Proverbs (Part 103) - Pro 9:2-3

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2. Pro 9:2 - "She hath killed her beasts; she hath mingled her wine; she hath also furnished her table." A. She hath killed her beasts; i. After building her house (Pro 9:1), wisdom prepares a feast. a. Beast n. - 1. A living being, an animal. (Used to translate Gr. fóom, or L. animal, esp. in versions of the Bible. Now restricted in literary use as in sense 2; but still widely applied in dialect and colloquial use, including e.g. newts, insects, centipedes.) 2. a. A quadruped (or animal popularly regarded as such), as distinguished from birds, reptiles, fishes, insects, etc., as well as from man. (Now the ordinary literary use.) 3. A domesticated animal owned and used by man, as part of his farm ‘stock’ or cattle [F. bestiaux, bétail]; at first including sheep, goats, etc., but a. gradually more or less restricted to the bovine kind; and now chiefly applied by farmers, graziers, etc. to fatting cattle. (In this sense there is also a collective plural beast.) b. In Biblical times, when a feast was made for a special occasion or a special guest, an animal such as a lamb or a calf was slain and prepared for the guests (Gen 18:1-8; Gen 21:8; Luk 15:23). ii. Wisdom killing her beasts in preparation for a feast is symbolic of God building His church and preparing it as a bride for His Son (Mat 22:2-4). iii. When wisdom puts on a feast it consists of fatted beasts, not vegetable platters. iv. Once the feast is prepared wisdom will invite men to it (Pro 9:3-5). B. she hath mingled her wine; i. Mingle v. - 1. trans. To mix (things together or one thing with another) so that they become physically united or form a new combination; to combine in a mixture, to blend. ii. Wine n. - 1. a. The fermented juice of the grape used as a beverage. It is essentially a dilute solution of alcohol, on the proportion of which in its composition depend its stimulating and intoxicating properties. Wines are classed as red or white, dry or sweet, still or sparkling. iii. Wine was mingled with other substances to enhance its flavor or potency (Isa 5:22; Mar 15:23). a. When wisdom puts on a feast, she brings out the best wine (Joh 2:10). b. God supplies wine for His people for their health (1Ti 5:23) and their happiness (Psa 104:15; Ecc 9:7). iv. Wisdom uses wine for her feasts, not grape juice. v. When Jesus Christ, the wisdom of God (1Co 1:24), instituted the feast of the Lord's Supper, He likewise used wine (Mat 26:27-29). C. she hath also furnished her table. i. Furnish v. - 1. trans. To accomplish, complete, fulfil. Also with that and obj. clause: To bring about, ensure. (last used in 1551) 5. a. simply. To supply with what is necessary. 1611 Bible Ps. lxxviii. 19 Can God furnish a table in the wildernes? ii. When wisdom built her house and prepared a feast, she supplied all that was necessary for it. iii. She set forth bread for the feast as well as meat and wine (Pro 9:5). iv. Her guests were not expected to bring anything but themselves. v. When God built His church, He furnished it with all the offices and ordinances necessary for it to function as He intended. vi. He gave His ministers the scriptures which throughly furnish them unto all good works (2Ti 3:16-17). 3. Pro 9:3 - "She hath sent forth her maidens: she crieth upon the highest places of the city," A. She hath sent forth her maidens: i. Once wisdom built her house (Pro 9:1) and prepared her feast (Pro 9:2), she then sends her maidens out into the city to invite guests (Pro 9:3-5). a. Maiden n. - 1. a. A girl; a young (unmarried) woman; = maid 1. 4. A maid-servant, a female attendant. 1611 Bible Ps. cxxiii. 2 As the eyes of a maiden [looke] vnto the hand of her mistresse. b. In other words, wisdom sent out her servants to invite guests to the feast she had prepared. ii. This is symbolic of Jesus Christ the wisdom of God (1Co 1:24) sending out His apostles and ministers to cry unto men to repent and come into His church (Mar 6:7, 12; Act 9:15 c/w Act 22:15, 21 c/w Act 26:16-20). a. The word apostle means sent. b. Apostle n. - I. A person sent. 1. a. (As in Gr.) One sent on an errand, a messenger. 2. spec. (Now with capital initial.) The twelve witnesses whom Jesus Christ sent forth to preach his Gospel to the world; also the subsequently-commissioned Barnabas (Acts xiii. 2, xiv. 14), and Paul, the ‘Apostle of the Gentiles.’ c. The apostles were sent forth by Christ to preach (Mar 3:14). B. she crieth upon the highest places of the city, i. Through her servants, wisdom cries upon the highest places of the city. ii. She cries in the top of high places, along the roads that are well traveled, and at the entry of the city to gain access to the most amount of people as possible (Pro 1:20-21; Pro 8:2-3). iii. The Lord sent the apostles into all the world, to all nations, and to the uttermost parts of the earth to call men into His kingdom (Mat 28:19; Mar 16:15, 20; Act 1:8). iv. He sent his ministers in the highways and hedges to compel men to come to the feast in His house which He prepared for them (Mat 22:8-10; Luk 14:16-23).