I love peace and quiet. It gives you time to reflect and focus. It gets harder to do as you have more responsibilities.
When I was younger I would have never imagined having to be responsible for myself, then my wife, then my baby, and pretty soon another baby.
Keeping the chain up!
1 Wisdom has built her house;
she has set up its seven pillars.
Ooh. What are the seven pillars? A quick Google search results did not give me an clear answer. Closest thing I’ve found is James 3:17.
17 But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving,considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.
But I count eight… Going to have to continue this another time.
Wisdom has a house.
2 She has prepared her meat and mixed her wine;
she has also set her table.
3 She has sent out her servants, and she calls
from the highest point of the city,
4 “Let all who are simple come to my house!”
To those who have no sense she says,
5 “Come, eat my food
and drink the wine I have mixed.
6 Leave your simple ways and you will live;
walk in the way of insight.”
Wisdom has a house and has a party ready for the simple i.e. me. Looking up wisdom’s servants might be an interesting study too. Wisdom invites me to leave my simple ways and walk in the way of insight so that I may live.
7 Whoever corrects a mocker invites insults;
whoever rebukes the wicked incurs abuse.
8 Do not rebuke mockers or they will hate you;
rebuke the wise and they will love you.
9 Instruct the wise and they will be wiser still;
teach the righteous and they will add to their learning.
Correct those who want to be corrected. If I correct those who don’t want to be corrected I only bring folly on myself. Give pearls to people who deserve it and not to pigs. If I correct the wise they will be even wiser. Teach the righteous, because it will be valuable. Mocker definition from Merriam Webster: a person who causes repeated emotional pain, distress, or annoyance to another.
10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,
and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
Fear of the Lord is step one. Knowledge of the Holy One is step two. I am not sure how to make that last part of that sentence practical.
11 For through wisdom your days will be many,
and years will be added to your life.
12 If you are wise, your wisdom will reward you;
if you are a mocker, you alone will suffer.
Wisdom will provide more years to my life and reward. Mockers will suffer.
13 Folly is an unruly woman;
she is simple and knows nothing.
14 She sits at the door of her house,
on a seat at the highest point of the city,
15 calling out to those who pass by,
who go straight on their way,
16 “Let all who are simple come to my house!”
To those who have no sense she says,
17 “Stolen water is sweet;
food eaten in secret is delicious!”
18 But little do they know that the dead are there,
that her guests are deep in the realm of the dead.
Folly is also competing for my attention. She is simple and knows nothing. She yells at people and invites people to her house and misinforms them. Unwise ideas such as “Stolen water is sweet.” However, everyone “partying” at Folly’s house are dead.
Action idea: Folly and Wisdom are always calling out. Who will I listen to? Hopefully more wisdom than folly.
