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The Ministry of Wisdom
Scripture Passage:
Proverbs 7:4-10; 8:1-3 Attached audio files:
- The Direction of the Simple (Proverbs 7:8-9 [8] Passing through the street near her corner; and he went the way to her house,
[9] In the twilight, in the evening, in the black and dark night:
See All...) - Near her Corner (Proverbs 7:8Passing through the street near her corner; and he went the way to her house,
See All...) - Just as Lot pitched toward Sodom, this is only the beginning of sin (Genesis 13:10-12 [10] And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered every where, before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar.
[11] Then Lot chose him all the plain of Jordan; and Lot journeyed east: and they separated themselves the one from the other.
[12] Abram dwelled in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelled in the cities of the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom.
See All...) - The worst thing for a simple man to do is to put himself near sin
- God tells us over and over again that we are to flee from sin. The word flee has an idea of running from something in order to save thyself (Matthew 24:16Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains:
See All...) - Flee fornication (1 Corinthians 6:18Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.
See All...) - Flee idolatry (1 Corinthians 10:14Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry.
See All...) - Flee riches of this world (1 Timothy 6:9-11 [9] But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.
[10] For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
[11] But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.
See All...) - Flee youthful lusts (2 Timothy 2:22Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
See All...) - On the way to her House (Proverbs 7:8Passing through the street near her corner; and he went the way to her house,
See All...) - The worst thing that can happen to a simple man is for him to end up in the place where he is headed
- The Book of Proverbs warns about the house of the strange woman (Proverbs 2:18For her house inclineth unto death, and her paths unto the dead.
See All...; 5:8
See All...) - In the black and dark Night (Proverbs 7:9In the twilight, in the evening, in the black and dark night:
See All...) - You cannot see what you are doing in darkness (1 John 2:11But he that hateth his brother is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.
See All...) - Walking in darkness requires an absence of fellowship with God (1 John 1:6If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:
See All...) - We are not to have fellowship with darkness (2 Corinthians 6:14Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
See All...; Ephesians 5:11And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.
See All...) - Many of the sins that are committed are committed in the night (bars, movie theaters, pornography etc..)
- The Deception of the Strange Woman (Proverbs 7:10-21 [10] And, behold, there met him a woman with the attire of an harlot, and subtil of heart.
[11] (She is loud and stubborn; her feet abide not in her house:
[12] Now is she without, now in the streets, and lieth in wait at every corner.)
[13] So she caught him, and kissed him, and with an impudent face said unto him,
[14] I have peace offerings with me; this day have I payed my vows.
[15] Therefore came I forth to meet thee, diligently to seek thy face, and I have found thee.
[16] I have decked my bed with coverings of tapestry, with carved works, with fine linen of Egypt.
[17] I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.
[18] Come, let us take our fill of love until the morning: let us solace ourselves with loves.
[19] For the goodman is not at home, he is gone a long journey:
[20] He hath taken a bag of money with him, and will come home at the day appointed.
[21] With her much fair speech she caused him to yield, with the flattering of her lips she forced him.
See All...) - Subtil of Heart (Proverbs 7:10And, behold, there met him a woman with the attire of an harlot, and subtil of heart.
See All...) - We look at the attire of this woman through the eyes of the Holy Spirit and think that she was ugly, but through the eyes of the simple man she may have been attractive
- He may have seen a beautiful woman and thought that he had found just what he needed
- She lieth in Wait (Proverbs 7:12Now is she without, now in the streets, and lieth in wait at every corner.)
See All...) - Satan is not just after you because you are important to him. He much like this woman is at every corner trying to devour the simple.
- She caught Him (Proverbs 7:13So she caught him, and kissed him, and with an impudent face said unto him,
See All...) - Her Pleasures (Proverbs 7:14-21 [14] I have peace offerings with me; this day have I payed my vows.
[15] Therefore came I forth to meet thee, diligently to seek thy face, and I have found thee.
[16] I have decked my bed with coverings of tapestry, with carved works, with fine linen of Egypt.
[17] I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.
[18] Come, let us take our fill of love until the morning: let us solace ourselves with loves.
[19] For the goodman is not at home, he is gone a long journey:
[20] He hath taken a bag of money with him, and will come home at the day appointed.
[21] With her much fair speech she caused him to yield, with the flattering of her lips she forced him.
See All...) - The truth is that there is pleasure in sin. The whole world wants you to know that. The only problem is that they don’t tell you the whole truth. (Hebrews 11:25Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;
See All...) - The Destruction of the Deceived (Proverbs 7:22-27 [22] He goeth after her straightway, as an ox goeth to the slaughter, or as a fool to the correction of the stocks;
[23] Till a dart strike through his liver; as a bird hasteth to the snare, and knoweth not that it is for his life.
[24] Hearken unto me now therefore, O ye children, and attend to the words of my mouth.
[25] Let not thine heart decline to her ways, go not astray in her paths.
[26] For she hath cast down many wounded: yea, many strong men have been slain by her.
[27] Her house is the way to hell, going down to the chambers of death.
See All...) - To the Slaughter (Proverbs 7:22He goeth after her straightway, as an ox goeth to the slaughter, or as a fool to the correction of the stocks;
See All...) - The wages of sin is still death (Romans 6:23For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
See All...) - Cast down many Wounded (Proverbs 7:26For she hath cast down many wounded: yea, many strong men have been slain by her.
See All...) - Sometimes the worst part about sin is not that it brings about death, but that it wounds many. Your sin may kill you but your sin may wound many others.
- Take for example this strange woman. How many wives and children were wounded because of a husbands sin.
- The way to Hell (Proverbs 7:27Her house is the way to hell, going down to the chambers of death.
See All...) - The Desperation of Wisdom (Proverbs 8:1-36 [1] Doth not wisdom cry? and understanding put forth her voice?
[2] She standeth in the top of high places, by the way in the places of the paths.
[3] She crieth at the gates, at the entry of the city, at the coming in at the doors.
[4] Unto you, O men, I call; and my voice is to the sons of man.
[5] O ye simple, understand wisdom: and, ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart.
[6] Hear; for I will speak of excellent things; and the opening of my lips shall be right things.
[7] For my mouth shall speak truth; and wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
[8] All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing froward or perverse in them.
[9] They are all plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that find knowledge.
[10] Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold.
[11] For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it.
[12] I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of witty inventions.
[13] The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.
[14] Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom: I am understanding; I have strength.
[15] By me kings reign, and princes decree justice.
[16] By me princes rule, and nobles, even all the judges of the earth.
[17] I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.
[18] Riches and honour are with me; yea, durable riches and righteousness.
[19] My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold; and my revenue than choice silver.
[20] I lead in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment:
[21] That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures.
[22] The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old.
[23] I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was.
[24] When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water.
[25] Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth:
[26] While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world.
[27] When he prepared the heavens, I was there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth:
[28] When he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep:
[29] When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth:
[30] Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him;
[31] Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth; and my delights were with the sons of men.
[32] Now therefore hearken unto me, O ye children: for blessed are they that keep my ways.
[33] Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not.
[34] Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.
[35] For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the LORD.
[36] But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death.
See All...) - Her Practice (Proverbs 8:1-4 [1] Doth not wisdom cry? and understanding put forth her voice?
[2] She standeth in the top of high places, by the way in the places of the paths.
[3] She crieth at the gates, at the entry of the city, at the coming in at the doors.
[4] Unto you, O men, I call; and my voice is to the sons of man.
See All...) - Wisdom cries out (Proverbs 8:4Unto you, O men, I call; and my voice is to the sons of man.
See All...) - She is accessible (Proverbs 8:2-3 [2] She standeth in the top of high places, by the way in the places of the paths.
[3] She crieth at the gates, at the entry of the city, at the coming in at the doors.
See All...) - Her Plea (Proverbs 8:5-10 [5] O ye simple, understand wisdom: and, ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart.
[6] Hear; for I will speak of excellent things; and the opening of my lips shall be right things.
[7] For my mouth shall speak truth; and wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
[8] All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing froward or perverse in them.
[9] They are all plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that find knowledge.
[10] Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold.
See All...) - Understand (Proverbs 8:5O ye simple, understand wisdom: and, ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart.
See All...) - Hear (Proverbs 8:6Hear; for I will speak of excellent things; and the opening of my lips shall be right things.
See All...) - Receive my Instruction (Proverbs 8:10Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold.
See All...) - Her Provision (Proverbs 8:11-36 [11] For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it.
[12] I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of witty inventions.
[13] The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.
[14] Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom: I am understanding; I have strength.
[15] By me kings reign, and princes decree justice.
[16] By me princes rule, and nobles, even all the judges of the earth.
[17] I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.
[18] Riches and honour are with me; yea, durable riches and righteousness.
[19] My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold; and my revenue than choice silver.
[20] I lead in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment:
[21] That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures.
[22] The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old.
[23] I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was.
[24] When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water.
[25] Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth:
[26] While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world.
[27] When he prepared the heavens, I was there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth:
[28] When he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep:
[29] When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth:
[30] Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him;
[31] Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth; and my delights were with the sons of men.
[32] Now therefore hearken unto me, O ye children: for blessed are they that keep my ways.
[33] Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not.
[34] Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.
[35] For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the LORD.
[36] But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death.
See All...) - Better than Anything (Proverbs 8:11For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it.
See All...) - Strength (Proverbs 8:14Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom: I am understanding; I have strength.
See All...) - Life (Proverbs 8:35For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the LORD.
See All...) - Favour of the Lord (Proverbs 8:35For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the LORD.
See All...)
Proverbs 28:4
They that forsake the law praise the wicked: but such as keep the law contend with them.