MPC 11th March 2007.March 11 - Proverbs 31:10-31 - "Marrying Wisdom"
Phil Campbell MPC 11th March 2007.
I wonder if you've ever stopped to consider how often women are used as symbols of a great virtue.
It's a theme that runs through great works of art. Both painting and sculpture.
And so if you look at the great French revolutionary painting, Liberty Leading the People... Liberty... is a woman.
Likewise the Statue of Liberty. Given by France to the USA in 1886. The towering figure of a woman. Representing freedom.
It's the same with justice. Usually pictured as a woman... with scales in one hand, and a sword in the other. Blindfolded, so she won't be deceived by appearances. Blind Justice ... like the other virtues... is a woman.
It's an ancient tradition. That goes all the way back to the book of Proverbs, and even beyond. The virtues should of course have been modeled on men. But for some reason, they're forever personified as women.
And so it is with wisdom. Who time and time again we meet in Proverbs as if wisdom is a living, breathing woman. We've been thinking about the value of wisdom these past few weeks, of knowing and understanding how God's world works, of knowing how to effectively live in God's world. And it's like this idea of wisdom is so concrete that we're being told we should fall in love with it.
I know a guy, his wife says he's more in love with his motorbike than with her. Well, in Proverbs it's not your motorbike you should marry. It's lady wisdom.
As we wind up our series on Proverbs this morning, we're going to draw together some threads. We're going to tie together some loose ends that bring together a book that's really in a sense a scattering of so many ideas, so many proverbs, so many riddles that it's kind of hard to bring the threads together at all.
But I want to do that by suggesting there are three key characters. And a story being played out from the beginning of the book to the end. And it's a love story. With all the ingredients you need for an episode of The Young and the Restless or even Grays Anatomy. In fact, it's a love triangle. And one of the key players is lady wisdom.
But I want to start by looking at the male lead. A dashing young hero who you meet on and off through the first 9 chapters. Who's known simply as the son.
Now before we zero in on the son in Proverbs, I want to start off somewhere else. In the book of the Prophet Hosea. Because the Prophet Hosea and Proverbs have got a lot in common. So much so that I've got a personal theory that Hosea is one of the guys you read about in Proverbs 25 who King Hezekiah put to work to collect the proverbs of Solomon and put them together. And it's just my imagination, but I can imagine the Prophet Hosea as he's doing that, putting together the introduction that runs from Proverbs chapter 1 to 9. Leading up to the collection of Solomon's actual Proverbs that starts in chapter 10.
All of which leads to a key image in a very famous passage. Hosea. Chapter 11. Verses 1 and 2. It's a beautiful image. But kind of sad. Because Hosea says the people of Israel are like God's beloved son. He says, when God brought the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt all those generations ago, he was leading his little son by the hand. Take a look at his words:
When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son. (Hosea 11:1)
In Hosea, God's son... is the nation of Israel.
And as we come back to Proverbs, I want to make the same suggestion. That the son we're going to meet in chapter 1 and chapter 2 and chapter 3 and chapter 4, the son that we're reading about... may well be the nation of Israel here in proverbs as well. The stubborn but treasured little boy that God called out of Egypt all those years before. And the image in Proverbs of the Father instructing his son... may well be a picture of a bigger reality. God. And his people. And in terms of the big picture of the book of proverbs, not just a picture of the small daily choices made by each of God's people. But the choice of their overall destiny. As the people of God.
Take a look at the start of chapter 3,
My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart, for they will prolong your life many years and bring you prosperity. Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.
Almost exactly the words of Deuteronomy chapter 11 verse 19, as God gives Israel their law. And warns them not to turn aside to other Gods.
Deuteronomy 11:18:
Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. So that your days may be long... in the promised land. Bind my words so tight to yourself that you never let them go.
Which again is a theme through Proverbs. This big picture of Israel's history. God has taken his son by the hand and led him out of slavery in Egypt. God's given him the promised land. But there's always the warning. Forget God's word and turn aside to other Gods. And they'll find themselves homeless.
Look back a few verses to the end of Proverbs chapter 2. Verse 21 and 22.
For the upright will live in the land, and the blameless will remain in it; but the wicked will be cut off from the land, and the unfaithful will be torn from it.
And so in Proverbs chapter 1 to 9, here's perhaps a picture of God the Father; having a father to son chat with his people Israel. About how life works.
And ultimately, as with any strapping young lad, there are big decisions to be made. About life directions. There are big decisions to be made... about which way you're heading. There are big decisions to be made... about women.
Which brings us back to our symbollic ladies. Lady Wisdom. And another more shady lady as well.
Let's start on the up side. Because right from Proverbs chapter 2, wisdom has been introduced as a woman. Calling out on the street.
And you'll meet her again in chapter 4. As part of the father's advice to his son.
And the Father says this:
Son, whatever you do in life, I want you to fall in love... with wisdom. Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you. Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding. Esteem her, and she will exalt you; embrace her, and she will honor you.
There are of course, other women around. Who are quite enticing. And on one level seem quite similar. There are women around who are easy living. And tempting.
In fact, in chapter 9, you see two women side by side. And they've both got an invitation.
Turn over to Proverbs chapter 9, and you'll see what I mean.
Because you'll see in verses 2 to 6, Lady Wisdom is throwing a party.
She has prepared her meat and mixed her wine; she has also set her table. She has sent out her maids, and she calls from the highest point of the city. "Let all who are simple come in here!" she says to those who lack judgment. "Come, eat my food and drink the wine I have mixed."
Come in and sit down at the table of lady wisdom. Enjoy everything she has on offer. Enjoy righteousness. Enjoy justice. Enjoy honesty. Fear the Lord, in verse 10, because
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
Eat in the house of Lady Wisdom. And reap the benefits. Verse 11 says "For through me your days will be many, and years will be added to your life."
But like I said, there's another enticing option. And she looks so similar. And you can see her from verse 14 to 19. The words are almost exactly parallel.
And it's almost like one of those scenes you get in cartoons where there's a moral dilemma. Two voices. One on each shoulder. One saying come this way. One saying, come the other way.
This is lady folly. Wisdom's opposite number. And she's throwing a party as well. And she's at the door of her house at the high point of the city as well. And she's calling out the same invitation. What's a simple guy to do?
"Let all who are simple come in here!" she says to those who lack judgment.
Exactly the same words as before.
But a very different meal. A stolen banquet. That promises to taste so sweet. A banquet of the sort of shortcuts in life, of being too much in a hurry to get ahead, of taking the side roads of corruption. In Israel's case, the temptations of heading off to worship the other Gods down the road who promise fertility and crops, and have drunken sex parties and call it church...
It tastes so sweet. But it ends in disaster. This dinner party is the doorway to the morgue.
"Stolen water is sweet; food eaten in secret is delicious!" But little do they know that the dead are there, that her guests are in the depths of the grave.
Two women.saying "come over to my place and party."
But two very different destinations. Which woman is the son going to fall for?
Which leads then in Proverbs chapter 10 to the start of the collection of the Proverbs of Solomon. Which we've dipped into the past few weeks. Proverbs that highlight what life is really like. Proverbs that give a little slice of insight on the world. Proverbs that show what fearing the Lord looks like in day to day detail. Being industrious. And not a sluggard. Being just. And compassionate. And fair.
So as we close our series this morning, it's time to turn over to the final words of Proverbs chapter 31. Which in the original Hebrew is shaped in the form of an acrostic poem. With every verse starting with the next letter in the Hebrew alphabet. And it's in a sense a summary of everything that's come before. It's an A to Z of proverbs.
And it's also, I think, a fitting conclusion to the story of the love triangle we left behind in Proverbs chapter 9.
Because Proverbs 31 verses 10 to 31 are describing the ideal wife. And describing her in a way that makes her sound very much like lady wisdom.
Now it's a very peculiar privilege to be preaching on Proverbs 31 on the very weekend my own son has announced his engagement. The chapter on the ideal wife. And while I want to say how delighted Lou and I are at the prospect of welcoming Robyn into the family, and how well I'm sure she'll qualify as a wife of wisdom, I've got a strong suspicion that Proverbs chapter 31 isn't just written to make women feel bad if they're not up at the crack of dawn cooking and sewing.
Because this poem at the end of the book I think actually draws all the threads together. And says with the choice between wisdom and folly... with the choice between fearing God and running off after idols instead... then Israel more than anything else needs to marry lady wisdom. Because she's the perfect wife.
Because this description of the wife of noble character who's worth far more than rubies... well, it's exactly like what we saw back in Proverbs 4, isn't it: fall in love with wisdom. And Proverbs 8 verse 11:
Choose my instruction instead of silver, knowledge rather than choice gold, for wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire can compare with her.
And here it is again. Proverbs 31 verse 10.
A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies.
The wife of noble character is lady wisdom.
And her husband lacks nothing of value.
Wisdom brings all kinds of good, verse 12, wisdom is hardworking. As we saw right through Proverbs, the fool is a sluggard. Who can't get out of bed.
But wisdom works hard. Verse 13 to 15. "She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands. She is like the merchant ships, bringing her food from afar. She gets up while it is still dark; she provides food for her family and portions for her servant girls."
Vigorous. Strong. industrious. Wisdom, verse 18, she doesn't even sleep at night.
And more than that, she's compassionate to the poor. Which we saw through Proverbs as well was a key indicator of fearing the Lord.
Verse 20 says, "She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy."
When you're married to wisdom...you're dressed like a king. When you're married to wisdom... you're respected at the city gate. Because wisdom is clothed with strength and dignity. Wisdom verse 27,
...watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. "Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all."
Above all, verse 30, as we've seen, wisdom is the fear of the Lord. And it's a fitting way to close the book.
Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. Give her the reward she has earned, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.
The take home message? Here it is. Israel is God's son. Who he loved. And held by the hand as he called them from Egypt. And Israel's got a choice to make. Marry wisdom. And fear the Lord. Or marry folly. Marry wisdom. And find life. Or marry folly. And prostitute themselves with the Gods of the nations.. And die. Israel above all the other nations in the world, over all the other people on the planet were meant to be the people who loved wisdom... and so loved what was right and just and fair.
But you know if you turn back to the words of the prophet Hosea again, the outcome is tragic. Hosea 11:1-2:
When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son. But the more I called Israel, the further they went from me. They sacrificed to the Baals and they burned incense to images.
Israel didn't marry wisdom at all. And instead of God's blessing in the promised land. They found disaster. And exile. And Roman domination. And yet always lived in the hope of a new beginning. As the people of God.
It's interesting though that the words of Hosea are quoted again in the New testament. In Matthew's gospel. With the arrival of a new son of God. One child, who carries all the hopes of the nation of Israel. In himself.
Who as Matthew points out, just like the nation of Israel, spend his childhood in Egypt. And was brought out by God. It's worth turning over to take a look. Matthew chapter 2, from verse 13. And see his account of the early days of the life of the child Jesus. Matthew 2:13:
When the wise men had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. "Get up," he said, "take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him." So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: "out of Egypt I called my son."
This time really fulfilled. With a son who at every point will listen to his Father's word. Who at every point will choose the path of wisdom. Instead of the path of convenience. Who in the next chapters of Matthew's gospel almost re-lives the history of Israel. Tempted in the wilderness. and yet doesn't flinch or turn. From the way of wisdom.
At last a true son of God. Who loves nothing more than doing the will of the father who sent him. And who calls together a people. Inviting them to a banquet. For everyone hungry and thirsty for righteousness.
Including us. The question is, are you hungry for it? The question is, whose dinner party... are you going to go to? Which metaphorical maiden are you going to fall for?
See, between the lines of what we've been reading in Proverbs is the idea that the people of God are going to be people hungry and thirsty not for the illicit treats of lady folly. "Stolen water might be sweet; secret food might be delicious!" But Jesus says blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness.
So what's your hunger? Which door are you going to choose? And which banquet. Because lady folly is alive and well.
It's like that game show, Deal or No Deal. Identical looking brief cases. They're all the same shape, they're all bright and shiny. They all have the same prospect of containing great riches. But it's always so flat when someone chooses the wrong case and goes away empty handed. With $5. Instead of $500,000.
And that's the thing about folly. She promises so much. And she can seem to make so much sense at the time. And she can seem to be so reasonable and appealing and attractive. "Try things this way, it'd be much easier for you." Take this short cut. It's easier.
But its all a deception. And ultimately, in folly there is no humble fear of God. Just as we saw back in chapter 9: stolen water; secretive food. What folly offers are ill gotten gains and blessings obtained through violence. Or dishonest riches gained by aggression or bullying. Cheap pleasures that come through giving in to sexual desires. The success that comes through doing what's expedient rather than doing what's right. The lifestyle of the sluggard that comes through always opting for the easy way. The lazy way.
And so despite what she promises, the real consequences of marrying folly, are disaster. Play Deal or No Deal with folly... and when you open the briefcase, you find a grave.
That's the choice. To fall in love with wisdom and fear God; or to go with the voice of folly and mock God.
Proverbs says, marry wisdom. As followers of Jesus, learn from the master of wisdom. Grow in the spirit of wisdom. And live it out... with a passion.
And so grow... in all the kinds of wisdom we've seen so vividly in Proverbs. Which doesn't mean becoming an intellectual. But becoming a person who knows life. And how to face it. How to live it well. How to live in God's world in a way that's right and just and true. As the people of God we're called to be in love with that kind of wisdom. To be married to it. Israel in the end wasn't interested. How about you?