March 21, 2004 Communion Dedication - Baldwin Christian Church

Proverbs 9:1-6

1. Wisdom hath builded her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars:
2. She hath killed her beasts; she hath mingled her wine; she hath also furnished her table.
3. She hath sent forth her maidens: she crieth upon the highest places of the city,
4. Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him,
5. Come, eat of my bread, and drink of the wine which I have mingled.
6. Forsake the foolish, and live; and go in the way of understanding.

In the New Testament we can see a pretty stark contrast between the knowledge man finds through his own efforts, and the knowledge that's spiritually imparted to man (in the Greek, gnosis vs. epignosis).

Knowledge is intimacy. If you know something, then you're sure about it. You know it because you're experienced with it. Your mind is closely associated with every little detail about it, you understand it, and you can easily call upon your memory to share this knowledge with others.

Spiritual knowledge is different. Our five senses can easily overpower spiritual knowledge, and yet we read in the Proverbs that Wisdom (epignosis) is hollering her invitation from the rooftops. Her invitation in verses 4 and 5 shares the same beginning as the invitation of the worldy woman in verses 16 and 17. The difference is that the guests attending Wisdom's feast live, but the guests in the worldy woman's house are dead, in the depths of hell.

Our Lord has built His house, the temple has been raised up, the sacrifice has been made, and the feast is ready. He's calling out from the rooftops, inviting you to come and join Him at the table, but all the while, worldy clamour is doing it's best to drown out the Lord's invitation and entice you into her house.

Luk 14:16-24
Then said he unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many: And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready. And they all with one [consent] began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused. And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused. And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come. So that servant came, and shewed his lord these things. Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind. And the servant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room. And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel [them] to come in, that my house may be filled. For I say unto you, That none of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper.

If Wisdom's feast is less desirable to us than being entertained, or tending to our personal treasures, or playing with our earthly toys, or even being with our family, then the time will come when the Lord closes Wisdom's door to us.