes.

• Pv 3:24 Toward the scorners he is scornful, but to the humble he gives favor

Three kinds of people in the world

• The simple

• The simple who became wise, choosing the way of wisdom

• The simple who became fools, choosing the way of folly

Whoever meddles in a quarrel not his own is like one who takes a passing dog by the

ears. Pv 26:17

Pv 4:6 Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you. 7 The

beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding.

So who’s this?

Just as Lady Wisdom calls to the simple,so does Lady Folly

Provers 9:13 The woman Folly is loud; she is seductive and knows nothing. 14 She sits at the door of her house;  she takes a seat on the highest places of the town, 15 calling to those who pass by, who are going straight on their way, 16 “Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!” And to him who lacks sense she says, 17 “Stolen water is sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.” 18 But he does not know that the dead are there, that her guests are in the depths of Sheol.

Just as Lady Wisdom calls to the simple,so does Lady Folly

Like vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes, so is the sluggard to those who send

him. Pv 10:26

The sluggard buries his hand in the dish and will not even bring it back to his mouth. Proverbs 19:24 (ESV)

Pv 11:31 If the righteous is repaid on earth, how much more

the wicked and the sinner!

And sobre reminders…

Lady Wisdom calls to the simple and naive and so does Madame Folly

And the simple may choose the way of wisdom of the way of folly

Receiving criticism…

• Proverbs 12:15 - The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man is he who listens to counsel.

• Proverbs 15:32 - He who neglects discipline despises himself, but he who listens to reproof acquires understanding.

Pv 29:11 Fools give full vent to their rage, but the wise bring calm

in the end.

Don’t be foolish and believe "Stolen water is sweet; food eaten in secret is delicious!”

Proverbs 9:17

Go to the ant, you sluggard and learn a lesson on industriousness

The partner of a thief hates his own life; he hears the curse, but discloses nothing. Proverbs 29:24 (ESV)

Importance of what you say and how you say it

•Proverbs 15:1   A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.

•Proverbs 15:4    A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit.

•Proverbs 15:7    The lips of the wise disperse knowledge: but the heart of the foolish doeth not so.

•Proverbs 18:4    The words of a man's mouth are as deep waters, and the wellspring of wisdom as a flowing brook.

•Proverbs 18:7    A fool's mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul.

A righteous man has regard for the life of his animal, But even the compassion of the wicked is cruel. Pv 12:10

• Pv 25:21,22 If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink, for you will heap burning coals on his head, and the Lord will reward you.

Pv 26:11 :Like a dog that returns to its vomit is a fool

who repeats his folly.

Wisdom exceeds follyas light

exceeds darkness

Pv 19:20 Listen to advice and accept discipline, and at the end you will be

counted among the wise.

Above all…• Proverbs 4:23 - Watch over your heart with all diligence, for

from it flow the springs of life.

And sometimes proverbs is a riddle

• Do not answer a fool according to his folly

• Do answer a fool according to his folly

wisdom knows when not to stoop to a fools ways becoming like a fool in answering him and when to in wisdom point out his folly and help him

Wisdom with God at creation more riddles

Proverbs 30:4 (ESV) Who has ascended to heaven and come down? Who has gathered the wind in his fists? Who has wrapped up the waters in a garment? Who has established all the ends of the earth? What is his name, and what is his son's name? Surely you know!

When a man’s ways are right with the Lord, He makes

even his enemies to be at peace with him. Proverbs 16:7

The pitfalls of preoccupation with the fear of man…

• Proverbs 29:25 - The fear of man brings a snare, but he who trusts in the LORD will be exalted.

Get ready for a riddle• Solomon may be assuming various aliases, giving

more proverbs in the last few chapters

• and leading into Proverbs 31 having the final riddle

• wisdom and folly have been presented to the young man… and now the choice…

This is the view of Michael Reeves

Pv 31:30 Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be

praised.

Pv 31:30 Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be

praised.

Pv 31 But the woman who fears the Lord shall be praised

wisdom is industrious, providing for her family

wisdom is business savvy, considering property and buying it

The choice between wisdom and folly has been presentedso marry wisdom

10 [d] An excellent wife who can find?     She is far more precious than jewels. 11 The heart of her husband trusts in her,     and he will have no lack of gain. 12 She does him good, and not harm,     all the days of her life. 13 She seeks wool and flax,     and works with willing hands. 14 She is like the ships of the merchant;     she brings her food from afar. 15 She rises while it is yet night     and provides food for her household     and portions for her maidens. 16 She considers a field and buys it;     with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard. 17 She dresses herself[e] with strength

16 She considers a field and buys it;     with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard. 17 She dresses herself[e] with strength     and makes her arms strong. 18 She perceives that her merchandise is profitable.     Her lamp does not go out at night. 19 She puts her hands to the distaff,     and her hands hold the spindle. 20 She opens her hand to the poor     and reaches out her hands to the needy. 21 She is not afraid of snow for her household,     for all her household are clothed in scarlet.[f] 22 She makes bed coverings for herself;     her clothing is fine linen and purple. 23 Her husband is known in the gates     when he sits among the elders of the land. 24 She makes linen garments and sells them;     she delivers sashes to the merchant.

24 She makes linen garments and sells them;     she delivers sashes to the merchant. 25 Strength and dignity are her clothing,     and she laughs at the time to come. 26 She opens her mouth with wisdom,     and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue. 27 She looks well to the ways of her household     and does not eat the bread of idleness. 28 Her children rise up and call her blessed;     her husband also, and he praises her: 29 “Many women have done excellently,     but you surpass them all.” 30 Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain,     but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. 31 Give her of the fruit of her hands,     and let her works praise her in the gates.

The choice between wisdom and folly has been presentedso marry wisdom

Proverbs is the 7th most quoted bookfrom the Old Testament in the New Testament