Wisdom has built her house; she has carved out her seven pillars. Sermons
I. THE FIGURATIVE REPRESENTATION. Wisdom was termed, in Proverbs 8:30, a "workmistress," in reference to the structure of the physical world. Here she whose delight is in men and human life is represented as the builder, i.e. the founder of moral and social order. The seven pillars denote grandeur, and, at the same time, sacredness. Her home is a temple. Religion is "the oldest and most sacred tradition of the race" (Herder); and it contains within it art, science, polity - all that makes human life stable, rich, and beautiful. Preparation has been made for a feast. The ox has been slain, the spiced wine has been mixed (Isaiah 5:22; Proverbs 23:30), the table set forth. Her servant has been sent forth, and her invitation has been freely made known on all the heights of the city. It is an invitation to the simple, the ignorant, the unintelligent, of every degree. II. THE SPIRITUAL CONTENTS. These receive a richer unfolding in the gospel (Matthew 22:1-14; Luke 14:16-24). Instead of the practical personification of wisdom, we have the living presence of Christ, "the Wisdom of God." Instead of the abstract, the concrete; for an ideal conception, a real Example and a present Object of faith. Instead of the splendid palace temple, on the other hand, we have the thought of the kingdom of God, or the Church, resting on its foundations of apostolic truth. To the provisions of the table correspond the rich spiritual nourishment derivable from Christ, his Word and work - the true Bread sent down from heaven. To the invitation of Wisdom, the call to salvation by Christ. 1. The New Testament echoes the Old, and the gospel is essentially the same in every way. 2. The gospel of Christ is the unfolding, expansion, enrichment, of the ancient spiritual lore. 3. The relation of the Divine to the human remains constant; it is that of supply to want, knowledge to ignorance, love and light to sorrow and darkness. 4. The invitation to the kingdom of heaven is free and general, conditioned by nothing except the need of its blessings. - J.
Wisdom hath builded her house. The Bible is fully of mystery, not merely in its doctrines, but also in the manner and in the language by which the truths of revelation are brought before us. In the personification of this passage, Wisdom is seen sympathising with man, caring for man, loving man, diffusing abroad amongst men the benefits of harmony, and of purity, and of eternal life.I. THE PROVISION MADE BY HEAVENLY WISDOM FOR THE SPIRITUAL WANTS OF MEN. When Wisdom is here represented as having furnished her house, and built her dwelling, you have an idea, a correct conception of the Church of God. God is the builder of the Church, and the foundation is deep, broad, and wide, and altogether sufficient for the purposes of human salvation. Men are represented as living stones, quickened and animated, and hewn and fitted to occupy the position for which they are intended, cemented by Divine love, held in attraction to the foundation, and consequently held in relation to each other. In the passage the building is characterised by stability and durability. "Seven pillars." Pillars, in Scripture, are emblems of strength, beauty, and durability. The number seven is indicative of perfection. Every pillar, every buttress, every support that Christianity needs the wisdom of God has provided. In the passages is the further idea of a gracious and adequate provision. "She hath killed her killings." This is the idea of sacrifice. The idea of what is grateful and refreshing is likewise presented. "She hath mingled her wine." Easterns mingled their wines in order, by the power of spices, to make them more attractive, and to strengthen their flavour. Then the "table is furnished." Divine truth in its simplest and most complicated form — Divine truth that can guide, and purify, and train the spirit up for heaven — the truth that can make you free — the truth that can bless you with present happiness and eternal glory, is presented in the gospel. The provision of infinite love, then, is precisely adapted to your need. II. THE INVITATION PRESENTED TO MANKIND TO ACCEPT OF THIS PROVISION. 1. The parties employed to utter the invitation. When Wisdom, as the queen of heaven, spreads her table, she sends out her maidens. They are emblems of feebleness, purity, and attractiveness; and this is just the character of the messengers that were sent out by the Lord. 2. The persons to whom the invitation is directed. Here represented as being foolish, indiscreet, unwise, incompetent to guide their own affairs, incapable of obtaining that support and comfort which they need. Here is a correct idea of the ruined, the guilty, and the helpless condition of man. The gospel is preached to the ignorant, the guilty, and the wretched. 3. The scene of proclamation is described. It is made in the chief places of congress, at the opening of the gate, and the going in of the doors. This teaches us that the proclamation is to be made in the midst of large multitudes of people. III. THE CONSIDERATION BY WHICH THIS INVITATION IS ENFORCED AND PRESSED HOME UPON ATTENTION. There is not the mere announcement of provision, not the mere proclamation of the fact, but an entreaty on the part of those who go out with the messages. "Forsake the foolish and live." Life is valuable — all life is valuable. The life of religion, the life of God in the soul of man, is the highest form of life. There is an appeal in the text to the love of enjoyment. There is an appeal also to the love of wisdom. Have you obeyed the invitation? (Gearge Smith, D. D,) I. The RESEMBLANCES between them are set forth in a very striking manner. 1. It is the same class of men that is invited. They are in both cases "the simple," "the void of understanding." 2. The invitations are similar in — (1) (2) (3) II. But the DIFFERENCES are no less marked. 1. In the banquets themselves. Wisdom has built her grand, substantial palace or temple (ver. 1), in virtue of her share in creation (Proverbs 8:30), and she has provided a satisfying, nourishing, and gladsome feast (ver. 2). Not so Folly. In consistency with her parasitic nature, it is not her own goods that she creates and prepares, but she invites to the abuse or illicit enjoyment of the goods God has already bestowed. Wisdom sits as a princess in her rightful home; Folly is hardly more than at the door of her house, which is not described. 2. In the inducements presented. These are not the feasts themselves, but additional commendations setting forth their relative advantages. In the one case satisfying and nourishing viands are offered, whose result is life; in the other, the thing presented is pleasure, and that which is to give it is only spoken of in a mysterious, allusive way. It is the illicit and secret enjoyment that is the charm. But if the Queen of Sheba declared that "the half had not been told her" of the true wisdom, how much of the truth is kept back in the promises and fair speeches of Folly! Those who are once within her house are to all intents and purposes dead men, and are as if they were already "in the depths of Sheol!" (St. J. A. Frere, M.A.) II. THE HOUSE WHICH WISDOM HAS BUILT. 1. An indestructible house. He formed, in the counsels of eternity, by unerring wisdom, a plan which no finite mind could have ever suggested, and which can admit of no improvement. We are thankful for a good plan, when we reflect that the permanence of a building is often, in some measure at least, dependent upon it. This building rests on the securest foundation — the three persons in the ever-blessed Trinity, the perfections of God, and the all-sufficient righteousness of the incarnate One. It reposes, not on the yielding sand of human merit or mortal workmanship, but on the Rock of Ages, which time cannot crumble or change. Not only is the foundation quite safe and immovable, but the superstructure is equally strong. In fact, it is perfectly invincible. "She hath hewn her seven pillars." Pillars are used as the supports and ornaments of buildings, and the number seven is the symbol of perfection. We take the seven pillars to denote perfect strength and beauty. We next observe that Wisdom's house affords perfect security to its inhabitants. It is a fortress, a strong tower, a house of defence, a castle of safety, to those who enjoy the privilege of dwelling in it. 2. A house of instruction. It is emphatically the house of Wisdom. A school where the best lessons are taught, in the best possible mode of teaching, and by the best of all teachers. 3. A banqueting house (ver. 2). The Church of the living God is a banqueting-hall in which we have the gospel feast prepared and exhibited for all who have a spiritual appetite; and the invitation is freely and earnestly given to all, for there is plenty of room and an abundance of provisions. The entertainment is in reality a feast upon a sacrifice, and what is that sacrifice on which all who wish may feast but the sacrifice of Christ, "the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world"? (S. Waller.) People SolomonPlaces JerusalemTopics Builded, Built, Carved, Hewn, Pillars, Putting, Seven, WisdomOutline 1. The discipline4. and the doctrine of wisdom 13. The custom 16. and error of folly Dictionary of Bible Themes Proverbs 9:1 4478 meat Library The Temple of Wisdom(Preached at Wellington College, All Saints' Day, 1866.) PROVERBS ix. 1-5. Wisdom hath builded her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars: she hath killed her beasts; she hath mingled her wine; she hath also furnished her table. She hath sent forth her maidens; she crieth upon the highest places of the city, Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: and to him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him, Come, eat of my bread, and drink of the wine which I have mingled. This allegory has been … Charles Kingsley—Discipline and Other Sermons The Dryness of Preachers, and the Various Evils which Arise from their Failing to Teach Heart-Prayer --Exhortation to Pastors to Lead People Towards this Form Of Letter xxi (Circa A. D. 1128) to the Abbot of S. John at Chartres To Pastors and Teachers From his Entrance on the Ministry in 1815, to his Commission to Reside in Germany in 1820 The Authority and Utility of the Scriptures An Analysis of Augustin's Writings against the Donatists. The Gospel Feast Proverbs Links Proverbs 9:1 NIVProverbs 9:1 NLT Proverbs 9:1 ESV Proverbs 9:1 NASB Proverbs 9:1 KJV Proverbs 9:1 Bible Apps Proverbs 9:1 Parallel Proverbs 9:1 Biblia Paralela Proverbs 9:1 Chinese Bible Proverbs 9:1 French Bible Proverbs 9:1 German Bible Proverbs 9:1 Commentaries Bible Hub |