Series in Proverbs - The Invitation Is Out, Will You Respond?

 You're Invited

The Invitation Is Out, Will You Respond?

Proverbs 9:1-6

Our God, Lord and Savior, has sent his invitation, the Gospel of Jesus Christ, to the world, but only those who fear the Lord will respond. For God, in his infinite wisdom, chose the cross as the symbol of that invitation. “Where is the wise man? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through its wisdom did not know him, it was God's good pleasure through the foolishness of what we preach to save those who believe. Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified—a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles. But to those who are called by God, both Jews and Greeks, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom…” (1 Corinthians 1:20-24,25a NIV) This is the invitation.

So let's read the first part of the text. “Wisdom has built her house; she has carved its seven pillars. She has prepared a great banquet, mixed the wines, and set the table. She has sent her servants to invite everyone.”

In a literal sense, Solomon was accustomed to sumptuous houses and rooms, built for receiving guests and holding important meals and feasts. He had a unique, large table and could serve sumptuous dishes. The carved pillars would have had an artistic design and harmonized aesthetically with the decor. The spacing between the pillars would have been between 8 and 12 feet (2.4 to 3.6 meters).

Thus, Solomon's house was probably about 27 meters long and up to 9 meters wide, with supporting walls. The great hall was specifically designed to accommodate several people. This room houses a large table of considerable length and majesty. It was used for large banquets and possible special events, for example, the visit of the Queen of Sheba. "When the queen of Sheba saw all the wisdom of Solomon and the palace he had built, the food on his table, the seats of his officials, the servants in their robes, his cupbearers… she was overwhelmed.” (1 Kings 10:4-5 NIV) 

Thus Solomon also writes: The house of Lady Wisdom had a great banquet hall.

Now, in the symbolism of these verses, God speaks of His desire to shower us with the best, and He has a purpose for everything He has created and wisely built. The number seven is the number of fullness or perfection, and the carved pillars represent strength, nobility, security, and position.

Secondly, the room is decorated with a large table,“He has prepared a great banquet, mixed the wines and set the table.”In a literal sense, Solomon spared no expense in formality, grandeur, splendor, or glory. Likewise, the home of Wisdom possessed all the grandeur and majesty of God's heavenly table. And the wine and food were incomparable. It was laid out and prepared for a grand banquet, but it was the guests who were in for a surprise; it was an open affair and a banquet that rivaled a feast.She has sent her servants to invite everyone to come.”

Application: I had the pleasure of building a large house in Alaska. It had a great room that required three 32-foot-long beams and retaining walls that acted as pillars to reinforce the roof and ceiling, achieving an open concept and withstanding earthquakes and heavy snowfall. And we had some experiences that tested my work capacity.

Just as Lady Wisdom sent out the invitations, there were those who did not respond, and as I wrote earlier in the lesson. Jesus also spoke of a King who was holding a great wedding banquet and sent out invitations, only those who were invited responded with excuses. “Jesus spoke to them again in parables, saying, “The kingdom of heaven is like a king who gave a wedding banquet for his son. He sent his servants to those he had invited to come, but they refused to come.” (Matthew 22:1-3 NIV)

 God has used the Gospel of Jesus Christ as an invitation to all who will hear, believe, receive, and respond to salvation and all its blessings. God does not repeat things twice without great significance, and I believe the two invitations are one in similarity and uniqueness. The Father is preparing to call the Son to go and gather his Bride, the Church, who has believed and eagerly awaits the coming of the Bridegroom.At midnight they were awakened by the cry: "Look, the bridegroom is coming! Come out to meet him!"and “...And from there we eagerly await the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by his power, enables him to subdue all things, will transform our lowly bodies so that they may be conformed to the form of his glorious body.” (Matthew 25:6; Philippians 3:20-21 NIV)

He has given the invitation, are you eager for His timing and coming?

The last part of the text presents Wisdom inviting all who will listen. So let's read the last part of the text.She calls from the heights above the city. "Come in with me," she urges the simple. To those lacking good judgment, she says, "Come, eat my food and drink the wine I have mixed. Leave your simple ways behind and begin to live; learn to use good judgment."

First of all, Wisdom leaves no place unpublished or unreached. Solomon uses the phrase"to be bifnim"literally means“If you want to come with me, you’re invited.”The invitation is for everyone.

Secondly, there are no requirements; it is an open invitation to all who hear and respond to Lady Wisdom's call. God's wisdom is for all who hear, believe, and apply it without hesitation. Wisdom comes to the simple, naive, and ignorant, as well as to the adorned, experienced, and cultured. For the food and drink she has prepared are only suitable for sound judgment, wise counsel, and guidance.

Third, Wisdom's final call is not to postpone, be distracted, or ignore good judgment. For it will save you from the folly of the enemy's prostitution, from his schemes and evil.

Application -  I am amazed at God's plans and preparations. He has established that He desires that“...so that all men may be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth.”But humanity has shown a lack of desire and faith. Jesus asked a question that should make us reflect.“…But when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:9b NIV).And the end-time parables where Jesus speaks of the wedding supper and the response of the guests, and the lengths to which God will go to invite all who will listen and obey.“So go to the street corners and invite anyone you find to the banquet to anyone you find.” (Matthew 22:9; Matthew 25 NIV)

The same applies to God's invitation to ask for wisdom. “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.” (James 1:5 NIV)

But even in this great gift of God, humanity ignores or supplants God's invitation with their choice of worldly wisdom and reasoning, or they doubt God's wisdom as James said: But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown by the wind. Such a person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all he does. (James 1:6-8 NIV)

And Lady Wisdom discovers as she calls out to the entire city area that the people will not abandon their simple, erroneous wisdom and perception.

She calls from the heights above the city. "Come in with me," she urges the simple. To those lacking good judgment, she says, "Come, eat my food and drink the wine I have mixed. Leave your simple ways behind and begin to live; learn to use good judgment."

God's invitation continues to be heard, and those who respond will seek the Lord's favor and wisdom. Even during the tribulation that plagues this believing world, God uses an angel who soars through the heavens with the proclamation of the gospel and the invitation to join Jesus in his kingdom and attend his wedding supper.“Then I saw another angel flying through the air, having the everlasting gospel to preach to those who live on the earth—to every nation, tribe, tongue, and people.” (Revelation 14:6 NIV)

Are you planning to respond and are you looking forward to his coming?

As always, I want to conclude by presenting the gospel in the form of the basic principles of salvation for all those who have not yet received Jesus Christ. For Jesus, God the Son, came into this world to save all who believe and trust in him. He desires to reveal himself to you; he is the light that overcomes the darkness of this lawless world. He hears your prayers, and has given him all authority in heaven and on earth. He will answer you if you truly believe. If you haven't yet asked him to be your Lord and Savior, today could be that day.

First, A: Admit that you are a sinner. This is where that godly sorrow leads to genuine repentance for sinning against a just God, and a change of heart takes place: we change our minds, and God changes our hearts and regenerates us inside and out. Romans 3:10: As it is written: "There is none righteous, no, not one." Romans 3:23: For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. (We are all born sinners, so we must be born spiritually to enter the Kingdom of Heaven.) Romans 6:23: For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. The bad news is that the wages of sin is death; in other words, our sin means we have been sentenced to death; we have the death penalty hanging over our heads; that's the bad news. But here's the good news: The good news is that the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Ephesians 2:8-9 - For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, lest anyone should boast. Secondly,

B - Believe in your heart that Jesus Christ died for your sins, was buried, and that God raised him from the dead. This is trusting with all your heart that Jesus Christ is who he said he was. Romans 10:9-10 - That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is righteous, and with the mouth confession is made and is saved. Third,

C - Call upon the name of the Lord. Everyone who sees those who have lived since Adam will kneel and they confess with his mouth that Jesus Christ is Lord, Lord of lords, and King of kings. Romans 14:11 - For it is written: “As I live,” says the Lord, “every knee will bow to me, and every tongue will confess to God.” Don’t wait, do it now. Romans 10:13 - For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” “O God, I am a sinner. I repent of my sin. I want to turn away from it. I believe that Jesus Christ is your Son; I believe that he died on the cross for my sins, that he was buried, and that you raised him from the dead. I have decided to put my faith in Jesus Christ as my Savior, trusting in his shed blood alone as sufficient to save my soul and take me to heaven. Thank you, Lord Jesus, for saving me. Amen.”

Please share this with someone this week, the Lord knows we and they need it.

If you would like other lessons, please visit http://pmdinhisservice.blogspot.com 

Until next week, In Your Service Mike Davis

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