THE TWO BANQUETS OF
MANKIND – that
of the Wise Man, and that of the Foolish
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.
(Proverbs
9:1-12)
It is a wonderful
truth of God that the destiny of man is always determined by a matter of TWO’s:
1) there were TWO trees in the Garden (the Tree of Life & the Tree of the
Knowledge of Good and Evil); 2) there are TWO ways (the Narrow Way that leads
to life & the Broad Way that leads down to destruction); 3) the TWO
families (either that of God, or that of Satan); 4) the TWO masters – God or
Mammon; and 5) the TWO Banquets – that of Wisdom and Heaven, or that of the
House of Ill-Repute. There are more examples of the TWO’s, but those given will
suffice for today’s devotion.
In chapter 9 of
Proverbs, we will address (in 2 parts) the Two Banquets that stand, starkly,
before men and women to choose: The one Banquet (Part I, vs. 1-12) is that of
the House of Wisdom and God; the second (Part II, vs. 13-18) is the House of
Fools and of Satan. When our names are called from the roll from cross the
fields, or down the city street, to “Come to Supper”, to which Banquet
will you hurry? That is the crucial question postulated by this chapter of
Proverbs. When I was a boy, Suppertime was a time of fellowship and sharing
around the common table. Those around the table usually included only family
and, on occasion, close friends. Strangers did not come to our family suppers.
The wicked shall not dine at the Supper of the Righteous, nor the Righteous at
the supper of the wicked. The two families of Mankind shall be separated in the
Wisdom of God to their common banquet tables.
THE BANQUET OF THE
WISE at WISDOM”S TABLE:
Throughout
Proverbs Wisdom is personified as a virtuous woman. She has built her house –
not of mortar or thatch, not a tent or arbor – but a dwelling place requiring
stone pillars hewn out of the Rock of our Salvation (Jesus Christ) for its
support. The building is designed for permanence and not for the short term.
Seven pillars of Wisdom are required as a foundation of Wisdom. The number
SEVEN is significant in that it represents the perfection and satisfaction of
God – seven days of Creation, seven notes in the musical scale, seven colors of
the rainbow, etc. What are the seven pillars of Wisdom? Do the Holy Scriptures
ever leave us bewildered? No, we need only look at the previous chapter 8 of
Proverbs for those seven pillars of Wisdom: 12 I wisdom dwell with (1)
prudence,
and find out (2) knowledge of witty inventions. 13 The (3) fear
of the Lord is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and
the froward mouth, do I hate. 14 (4) Counsel is mine, and (5) sound
wisdom: I am(6) understanding; I have (7) strength.
(Prov 8:12-14) So the Seven Pillars of Wisdom are: 1) Prudence: 2) Knowledge;
3) the “fear of the Lord”; 4) Counsel; 5) Sound Wisdom (that which emanates
from God); 6) Understanding; and
7) Strength which always results from adherence the other six.
In
the construction of her building, Wisdom had you in mind from the cut of the
first stone: 2 She hath killed her beasts; she hath mingled her wine; she
hath also furnished her table. Wisdom does not dwell in solitary places, but seeks her own.
She has prepared a table of strong meats (the mysteries of the Gospel) and she
has prepared her mingled wine (enhance for the delectability of the Holy
Spirit). Lastly, she has prepared and set her table for the Communion of souls
who call her Sister. Do we invite our Sister, Wisdom, to accompany us to the
reception of the Holy Communion? Does our spiritual Communion not reflect that
Holy One that Wisdom has prodigiously prepared?
God
is perfect in every way, we know; however, have you ever considered what an
accomplished and perfect Author He is. He pens the most profound truths in the
fewest and most beautiful words possible. “War and Peace” by Leo Tolstoy is an
epic novel of great historical significance, but it recounts only a single
segment of life in Russia in hundreds (1424
pgs. in my library copy) of pages. But the Holy Bible has encapsulated eternity
between two covers and a history spanning 4,000 years (1448 pages in standard Bible with marginal notes). Amazing! 3 She
hath sent forth her maidens: she crieth upon the highest places of the city,
Her sweet and precious maiden are her angels of proclamation. Nothing
is sweeter or more virtuous than a little girl. These never signal revolt or
violence, but love and tenderness. They are the public and ever-present Voice
of Wisdom. Wisdom sends her maidens of ministry into the public streets and
high corners of the city much as Christ has sent His Apostles – and you and me,
Friend. Please note the lack of care for social, economic, or political station
– her message is broadcast in the streets and from the high places of the
streets so that ALL may here and take notice. Wisdom desires to make the
stranger her friend if the stranger will only embrace Wisdom. Were you and not
strangers to Wisdom at some point in the past?
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. Her voice is not heard by the shrewd and heartless,
but she beckons to the SIMPLE – those who have a natural innocence; those who
are modest; those who are humble; and those who lack knowledge (but hunger
therefor). Those who are as many pseudo-scientists of our day who are
classified as know-it-alls are actually those who know NOTHING. Yet, they
cannot hear the voice of Wisdom because their minds are too full of “facts that
are not true”. But those who hunger after knowledge of right things, she
actively solicits. Blessed are they which
do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
(Matt 5:6 (KJV) But those who do not hunger now because they are so full of
themselves shall certainly hunger when the winter winds howl and the leaves are
fallen. Woe unto you that are full! for ye shall
hunger. Woe unto you that laugh now! for ye shall mourn and weep.
(Luke 6:25) Of what bread does Wisdom invite us to come and eat? It is that
Bread of Life that came down from Heaven (our Lord Jesus Christ)! And of what
wine are we invited to drink? That Wine of the Cup and Blood of Christ mingled
with both joys and sorrows, but, above all, victory and life.
6 Forsake
the foolish, and live; and go in the way of understanding. Observe
a signal truth here: if we are to sup at the table of Wisdom, we must put away
our bad manners of greed and deceit. We cannot carry our old rags and baggage of
sin and lies to the table of Wisdom. She is a lady who disdains the hint of
unrighteousness or the odor of sin.
7 He
that reproveth a scorner getteth to himself shame: and he that rebuketh a
wicked man getteth himself a blot. What possible good can come from
correcting one whose aim and purpose is always to scorn? Such a one may have
his heart changed and made new by God, but not by your correction. What profit
is there in a Prince or King in lowering himself to the level of a street idiot
by arguing with him? The King will appear the fool and the idiot the victor.
Please note the opposing responses of a rebuke from the scorner on one hand,
and the righteous on the other: 8 Reprove not a scorner, lest he
hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee. Do not confuse
an obstinate fool with the facts – even if those facts may profit him. But a
wise man will feel greatly indebted to the friend of his bosom if that friend
points out some grave error that the wise man has promulgated. Such rebuke will
save the wise man from great error and future embarrassment. How often have we
been taught great biblical principles by a little child? I certainly have and
have benefitted immensely from their innocent counsel. 9 Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet
wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.
That
which begins in fear, here, ends in the most rapturous love! This verse is one
of the better known in Holy Scripture: 10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning
of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding. When we
recognize that we are abject sinners without any hope whatsoever, we will fear
the Majesty on High and His Righteousness. Hopefully, such fear will drive us
to seek Him out and to know Him. If we do seek His face, we shall find Him, and
our fears are turned to joy and love. The only fear that remains is not the
mortal fear one feels for a dreadful enemy, but a beneficent fear one holds for
a loving Father – the kind of fear that dreads to disappoint or dishonor.
11 For
by me thy days shall be multiplied, and the years of thy life shall be
increased. This is certainly an understatement! If we embrace
Wisdom, yes, our days shall be lengthened, but that is only half the story. Our
days shall be eternalized and unending. We cannot love Wisdom and hate the
Lord. Wisdom is His Nature.
12 If
thou be wise, thou shalt be wise for thyself: but if thou scornest, thou alone
shalt bear it. Clearly, Wisdom is a great benefit and scorn is a
burden to bear. The wise man can ONLY profit from Wisdom, and the scorner can
ONLY bear a heavy burden of his scorn. Which Banquet have you been invited to
attend, Reader?
