There Is News In The Truth

I’ll go ahead and put the whole of Proverbs 8 on here.

¹ Wisdom hath builded her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars: ² She hath killed her beasts; she hath mingled her wine; she hath also furnished her table. ³ She hath sent forth her maidens: she crieth upon the highest places of the city, ⁴ Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him, ⁵ Come, eat of my bread, and drink of the wine which I have mingled. ⁶ Forsake the foolish, and live; and go in the way of understanding. ⁷ He that reproveth a scorner getteth to himself shame: and he that rebuketh a wicked man getteth himself a blot. ⁸ Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee. ⁹ Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning. ¹⁰ The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding. ¹¹ For by me thy days shall be multiplied, and the years of thy life shall be increased. ¹² If thou be wise, thou shalt be wise for thyself: but if thou scornest, thou alone shalt bear it.

¹³ A foolish woman is clamorous: she is simple, and knoweth nothing. ¹⁴ For she sitteth at the door of her house, on a seat in the high places of the city, ¹⁵ To call passengers who go right on their ways: ¹⁶ Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: and as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him, ¹⁷ Stolen waters are sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant. ¹⁸ But he knoweth not that the dead are there; and that her guests are in the depths of hell.

There are two women here. There are two offers; two invitations; two outcomes. There are two paths; two options; two doors. Both have prepared a table. Both have called. But by wisdom is eternal life (9:11) For by me thy days shall be multiplied, and the years of thy life shall be increased. And by foolishness is eternal death (9:18) But he knoweth not that the dead are there; and that her guests are in the depths of hell.

Both calls are the same. They’re both made to the simple. Wisdom calls out. (9:4) Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him. But so does the foolish woman. (9:16) Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: and as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him. They say the exact same thing to the exact same people. This is a testament that all shall come to this fork in the road. All are called to both paths. All are allured to both wisdom and foolishness. All are given the choice of eternal life or eternal death. And most of all, all are simple. Or at least they start out that way. You may start in such a state, but you don’t have to stay that way.

All are simple. All are lacking of understanding; of knowledge and wisdom. Education thinks that twelve years or more in an institution of learning will give you what you are lacking. Religion thinks that you can get it sitting in a pew year after year. Government thinks they can give it to you. And I even dare say that the world thinks they can get it through experience. But the bible says (9:10) The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding. So we must ask ourselves when did we begin to fear the Lord? When did we obtain knowledge of the holy? When did we realize our simplicity and turn in? (9:4) Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither.

I’m glad for that glorious day that I turned aside from the broad way. (9:5) Come, eat of my bread, and drink of the wine which I have mingled. Thank God for the invitation to come and dine. Jesus said, (Luke 14:21,23) Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind… Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled. I found this portion of a hymn this morning by Isaac Watts (III.12)

We are the poor, the blind, the lame,
And help was far, and death was nigh;
But at the gospel-call we came,
And every want recieved supply.

From the highway that leads to hell,
From paths of darkness and despair,
Lord, we are come with thee to dwell,
Glad to enjoy they presence here.

Forsake the foolish and live! (1 Corinthians 1:18) For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. (Proverbs 1:22) How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? Forsake the foolish. Get off that road. Turn in hither, to the cross and gain knowledge of the holy.