Wednesday Night Bible Study Evergreen Church | Bixby, OK

Chapter 9 offers a transition between the lofty heights of chapter 8 and the workaday world of chapters following. The philosophical survey of wisdom will soon be replaced by the pithy and isolated sayings offered on a host of common topics. But first, a final review of the options and a call to choose correctly is given.

This chapter is unique among the Proverbs. Here, Dame Wisdom speaks for herself; and the entire poem is a praise song reminding us how important she is and where to discover her. In contrast to Lady Folly, Wisdom is available publicly. She offers true wealth; and her influence is infinite from eternity past to eternity future.

After extensive teachings regarding the temptations of lust and illicit sexual behaviors, Solomon turns to other bad choices—particularly bad debt, poor work ethics, and prideful self-sufficiency. This chapter is the Israelite version of the medieval list of seven deadly sins. Wisdom is always the answer.

Contemporary culture is obsessed with sexuality. We use it to sell everything from cars to soft drinks. Sex is daily presented as the key to happiness and excitement in life. However, the illusions of out-of-bounds sexuality disappear when examined realistically.

The father (and mother), not the professional teacher or pastor or government official, has the most profound responsibility and opportunity to lead a young man in the right way. With the urgency of parental love, these verses highlight the inheritance passed from generation to generation. Wisdom must, however, be willingly received by each generation as well.

“A wise man learns by the experience of others. An ordinary man learns by his own experience. A fool learns by nobody’s experience.” --Anonymous