What are the seven pillars of wisdom in Proverbs 9:1?

Having seen wisdom set before us in the person of Christ, once again this wisdom is seen evidenced subjectively in believers, as is indicated in the words "she" and "her." How good it is to see a response of faith in those redeemed by the blood of Christ. "Wisdom has built her house," that is, by faith she has established a permanent dwelling from which no-one can dispossess her (v. 1). Her seven pillars are named for us in James 3:17: "The wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy." If unbelievers see in us these vital characteristics, they will have no excuse for ignoring the truth for which we stand.

She has slaughtered her meat" (v. 2). Thus, she has a provision to make for others, as we can bear witness to the great provision of God for mankind in giving His own Son to die for us. But also, "She has mixed her wine." which is typical of the joy of the Lord, which is the portion pf everyone who receives Christ as Savior. Her table is fully furnished with many nourishing dishes, for instance, forgiveness, justification, sanctification, eternal life, and in fact every spiritual blessing in heavenly places in Christ (Eph. 1:3). What great abundance indeed!

There are also the delights of wisdom and all that is available in order to feed and nourish our souls, and for this we turn to Proverbs 9.

"Wisdom hath built her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars; she hath slaughtered her cattle, she hath mingled her wine, she hath also prepared her table; she hath sent forth her maidens; she crieth upon the summits of the high places of the city. Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither. To him that is void of understanding, she saith, 'Come, eat ye of my bread, and drink of the wine that I have mingled. Forsake follies and live, and go in the way of intelligence'" Prov. 9:1-6.

We are not told of what material the houses of the two evil women were built, but one is inclined to think they were built of bricks. The first time we have mention of bricks in Scripture is at Babel, Gen. 11:3. The next time they are mentioned is in Egypt, Ex. 1:14. Bricks speak of human material, man's imitation of stone which is divine material. Both of these false systems, the ecclesiastical and the political, are built of human material and both have reared their heads to give glory to men. In Babel it is "a name"; in Egypt it is "treasure cities." In the house which wisdom has built its seven pillars have been hewn out from the solid rock, and they thus set forth what is divine in building material. Did not our Lord say, "On this rock I will build My assembly," Matt. 16:18? It is divine material, and the only material referred to as giving character to what is wholely divine in that which the Godhead is bringing about for its own eternal delight. Seven indicates that the house is perfect and complete. It is not said that the house is being built, but it is builded, and thus there is set forth the whole scope of wisdom as providing for the maintenance of its sons. If ever there was a day when we can speak of completeness in the things of God it is today. To Paul it was given to complete the word of God. In the mystery are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge, and embedded in the assembly is the all-various wisdom of God, Col. 1:25; Col. 2:3; Eph. 3:10.

Many helpful suggestions have been given to the saints concerning these seven pillars, but that which appeals to us as their meaning is the whole scope of the time ways of God, embracing the whole period of His dispensational dealings with men. Herein, all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are seen, and the assembly as the vessel in which all is contained in view of the day of display. Behind the time ways of God is the counsel of the Godhead, and in the way God acts we learn what that counsel is. The course of time is marked out in seven distinctive ages in Scripture.

Upon these seven pillars wisdom has builded her house, for while two ages have yet to come into being, the truth concerning them is clearly outlined for us in the Scriptures. The divine revelation is complete though much of it has yet to be carried into effect. We are in the privileged position of viewing that house as the complete revelation of God.

In the provision of that house, the slaughtered cattle would suggest the ample provision which is available to feed our souls, and the mingled wine the various joys of those who have a place at wisdom's table. One chapter alone will give us to see the variety of this food, We refer to John 6. We eat the flesh of the Son of Man, verse 53; we eat living bread, verse 51; we eat the bread of life, verse 48; and above all the Lord said, "He that eateth ME," verse 57. What an abundance of food! The mingled wine would also suggest the various joys that are to be found in that circle. We have joy in believing, Rom. 15:13; the joy of faith, Phil. 1:25; joy in the Holy Spirit, Rom. 14:17; and in the path marked out by the Son of God we have fullness of joy, John 15:11. All this is offered to the simple who seek to be taught of God. Nor need we fear to own to God that we are simple, for our Lord said at the moment when earthly things were about to be laid aside and that which was heavenly was to be brought in, "I praise Thee, Father, Lord of the heaven and of the earth, that Thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them to babes," Matt. 11:25. That marked the beginning of the work of God in our souls. He brought us to the Son. Nor need we fear to own to God that we are simple now that we do belong to Him for again we read, "If any one of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all freely and reproaches not, and it shall be given to him," Jas. 1:5. If we respond to the call of wisdom and accept what God offers to us, we shall be nourished by all the provision of that table, and enjoy all the delights of wisdom. We shall be enlightened, satisfied, and well nourished in the enjoyment of the things of God, with the result that we shall walk in wisdom to them which are without, redeeming the time. There are ample resources to satisfy us within and support us without. Being thus nourished and sustained we shall avoid the "strange woman" on the one hand, and the "foolish woman" on the other, and we shall move through this world evidencing the true features of the sons of wisdom.

Only more is said in Solomon's day, and by the king in this Book where wisdom is personified so admirably by the Spirit who had the Son of God in view. And who so well could introduce the figure of wisdom's house as he who was given to build the house for Jehovah's name! a settled place for Him to abide in forever? Yet how much the past or the present says to the contrary! as indeed Jehovah warned was to be because of their apostasy, even to a proverb and a byword among all peoples.

"Wisdom has built her house." Nowhere on earth was there a suited habitation. She could find no dwelling, but has prepared one for herself; for wisdom had to promote the entire life and the most intimate relations and the habits of every day. Hence the necessity for "her house," to which she liberally invites. "She has hewn her seven pillars." There is a completeness of support exhibited in no other, and due to the divine aim herein sought.

Then the provision is no less bountiful. "She has slaughtered her slaughtering, she has mingled her wine, she has furnished her table." How could it be otherwise if divine love undertake to entertain worthily of God? There is no more intelligible or common figure of communion than that which is expressed by eating and drinking under the same hospitable roof. So the Lord repeatedly set forth the welcome of grace in the gospel; so He signifies our feeding on Himself by faith to life eternal; so He instituted His supper for our habitual remembrance of Himself till He come. It is presented here that His people might know the pleasure Jehovah took in their enjoyment of wisdom as He revealed it.

But there is more. "She has sent forth her maidens, she cries upon the summits of the high places of the city, Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither." Wisdom had her messengers, who are fitly represented as maidens whom she dispatched on the errand of loving-kindness. But she spares no pains personally; for there she stands on the loftiest vantage ground, whence she may invite. And who are the objects of her appeal? Not the rich or great; not the wise or prudent; but whoso is simple, let him turn in hither." God is ever the giving God when truly known. He may test man for a special purpose; but as God loves a cheerful giver, so is He the most liberal of all Himself; and so wisdom here makes known. "To him that is void of understanding she says, Come, eat ye of my bread, and drink of the wine that I have mingled." In the world that is, such generous unselfish love is unknown and hence the need and value of reiterated welcome.

Then the Scripture bursts forth into that which is evangelical. The one that finds Wisdom finds life. Wisdom has builded her house (reception); hewn out her pillars (stability); killed her beasts (sacrifice); furnished her table (satisfaction); mingled her wine (joy); sent forth her maidens (invitation); cries upon the highest place of the city (importunity). Does this not allude to the coming of the Son of God into this world to die an atoning death, and in resurrection sending forth world-wide the tidings of redeeming love? (Mark 16:15).

God's house is composed of those who profess the Name of Christ, and in all their ways they are to adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour. It is the living God's assembly, and His features should be manifested in those professing piety. In the temple of Solomon there were two pillars, Jachin, which means "He will establish", and Boaz, which means "In Him is strength". God's house is a pillar, which testifies to God, setting forth what He is, and what His mind is. But the church is also "the ground of the truth", the base which supports what is testified. All who profess Christianity should by their lives morally support what is professed. This is God's object in having His house in this world. The secret of the piety that should mark every professor is found in the mystery of piety.

The house is the pillar and ground of the truth, it is the witness to the truth of God in this world. That is what is indicated by the pillar, upon it the truth of God is inscribed; that is, as far as that truth affects men and can be read by them. There are the deep things of God, which no doubt wonderfully affect the radiancy of the light which shines out upon a benighted world, but these things are more for the minds and hearts of the household than they are for the enlightenment of others. It is more the light of God in the character of Saviour, a God of all grace, that is to be read on that pillar which has been so conspicuously set up in His goodness in the midst of this darkness.

Wisdom has builded her house. There is a Shelter for the people of God; and which cannot be moved. Noah, warned of God, built an ark for the saving of his house. He found grace in the eyes of the Lord, and that grace brought salvation to him and his house. But the grace of God that brings salvation to all men has appeared. God would have all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. “Wisdom has builded her house, she has hewn out her seven pillars, she has killed her beasts, she has mingled her wine, she has also furnished her table” All things are now ready. Every preparation has been made. The glad tidings must go out. In the streets and lanes, upon the highways, and among the hedges the trumpet must be blown. The maidens compel to the great supper in the house of God.

1909 292 In Proverbs 9:1-5 we have wisdom's feast. Who this wisdom is may be gathered from the previous chapter, where it is written, "Jehovah possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old. I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was" (Prov. 8:22-23). "When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment, when he appointed the foundations of the earth; then I was by him as one brought up with him; and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him; rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth; and my delights were with the sons of men" (Prov. 8:29-31). Of whom could this be here but of "the only begotten Son which is in the bosom of the Father," and who declared Him? and of none other indeed, for "no man hath seen God at any time" (John 1:18).

Wisdom sets out in connection with the house she has built, stability — "She hath hewn out her seven pillars"; and as for her feast, readiness — "she hath killed her beasts, she hath mingled her wine, she hath also furnished (or prepared) her table"; and the invite is characterised by openness and broad daylight "she hath sent forth her maidens, she crieth upon the highest places of the city." And the apostle Paul could say, We "have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God" (2 Cor. 4:2). Further, there is no disguise as to the character of the persons invited. For, whilst making them welcome, she lets them plainly know how she regards them "Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither; as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him, Come, eat of my bread, and drink of the wine which I have mingled." How blessed it is to adopt God's estimate of ourselves and to accept of His bounty!

Wisdom pleads for Jehovah and therefore in the true interests of man, no less than for the divine glory. The foolish woman is zealous only for the indulgence of sinful pleasure, regardless of all consequences. Yet it is remarkable how similar are the thoughts and words the Holy Spirit uses in speaking of each. Not that wisdom is "clamorous" as is folly; but she does cry and put forth her voice, for understanding is hers, and the immense value she has to communicate from God and for Him, no less than to man. She does not sit on a seat or throne at the door of her house. But she yet more than folly stands in the top of high places by the way, a cheerful giver, who knows the ample resources for all that come. Not so the foolish woman. What house had she built? No pillars had she hewn out. She had neither beasts to kill, nor had she mingled wine, nor furnished her table, like wisdom with a heart delighting in good and in doing good where need abounded and dangers are without end and evil without measure.