Scripture Reading – Proverbs 7-9
We are continuing our daily reading in the Proverbs of Solomon with Proverbs 7-9 being the subject of today’s devotional commentary.
Proverbs 7 – The Calamity of Sexual Immorality
“Thou shalt not commit adultery,” the Seventh Commandment, states clearly God’s plan for humanity’s sexuality and the posterity of the human race. From the beginning, the companionship of one man and one woman for life has never been in doubt (Genesis 1:27-28; 2:18, 20-25).
Human history, however, reveals not only a rejection of marriage, but also the tragic toll of sexual immorality. Crushed dreams, divided hearts, broken families, physical disease, and despair has been the haunt of all who reject the sanctity of marriage. The lesson is indisputable:
Give rein to lusts that cannot be righteously satisfied and you will be consumed by them.
Proverbs 7 serves as a graphic tale of a young man’s folly. Whether a personal observation of the sorrows that followed in the wake of his father’s adultery or a consequence of his own sinful choices, Solomon gives us a portrait that serves as a warning to all who reject godly wisdom and choose the path of immorality. The king warned his son, the house of an adulterer is “the way to hell” (7:27).
Proverbs 8 – Wisdom Anthropomorphized
My theme for Proverbs 8 is expressed in a word consisting of seventeen letters and five syllables. What is the definition of anthropomorphized? It means to take on human characteristics. Wisdom does that in Proverbs 8, and is in my interpretation, the embodiment of the pre-incarnate Son of God, Jesus Christ.
Solomon introduces us to Wisdom in the first three verses of the chapter (8:1-3), and then she (Wisdom) begins to speak throughout the balance of the chapter (8:4-36). You will notice the personification of Wisdom expressed in personal pronouns throughout Proverbs 8.
Proverbs 8:4 – “Unto you, O men, I call.”
Proverbs 8:7 – “My mouth shall speak truth.”
Proverbs 8:12 – “I wisdom dwell with prudence.”
Proverbs 8:17 – “I love them that love me: and those that seek me early shall find me.”
Proverbs 8:34 – “Blessed is the man that heareth me.”
Proverbs 8 concludes with wisdom’s invitation and warning:
Proverbs 8:35-36 – For whoso findeth me [Wisdom personified in Jesus Christ] findeth life [spiritual and eternal life – 1 John 5:11], and shall obtain [get] favour [acceptance; good pleasure; goodwill] of the LORD. 36 But he that against me [Christ the Lord] wrongeth [violates] his own soul [life; person; mind; spirit]: all they that hate [to reject; are enemies or foes] me [wisdom] love death [pestilence; ruin; hades].”
Proverbs 9 – Wisdom’s Invitation
Solomon continues his personification of Wisdom in chapter 9 and we find her building a house described as having “seven pillars” (9:1). [In the Scriptures the number seven indicates completeness or wholeness.]
Consider this chapter as an offering of two spiritual scholarships to two opposing schools of thought and philosophy.
The first scholarship is to the University of Godly Wisdom (Proverbs 9:1-6) and the second to the School of Folly (Proverbs 9:13-18). You will notice that Proverbs 9:7-12 serve as transitional verses between the two schools.
As you read Proverbs 9, ponder this question: In what school of thought or philosophy are you enrolled?
Are you enrolled in the University of Godly Wisdom? Are you a student in the School of Folly where gullible, simple men dwell? [The “simple” are those who lack godly wisdom, are slaves to sin, and follow a course of sorrow, destruction, and eventual death.]
It is not too late to become a student in the LORD’S University of Godly Wisdom by humbling yourself and accepting Jesus Christ as your Savior. Christ taught His followers, “I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst… All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out” (John 6:35, 37).
I invite you, enroll in the University of Godly Wisdom without delay by opening your heart to the Lord.
Copyright 2020 – Travis D. Smith