Proverbs chapter 9.
Leave your simple ways and live and walk in the way of insight.
Whoever corrects a scoffer gets himself abuse,
and he who reproves a wicked man incurs injury.
Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you.
Reprove a wise man, and he will love you.
Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser.
Teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning.
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,
and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.
For by me your days will be multiplied,
and years will be added to your life.
If you are wise, you are wise for yourself.
If you scoff, you alone will bear it.
The woman of folly is loud.
She is seductive and knows nothing.
She sits at the door of her house.
She takes a seat on the highest places of the town,
calling to those who pass by,
who are going straight on their way.
Whoever is simple, let him turn in here.
And to him who lacks sense, she says,
stolen water is sweet,
and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.
But he does not know that the dead are there,
that her guests are in the depths of Sheol.
Well, in Proverbs chapter 9.
So I think we don't have to argue the case
that everybody would recognize
there are competing worldviews,
competing ideas of what defines the good life,
and competing ideas of what it is to live the good life.
In terms of Proverbs,
they're competing ideas of wisdom and foolishness.
Now, they cannot all be right
because they say such different things.
You might say, well, none of them could be right,
and that's true, that's a possibility.
Some could be right and others wrong,
and that's a possibility,
but they can't all be right.
And the big question about that then is,
how do I know that my worldview
or my view of life and the good life is correct?
How do I know the worldview
that's shaping my life is wise?
And how do I know that it's actually delivering
the good life I crave?
Is it possible to think that my worldview
is delivering the good life
and actually be deceived?
Well, Scripture tells us, yes.
It's possible to think you're in wisdom,
and yet you're in foolishness.
Australians, and I may not sound like one,
but I count myself as one,
I haven't lived much more of my life here
than in Ireland.
But Australians think of themselves
as very open-minded.
So if you're talking to Australians,
they'll say, look,
I'm easily persuaded by evidence and truth.
And if you talk about history,
they'll say, yes,
and I'm persuaded by evidence and truth
in contrast to past generations
where it was so obvious
they were so full of prejudice,
racial prejudice, religious prejudice,
social prejudice, and so on and so forth.
But in reality,
every person has prejudice.
That is, prejudice is buried background beliefs
about wisdom and the good life.
And these things are often things
we're blind to.
Sometimes we'll hear it expressed as,
well, that's just the way things are in life.
Probably that's a background belief,
a buried background belief
that just accepts without questioning.
And what that means is, I think,
oftentimes people just copy
the lifestyle that's familiar,
copy the lifestyle that's been handed down to them.
Copy the lifestyle that we see
others around them living.
And from that, they say,
well, if that's what the majority are doing,
then that must be the good life.
That must be wisdom.
And then from there,
most people would agree
that the closed,
the person who is closed-minded,
who backs their own form of wisdom
without ever examining it,
is actually foolish.
Or stupid.
And what we've done, you see,
as Australians,
is we've got ourselves into a real dilemma.
Because our society is committed
to the absolute freedom of the individual.
That means an individual is free
to believe what they want,
how they want,
and should be free
from even being examined
or corrected on that view.
But this is an expression of closed-mindedness.
And it's in conflict with discovering
the life of wisdom we crave.
Because if we're going to have a worldview,
it means,
and we've got to be able to examine it.
And in fact,
I would argue we need an external authority.
Because we can't actually trust
our own examination ultimately.
We need an external authority
which is both true
and actually works
when it comes to delivering the good life.
Now,
that takes us into Proverbs
because Proverbs presents
God's pathway of wisdom.
And it presents it as the only one
that delivers the good life we crave.
In fact,
the Bible at other points
and quite repeatedly
through the scriptures,
the Bible says
what Peter says
in chapter 1,
verse 18.
He says that everything else
is an empty way of life
handed down to you
from your forefathers.
It's that idea of just
taking what you've received,
what's popular,
what's familiar,
and trying to make the best of it.
Even though most of us would say,
hey,
it doesn't actually work.
Wisdom is about choices,
choices,
choices.
That's the reality
that these,
that first section of Proverbs,
chapters 1 to 9
has been building towards.
Wisdom and foolishness
are competing alternatives.
And making right choices
requires discernment.
And heaps of it.
Wisdom is wholesome.
It's desirable.
It's valuable.
It's satisfying.
And generally,
wisdom is a course of action
which is reasonably obvious.
But we see it all around us
all the time
that wisdom doesn't happen automatically.
It's not something
we're naturally inclined to.
It's always as a choice,
and I think a tough choice,
to follow wisdom
and turn away
from foolishness.
Chapter 7, 8, and 9
emphasize this
with challenging pictures
or metaphors.
Chapter 7
was a sexual metaphor.
and the thing
that plays out there
is the choice
between true intimacy
and false intimacy
in the context
of a picture of seduction.
Chapter 8
was a treasure hunting metaphor
that Dave took us through
last week.
The choice is between
real treasure
and counterfeit treasure
that looks shiny,
that dazzles
and turns your head
but just doesn't deliver.
The choice is always
between finding life
in relationship with God,
expressing God's character
and every action of life
and chasing
an alternative life,
a life of autonomy,
a life of rejection
of God's pathway.
And as Dave said last week,
foolishness always presents
as an equal alternative.
That's the sneakiness,
the deceitfulness of it.
It always presents
as an equal alternative
to God's wisdom
but it actually seduces
and dazzles
and appears popular
while actually destroying people.
So once again I say
to make right choices,
every person needs
discernment
in spade loads.
And chapter 9
I'm suggesting this morning
is a case study
in wisdom and discernment.
So critical,
as I'm saying,
is in this process
of finding
and nurturing wisdom
is discernment.
Now,
what is discernment?
Discernment's
the ability
to sort through
apparently equal options
and dig into it
in a way
that you can
identify
and avoid lies
or false reality
and embrace truth
or true reality.
Bit of a tautology there
but for emphasis.
Now,
I would actually venture to say
and it's a bit sad to say
that I think discernment
appears practically
to be in really short supply
in our world.
And I think it's actually
even the case
among Christians
that discernment
is in short supply.
One of the past greats,
the theological greats
said that
they figured that discernment
was probably the last characteristic
that Christians would develop.
Well,
come with me then
into chapter 9.
And what we have here
is another metaphor.
It's a metaphor,
a party metaphor
where the choice here
in chapter 9
is between
a life-giving
and a life-destroying
party.
Now,
it could be a feast,
it could be a party,
it could be an event.
I'm just using those terms
interchangeably.
But party's probably
something we resonate
with more.
So,
there's two competing
identical party invitations.
One from this woman
called Dem Folly,
we'll call her Dem Folly.
If you look at verse 16,
look at the words.
Whoever is simple,
let him turn in here.
There's the invitation.
And verse 4,
identical invitation.
Whoever is simple,
let him turn in here.
Now,
these two invitations
turn up in your mailbox.
And at that point,
they look identical.
Which party will you go to?
Each is issued
to the simple.
Now,
hear this next sentence
very, very carefully.
The simple
is a description
not of mental capacity,
but of mental attitude
to life.
It's about an approach
to life
of the average person.
The simple person
is the average person.
That's the point
in this metaphor.
It's the average person
who,
in a sense,
is a bit aimless
and drifting in life,
yet always looking
for the next exciting thing.
unthinking,
at points,
easily believing
what others say
and do,
yet quite defensive
and headstrong
when challenged.
It's a strange mix,
but I think that
does describe
the average person
we rub shoulders with.
The invitations
are identical,
but the shape
of the two parties
is radically different.
They're different
in basic appeal.
If you look at
verses 13 and 14,
I'm dealing with
Dame Folly first
and then come back
to Lady Wisdom.
So Dame Folly,
her appeal
is loud
and seductive
and shameless.
That's the word
in English there,
knows nothing,
is probably better
translated shameless.
She's right out there.
She's in your face.
She sits at the door
of her house.
She takes a seat
in the highest places
of the town,
calling to those
who pass by her,
going straight on their way.
She's loud.
It sounds a bit familiar.
Loud, proud,
and shameless.
And she knows
jolly well
that the majority
of people
will just be passing
right past her front door.
She doesn't have
to work too hard.
She just needs
to get their attention
as they go past
and suck them in.
And she assumes
a crowd at her party.
Verse 3,
In contrast,
Lady Wisdom
knows the average person
will not be naturally
inclined to accept
her invitation.
So she's busy
pursuing individuals,
pleading with them
to come to her event.
The two parties
are radically different
in AIM.
Dame Folly,
as we just read
those verses,
her biggest intent
is just to fill her house.
Get them all in.
She cares nothing
for the people
she seduces
into her party.
So she makes it easy
for people
to be there.
And notice,
there's no obvious
cost of entry.
She invites them
into that place
if you look at
verse 15 and 17.
She invites them
into an environment
that's familiar,
that's comfortable.
Where you can hang out
with all the people
you've always wanted
to be around.
The cool people,
the celebrities,
the high profile sports people,
the sexy people,
and so on and so forth.
Verse 17,
water is often
a picture
for sexual expression
in the Proverbs
and the Old Testament.
So it's almost
as if this Dame Folly
is saying,
hey listen guys,
I just want to fill my house.
Tell you what,
leave your brains
at the door.
Leave your morals
at the door.
Come inside
and I promise you
you can indulge
in all the fantasies
of your heart,
all the desires,
the secret desires
of your heart
you long wanted
to express.
Because in my place
if it feels good
and everybody else
is doing it
then you can be sure
it's right.
You can be sure
I've got the good life.
But we're told here
that in truth
her party is toxic.
And it's a picture
of Todd Sweeney's place
where the bodies
are being piled up
in the cellar
while more people
are pouring
through the front door.
And what do we discover?
We discover
there is a huge cost
of entry to pay.
But in her party
it's landed on you
at the last minute.
What's the huge cost
of entry?
Death.
Destruction.
And by the time
you realize
there's a huge cost
of entry
it's too late.
It's pay up time.
The good life
they thought
they had found
was actually
a lifeless life.
Now in sharp contrast
Lady Wisdom
is deeply concerned
for those
she invites.
Her party
again remember
and this is all
metaphor
that's all
picture language
verses 1 and 2
her party
comes from
a really solid house.
We might use
exchange that
for the word worldview.
She comes from
a really solid
well thought out
well constructed place.
She's prepared
meticulously
and she's offering
a lavish feast
of meats
and wine.
The sort of stuff
that would really
satisfy the body
and satisfy the soul
in the metaphor.
But her party
has a very obvious
upfront cost
to be paid
which she makes
no bones about.
Look at verse 6.
She says
yeah come to my party
by all means
I really would love
to have you here
but verse 6
leave your simple ways
and live
and walk
in the way of insight.
She's saying
look if you want
to come to my party
that would be terrific.
I want you there
but the cost of entry
is that you must
be prepared
to examine your life.
You must be prepared
to leave behind
wrong thinking
of the past.
You must be prepared
to be pushed
into unfamiliar
uncomfortable places.
My party
won't be
a cocahoot affair.
My party
will be serious.
It will be challenging.
but it will deliver
something the other
party will never
be able to deliver.
It will deliver life.
You need to be willing
to think deeply
about the big questions
of life.
You need to leave
behind your
previous sense
of self
in as much
as you discover
that
to be foolish.
You need to be
prepared to embrace
a new world view
a new lifestyle
in short
true wisdom.
I don't know
I'm not a big
party person
but
in terms of
the metaphor
you can see
one party
is
eminently
appealing
isn't it?
And the other
you just think
and that's exactly
the point of the passage.
The party
that Lady Wisdom
throws
doesn't present
like an exciting
fun party.
few I suspect
are interested
in thinking
about the invitation
let alone
committing to be
at the party.
Few are prepared
to challenge
popular belief
of the crowd.
That's what it is
to be the average
Australian.
Go with the flow.
And in brackets
still say
I'm evidence based.
but those
who do
take up
the invitation
to Lady Wisdom's
party
discover
that not only
is it a brilliant
party
but it's actually
an investment
in the good life
which lasts
for eternity.
So yeah
there's an upfront
cost
but boy
the cost
is nothing
compared to
what the party
itself delivers.
so
choices
and how we make them
choices
and why we make them
which party
to buy into
at first glance
the choice
would appear
totally obvious
wouldn't it
when you set it out
the way I've set it out
you would choose
life over death
every time
because remember
that is the quest
of life
for every single person
we want
we're actually
in our heart
of hearts
every person
whether Christian
or non-Christian
every person
is on that quest
to find
what is the good life
and so
if life's on offer
then
wouldn't we take
life over death
every time
yes of course
we would
that's the obvious
choice
but here's the
deceptiveness
of foolishness
in reality
so many
persist
in pursuing
the popular
lifestyle of
if it feels
good
and everyone
else is doing
it
then
it's got to be
right
it's got to be
good
it's got to be
the best there is
even when
the evidence
suggests
it's foolish
and when
their own
experience
tells them
that this
life I pursued
has actually
failed to deliver
the good life
that it promised
me it would
deliver
it's failed
to deliver
the security
the intimacy
the satisfaction
which I crave
in my heart
of hearts
and which it
promises
why
well
come to the
last section
so the two
party invitations
form a bracket
around the chapter
and then verses
70-12
dig into
this question
of why
why
is something
so obvious
it's not
automatic
verse 70-12
gives us a very
simple principle
and then I'll
dig into it a little bit
verse 70-12
says really
essentially this
why do people
pursue
foolishness
and destruction
when the choice
for life
is obvious
answer
very simple
it's a question
of whether a person
is teachable
it's a question
of whether they
have discernment
or not
Proverbs has
five or six
different words
to describe
different aspects
of foolishness
that are used
over all the
chapters
each
remember
I say again
each describing
mental attitude
not mental
capacity
so there's
nothing wrong
with people's
ability to think
when they're
called the
simple
or in verse
7
when they're
called a
scoffer
the simple
person is now
described as
the scoffer
the same
person
but here
the word
has an emphasis
on being fixed
in their thinking
being closed
minded
now I've said
before the
average Australian
presents as
open minded
what I would
argue is
actually closed
minded
and
unteachable
they claim
to be
evidence
shaped
yet generally
go with the
flow of what
is popular
you speak to
them
and they're
absolutely
confident
that they
know
what life
is about
and they'll
back themselves
in what life
is about
yet at the
same time
you're
thinking
hang on
a minute
you're not
showing me
any evidence
you've actually
thought deeply
about this
and when you
challenge the
average Australian
man you find
how seriously
they dislike
challenge or
correction
recognition of
their world
view
they'll back
themselves and
their own
form of
wisdom
every time
so totally
committed to
their own
autonomy
their own
form of
wisdom
as they
chase the
good life
that in the
end they
interpret every
circumstance as
supporting what
they already
believe
and when things
go wrong
their response is
to back
themselves
and blame
others
why is my
life falling
apart
well because
they did this
and he did
that and she
did that
and society
has let me
down
never
oh my goodness
maybe I've got
the wrong
world view
in stark
contrast
verse 9
the wise
person
knows their
heart
or knows
something of
their heart
the wise
person is
suspicious of
their attitudes
they recognize
their potential
for foolishness
a few weeks
ago
Bo spoke
about that
as the
paradox of
the gospel
paradox of
proverbs
that the
person who's
starting to
nurture wisdom
actually begins
by acknowledging
foolishness
and seeking
external wisdom
external guidance
external rule
in life because
we've made a
mess of our
own lives
and we
can't even
sort of
trust our
own
motivations
our own
analysis
to work out
what's right
and what's
wrong sometimes
we need an
external source
as a reference
point
in verse 10
that process
of wisdom
and it is a
process
verse 10
leads
to the
Lord
as a source
of real
wisdom
and ultimately
the source
of the good
life
but notice
again you
see we've
said this
over many
weeks now
verse 10
the fear
of the
Lord
the fear
of the
Lord is
much more
than
acknowledgement
of his
existence
it's much
more than
just a sort
of general
respect
for God
as being
part of
our universe
fearing the
Lord is
actually craving
knowledge of
him
that only
comes through
relationship
with him
and exposure
to his
character
and purpose
which in
turn then
overflows
practically
into all
of life
and verse
11 then
sort of
gives some
illustration
of that
wisdom
or understanding
of success
or understanding
of happiness
and security
of life
is shaped
ultimately
by a
person's
view of
God
by understanding
God's
character
and by
relationship
with him
that overflows
as I take
on and form
the mind
of the Lord
in the Lord
Jesus Christ
then I start
to understand
wisdom
I start to
express wisdom
I start to
live wisely
in God's
world
and so
in summary
and if you
haven't heard
anything else
or haven't
connected
try and
listen to
this
connection
here
it's on
the outline
that's on
the back
of your
bulletin
in summary
then
the principle
of teachability
or discernment
is a
process
we start
with choices
and those
choices
hundreds
thousands
of them
will be
choices
either
towards
wisdom
or towards
foolishness
over a
period of
time
our
choices
actually
shape
and form
our
character
so our
character
then will
either be
increasingly
discerning
and growing
in wisdom
or
increasingly
drifting
into
foolishness
greater
foolishness
choices
character
and ultimately
all of that
will determine
destiny
life
or death
my friends
hear this
wisdom
is not
simply
a one
off
choice
that we
make as
Christians
or we
make as
people
and sometimes
I think
that's what
we think
wisdom is
wisdom
now we
get wisdom
in a
one
off
choice
as we
come to
Jesus
no
question
about that
but
nurturing
wisdom
and becoming
wise
is a
lifetime
progression
people
people do
not discover
life
or stumble
into
destruction
through
one
isolated
decision
it's not
one
strike
and you're
out
but it's
a process
of choices
wisdom
is a process
of choice
reflecting
attitude
to God
and reflecting
conclusions
about the
source
and shape
of the
good life
and ultimately
and that's
what the
point of
verse 12
is
I spent
a long
time
trying to
work out
verse 12
I think
this is
what it
is
ultimately
that
process
is for
each
person
and each
person
alone
to own
if you're
wise
you're wise
for yourself
if you
scoff
you alone
will bear
it
we so
readily
blame
other
people
even
for our
own
choices
we blame
other
people
for the
consequences
of our
choices
I think
wisdom
says
that
how
we can
only look
at ourselves
for our
choices
and the
consequences
and the
destiny
that comes
from it
when you
look at
your own
character
and when I
look at
my character
I am me
I have to
take responsibility
for my
character
because it's
the product
of all those
choices
over many
years
I might
like to
blame other
people
but I have
to take
ownership
for it
whether
wise
or
foolish
it's
yours
to
own
no point
trying to
scam out
of it
it's
still
yours
to
own
you
can
blame
whoever
you like
but it's
still
yours
to
own
and that's
why
there's an
urgent call
in this
passage
to
nurture
discernment
as the
pathway
to wisdom
and the
climax here
takes us
back to
the very
opening
verses
of
Proverbs
chapter
1
verses
1
to 6
wisdom
is more
than
intellectual
knowledge
you can
have a
massive
intellectual
knowledge
and still
be a
fool
wisdom
is applied
knowledge
first of
all
accumulating
the right
knowledge
true
knowledge
but
ultimately
wisdom
is applying
that knowledge
and knowing
how to
apply that
knowledge
in every
situation
of life
that's
discernment
and it's
a paradox
as I
mentioned
a few
minutes
ago
it begins
by
recognizing
that our
natural
expression
of wisdom
is actually
foolishness
and counterfeit
and leads
to a cheap
imitation
of the good
life we
crave
wisdom
begins as we
recognize our
closed minded
autonomy
and we recognize
that that has
kept us from
considering properly
God's alternative
as an alternative
and God's word
says we get
wisdom when we
come to God
through Jesus
who is the
embodiment of
wisdom
1 Corinthians
and we grow
in wisdom
as God's
spirit shapes
new character
in us
expressed in a
willingness to
self-examine
and a new
struggle to make
every choice of
life a reflection
of God's
character
that's what it
is to grow
in wisdom
and here's the
appeal of
scripture
it's in
Proverbs
and it's
right through
the scripture
Psalm
I'm going to
just use
two
I could have
used dozens
Psalm 34
verse 8
says this
and it's a
lovely picture
in the context
of a feast
it says this
test and see
that the Lord
is good
taste and see
that the Lord
is good
that's an
invitation
to a feast
a satisfying
soul
satisfying
feast
now
how will you
respond
will you be
like the
brattish
closed
minded
child
who looks
at the
vegetable
on the
plate
and says
no
I'm not
going to
eat it
I know
it's not
going to
be nice
I've never
done that
but I heard
other people
have children
who've done
that
I don't
think I
knew what
vegetables
was until
I was a
teenager
but anyway
unless there
was something
to throw
at your
brothers
so there's
your choice
you see
will you be
like that
closed
minded
child
and that's
what it
is
they look
at the
thing and
they make
a decision
about it
before they
even try
it
or
different
picture
will you
heed the
urging of
Romans chapter
12
1 to 3
you can look
it up in
your own
time
essentially
there it
says
don't be
conformed
to what
the majority
are doing
on the
basis that
it feels
right and
the majority
are doing
it
rather
it says
be daring
be willing
to be
transformed
by the
renewal
of desires
and attitudes
and thinking
which in
turn it
says will
actually lead
you to
prove that
God's
wisdom
actually works
both
factually
and
experientially
and in
the end
my friends
that's what
I hear
all around
me
in Australia
our post
modern
post
most modern
society
don't tell
me if
something's
factually
correct
I want
to know
if it
works
if I
can
get the
experience
of the
good
life
that I'm
craving
Romans
says
you've
got to
be
prepared
to
be
transformed
to walk
away
from old
patterns
of thinking
to walk
into new
patterns
of thinking
new
attitudes
new
desires
a new
world
view
and if
you do
that
Romans
says
you will
find
the
proof
it will
be
self
authenticating
my friends
discernment
is not
seen
in quick
fix
decisions
and I
think
as
Christians
we're
still
totally
hooked
up on
that
we just
and I
include
myself
we just
want
life
to be
simple
we don't
want to
be having
to make
decisions
every day
make a
decision
Monday
morning
at nine
o'clock
and let
that cover
the whole
week
is what
we'd
like
at least
that's
what I
would
like
oftentimes
but it's
foolishness
discernment
is not
seen in
quick
thick
decision
but it's
seen in
the way
of long
training
and discipline
not simply
informing your
mind with
God's words
so that you
know what
is right
lots of
Christians
do that
they can
say oh
yes this
is what
the Bible
says about
this
and this
not just
disciplining
your will
impractical
commitment
to doing
what you
know to
be right
yep
I'm going
to do
this
and not
this
because
that's
what the
Bible
tells me
today
but
training
the heart
to new
delight
in the
Lord
himself
so that
you follow
his pathway
to life
because
he
in this
person
is supremely
attractive
and beautiful
I
want
to be
like
my
father
I
want
to be
like
the
Lord
Jesus
Christ
oh
and guess
what
overflows
out of
that
and if
you're a
person
and I'm
finishing
this
if you're
a person
who has
not yet
made a
choice
for wisdom
and there
will be
some
here
this
morning
whether
you're
in your
teenage
years
or younger
or
whether
the other
end of the
spectrum
and older
there'll be
some
here
this
morning
who's
not
yet
made a
choice
for wisdom
I say
to you
take
the first
step
now
before you
leave this
building
today
admit
that your
commitment
to autonomy
has led
you down
a dead
end
road
I suspect
that the fact
you're here
today
says that
something
about your
life
hasn't quite
delivered
and you're
looking
perhaps
for something
else
well
recognize
your autonomy
and recognize
how it has
taken you
down a
dead end
road
admit
that your
problem thus
far in life
is not so
much a lack
of knowledge
or desire
but an
empty heart
that is
settled for
fast food
instead of
the satisfying
feast offered
by Jesus
if you
want to pray
something really
really worthwhile
for yourself
and I include
everybody and I
include myself
let's pray for
discernment
let's pray
that we might
know what
is the right
thing to do
and that we do
it because we
delight in the
Lord
let's pray
Lord help us
to see the
deceptiveness
of foolishness
in our world
help us to
see how easily
we can be
fooled by
ourselves
Lord your
word tells us
that our
hearts are
deceptively
wicked
and we
think we're
in charge
of them
Lord but
often times
they're in
charge of
us
help us
Lord to
look for
autonomy
that keeps
us from
your pathway
of wisdom
and help
us Lord to
be willing
to step
away from
that which
we've been
committed to
perhaps Lord
for 20
30 40
50 years
help us to
step away
from that
into new
life
in the
Lord Jesus
Christ in
his name we
pray
Amen