Wisdom-Trek / Creating a Legacy

Welcome to Day 255 of our Wisdom-Trek, and thank you for joining me.

This is Guthrie Chamberlain, Your Guide to Wisdom

Proverbs 9:7-12 – Closing Arguments #2

Thank you for joining us for our 7 days a week, 7 minutes of wisdom podcast. This is Day 255 of our trek, and for the next two days, we will remain in camp as we search for the nuggets of wisdom found in the book of Proverbs Chapter 9. Yesterday we explored Proverbs 9:1-6 where King Solomon is presenting the closing arguments for the woman Wisdom in her court hearing before the city gates. Wisdom’s integrity has been validated by her hard work and hospitality. Since each day’s trek builds on the previous one, if you miss any of our Wisdom-Trek episodes, please go to Wisdom-Trek.com to listen to them and read the daily journal.

We are recording our podcast from our studio at Home2 in Charlotte, North Carolina. I am sure that I am not alone in the feeling of being overwhelmed at times with the amount of responsibilities and obligations that we have in our lives. This week is one of those times. There is a considerable amount of client work that needs to be completed before leaving for Mesa, Arizona on Thursday. I will have to take some of my own medicine and “eat the elephant one bite at a time.” I did make good progress on my review of Your Life Plan Blueprint on our way to and from the Biltmore Mansion on Sunday. We will continue steadfastly on that project as time permits. Hopefully our travels this week will allow for some editing on that project.

We will need to travel back in time for a couple more days as we complete our investigation of Proverbs Chapter 9.  Let us visualize ourselves once again outside the city gates of Jerusalem. King Solomon is about to start day two of closing arguments for the hearing that was called by the lawyer Wisdom.

This will be the last part of the section called…

Wisdom Calls for a Hearing

Solomon will compare and contrast those who reject and those who accept Wisdom’s case as we read Chapter 9:7-9

⁷ Anyone who rebukes a mocker will get an insult in return.
Anyone who corrects the wicked will get hurt.
⁸ So don’t bother correcting mockers;
they will only hate you.
But correct the wise,
and they will love you.
⁹ Instruct the wise,
and they will be even wiser.
Teach the righteous,
and they will learn even more.

In verse 7 Solomon calls the foolish person, a mocker.  They mock others, and they also mock God. They will never listen to you. They refuse to follow advice. They refuse all correction.  They have rejected Wisdom’s pleadings and have chosen the path of foolishness.

The first part of verse 8 takes it one step further telling us that a mocker will hate those who attempt to correct them. This is contrasted with a wise person, or someone seeking wisdom. A wise person learns from the person who gently shows them their errors. If you love a person who is willing to correct you out of their love for you, then you are really wise.

Verse 9 tells us that you will know if someone is wise and living right because they will take the correction and instruction of others and become wiser and more knowledgeable.

Solomon now concludes his closing arguments in verses 10-12 by stating where wisdom truly comes from and the final benefits of obtaining that wisdom.

 ¹⁰ Fear of the Lord is the foundation of wisdom.
Knowledge of the Holy One results in good judgment.

¹¹ Wisdom will multiply your days
and add years to your life.
¹² If you become wise, you will be the one to benefit.
If you scorn wisdom, you will be the one to suffer.

Verse 10 shows us clearly that any strong building or a strong life will have a strong foundation. Respect for God and His Holiness is the very foundation of all wisdom. We cannot have true wisdom in our lives without knowing and respecting God. The acknowledgment of this shows that we have good judgment.

God must be first in our lives. God is more important than our businesses. God is more important than our friends. God is even more important than our families. Christ answered this question from a religious leader of his day, which makes our priorities clear in Matthew 22:36-38, “‘Teacher, which is the most important commandment in the law of Moses?’  Jesus replied, ‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment.”

We move onto verses 11-12 in Solomon’s final statements of the closing arguments for Wisdom’s hearing, and he shares the additional benefits.

Like a tender mother, Wisdom will protect us like her child. She will keep us from harm, and she will correct and disciple us when we need it. Because of the care that she has for us, we will be less likely to make stupid decisions in life. This will multiply our days and add years to our life. If we choose to follow Wisdom, we will be the ones to benefit. If we choose not to follow Wisdom, we will be the one to suffer. The choice is ours.

Solomon has concluded his closing arguments, and this is the final speech presented by Wisdom in the book of Proverbs. The third great poem of Solomon is also approaching its end.

Have you been convinced by the hearing and testimony of the lawyer Wisdom? Are you ready to accept her arguments and choose wisdom?

Just when we thought the hearing would be over, Wisdom’s adversary Folly shouts out from her home built high on the city wall to those sitting at the city gates. She does not want to miss the opportunity to present her case to the judges and elders gathered there.  This second woman is also shouting out. She also has an invitation. She too offers a meal. If you are simple, then you might confuse this other woman with Wisdom. If you are simple, then you might make a terrible mistake. We will finish Proverbs Chapter 9 tomorrow as Folly Calls for a Hearing. So, encourage your friends and family to join us, and then come along tomorrow for another day of our Wisdom-Trek, Creating a Legacy.

That will finish our podcast for today. As you enjoy your daily dose of wisdom, I encourage you to help us promote Wisdom-Trek in the following four ways:

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Thank you for allowing me to be your guide, mentor, and most of all your friend as I serve you through the Wisdom-Trek podcast and journal each day.

As we take this trek together, let us always:

1. Live Abundantly (Fully)
2. Love Unconditionally
3. Listen Intentionally
4. Learn Continuously
5. Lend to others Generously
6. Lead with Integrity
7. Leave a Living Legacy Each Day

This is Guthrie Chamberlain reminding you to Keep Moving Forward, Enjoy Your Journey, and Create a Great Day Every Day! See you tomorrow!