Proverbs (Part 108) - Pro 9:11-12

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11. Pro 9:11 - "For by me thy days shall be multiplied, and the years of thy life shall be increased." A. "Me" in this verse is wisdom (Pro 9:1). B. Possessing and using wisdom will increase the length of one's life. C. Remembering and keeping the word of God, from which wisdom comes (Pro 2:6), brings long life (Pro 3:2; Pro 4:10). D. There two ways in which getting wisdom will lead to long life. i. Firstly, God is pleased with those who get and exercise wisdom, and He will therefore bless them with long life, since it is God who determines the length of a man's life (Job 14:5). ii. God will honor those who call upon Him with long life (Psa 91:16). iii. Secondly, getting wisdom leads to long life due to good decision making which results in good health. a. Fearing the Lord, which is the beginning of wisdom (Pro 9:10; Job 28:28), and departing from evil (Pro 3:7), facilitates good health which leads to long life (Pro 3:8). (i) Examples of departing from evil due to the fear of God include ceasing to fornicate, drink excessively, overeat, associate with dangerous people, and do dangerous things. (ii) Wisdom also teaches men to have discretion and prudence when it comes to the consumption or practice of lawful, but inexpedient things such as smoking cigarettes, eating junk food, not getting enough sleep, and not getting exercise. (iii) If a man through wisdom ceases to do such foolish or unwise things, his health will be improved and his life will be lengthened. b. Whereas the fear of the LORD prolongs one's days, wickedness will shorten them (Pro 10:27). E. Getting wisdom by reading the meditating in the scriptures will invite God's blessing into our lives and will prevent the natural consequences of sin from shortening them. 12. Pro 9:12 - "If thou be wise, thou shalt be wise for thyself: but if thou scornest, thou alone shalt bear it." A. This verse is wisdom's concluding message to those she calls to her house. B. While being wise or foolish does have an effect on others, this verse teaches that it most importantly has consequences for oneself. C. If thou be wise, thou shalt be wise for thyself: i. Wise adj. - 1. a. Having or exercising sound judgement or discernment; capable of judging truly concerning what is right or fitting, and disposed to act accordingly; having the ability to perceive and adopt the best means for accomplishing an end; characterized by good sense and prudence. Opp. to foolish. ii. A man who exercises sound judgment and discernment in deciding on a virtuous end, and then chooses the best means of accomplishing it, will primarily benefit himself. iii. When a man proves his own work, he will have rejoicing in himself (Gal 6:4). iv. He that is wise and labors labors for himself (Pro 16:26; Ecc 6:7). v. A good man shall be satisfied from himself (Pro 14:14). vi. He that is wise is profitable to himself (Job 22:2). vii. A man shall be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth (Pro 12:14; Pro 13:2; Pro 18:20). a. He can commune with himself (Psa 4:4; Psa 77:6), and give himself wise counsel from the word of God (Psa 16:7). b. His wise words and counsel will feed his own soul. c. His wise and godly thoughts and words which are in accord with God's word will bring him joy and satisfaction. d. A wise man's words will feed many, including himself (Pro 10:21). viii. A man will feed on his decisions for the rest of his life. a. Good decisions (usually ones which were hard to make at the time) will bring joy and satisfaction every time they are thought back upon. b. Foolish decisions (usually ones which were easy to make at the time) will bring shame and regret every time they are thought back upon. ix. Life is an accumulation of decisions. x. Wisdom is its own reward. D. but if thou scornest, thou alone shalt bear it. i. Sinners' transgressions against God don't hurt Him (Job 35:6 c/w Psa 2:4), but only themselves. a. Scorn v. - 1. intr. To speak or behave contemptuously; to use derisive language, jeer. 2. trans. To treat with ridicule, to show extreme contempt for, to mock, deride. 3. To hold in disdain, to contemn, despise. b. Alone - 1. lit. Quite by oneself, unaccompanied, solitary. c. Those who despise wisdom and hold it in contempt will bear their shame alone. d. They may have ridiculed God's ways in the company of other fools, but when they are suffering for it, it will be personal. ii. Every man will bear his own burden (Gal 6:5). iii. The man who eats and drinks at the Lord's Table unworthily brings damnation on himself (1Co 11:27-29). iv. A backslider shall be filled with his own ways (Pro 14:14). v. Fools will eat of the fruit of their own way and be filled with their own devices (Pro 1:30-31). vi. The man who wanders out of the way of understanding will remain in the congregation of the dead where there is no fellowship (Pro 21:16). vii. Sinners will bear their own shame (Eze 16:54).