Day 11 | 21-Day Growth Challenge | "You're Invited to the House of Wisdom"

Thursday, September 09, 2010 Bryan Hudson 12 Comments







SCRIPTURE:
Proverbs 9:1(NLT) Wisdom has built her house; she has carved its seven columns. 2 She has prepared a great banquet, mixed the wines, and set the table. 3 She has sent her servants to invite everyone to come. She calls out from the heights overlooking the city. 4 “Come in with me,” she urges the simple. To those who lack good judgment, she says, 5 “Come, eat my food, and drink the wine I have mixed.6 Leave your simple ways behind, and begin to live; learn to use good judgment.”

INSIGHT: 

Today, we'll stay in Proverbs Chapter 9, and move up to consider the first six verses. Bible commentators suggest that Proverbs Chapters 1-9 are the introduction to the book, since Chapter Ten begins with the words, "The Proverbs of Solomon."

It is fitting that Chapter Nine summarizes the message of the necessity of embracing wisdom, as well as the dangers of rejecting wisdom. In this text, we see wisdom portrayed as a "good" woman, in contrast to other narratives of the "immoral woman" to describe the condition of persons who lack wisdom.

What is remarkable about this text is the portrayal of wisdom as a house possessing the following characteristics:  Stability ("seven pillars"), Provision ("banquet prepared"), Inclusiveness, (Servants sent to invite persons needing wisdom), and Satisfaction, ("Come, eat my food").

I think of this as "The House of Wisdom." The message is, "Come into the house where wisdom is present." In a similar invitation, Jesus said, "Come unto me all you who labor…I will give you rest." (Matt. 11:28).  The message is an invitation to come and dwell with God in His House of Wisdom.

Verse Six is especially powerful: When we come into the House of Wisdom, we should make the choice to "Leave [our] simple ways behind, and begin to live." Coming to God provides an opportunity to leave behind the baggage of ignorance and foolishness. When we gain wisdom from the Lord, we must not go back to pick up our old ways. For example, I used to feel compelled to have the "last word." But after spending some time in the House of Wisdom, I left that simple-minded behavior behind years ago.

Accept the invitation and learn how to prosper God's way.


PRAYER:
"Lord, thank you for the invitation to your House of Wisdom. I will come, learn, and leave my simple ways behind."

ACTIVATION: 
(Use comment section below to share your insights. Record sensitive items in your personal journal. You can login or simply use your first name.)
  1. After receiving God's wisdom, what "simple ways" have you (or will you) leave behind? (Answer in your private journal)
  2. What actions will you take today related to this lesson?
_________________________________________

COMMENT SECTION:
Click on "Comments" to read others and add yours afterwards.

12 comments :

  1. One of my simple ways was always trying to plan out every detail before I made the first step. I had to be in control of the situation and make every effort to fix it the way I saw fit - even if they way was not proper in most eyes. I have come to learn from God that He has a plan already in place and if I submit to Him in all my ways - mentally, physically, financially, etc. - He will share that plan with me. He will give me just enough light to take the next step and through trust and faith He will lead me to greater things that my planning and action could never achieve.

    The action I will take from this post is to keep asking God to revel Himself to me in His word. I can then use His word as a mirror and compare myself to it and see what changes I need to make to be the man He called me to be.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Today I will seek to continue to dwell with wisdom and leave simple things behind.

    ReplyDelete
  3. @Antonio: Good to see you "in the house!" Thanks for posting.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I will get into the practice of immediately obeying God. I believe this is an integral "new habit" I need to take up. I think that laying down those bad habits of "old foolish ways" is a process and the Holy Spirit leads us to express new characteristics of Christ when we are 100% obedient to him.

    ReplyDelete
  5. The actions that I can take today are:
    1)To first accept the invitation to the banquet that Wisdom has prepared; through a life of prayer and obedience to God receiving all that is set at the table.
    2)Is to remember to leave all my simple ways outside the door; never to look back or pick them up again.
    3)When I leave The House of Wisdom, get up from the table full and satisfied so that I might walk in good judgment everyday and in all areas of my life.
    4) Remember it is an open invitation; continue to come and receive understanding.
    -Davis

    ReplyDelete
  6. The actions I can take today are to accept God’s invitation to his house of wisdom by seeking His wisdom in the face of current situations and allowing Him to guide my decisions so that my judgment will be good and my decisions right, finding rest from simple minded ways.

    ReplyDelete
  7. The action we will take in light of today's lesson is to enter into this house of wisdom that has been provided for us. We will continue in His word and obtain more wisdom to share.

    ReplyDelete
  8. 2. Action taken: Ask God to help me to have ears to hear the invitation when wisdoms calls out, that I will have good judgement instead of being simple minded.

    ReplyDelete
  9. I will purpose to leave the simple ways behind that I have spoken to the Lord about and invoke His wisdom in all situations.

    ReplyDelete
  10. I will seek God's wisdom on behaviors or habits that need to change.

    ReplyDelete
  11. 1. As instructed, I responded to this question in my personal journal.
    2. The actions I will take today—I will thank the Lord that the invitation to wisdom and his hand of mercy is still being extended to me to help me live for His purposes. I will, by God’s grace, allow Him to strip off any habits and behaviors that are needed to correct my course on the path to prospering God’s way.

    ReplyDelete
  12. I am so thankful that Jesus has been made wisdom to us. My prayer is that I walk in that wisdom and recognize what I need to leave behind and then... actually leave it behind.

    ReplyDelete