Bryce Carver (0:00)

We're going on tour this fall. We're bringing the live podcast show to four new cities. We're coming to Nashville, San Diego, Chicago, and Birmingham, Alabama. If you've ever wanted to see the live podcast in person, go to jesusinthestreet.org tour and get your tickets. It's going to be a powerful night of worship and the word that God is storing in my heart is going to be different and unique to each city we go to. So come out jesusinthestreet.org tour, get your tickets and we'll see you in Nashville City, San Diego, Chicago and Birmingham this fall. What's going on, guys? Welcome back to another episode of the Bryce Carver Podcast. I'm Bryce, and today we are on Proverbs 9 out of 31 chapters in the book of Proverbs. We are breaking down the whole book of Proverbs the month of July. This means if you watch this entire series and follow along, you will have read the whole book of Proverbs. Even if you just listen, we're reading the scripture the entire time. Isn't that crazy? So you can say, I've read the book of Proverbs. Now we're going to dive into Proverbs chapter 9. 9. And if we could sum up a thesis statement for Proverbs chapter 9, it would be this, that the house of wisdom is strong and firm. Now we're going to break down what Solomon is writing in Proverbs chapter 9. He's going to talk about the way of Wisdom and he's actually going to bring in another description of a woman. There's three different descriptions. We're going to be reading about a third one right now. The first description of a woman in Proverbs is described as wisdom as a woman. And we revisited that a few chapters ago. Then the second time a woman is mentioned in Proverbs, sexual immorality and adulteress is described as a woman. And now we're going to read that folly, stupidity, unwise decisions is mentioned as a woman. But let's read the first few verses in Proverbs 9, verse 1. Wisdom has built her house. She has honed her seven pillars. She has slaughtered her beasts, she has mixed her wine. She has also set her table. She has sent out her young women to call from the highest places in town. Whoever is simple, let him turn here to him who lacks sense. She says, come, eat of my bread and drink of the wine I have mixed. Leave your simple ways and live and walk in the way of insight. Like I said earlier, Proverbs 8 actually describes wisdom as a woman with blessings and benefit. But now Solomon pictures Wisdom as a woman of generous hospitality who actually invites everyone in there. We see that in verse four. Whoever's simple, let them come here. Let them turn here. This is an invitation to know that Wisdom doesn't show exclusivity. Okay? Wisdom doesn't, doesn't separate themselves. Wisdom doesn't niche into a group. You know, like when you go to school, it's like, the jocks hang out with the jocks, the nerds hang out with the nerds, the. The bookworms hang out with them. And. But, but it's like, no. Wisdom actually invites everyone. Older people, young people, wise people, stupid people, simple people. There is this invitation to all people now that Solomon is describing, saying Wisdom is a woman that is invitational hospitable and wants people to come to her. Now when we read a few verses up in verse one, when it says, she has honed seven pillars, this is implying that Wisdom's house is actually unshakable and firm. I believe the wisdom of the Lord is the rock that Jesus describes, we build our foundation on. Because the Word of God is a timeless piece of literature that has impacted generations, is currently impacting generations, and will continue to impact generations and doesn't need to change. This means you and I can found our entire life, ways, actions, thoughts and emotions and words on the Word of God because it is strong and firm and unshakable. It is insane. The customs of ethics right back in this time period of inviting people at the dinner table made the invitation more meaningful, right? She's like, come dine with me. Eat of my bread, drink of my wine. If you really want to get to know somebody after church, a friend, someone like that, invite him to a meal. I bet if you spend two hours at the dinner table with no phones, put your phone away, you'll get to know someone really well. So this invitation that Wisdom's like, okay, my house is strong. Come here. I'm hospitable, but come eat with me. Come sit with me. Come dine with me. We see Jesus do this in Luke chapter 24. The resurrected physical Jesus in his flesh is like, what's up, disciples? And they freak out because they're like, you were just dead, now you're alive. What the crap's going on? And he goes, do you guys have anything to eat or drink? And they break bread, they break fish, and they eat together. When Jesus meets Peter and tells him that he's going to endure till the End and tells Peter in the Gospels how he's going to die in the resurrected body. What do they do? He's on the beach with Peter, eating breakfast. It's crazy. So this invitation of coming to the dinner table is meaningful, intimate and necessary. And wisdom in these first six verses is offering her protection and provision, saying, come here. If you lack sense, come here. Come here. If you need help, come here. In verse 6, leave your simple ways and live and walk in the way of insight. Wisdom is giving an invitation for the simple to lead their ways. But the simple have to respond in the same way. Wisdom gives an invitation where you and I have to respond. If we want to put our faith in the wisdom of God or not is the same way that Christ gives an offering of his life on the table. But you and I have the choice if we want to choose to put our faith in that or not. If we put our faith in Christ, he is faithful and just to forgive us if we don't. We are held accountable for every action, thought and emotion that has rebelled against God. Now, in verses seven through nine, we're about to read about those people who reject wisdom. Verse 7 says, Whoever corrects a scoffer gets himself abused, and he who reproves a wicked man incurs injury. Do not reprove a scoffer or he will hate you. Reprove a wise man and he will love you. Give instruction to a wise man and he will be still wiser. Teaching a righteous man and he will increase and learn. Do you notice that the wise man, if you reprove him, if you correct him, he loves you. Why? Because he's wise? Because he's teachable. The wise person described in Proverbs is one that is teachable. What does it mean to be teachable? To humble yourself, to recognize that you don't know it all. You're not entitled. Don't be prideful. Humble yourself. Someone may know something better than you. Imposing wisdom on those unwilling to change their ways is folly, stupid and fruitless. Don't reprove someone who likes their ways. Don't try to correct someone. Correct the wise man, correct the humble one, correct the teachable one. The wise and just are those who benefit from the invitation of wisdom, not the stupid and the simple who want to leave their ways. So this is a warning to you and I. Are you humble in receiving correction? Are you humble and gentle and encouraged and excited and urgent to receive correction and wisdom of God? Or do you think you know it all? And. And as a sign of that warning, the next few Verses we're about to learn the benefits of wisdom. Verse 10. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight. For by me your days will be multiplied and years will be added to your life. If you are wise, you are wise for yourself. If you scoff, you alone will bear. We have read that if you a few times throughout Proverbs because it's repeated in Proverbs 1, verse 7. But finding wisdom will always be rewarded physically and spiritually. You have the favor of God on your life when you cling to the wisdom of the Lord. And Solomon is explaining here how wisdom and folly will directly affect an individual. Wisdom direct directly affects yourself. Wisdom directly affects yourself. And verses 13 to close, we're about to read about how another woman, folly, is described as a woman. Solomon writes, the woman Folly is loud, she is seductive and knows nothing. She sits at the door of her house. She takes a seat on the highest places of town. Notice how folly, the simple ones, the ones that care about themselves, they want to be seen by others. They're not lowly and gentle and meek, like the heart of Christ, calling to those who pass by, who are going straight on their way. Whoever is simple, let him turn in here. And to him who lacks sense, she says, stolen water is sweet and bread eaten in secret is pleasant. But he does not know that the dead are there, that her guests are in the depths of Sheol. Folly is like an unpleasant woman that causes chaos. Folly is going to be a nagging thing in your life that is going to blow your freaking life up. And Solomon is saying, if you want your life to be peaceful and long and pleasant, cling to the wisdom of God. Because foolishness can not only be found in the home, but in the highest places. It says she sits at the door of her house. Folly can be found in the home, but folly can also be found in the highest places, meaning that she is crying out. But notice how we read earlier in Proverbs that wisdom is also crying out in the streets and in the market, meaning there's an invitation to wisdom everywhere at all times. But folly can be found everywhere in a lot of places as well. So what does this mean when it comes to looking for wisdom and. Or folly when it comes to wisdom and folly, that in order for us to discern what is wisdom and folly, we have to know the word of God. If we're not founded in this strong honed pillars of houses, like Proverbs 9:1 says that wisdom has a house and has honed seven pillars. Strong pillars, a strong foundation. If we're not founded in that, then we won't be able to discern what is wisdom and folly and will blow up our lives. Guys, I pray Proverbs 9 was a blessing to you guys and we'll see you guys tomorrow for Proverbs chapter 10. Guys, thank you so much for watching and listening to this episode. If you guys like it, subscribe to us on YouTube, follow us on Spotify, Instagram and Tik Tok. Bless you guys and see you guys next week for the next episode.