“Wisdom has built her house, she has hewn out her seven pillars; she has prepared her food, she has mixed her wine; she has also set her table…” (Proverbs 9:1-6, NASB)

I have seen some beautiful and amazing houses in my neighborhood. I don’t live in a rich neighborhood, but I’ve seen some people live richly by keeping their houses well-maintained. I’ve also seen multimillion-dollar homes made with costly materials, featuring spacious rooms and acres of land. Since ancient times, humans have built beautiful houses, which biblical writers often use as metaphors for building character or spiritual growth. Here is what it says in today’s reading:

“Wisdom has built her house, she has hewn out her seven pillars; she has prepared her food, she has mixed her wine; she has also set her table; she has sent out her maidens, she calls from the tops of the heights of the city: ‘Whoever is naive, let him turn in here!’ To him who lacks understanding she says, ‘Come, eat of my food, and drink of the wine I have mixed. Forsake your folly and live, and proceed in the way of understanding.’”

The primary writer of the book of Proverbs himself had many palaces and mansions. In fact, he built many of these buildings himself, and his name was Solomon. In Ecclesiastes 2:4-6, he says, “I enlarged my works: I built houses for myself, I planted vineyards for myself; I made gardens and parks for myself, and I planted in them all kinds of fruit trees; I made ponds of water for myself from which to irrigate a forest of growing trees.” 1 Kings 7:1-12 even describes in detail how big and expensive they were. It says that the project took “thirteen years” to complete it! So, Solomon knew what he was talking about when it came to building houses.

In describing the house of wisdom, he said, “Wisdom has built her house, she has hewn out her seven pillars; she has prepared her food, she has mixed her wine; she has also set her table.” In other words, Lady Wisdom did not just build a hotel for people to lodge, but a sprawling mansion for people to stay as long as they like. She did not just prepare a continental breakfast, but has set her table with a feast of well-prepared food and wine. To this house, she invites not only the smart and the intellectuals, but everyone who hungers for wisdom and understanding.

It is obvious that Solomon is not talking about a literal house here. It is about building one’s character or spiritual growth in a beautiful and secure way. It is about building one’s life with the best materials: truth, love, peace, kindness, and morality. It is about building one’s house of wisdom so it can withstand many storms and harsh things in life. Jesus used such imagery to teach us how to build a house that will stand the test of time. He said, “Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine, and acts upon them, may be compared to a wise man, who built his house upon the rock. And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and burst against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded upon the rock” (Mt.7:24-25). By showing what the house of wisdom is like, it is implied that we are to model after it and build a house of wisdom of our own. We are invited to visit, sample the food and wine, enjoy our stay for as long as we wish, and construct our houses following its design.

Not only this, but we are to help build the temple of God using the same design. Every one of us believers is part of the living temple of the Holy Spirit, and we offer our good works as precious building materials (1 Cor.3:11-16). Apostle Paul said, “I write so that you may know how one ought to conduct himself in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth” (1 Tim.3:15). Yes, wisdom built her house with “seven pillars,” but God is building His temple using His people to establish foundations, pillars, and stones. And much like the way God created the world using His wisdom (Prov.8:22-23), He desires to build His temple of believers who are wise, holy, and redeemed. There are many beautiful and amazing houses in the world, but they are nothing compared to the eternal house of God that He is building.

• What do you think is the purpose of visiting the house of wisdom?
• How does your “house” compare to the house of wisdom?
• How does your “church” compare to the house of wisdom?