In his sermon on Proverbs 9, Benjamin Huffman paints a vivid picture of Lady Wisdom — a gracious, well-prepared hostess who has built her house on seven pillars: the Lord, knowledge of God, understanding, fear of the Lord, wisdom, might, and discernment. She has set a bountiful table and sent out her messengers to call the simple to come, eat, and walk in the way of insight. Benjamin draws on Proverbs 2:3-5 to show that seeking wisdom is like searching for hidden treasure — it leads us into a deeper knowledge and reverence of God Himself.

Benjamin also walks through the contrast between those who are humbly simple — willing to learn and be corrected — and those who are stubbornly simple-minded, refusing counsel and scoffing at wisdom. Drawing on Proverbs 27:17, he encourages the congregation to surround themselves with wise, God-fearing friends who will sharpen and challenge them in their faith. He warns that those who reject wisdom's invitation are left vulnerable to Mistress Folly, whose seductive but hollow promises lead only to death and destruction, much like the serpent's deception of Eve in Genesis.

Finally, Benjamin calls the church to practical action: feast on God's Word, pursue wise community, and stay alert to the snares of Folly. He closes with James 3:17-18, which presents seven qualities of heavenly wisdom — a fitting New Testament echo of the very Proverbs he has been unpacking — and leads the congregation in a prayer for knowledge, wisdom, discernment, and godly friendship.

Transcript

Good morning, everyone.

We're going to be looking at Proverbs Chapter nine this morning. And it was interesting listening to our youth missionaries and the things they were saying fall right in line with the things that we'll be looking at today. So Proverbs chapter 9 begins:

"Wisdom has built her house. She has hewn her seven pillars. She has slaughtered her beasts. She has mixed her wine. She has also set her table. She has sent out her young women to call from the highest places of the town. Whoever is simple, let him turn and hear. To him who lacks sense, she says, come, eat of my bread and drink of the wine I have mixed. Leave your simple ways and live and walk in the way of insight. Whoever corrects a scoffer gets himself abuse. And he who reproves a wicked man incurs injury. Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you. Reprove a wise man, and he will love you. Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser. Teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight. For by me your days will be multiplied, and years will be added to your life. If you are wise, you are wise for yourself. If you scoff, you alone will bear it. The woman Folly is loud. She is seductive and knows nothing. She sits in the door of her house, she takes a seat on the highest places of the town, calling to those who pass by, who are going straight on their way. Whoever is simple, let him turn in here. And to him who lacks sense, she says, stolen water is sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant." (Proverbs 9:1-17)

Last week we met a lady named wisdom. In Proverbs 1:20 and 21 it says:

"Wisdom cries aloud in the street, in the Market she raises her voice. At the head of the noisy street, she cries out. At the entrance of the city gates she speaks." (Proverbs 1:20-21)

But that passage is only an introduction to this character that is found throughout Proverbs 1 through 9. So today we're going to look at three different things. Who is Lady Wisdom? Who are the simple folk she is calling to? And what happens to those who refuse. In Proverbs chapter 9, we get a more in depth description of this Lady Wisdom and her counterpart, of whom we'll talk about later. In this message, starting in verse one, we see that Wisdom has built her house. She has hewn her seven pillars, has slaughtered her beasts, mixed her wine, and has set her table, and has sent out messengers to call to those who are simple to come and eat and drink of the things she has prepared. And these seven pillars that we see, Chris alluded to them last week. They are the Lord, knowledge of God, understanding, fear of the Lord, wisdom, might, and discernment or discretion. These are themed throughout the Book of Proverbs. And as much as I'd like to go through and define each one of them individually, I would end up preaching this whole sermon without leaving verse one. But you will see them come up independently throughout this message. Lady Wisdom has built her house on these seven things. She has prepared them for us like a banquet feast. And in verses three through five we see she is calling the simple to come and feast at her table.

She has taken much time, long years to prepare a house, refining her craft, smoothing her rough edges and mulling over her attributes. This is the kind of lady that you want to be around, One you can learn from, one who will feed you whether you're hungry or not. She is hospitality incarnate, and her messengers are those who have visited her table and want to share the joys of wisdom with others.

The next thing is who are the simple folk? There seem to be different uses of the word simple in this chapter. It both refers to those that recognize their simplicity and humbly seek understanding. And those who choose not to understand and thus become simple minded. In a way, we are all simple. But in verse 6, Lady Wisdom calls the simple to leave your simple ways and walk in the way of insight. So what are the ways of insight? If we go back to chapter two and look, starting in verse three, it says:

"Yes, if you will call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding. If you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God." (Proverbs 2:3-5)

And then down in verses 10 through 12:

"For wisdom will come into your heart and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul. Discretion will watch over you. Understanding will guard you, delivering you from the way of evil, from the men of perverted speech." (Proverbs 2:10-12)

And that comes back to those seven pillars we saw. You see that when we truly seek insight, we are seeking the character and understanding of God. In verses 7 through 12 they continue by showing examples of how the simple can become wise. In verse 7 in the first half of 8 says:

"Whoever corrects a scoffer gets himself abuse, and he who reproves a wicked man incurs injury. Do not reprove a scoffer or he will hate you." (Proverbs 9:7-8a)

There's a saying I learned a long time ago that goes:

"Don't argue with stupid people. They will drag you down to their level and beat you with experience."

And that was good for a young man to hear. So if someone is foolish and simple minded, clearly they are not willing to listen to reason or correction. It will often only give you more heartache and them more opportunity to belittle you instead. In the last half of verse 8 we read:

"Reprove a wise man and he will love you." (Proverbs 9:8b)

This alludes Back to chapter three, verses 11 and 12:

"My son, despise not the chastening of the Lord, neither be weary of his correction. For whom the Lord loveth, he correcteth, even as a Father, the Son in whom he delighteth." (Proverbs 3:11-12)

Those who are seeking wisdom will welcome correction and counsel. We must be willing to listen to those who are trying to invite us into wisdom and godly discipleship.
Growing up in my family, discipline wasn't always about doing better. Sometimes it was more about the inconveniences that we were imposing on our parents. This difference between punishment and discipleship led me personally to run from correction rather than to seek out my heavenly Father who loves me and delights in my growth from correction. God's correction is not filled with animosity or selfishness, but love and selflessness. Becoming a father like my heavenly Father is a goal of mine, to discipline my children in a discipling manner.
And then in verse nine it says:

"Give instruction to a wise man and he will be still wiser. Teach a righteous man and he will increase in learning." (Proverbs 9:9)

When we are willing to learn, our wisdom only grows when we befriend the wise. We will learn from one another. And this makes me think of Proverbs 27:17 and I like how the King James puts it:

"Iron sharpeneth iron. So a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend." (Proverbs 27:17)

A wise friend will counsel you with wisdom and knowledge. They will remind you to fear and reverence the Lord. They will be a strong supporter of your faith and with great discernment, guide you in the ways of the Lord our God.
A concept taught by motivational speaker Jim Rohn says:

"You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with."

Gauge your friends. You may find that you are the smart one, or you may find that you're the one lacking sense. In this day and age, making good friends is difficult. If you make God your top three Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and then you add in Lady Wisdom, what kind of person are you set to become?

In verse 10, we continue the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight. It was interesting listening to Abigail say almost exactly that whenever she was up here talking. It is only through recognizing the power of God and giving him due reverence that we begin to find true wisdom. And it is through the knowledge of him seared into our hearts that we can stay on the path of understanding and insight. The wisdom of this world is a lie when held up to the truth that only God holds. In verse 11 and 12 they contain what almost seem a promise. But we must remember that these are Proverbs of wisdom to live by, and not necessarily promises of God. For by me your days are multiplied, and years will be added to your life. If you are wise, you are wise for yourself. If you scoff, you alone will bear it. One commentary likens this to a doctor who tells a patient:

"Eat healthy food and you will live longer."

Or, as I like to say:

"A cheeseburger a day keeps the doctor away."

If we follow in Lady Wisdom's path, then our days and years will have purpose, and we will most likely live longer, more fulfilled lives. They will be years Marked by the fruits of the Spirit and the benefits of wisdom, peace, joy, significance, and fellowship with the Lord, as it says in Proverbs 3:13-18:

"Blessed is the one who finds wisdom, and the one who gets understanding. For the gain from her is better than gain from silver, and her profit better than gold. She is more precious than jewels, and nothing you desire can compare to her. Long life is in her right hand in her left hand are riches and honor her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her and those who hold her fast are called blessed." (Proverbs 3:13-18)

And yet those who refuse will bear the rest of their lives purposeless and empty, with no one to blame but themselves. And this brings us to our third what happens to those who refuse? We can see in verses 13 through 18 of Proverbs 9 what happens to those who do not seek the way of insight. The woman Folly is loud. She is seductive and knows nothing. She sits at the door of her house. She takes a seat on the highest places of the town, calling to those who pass by who are going straight on their way. Whoever is simple, let him turn in here, and to him who lacks sense, she says:

"Stolen water is sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant." (Proverbs 9:17)

But he doesn't know that the dead are there, that her guests are in the depths of Sheol. This introduction to Mistress Folly starts very different from that of Lady Wisdom. Outwardly seductive and foolish, she does not have a strong foundation or any knowledge to build upon. Outwardly, she presents herself very similar to Lady Wisdom. However, she has no messengers. Thus she herself must sit in the high places and proclaim the same message to any who are unlucky enough to pass by her way. The ones who seek understanding are given the discernment afforded to them by Lady Wisdom and know to ignore her temptations and deception. But those who have refused the banquet of Lady Wisdom are lured into her lies with empty promises of pleasure and delight in sin. They are only led to inevitable destruction and death. The prime example of this lie played out can be seen starting in Genesis, when the serpent deceives Eve. God said in the day that you eat of it, you shall surely die. But Satan says, you shall not surely die. But when Adam partook of the fruit, their spirits died to righteousness as sin entered their hearts and the clock of judgment began to tick against them. And we all know of someone who has walked that path. It may have even been yourself. I have been that simple minded man and I am thankful for a good God who has called me out and brought me to his bountiful table.

In application of this, we can see how diligent the wise are to humbly seek out more wisdom. They turn in to the banquet feast of God, who is the wellspring of wisdom. The Bible is your dish, the study is your communion with Lady Wisdom. Befriend others who are wise and be ever aware of the snare that is mistress folly. As for the simple minded fool, do not be like him, do not follow in his way, do not befriend him, lest you become like him. And a good follow up to reading through Proverbs is the New Testament book of James, it has been called, which has been referred to as the New Testament Proverbs. It's also one of my personal favorite books of the Bible. And how straightforward and simple James presents his wise sayings. So if we look at. If you want to look at James chapter three, we'll read verses 17 and 18:

"But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, and impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace." (James 3:17-18)

It's interesting to note that there are a perfect seven aspects of wisdom that he presents here, but that's a whole different sermon. So in closing, let's pray for knowledge, wisdom, discernment and for friends who will seek the wisdom of God alongside us. Let's pray.

Dear Lord, thank you for this most beautiful day. Thank you for your word, for this bountiful feast you have prepared for us. Please fill us with your knowledge, with your wisdom, guide us with discernment, and help us to make friends who will walk with us and seek you as we do. Amen.

Sermons

Lady Wisdom and the Secret Man - Proverbs 9 - July 12, 2026