THE SEVEN PILLARS OF WISDOM
Underlying our Christianity is the Wisdom of God found in the Old Testament. Nowhere is the Wisdom of God MORE CONCENTRATED than in the book of Proverbs.
Prov 9:1-6 (KJV)
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.
Wisdom has “seven pillars’ . . . as you study the book of Proverbs, these pillars or “main themes” become very visible:
Number 1 & number 7 pillar are easiest to see in ANOTHER of Solomon’s books:
Eccl 12:13 (KJV)
13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: FEAR GOD, and KEEP HIS COMMANDMENTS: for this is the whole duty of man.
If you AT LEAST obey pillars 1 & 7, you will have SOME stability in your life.
Let’s look at pillar #1 a little CLOSER:
#1) FEAR GOD -
Prov 1:7 (KJV)
7 The FEAR OF THE LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Prov 9:10 (KJV)
10 THE FEAR OF THE LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.
What is the FEAR OF THE LORD? The Amplified Bible calls it the “Awesome, reverential fear of the Lord”. YES, we fear and respect His power, causing us to OBEY Him, then we learn to LOVE Him :)
#2 & #6 pillars are similar, but distinctly different in function.
#2) Keep away from sin ... #6) Keep away from sexual sin.
Keeping away from sin is BEST described in chapter 1:
Prov 1:10-19 (NIV)
10 My son, if sinners entice you, do not give in to them.
11 If they say, "Come along with us; let's lie in wait for someone's blood, let's waylay some harmless soul;
12 let's swallow them alive, like the grave, and whole, like those who go down to the pit;
13 we will get all sorts of valuable things and fill our houses with plunder;
14 throw in your lot with us, and we will share a common purse"--
15 my son, do not go along with them, do not set foot on their paths;
16 for their feet rush into sin, they are swift to shed blood.
17 How useless to spread a net in full view of all the birds!
18 These men lie in wait for their own blood; they waylay only themselves!
19 Such is the end of all who go after ill-gotten gain; IT TAKES AWAY THE LIVES of those who get it.
If you SIN, you KICK OUT a pillar in your life and you are NOT STABLE and are in DANGER of BLOWING YOUR LIFE ! ! !
#6) Turn away from SEXUAL SIN is talked about MANY TIMES in chapters 2 and 5 - 7:
Prov 7:6-27 (NKJ)
6 For at the window of my house I looked through my lattice,
7 And saw among the simple, I perceived among the youths, a young man devoid of understanding,
8 Passing along the street near her corner; and he took the path to her house
9 In the twilight, in the evening, in the black and dark night.
10 And there a woman met him, with the attire of a harlot, and a crafty heart.
11 She was loud and rebellious, her feet would not stay at home.
12 At times she was outside, at times in the open square, Lurking at every corner.
13 So she caught him and kissed him; with an impudent face she said to him:
14 "I have peace offerings with me; today I have paid my vows.
15 So I came out to meet you, diligently to seek your face, and I have found you.
16 I have spread my bed with tapestry, Colored coverings of Egyptian linen.
17 I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.
18 Come, let us take our fill of love until morning; let us delight ourselves with love.
19 For my husband is not at home; he has gone on a long journey;
20 He has taken a bag of money with him, and will come home on the appointed day."
21 With her enticing speech she caused him to yield, with her flattering lips she seduced him.
22 Immediately he went after her, as an ox goes to the slaughter, or as a fool to the correction of the stocks,
23 Till an arrow struck his liver. As a bird hastens to the snare, he did not know it would cost his life.
24 Now therefore, listen to me, my children; pay attention to the words of my mouth:
25 Do not let your heart turn aside to her ways, do not stray into her paths;
26 For she has cast down many wounded, and all who were slain by her were strong men.
27 Her house is the way to hell, descending to the chambers of death.
#3) The parent/child relationship (which can be SO GOOD or SO BAD depending on if we obey the precepts laid out in Proverbs). For example, to the CHILD, Wisdom says:
Prov 6:20-29 (NIV)
20 My son, keep your father's commands and do not forsake your mother's teaching.
21 Bind them upon your heart forever; fasten them around your neck.
22 When you walk, they will guide you; when you sleep, they will watch over you; when you awake, they will speak to you.
23 For these commands are a lamp, this teaching is a light, and the corrections of discipline are the way to life,
24 keeping you from the immoral woman, from the smooth tongue of the wayward wife.
25 Do not lust in your heart after her beauty or let her captivate you with her eyes,
26 for the prostitute reduces you to a loaf of bread, and the adulteress preys upon your very life.
27 Can a man scoop fire into his lap without his clothes being burned?
28 Can a man walk on hot coals without his feet being scorched?
29 So is he who sleeps with another man's wife; no one who touches her will go unpunished.
To the parent, Wisdom teaches us to DISCIPLINE:
Prov 29:15 (NKJ)
15 The rod and rebuke give wisdom, but a child left to himself brings shame to his mother.
Wisdom teaches us to:
Prov 22:6 (NIV)
6 Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.
PARENTS, your child DID come with a book of instructions ... study Proverbs and HIGHLIGHT everything having to do with the parent/child relationship!
PART TWO NEXT WEEK . . .