More on the power of Wisdom

The Book of Proverbs Chapter 9


Wisdom built her house with seven pillars and prepared a great banquet. Then she sent her servants to invite everyone to come. She tells them to leave their foolish ways behind and begin to live and learn to be wise.

Anyone who rebukes a mocker will get a smart retort. Anyone who rebukes the wicked will get hurt. So teach the wise and they will be wiser. Teach the righteous and they will learn more.


Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Knowledge of the Holy One results in understanding. Wisdom will multiply your days and add years to your life. If you become wise, you will be the one to benefit. If you scorn wisdom, you will be the one to suffer.


A woman named Folly is loud and brash,and ignorant. She calls to men going by who are minding their own business. She urges them to come home with her and tells them that her stolen water is refreshing, and food eaten in secret tastes best. But the men don't realize her former guests are now in the grave.


BIBLE NOTES SHOW: Seven pillars are figurative and do not represent seven principles of wisdom. In describing the differences between Wisdom and Folly: wisdom appeals to the mind. Folly appeals to the senses. It is easy to excite the senses, but the pleasures of Folly are temporary. The satisfaction of Wisdom lasts forever.


HOW DOES THIS CHAPTER RELATE TO US TODAY? This chapter tries to tell you that you should not get sidetracked by activities that seem more important at the time. Don't let anything become more important than your search for God's wisdom.


There is something hypnotic and intoxicating about wickedness. But one sin leads to another. Don't be deceived, sin is dangerous.


Yours in Christ,
Mary


Prayer Requests are needed for:
HEALTH:
Update on my niece Suzanne, she is out of rehab after many months for a crushed leg and doing well and being cared for by her ex. Pray for Gabe and Wanda. Pray for Janice Long’s parents, especially her mother who faces another round of chemotherapy and her father with Alzheimer’s and now her mother in law also with Alzheimer’s. Their family is feeling the strain both emotionally and financially. Pray for them. Update on this family: Her mother-in-law is being taken to Oklahoma to live with an aunt who will care for her.
Pray for Arlene’s nephew David and for my neighbor Al who is nearing the end of his life.
Pray for Carolyn’s brother Ronald who has cancer.
Pray for our friend Michelle who was diagnosed with MS.
UPDATE on Barb who went in for back surgery and had a heart attack and stroke, she has her speech back and is home , but continues to have a problem with one arm and hand. Thanks to your prayers, she is able to hobble without a cane and has been granted disability. She still has surgery scheduled on her hand, but I saw her recently and her attitude is fantastic.
Pray for Robert Sargent who is quite ill with lung cancer.
Pray for Judy’s husband who was recently diagnosed with prostate cancer. Pray for her too, that she can deal with the side effects of his illness.
Pray too for Charly’s husband Robert who is undergoing chemo for his prostate cancer. Update on Robert: he has one more treatment and then three months of waiting for his psat test to come back clean.
Pray for John’s recovery from a heart attack and for the doctors who have difficulty diagnosing his other symptoms.
Pray for James’s sister Cynthia whose chemo has lost its effect as the cancer grows powerful.
Pray for another friend named Carolyn whose faith remains strong, but is lost and confused about where and how to spend her elder years.
SPIRITUAL UPLIFTING: Gail, Mary
RESTORATION OF FAITH: Al, John
LOVE AND SUPPORT: Claire, Hunter, Brian
SUPPORT: Haiti, Chile, survivors of Japan’s earthquake, survivors of the devastating tornadoes in our southernmost states and Joplin, Missouri. Pray too, for our country’s leaders and our military people who die each day for our freedom.