WEEKLY
SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON
An
international Sunday school lesson commentary
For
Sunday June 28, 2020
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FEAST ON WISDOM
(Wisdom is complete and perfect and lacks
nothing)
(Proverbs 9)
Morality does not appeal
to the senses the way “folly” does, because folly appeals more to our “sin
nature”, and is in fact, “moral rebellion” against GOD. Folly is fueled by sin
nature, which is fueled by “emotions that are “out of control” such as “anger”,
“greed”, “lust”, “gluttony”, and “envy”, which dominates most human beings in
any given generation.
Folly
can overcome us if we are not in tune to “GOD’s Word” and utilizing great
“self-control”. The Word of GOD is the only thing that will keep us from
falling, and transform our lives, “for the better”.
The Book of Proverbs is difficult, if not
impossible to outline, because it is a collection of “wisdom sayings” on many
subjects in life. It teaches us how to develop a disciplined life toward GOD,
and how to always do that which is “just and fair” toward each other as human
beings. By contrast, it also teaches us that folly is undisciplined and
sensuous, and brings those who choose it, into a miserable life, and most
often, leads us to an early grave.
In Proverbs 9, taking up at verse 1, we see
the writer’s mentioning of seven pillars. These pillars are “figurative” and do
not represent any seven principles of wisdom. The number 7 in the Bible represents
“completeness and perfection”, and here Solomon is saying in the most poetic
way, that, “wisdom lacks nothing”, and is “complete” and “perfect”.
In this chapter of Proverbs, “wisdom” and “folly”
are portrayed as two women who are rivals, each preparing a feast and inviting
all people to come and join them, partaking of their offerings. Wisdom is “a
responsible woman of character”, while folly is represented by “a prostitute
who is serving stolen food”. Wisdom “appeals to the mind”, while folly “appeals
to the senses”. The satisfaction offered by folly is “only temporary”, while
the satisfaction offered by wisdom “lasts forever”.
The banquet described in verses 1-5 offers
interesting parallels to the banquet that JESUS describes in one of HIS
parables in Luke 14:15-24. Although many people planned to go, they fail to
make it because they become distracted by other activities that seem to be more
important at the time, or, by false teaching.
It is important that we remember GOD’s
wisdom as being the most important thing, and not our worldly desires, or the
church teachings and preaching that tickle our fancy, and only temporarily
satisfies our senses, or our desires to do what we really want to do. Our desires
to find churches that agree most with our lifestyles will be the downfall of
most people who think they are “already saved” from eternal damnation.
Wisdom begins with “knowing GOD”. Through wisdom,
GOD gives us insight into the life that HE HIMSELF created. Knowing GOD does
not just mean “knowing facts about HIM”, but rather, it means, because of what
we know, “we stand in awe of HIM”, and desire to “have a personal,
experiential, relationship with HIM also.
When we
read Proverbs 7, 8, and 9 together, we see a choice being offered up to us from
the Almighty GOD of Creation. HE is inviting us to make wise choices in the
life that HE has given us. Wisdom sends out an invitation to each and every one
of us, and it has always been available to all who seek it.
The SPIRIT (the HOLY SPIRIT) and the Church
(the true Church that is headed by CHRIST JESUS) say “Come”. Unfortunately, the
spirit of satan and the World says the same. The HOLY SPIRIT in GOD’s people
will always lead us toward CHRIST. However, the “sin nature of satan” in us,
will always try to tug us back toward false teachings and the World.
If we
surrender to the pleasures of the flesh, we automatically choose to become
friends of this World, and become spiritually unfaithful to GOD. However, if we
set ourselves against satan, he is unable to prevail against the power of the
HOLY SPIRIT that is given to us by GOD for choosing HIM.
Every man and woman are born into this
world, where sin already exists (not with sin in us). However, we must remember
that we are all born with “GOD’s Nature” in us, not “sin nature” like we are so
famously taught by false teachers and preachers, mostly because of their
misinterpretation of Psalm 51:5. We acquire sin nature when we first dis-obey
GOD at an age of accountability. GOD’s Nature (that is re-awakened by the HOLY
SPIRIT) in us, is greater than he who is in the World (our chosen sin nature
from satan).
We must never get so engrossed in “the times”,
that we forget about “eternity”, and never let our concern for “Worldly Affairs”
completely distract us from remembering that there is a GOD WHO is actually in
control. All of the “issues of life” and “death” are in GOD’s hands, and
whenever HIS call comes for us as individuals to “come”, be it morning, noon,
or night, may it find us full of wisdom, and indeed, ready to go.
A
Sunday school lesson by,
Larry
D. Alexander
LARRY D. ALEXANDER- Official Website
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