We’re in Proverbs chapter 7 and we’re going to pick it up with verse 20 here in a moment. What’s happened up to this time? Well, we have a type in a sense of how sister Babylon is playing the harlot and how she will try to religiously seduce people in as much as the Hebrew word zur has been utilized, meaning apostate. I’m going to try to recap in order to catch up those that might have missed some of these lectures. So the apostate religions, represented by this zur or strange woman, is trying to seduce people into following her religion. What is her religion? Anything but God’s way or adding so many traditions of men, as clauses, within the parameters of so-called Christianity so that she deceives people. Does she know she's doing this? Most times not. That’s why you want to be sure that you’re not biblically illiterate and that you get into our Father’s word so you’ll have the skill to at least check it out for yourself.
So she has attracted the attention of a young male, has gotten him into her home. She’s perfumed the bed and so-forth and in 18, she mentioned that the good man of the house was on a long journey. Now that should remind you of all the parables that Christ taught concerning a man being on a long journey (see Matthew 21:33-43, Matthew 25:1-13, Matt 25:14-30; Mark 12:1-12; Luke 20:9-19) in that when he returned, those he left in charge should have taken care of his house while he was gone. It also reminds me of Mark 13 where He said “Woe to those that are with child when I return” when they were supposed to remain faithful virgins until His return and for the wedding.
Having stated in the 19th verse that the good man was on a far journey, she continues working on the youth. Let’s pick it up in 20, a word of wisdom from our Father that we may understand. Verse 20 and it reads, speaking of the good man of the house:
Pro 7:20 He hath taken a bag of money with him, and will come home at the day appointed.
What she’s saying is, “I know he’s on a long trip because he took a great deal of money with him for a long journey and I know exactly what day he’s coming home.” In other words she was trying to indicate to the youth that everything was clear and she knew it. Verse 21:
Pro 7:21 With her much fair speech she caused him to yield, with the flattering of her lips she forced him.
You know sometimes other religions can sound so very good, so enticing by offering a new or different way to worship God. Be careful my friend. That is what this is likened to. 22:
Pro 7:22 He goeth after her straightway,
Suddenly.
as an ox goeth to the slaughter,
Poor dumb animal. Just walks in and gets pole-axed.
or as a fool to the correction of the stocks;
Just docks right into it. Satan wants your soul. He wants company in the abyss with him.
Pro 7:23 Till a dart strike through his liver; as a bird hasteth to the snare, and knoweth not that it is for his life.
Now the tip off here that this is speaking in a spiritual sense, hinges on the word “life”. In the Hebrew manuscripts it is nephesh (h5315) or soul. [If she had struck just his flesh body that wouldn't take his soul, just his flesh body would perish. So with the use of nephesh, we're talking about someone hunting for the soul of a man.] Satan uses religion more than anything else as his form of temptation. Christ documented that to you in Matthew chapter four when Christ’s time for temptation arrived. How did satan tempt Christ? He tempted Him with scripture… something very religious. There’s just one problem; satan twisted each of those scriptures. And you know the saddest part of the whole thing? I mean you don’t have to worry about the Lord, He’s not falling for it. But most Christians today are not well founded enough in God’s word that they could read those scriptures that satan quoted in Matthew chapter four, to recognize that they’re all twisted just a little bit. Twisted just enough to be a lie and many Christians are not aware of that. They wouldn’t know enough of God’s word to catch it. It’s really sad. That means they certainly aren’t qualified to be warriors against satan because they are not equipped.
Many say they have on the gospel armor. What is the gospel armor? Figuratively speaking it is that piece of clothing that one girt up and is tied around you whereby one is ready for running into the battle of deception, armed with the gospel on and in place. But if you’re ignorant of the word of God then you can’t wear the armor because it falls off every time you move. I’m not saying everyone has to be qualified as a teacher, but at least you should now the general flow of God’s word. By that I’m not trying to put anyone on a guilt trip because someone can’t quote most of God’s word. It isn’t necessary for you to quote most of God’s word, but to read it with understanding and to gain wisdom. Wisdom is necessary. 24, wisdom continues to speak:
Pro 7:24 Hearken unto me now therefore, O ye children, and attend to the words of my mouth.
You listen to wisdom.
Pro 7:25 Let not thine heart decline to her ways, go not astray in her paths.
You stay out of sister Babylon’s paths. Let her play the Harlot all she wants to but you stay out of her clutches.
Pro 7:26 For she hath cast down many wounded: yea, many strong men have been slain by her.
That’s to say sister Babylon. Now I know the feminine is used here but there’s no gender necessarily. There are just as male many smooth-mouthed con artists of the male gender out as there are of the female gender - even more so I would say. Most men won’t let women teach God’s word anyway, yet they never seem to get around to doing it themselves. A bunch of one-verse reverends. I don’t know what they’re so uptight about. They probably are uptight because they know that women are much smarter than they are. Regardless, it states in the Proverbs that we are not to listen to fools whether they be male or female. Some men say, “Well brother you don’t understand. A woman is supposed to be subject to a man.” Subject to a man that's a fool? Come on! Where is your wisdom? God says don’t submit to a fool and not to listen to him… or her, if she be a fool. Verse 27:
Pro 7:27 Her house is the way to hell, going down to the chambers of death.
That’s where false religion will lead you my friend. You see that’s the reason why God would tell you in that 6th chapter along about verse 17 or 18, of the 6 things He hated and the 7th that was an abomination. This abomination was regarding the one that sows disorder in a group that is truly trying to study God’s word. God hates a person like that. Worse than hates, He considers it an abomination because they ultimately lead someone into a snare and causing a spiritual slaying of a soul if the sucker they got to listen to them hears and then follows the falsehoods they're peddling. Got it?
Now we come to one of the most beautiful chapters in God’s word. Wisdom calls. She calls to you. Wisdom will share things with you and naturally all wisdom comes from God. So needless to say this is from God. You’re even going to learn some of the emotions of God and some of the things that people are not at all familiar with. Proverbs chapter 8, and it reads:
Pro 8:1 Doth not wisdom cry?
I mean it’s loud enough and you can hear if you listen.
and understanding put forth her voice?
Common sense. Do you have common sense that you can utilize to keep you out of trouble ?
Pro 8:2 She standeth in the top of high places, by the way in the places of the paths.
Wisdom is there even when you get off the path. Wisdom is there to give you discernment and enough sense to get you back on the right way of the path. She’s there and once you put her around your neck and in your heart and in your soul and in your mind, wisdom will always lead you correctly. 3:
Pro 8:3 She crieth at the gates,
That’s where judgment takes place. Wisdom is there at judgment.
at the entry of the city, at the coming in at the doors.
She’s there. In other words if you have implanted that in the table of your mind, that is to say in your memory cells, it keeps you on the path that is pleasing to God. Verse 4:
Pro 8:4 Unto you, O men, I call;
This is wisdom speaking. Can you listen? She says, “I call.”
and my voice is to the sons of man.
Just as Christ was the Son of man, which is to say Emanuel, God with us, wisdom is there too, and there for all that will accept them. And whosoever will, as well as the sons of Adam, which it is in the Hebrew. Verse 5:
Pro 8:5 O ye simple, understand wisdom:
This word simple is a little different here. It means unsuspecting. It doesn’t mean feeble minded. I want to make that very clear. Unsuspecting. That says a lot within itself. Who is unsuspecting? Well five of the virgins were unsuspecting when they thought they were alright. (see Matthew 25:1-13) So it means Christians that are unsuspecting because they are basically biblically illiterate, not knowing what’s going to happen. That’s who He’s talking to. He’s calling them simple.
and, ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart.
In other words common sense. That is wisdom herself crying out to those that need help. Wisdom will not deny that help if one finally comes to a point that they will turn to our Father and ask for that wisdom in a deserving sense.
Pro 8:6 Hear;
That means listen.
for I will speak of excellent things; and the opening of my lips shall be right things.
She’s saying, “listen I’m going to tell you some important information. And beloved you will never hear any information more important than you will hear in the remainder of this chapter which will ground you in God’s overall way or path. Or better yet, His plan. He will teach you the right truths. 7:
Pro 8:7 For my mouth shall speak truth; and wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
Every kind of deception is an abomination to the lips wisdom. And wisdom is what deters, drives away and does-in deception. Deception cannot operate when wisdom is present. That is to say the right wisdom. God’s wisdom, not the world’s.
Pro 8:8 All the words of my mouth are in righteousness;
That’s what truth is.
there is nothing froward or perverse in them.
Froward being, there is nothing twisted or crafty. Perverse meaning nothing evil. So you can take that word and have a calm understanding life with the spirit of peace upon you. Ultimately bringing peace of mind if you listen to wisdom and absorb it. Wisdom will keep you away from the things that are crafty and twisted and evil. Verse 9:
Pro 8:9 They are all plain to him that understandeth,
They stick out like a sore thumb.
and right to them that find knowledge.
In other words those that have a keen mind and are able to practice a little bit of common sense. That which is idiotic or that which is wrong, it sticks out like a sore thumb and you can turn away. Those that know the appearance of the spurious messiah, to you it’s no step and you’re not that concerned about it because you know you can handle it. Why? Becauase God is even going to tell you what to say at that moment. You don’t have anything to worry about. All of God’s enemies are afraid of God’s children if, and that’s a big IF they exercise the power God has given them. Verse 10:
Pro 8:10 Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold.
Now many would really have a difficult time with that but don’t worry. It’s a very true saying. There is nothing twisted or crafty about wisdom. In the first place, if you receive wisdom’s instructions before you receive the gold and silver, you’re chances of holding on to it are pretty good. But you give a fool gold or silver, there’s surely a crafty person hee-hawing right around the corner that is going to rip him off for it. So he’s not going to keep it long. Those that try to follow God; He only gives them what they are able to take care of and what He can trust them with. A lot of people resent that but it’s God’s truth. And the harder you work the more wisdom you gain. You see, naturally, anyone with common sense and wisdom, as a result, the gold and the silver is not that hard to come by. I mean that’s just payment for using wisdom and knowledge and certainly you are intelligent enough to hold on to it.
Pro 8:11 For wisdom is better
It’s more valuable than
than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it.
You’re not to compare gold and silver to wisdom. You really can’t buy true wisdom for it is not for sale. It’s God’s gift to the man or woman that puts forth the effort. God has even arranged it whereby pretty much anyone can afford the word of God. That is to say the written word which are Christ’s teachings and our Father’s. And by that, anyone can gain, on an individual level, the opportunity to make their own mind up as to if they should listen and absorb that which is taught to them by wisdom. Verse 12.
Pro 8:12 I wisdom dwell
You want to hear this. This is where you find her.
with prudence, and find out knowledge of witty inventions.
I dwell with discretion would be another way to interpret this Hebrew word for prudence. In other words it means discretion or using good discretion. The word witty here is kind of an old Anglo-Saxon word that means to be able to intuitively know, which is like when the bulb goes off, bingo, just like that, you know. Intuitively means you don’t have to be taught necessarily and by gaining wisdom it helps you intuitively to know if something is right or wrong and which path you should take. The road you take is your choice, but most of the time the one with wisdom is going to do what is right rather than wrong. And to intuitively know the right path with discretion is basically being a follower of Christ guided by the Holy Spirit within a person’s heart and mind. In other words its the spirit itself of Almighty God through divine intervention of His wisdom that automatically tells you intuitively, and the spirit guides you. Verse 13:
Pro 8:13 The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride,
I want to see how many of you remember of the six things God hates. Think about this now.
and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth,
That’s the corrupt deceitful mouth. One that plants commands of dispute, and is argumentative.
do I hate.
So we find here that wisdom hates the same things that God does. YHVH. And that’s good. Why? Because wisdom is of God. And this is wisdom speaking. It’s not an individual. It’s our Father… well, I could do a cop out and say it is our Father speaking in the third party, but I won’t. Because wisdom is something you can poses within you and can add it, build it, preen it, cultivate it, and exercise it. Verse 14: Wisdom will always council you.
Pro 8:14 Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom: I am understanding; I have strength.
And when you possess her beloved you have strength also. You’re not someone who’s like a reed bending in the wind. It’s like when John the Baptist was asked, “What, did you go down there just to see some old boy blowing in the wind?” No, John the Baptist was straight on. Straight on course. It didn’t matter what men would say whether they were kings or whatever, or king’s wives, John held the message of our Father straight on with that strength of wisdom. 15:
Pro 8:15 By me kings reign,
By using wisdom kings are smart enough that they can rule.
and princes decree justice.
There’s only one justice and that’s truth, God’s truth. Many might say, “Well God doesn’t decide in courts today.” Oh, but He has the final word. Haven’t you heard? He will judge at the great white throne judgment. It doesn’t matter what men on earth judge today. But God's judgment will be right and correct and just. Why? Because of His wisdom. 16:
Pro 8:16 By me princes rule, and nobles, even all the judges of the earth.
You know, there is a dispute, and I think I’ll call it to your attention. If I’m not mistaken, your Companion Bible’s parallel column will call it to your attention:
judges of the earth. Some codices, with two early printed editions, Aram., Syr., read "righteous judges"; reading zedek, "righteousness", instead of 'erez, "earth". R.V. follows this
The Aramaic in the manuscripts do not have (ארץ ) 'erets, which is earth, rather it’s Zedek. Which is judge of the Zedek. And I must say that I have to go with the fact tat the ancient manuscripts are more correct with Zedek. Judges of the Zedek for a very simple reason. You will read in Ezekiel chapter 44 in the millennial age that the Zadok, which is the same as word, it means upright and just which is God’s elect, will judge during the Millennium. So I think it an interesting point. Why? Because God’s wisdom is all in all. God’s divine wisdom is only one course. God’s divine wisdom, whether it were to come forth from 10 or 10,000, and it won’t, but let’s say it did, it’s still the same wisdom. It’s God’s wisdom. So the outcome would be exactly the same. If you don’t understand what I’m saying, put it on a shelf. 17:
Pro 8:17 I love them that love me;
That’s important. That’s very important. Realizing how close and a kin wisdom is to your Father, I stated before that it could even be your Father speaking in the 3rd party, “I love them that love Me.”
and those that seek me early shall find me.
That is to say, those that seek me diligently shall find me. So if you seek wisdom from God’s word, He’ll bless your life and give you this set of rules in Proverbs to govern your civil life, your religious well being, as well as your business, and your profession. If you utilize that wisdom in your profession you can’t help winning. You can’t help being prosperous if you diligently seek that wisdom as to how to manage in this world in any condition. You intuitively know which way to roll with the punches thus people cannot help liking you. And most people like when someone is honest and straightforward and unashamed of wisdom. Of course not to the point of being prideful in it, but knowing how to administer and exercise having enough common sense as to when and where to do what. You can’t go wrong. Seek wisdom. Verse 18:
Pro 8:18 Riches and honour are with me;
Do you understand now about the gold and the rubies?
yea, durable riches and righteousness.
You know, I don’t know who would need a ruby unless you’re a belly dancer anyway. But it is a pretty little old stone. But you see if you have wisdom, all those things area within reach anyway. She, wisdom, says that riches and honor are with me. In other words if you have wisdom and welcome her into your heart where she dwells in that prudence sense, then certainly you have those things simply by reaching for them if that’s what your desire is. 19:
Pro 8:19 My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold; and my revenue than choice silver.
In other words, why is the fruit of wisdom better? Well the gold and silver won’t do it on it’s own. You know, someone could walk up and give you, let’s say a sizable amount of gold and silver, and really what have you got? If you don’t have wisdom, as I fore-stated, someone’s going to rip you off. But the important thing is that the fruit of wisdom is better because if you have the wisdom to appreciate it as to where it came from, you also have peace of mind, happiness, and are able to hang on to it. You have honor and are respected along with all those things that come with wisdom. Verse 20:
Pro 8:20 I lead in the way of righteousness,
I what? “I lead.” She leads you. Can you follow wisdom?
in the midst of the paths of judgment:
What are paths? They are ways of life. And she leads you in that path of life by the way that is righteous. That is to say the right way where you’re not going to get all knocked and banged up right here in the briar patches. She’s going to keep you on the smooth road of success. And certainly if you have wisdom she’ll lead. If you don’t have her, I’m sorry, she won’t lead you. It would not work. It would not be possible. Because wisdom cannot lead one that hath not wisdom. Verse 21:
Pro 8:21 That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance;
I want to read that again.
That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance, and I will fill their treasures.
This word substance in the Hebrew is yesh and it means exist. That which has existence. It’s yours if you want it. That kind of covers all the bases with the word substance and it is a beautiful word. And what did it say? That I may cause all those that love me to inherit, that means gain, or obtain, or come by, basically, that which has existence, meaning anything in existence that you desire. All you have to do is ask for it. As long as it isn’t something that can harm you. God does have that way of protecting us and thank God for it. So you see, I hope you can realize that wisdom is that which brings peace of mind, which quit frankly is one of the most precious things. You could have everything in the world but you still wouldn’t be happy unless you inherit wisdom. Why the word inherit? Because our Father created it all and brought it into existence and it’s His to give to whom so ever he chooses. One more verse, 22:
Pro 8:22 The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old.
Now I’m going to stop there today with that one thought. Do you understand that? Do you know what God’s works of old are? He’s talking about the very creation of this world. Wisdom was with God before God even created the first earth age, and wisdom was there. Well then, what did God do? Divine wisdom, naturally, comes from God because as is stated here, and will continue to state, that there was at one point in time, before anything else existed, that one could derive or inherit wisdom which already existed and was with YHVH our Father, the creator. So with that wisdom, God spoke and all things came into existence. So we’re going to go back a long ways and I want you to be aware of how valuable and how important that wisdom and common sense are. And if you have it and are to be fruitful in you life, remember to give God credit for sharing wisdom with you. I don’t care what you’ve done in the past. God is anxious to allow you to inherit your part of wisdom. And you don’t have to wait till you get to heaven to have those blessings and your part of wisdom. You can have it now by seeking early and diligently for she is waiting for you. She’s crying out. All you have to do is listen and you will find one of the most valuable things in the world and it is peace of mind, which is peace within yourself. To be happy with yourself is to be satisfied with your accomplishments. And that sometimes requires us to even be critical of ourselves so we strive to become better each day. You know I’ll share something with you. I could not even guess how many lectures that I have delivered in my lifetime. It would be in the thousands. Yet there have only been two or three that I was satisfied with before I delivered them. With all the rest, I kept working on them until the very last minute up to their delivery just doing the best I could do. So it’s good to be critical of yourself in that sense thinking that could do better if you had sought wisdom more deeply. I think that’s healthy and it certainly has been no harm to me. And as I stated, I’ve certainly had a lot of experience with not being satisfied with my work to my own satisfaction. So I think that is healthy because it makes you strive harder, dig deeper, and pray to the Father harder for more wisdom and understanding whereby you can share that with others. It’s a healthy thing for you if you think about it. I think that in and of itself, it can bring peace of mind. You think about it. All right bless your hearts. What ever you do don’t miss the next lecture. It’s very important. Alright bless your hearts. You listen a moment wont you please.