Choosing Between Life's Leading Ladies

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.

Proverbs 9 · chapter mention

You know, you could summarize Proverbs chapter 9 with just two words.

Proverbs 9 · chapter mention

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.

Proverbs 9 · chapter mention

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.

Proverbs 9 · chapter mention

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.

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.

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

Proverbs 1 · chapter mention

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

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

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

we

all

have

an

operating

system

running

in

our

hearts

your

heart

biblically

speaking

is the

control

center

of your

life

whatever

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

Proverbs 9 · chapter mention

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

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

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

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