Monday, August 24, 2015
Proverbs 9:1-6 Wisdom has built her house, she has hewn out her seven pillars; she has slaughtered her meat, she has mixed her wine, she has also furnished her table. She has sent out her maidens, she cries out from the highest places of the city, Whoever is simple, let him turn in here! As for him who lacks understanding, she says to him, Come, eat of my bread and drink of the wine I have mixed. Forsake foolishness and live, and go in the way of understanding.
WISDOM'S URGENT CALL
This Bible reading is, perhaps surprisingly at first, a suggested text for Mission Festival sermons. But as pastors study the text to pass along its holy truths to their hearers, it becomes obvious that it is a Word of God with a real urgency to it--an urgency to spread the gospel of the Savior by inviting others to come and share a lavish spiritual banquet.
It is in the first chapter of Proverbs where the familiar statement "the fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom" (1:7) appears. Note well what is the beginning of true wisdom. It is the fear of the LORD. Students of Scripture know this fear is not terror and dread but it is a godly respect or reverence which, in fact, delivers from terror and dread.
A few verses later in that first chapter -- as also here in chapter nine -- we see wisdom personified. Wisdom is depicted as a woman raising her voice in the public square, for she has something everyone needs to hear.
Even so God's saving Word goes out to all. It calls all people to turn to Christ, the wisdom of God (1 Corinthians 1:30), to be saved. Sad to say, God’s wisdom is "foolishness" to many (1 Corinthians 1:18) who prefer the supposed wisdom of this unbelieving world. In the parable of the wedding banquet (Matthew 22:1-14) Jesus describes a king who sends his servants to invite people to the wedding banquet of his son. Sad to say, many reject the invitation. The parable concludes with the words, "For many are called, but few are chosen."
By God's grace you and I have heard Wisdom's call and responded to it positively. So long as the world stands--and we are still in it--the urgency of spreading the wonderful saving message of the gospel falls also on our shoulders. To that end, God help us.
Great the need in ev'ry nation, Dense the darkness of sin's night;
Let Thy Spirit bring salvation, Love's pure flame, and wisdom's light.
Give the Word, Thy preachers strengthen With the prophets' pow'r of old,
Help them Zion's cords to lengthen, All Thy wand'ring sheep to fold.
(The Lutheran Hymnal, 510:3)
