We have reached the end of our series in the book of Proverbs.
We began this series way back in mid-April at the beginning of the craziness.
And here we are, mid-October, wrapping up this wonderful book.
And we're going to wrap up in the book or the chapter, Proverbs chapter 9, which Caleb just read so well.
You know, you could summarize Proverbs chapter 9 with just two words.
And you might want to write this, these two words, somewhere on your bulletin if you're taking notes.
They're the words, choose wisdom.
That's how you summarize Proverbs chapter 9.
In fact, you could summarize the whole book of Proverbs with those two words, choose wisdom.
And that's what makes this chapter such a helpful chapter to wrap up this series in the book of Proverbs.
In fact, chapter 9, we're going to be presented with a choice between wisdom and folly.
And each are depicted as a leading lady.
Two leading ladies that we're going to need to choose between this morning.
And we'll meet those leading ladies in just a minute.
But I've got to be up front with you about something.
In the middle of Proverbs chapter 9, maybe you remember it when Caleb was reading.
In verses 7 through 9, there is this very practical test.
It's a diagnostic.
It's like a stress test.
It shows you where you're at, what you're doing.
It reveals which of these two leading ladies that you're actually following after now.
So here's the test.
How do you respond when someone confronts you with some kind of correction, some kind of reproof, some kind of criticism?
How do you respond to that?
Do you respond in defensiveness, whether you attack back or you escape?
Either way, you don't want to deal with what's being said.
Or do you receive it?
You welcome it.
You're actually grateful for it.
Because all correction will benefit in some way.
So here's what I'd like to ask you to do at the outset of the sermon.
Would you think of a recent time you were confronted?
Someone corrected you.
Someone criticized you.
How did you respond?
Defensive or teachable?
That's going to help you understand which lady you're choosing between now.
Now, main point of the sermon, choose wisdom.
And I'm going to help you see that by pointing out two points.
The first one is this.
Life's two leading ladies call daily.
That's right up in your notes.
Number one, life's two leading ladies call daily.
Now, the Bible lays out two ways to live.
You're going to live for God or you're going to live for yourself.
Live for sin.
Here in chapter 9, we have a choice between two leading ladies, which represent two ways to live.
And in chapter 9, these two leading ladies are contrasted.
So, A, we see two names.
In 9-1, wisdom has built her house.
13, the woman folly is loud.
These are their names.
Wisdom, look at, I mean, this is going to be a lady with supernatural, superhuman abilities.
She loves truth.
And she loves to protect her own.
She's noble and she leads those who fear the Lord into God's good ways of truth, justice, compassion.
She's going to lead her own into life.
You know what?
You could basically say wisdom is the biblical wonder woman.
Folly, on the other hand, she's a smooth talker up to no good.
You're going to see in a little bit, she's a know-nothing and she leads to death.
Biblically speaking, she's Cruella de Vil.
101 Dalmatians.
Cruella de Vil.
Cruella de Vil, she kills puppies.
So, we're introduced to these two ladies, leading ladies, and they have names.
Wisdom, folly.
But now I want to help you see there are two ways.
B, two ways.
In verses 1 through 3, we see wisdom's ways.
You see her conduct.
And conduct is always a demonstration of character and action.
She's active.
She's industrious.
She knows what she's doing.
And those who are in her house receive the blessing of her hard work.
She's a responsible woman.
Look at this.
Look at verse 9.
She has built her house.
She has slaughtered her beast.
She has mixed her wine.
She has also set her table.
She has sent out her young women to call.
She is busy doing things.
She knows what she's doing.
She delegates.
She's very responsible.
She's proven.
Folly, on the other hand, in verses 13 through 14.
Look what she's doing.
She sits.
She's in her seat.
She's not doing anything.
She's loud.
Verse 13.
She's seductive.
That Hebrew word is actually the word for simple.
That shows up as calling all the simple to follow.
It's a word that better means like naive.
Naive.
Not only is she naive.
This is quite an indictment here.
She knows nothing.
Verse 13.
The Hebrew literally is not knows nothing.
She's a not know nothing.
So we have wisdom who is active and industrious.
And folly who's sitting on her duff.
A not know nothing.
Irresponsible.
I'm reminded of Psalm 1.
Wisdom is like that one who is like a tree planted by streams of water.
Bears its fruit.
Leap does not wither.
Folly.
It's like chaff blown by the wind.
Their ways reveal their characters.
And those who follow after them become just like them.
That's how this works.
Choose wisdom.
And then there are the two high places.
See.
Two high places.
This is in 9.3.
9.14.
Maybe you notice that those words.
High places in town.
Look at verse 14.
She sits at the door of her house.
She takes a seat on the high places of the town.
Both wisdom and folly are seated in high places.
Or at least wisdom sends out her young ladies to call out from the high places.
If you're familiar with your Bible at all.
Especially in the Old Testament.
You're familiar with God's people going to high places to worship gods that are not the one true God.
High places is a way of talking about places of worship.
Now if you remember Jerusalem.
Jerusalem is on Mount Zion.
And the temple in the city of Jerusalem is on a temple mount.
It's in a high place.
So what we have going on here brothers and sisters is that wisdom and folly represent calls to worship.
Who are you going to live for?
Wisdom is saying hey you know what?
You need to fear the Lord and let that operating system govern all of your applications in life.
Folly is saying eh nah.
You need to run the operating system of it's all about me and do whatever you want.
Live for that God.
She's calling from that high place.
Two different high places.
Two different gods.
Two different leading ladies.
And then D.
Two calls.
Two invitations.
And these two invitations contrast all the more.
Make it all the more clear who lady wisdom is and who lady folly is.
Look at verse 4.
Whoever simple let him turn in here.
And now look at verse 16.
Whoever is simple let him turn in here.
It's identical wording.
Both ladies are saying the same thing.
But both ladies they're calling to very different things.
Their audience.
The simple.
The naive.
It's Proverbs 1.4.
The Proverbs.
The book of Proverbs is to give prudence to the simple.
That you can live in God's good ways.
The good life according to God.
The audience we see in verse 4 is wisdom sends out her young ladies to call anybody.
Anybody willing to listen and follow.
Come.
Come turn in here.
Come to me.
Wisdom says.
And I will share with you my bounty.
Look at folly.
This is interesting.
Verse 15.
She's sitting in the door.
And she's calling to those who pass by.
Who are going straight on their way.
Did you see that?
It's almost as if folly is trying to call off the wise from their good and straight path.
Of following their one true God.
And saying come on in here.
Notice their food.
Verse 5.
Come.
Eat of my bread.
Says wisdom.
And drink of the wine I have mixed.
My wine.
My bread.
Her own.
Homemade.
Nutritious.
Using the best ingredients.
Made for you.
Because this is what is best for you.
And by the way.
It's going to include vegetables.
Because they're good for you.
But they're hers.
She's made them.
This is from her hand.
It's good for you.
Now.
Let's look what folly offers.
Verse 17.
She says.
Stolen water is sweet.
And bread eaten in secret is pleasant.
She offers stolen water.
She offers bread eaten in secret.
It's not her own bread.
She didn't make that bread.
This is forbidden food.
She didn't make it.
But she's offering it.
Did you notice her spin?
Her smooth words?
Stolen water is sweet.
Maybe for a little bit.
And bread eaten in secret is pleasant.
I'm not so sure about that actually.
They offer different foods.
One's homemade.
The other's stolen.
And notice where this call leads to.
Wisdom's call culminates in verse 6.
Leave your simple ways and live life.
Life.
If you respond to wisdom's call.
If you.
If you respond in humility.
And allow her to teach you.
If you take her hand.
And allow her to lead you.
Look what she'll do for you.
Verse 11.
For by me.
Says wisdom.
Your days will be multiplied.
And your years will be added to your life.
This isn't just.
Long life.
It is.
Full.
Long life.
The abundant life.
Of what Jesus talked about.
It is a life of great blessing from God.
Because you're walking in God's ways.
And you need to repent to get there.
Leave your simple ways.
Jesus.
9.18.
You would think.
This is folly speaking.
But it's not.
She doesn't tell you.
Where her way leads.
She doesn't want you to know.
Where her way leads.
She just wants you living in the here and now.
In the sweetness of stolen water.
And so the narrator.
Steps in.
In verse 18.
And the narrator.
Is sure to tell you.
Where her way leads.
But.
But he does not know.
Remember.
She is a not know nothing.
In verse 13.
The effect.
On people who follow her.
But he does not know nothing.
That the dead are there.
That her way leads to Sheol.
The place of the dead.
No doubt.
Spiritual death.
So we got two choices.
Choose wisdom.
Choose life.
Choose folly.
Choose death.
Wisdom offers life.
According to the fear of the Lord.
She represents the abundant life.
That Jesus came to give all.
Who would come after him.
Leave their simple ways.
And declare him.
And follow him as Lord and King.
Folly offers death.
Dressed up as life.
You know what fake news is.
This is fake life.
Life apart from God.
Life.
Attempted to be lived.
Attempted to be crafted.
Without fearing him above all else.
Without him being the greatest governing reality of your life.
Bluff.
You know what Jesus does in Matthew 16.25.
He calls her bluff.
Jesus says.
What does it profit a man.
If he gains the whole world.
But forfeits his soul.
He's calling folly's bluff.
There's no life there.
There.
That's why the choice is clear.
Choose wisdom.
Two leading ladies.
And they both.
Are calling daily.
Come.
Turn in here.
Leave your simple ways.
Come here.
one offers life
the other offers death
which brings us to point two of the sermon
choose the leading lady
who gives life
choose wisdom
or maybe we should start asking this question
who have you been choosing
whose way are you on right now
there is a test
A. The revealing test
verses 7 through 9
coming back to where we started
how do you respond
to correction or criticism
defensive or teachable
we need to think about correction rightly
we need to think about reproof
biblically
it's a kind of teaching
it is a kind of instruction
it's confrontational yes
and it exposes some kind of shortcoming in you
or some kind of mistake of thinking
or even some kind of sin
but those who fear the Lord
always have something to learn
from any kind of correction or criticism
but what it is
it's a kind of instruction
if you flip back in your Bibles
to Proverbs chapter 1
hear wisdom
124
because I have called
and you refuse to listen
have stretched out my hand
and no one has heeded
because you have ignored
all my counsel
and would have
would have none of my reproof
wisdom's reproof
I also will laugh at your calamity
look at verse 29
because they hated knowledge
and did not choose the fear of the Lord
would have none of my counsel
and despised all my reproof
therefore they shall eat the fruit of the way
you see
wisdom
she uses
correction
and reproof
this is part of the way
her way
to walk in wisdom
so when your friend
or your spouse
they offer criticism
or correction
how do you respond to that
if your parent is seeking
to speak into your life
to say something
to help you
how do you respond
a supervisor from work
a coach
someone from your life group
a pastor or elder
from the church
they're seeking to
address something
in your life
for your good
how do you respond
in verses 7 and 9
there are two
contrasting responses
the response of a scoffer
and the response
of a wise man
a scoffer
is one who scoffs
whatever
kind of a hardened heart
that resists
the way of wisdom
and in verse 7
in the beginning of verse 8
we see
this
scoffer
what happens
when you attempt
to instruct
a scoffer
look at the ends
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
a scoffer
a wicked man
is walking
the way of folly
and when they do
the chief operating system
of their heart
is it's all about me
and that's going to govern
how they respond
to a reproof
oftentimes they perceive it
as threat
and they react
in anger
and in hate
and they will attack back
I've done it
I'm sure you have done it
we see it in ourselves
we see it in others
in contrast to that
the second half
of 8
and 9
reprove a wise man
and what will you get
we get a knuckle sandwich
will you be hated
you reprove a wise man
one who's being governed
by the fear of the Lord
one who's running
an operating system
that's centered to that
is the glory of Jesus
he is our creator
our ruler
our savior
and judge
and when that
is governing your heart
above all else
and you get corrected
a wise man says
oh man
thanks for loving me
thank you
he loves you for it
she loves you for it
he or she receives
reproof correction
as teaching
as instruction
that's why
you reprove a wise man
a righteous man
and they grow
still
wiser
they always have
something to gain
from it
that's why
you instruct
a righteous man
and he will increase
in learning
there's always
something
always something
to gather
from correction
always something
to benefit from
always something
to learn
always something
to grow
so here we have
two different
responses
to correction
we have the
scoffer
self-centered
defensive
running the
OS
of it's all about me
and you get a
knuckle sandwich
for trying to
correct them
but the other side
is the wise man
the wise woman
God-centered
teachable
welcoming
hey it still
sings right
correction
rebuke
still stings
but if God's glory
is governing your
heart
you will receive it
with gladness
the scoffer
represents
a prideful
response
the wise man
represents
a humble
response
so how about
you
how do you
respond
when you're
corrected
when you're
criticized
think in two
levels
in general
how do you
respond
generally
speaking
it doesn't
matter who
it is
how do you
respond
or maybe it's
helpful to think
a little bit more
specifically
a particular
person
a particular
relationship
that you have
a hard time
receiving correction
and instruction
from
either way
it's exposing
pride
it's exposing
an operating
system
that is not
fearing the
Lord
but rather
it's
self-protective
you need to
if this is you
and it's me
you need to
take the
words of
wisdom to
heart
from verse
six
leave your
simple
folly
ways
and live
it does
raise the
question
what
accounts
for the
difference
what
accounts
for the
difference
between
the
response
of
a
scoffer
to
correction
and the
response
of a
wise
man
to
correction
why
what's
the
difference
well
that's
B
the
determining
system
difference
and that's
in chapter
nine
verse
ten
this
month
we
began
a
bible
memory
program
as a
church
because
we're
convinced
that
God's
word
on our
minds
and our
hearts
will steer
us clear
from sin
and keep
us on
the path
of blessing
and we've
intentionally
started
with
Proverbs
9
10
the
fear
of the
Lord
is the
beginning
of wisdom
and the
knowledge
of the
Holy
One
is
insight
it is
the
fear
of the
Lord
that
determines
how
you
will
respond
to
correction
and
criticism
remember
what that
word
fear
means
it's
a
kind
of
reverence
it
is
a
kind
of
governing
reverence
of your
life
it's
consciously
calling to
mind
that
your
God
the
greatest
reality
of your
life
your
Jesus
is the
creator
ruler
savior
and judge
and
he
determines
your
response
to whether
it's
criticism
or
praise
every
human
being
we
all
have
an
operating
system
running
in
our
hearts
your
heart
biblically
speaking
is the
control
center
of your
life
whatever
controls
your
heart
controls
your
life
and
when
this
operating
system
is
governed
by
God
his
glory
his
wonder
it's
going
to
determine
how
you
apply
a
response
to
criticism
scoffers
running
it's all
about
me
the
pride
operating
system
respond
in
defensiveness
wise
who are
running
a
humble
operating
system
it's
all
about
Jesus
they
respond
to
the
same
criticism
with
teachability
they're
saying
hey
there's
benefit
in
this
somehow
it's
going
to
result
in
greater
wisdom
increase
learning
some way
somehow
I'm
going
to
receive
this
I'm
going
to
listen
to
this
I'm
going
to
benefit
from
it
so
if
you
are
defensive
to
correction
in
general
or
in
a
specific
relationship
it's
time
for
you
to
leave
your
it's
all
about
me
ways
the
call
is
to
repent
of
your
pride
and
call
out
to
your
loving
Lord
Jesus
to
rule
this
particular
area
of
your
heart
it's
time
for
you
to
own
your
defensiveness
with
others
to
confess
your
pride
to
them
admit
it's
difficult
and
welcome
their
help
so
let me
ask you
a very
specific
question
do
you
have
someone
you
need
to
talk
to
in
light
of
Proverbs
chapter
9
you've
been
resisting
them
their
help
their
love
the
fear
of
the
Lord
is
the
beginning
of
wisdom
and
knowledge
of
the
Holy
One
is
insight
into
how
to
respond
wisely
to
correction
think
about
this
what
would
happen
if
more
and
more
of
us
of
Christ
the
King
Church
welcomed
and
even
sought
out
correction
what
kind
of
atmosphere
would
that
generate
in
our
church
what
kind
of
culture
would
result
from
that
James
4
6
God
opposes
the
proud
but
gives
grace
to
the
humble
when
we're
running
this
operating
system
of
fearing
God
and
we're
walking
in
humility
God
pours
out
grace
which
brings
me
to
the
last
point
the
abounding
gain
the
abounding
gain
verses
11 and
12
recap
what
has
been
said
by
wisdom
herself
in
9
6
in
9
6
leave
your
simple
ways
and
live
in
verses
11 and
12
well
they
recap
what
folly
leaves
out
in
the
narrator
says
in
9
18
you
come
follow
wisdom
and
you
will
find
abundance
of
life
you
live
did
you
notice
in
verse
11
the
by
me
for
by
me
your
days
will
be
multiplied
and
years
will
be
added
to
your
life
ones
days
and
years
multiplied
and
added
filled
with
the
fullness
of
the
goodness
of
God
the
good
life
according
to
God
correction
is a
part of
that
it's
part of
the
good
life
it's
responding
in
humility
to
reproof
and
criticism
it's
part of
the
good
life
verse
12
if you
are wise
you are
wise
for
yourself
it
sounds
kind of
self-serving
doesn't
it
when
in
actuality
it's
true
it's
the
best
thing
for
you
if
you
fear
the
Lord
you
are
wise
for
yourself
it's
the
best
thing
that
you
can
do
for
yourself
to
leave
your
simple
ways
of
it's
all
about
me
and
running
in
full
bore
it's
all
about
God
that
results
in
abundant
life
fullness
God's
goodness
walking
the
path
of
wisdom
the
fear
of
the
Lord
is
a
fountain
of
life
but
if
you
choose
folly
if
you
scoff
you
alone
will
bear
it
you
have
only
yourself
to
blame
and
you
will
suffer
for
it
if
you
slap
away
wisdom's
hand
you'll
suffer
for
that
the
best
thing
that
you
can
do
brothers
and
sisters
for
yourself
in light
of
all
of
the
book
of
Proverbs
is
not
to
push
away
wisdom's
hand
it's
to
take
wisdom's
hand
and
walk
in
her
way
of
blessing
of
life
choose
wisdom
and
you
choose
abounding
gain
that
is
her
way
that's
where
she
leads
so
let
me
just
draw
this
to
a
close
by
saying
this
Proverbs
9
depicts
two ways
to live
as two
different
leading
ladies
in great
contrast
offering
two
different
destinations
lady
wisdom
biblical
wonder
woman
offers
life
lady
folly
charela
de vil
offers
death
it's a
good
summary
of the
book
of
proverbs
as a
whole
choose
wisdom
and
live
i'm
reminded
of two
other
ladies
in the
book
of
revelation
one
is the
pure
faithful
bride
of the
lamb
and she
represents
a symbol
of the
church
she
suffers
until
the
lamb
returns
and then
he
with his
own
hand
takes away
every tear
from their
eyes
and we
will dwell
with him
in his
presence
in his
place
forever
the
church
is the
lamb's
lady
and we
walk
by lady
wisdom
and we
live
but then
there's the
great
prostitute
the
plaything
of the
beast
the
world
scoffs
at
Jesus
lives
it up
now
but what
she has
to wait
for her
is the
second
death
with
the
beast
the
world
the
beast's
babe
follows
after
folly
and
suffers
death
let's
live for
the lamb
christ
the king
church
let's
walk by
wisdom
and
experience
a life
that will
culminate
into seeing
his face
with him
let's
pray
lord
jesus
we do
thank you
so much
for the
book of
proverbs
lord
jesus
we are
so
grateful
that you
are
wisdom
incarnate
god
help us
lord
jesus
help us
to walk
the way
of wisdom
in this
present time
we find
ourselves
in
to walk
through
this
pandemic
to walk
through
the racial
tensions
we're in
to walk
through the
political
rancor
we're
all
experiencing
the weariness
the
i don't
want to
talk about
it
syndrome
the
just
calgon
take me
away
lord
jesus
take us
away
better yet
we trust
you are
with us
give us
the wisdom
the only
you can
it's in
jesus name
we pray
amen
let's
stand
we pray
all
you
don't
die
like
we
you
wantiyor
you
yourself
men
say