Lawrence

College
Chapel
Restoration

Rededication
Service
November
2007
 Background
John Lawrence
a Christian in Government service
in 18th C. British India
founded
Lawrence College
in the foothills of the Himalayas
for sons and daughters
of native Civil Servants
 After Partition in 1947
the school became
a boys only establishment
for the sons of elite Pakistanis.
A tiny Christian community remained.
In time
the chapel fell into disuse and disrepair.
 The present Muslim Principal
happened to meet an Old Gallian
(former LC Student),
Dan Bavington,
a Christian and founder of
ZOR Engineers.

The Principal told Dan:

“As a Muslim, I am ashamed to see
this House of God,
with its roof partially collapsed,
in such a poor state.”
 Later through the generous help of
the Governor of the Punjab,
who was also
the Chairman of the school Governors,
Government money was released
for the total restoration of
the School Chapel
two years later.
Muslims & Christians
attended the Service
 Murree
Christian
School
choir
brought
music
 Refreshments

afterwards

Mr Saleem
of
ZOR
Engineers
 Chapel Address
on the occasion of
The Re-dedication
of
The College Chapel
of
Lawrence College,
Ghora Gali, Murree
Readings from the Holy Bible
1. The Old Testament
PROVERBS 9 vv 1-6
 Exegeting

Proverbs 9:1-6
 Proverbs 9:1-6
Wisdom has built her house; she has hewn
out its seven pillars. She has prepared her
meat and mixed her wine; she has also set
her table. She has sent out her maids, and
she calls from the highest point of the city.
“Let all who are simple come in here!” she
says to those that lack judgement. “Come
and eat my food and drink the wine that I
have mixed. Leave your simple ways and
you will live; walk in the way of
understanding.”
 Step 1. List the units of thought:
• Wisdom has built her house;
• she has hewn out its seven pillars.
• She has prepared her meat
• and mixed her wine;
• she has also set her table.
• She has sent out her maids,
• and she calls from the highest point of the city.
• “Let all who are simple come in here!”
• she says to those that lack judgement.
• “Come and eat my food
• and drink the wine
• that I have mixed.
• Leave your simple ways
• and you will live;
• walk in the way of understanding.”
 Step 2. Shape the Structure:
Wisdom has built her house;
she has hewn out its seven pillars.
She has prepared her meat
and mixed her wine;
she has also set her table.
She has sent out her maids,
and she calls from the highest point of the city.
“Let all who are simple come in here!”
she says to those that lack judgement.
“Come
and eat my food
and drink the wine
that I have mixed.
Leave your simple ways
and
you will live;
Walk in the way of understanding.”
 Step 3. Observe the different parts:
Wisdom has built her house; Who? OBSERVATIONS
she has hewn out its seven pillars. • Wisdom (= ?)
• W’s maids
She has prepared her meat
• The simple / lack judgement
and mixed her wine;
What?
she has also set her table. • W’s house & its 7 pillars
She has sent out her maids, • W’s meat & wine
and she calls from the highest point • W’s table
of the city. • Simple ways
“Let all who are simple • The way of understanding
come in here!” Where? [When?]
she says to those that lack judgement. • The city’s highest point
“Come • “Here” (W’s house)
and eat my food Why?
and drink the wine • In order to live
that I have mixed. How?
• By eating & drinking W’s fare
Leave your simple ways • By leaving simple ways
and you will live; • By walking in the way of
walk in the way of understanding.” understanding
 Step 4. Question the meaning & significance of the parts
Wisdom has built her house;
she has hewn out its seven pillars.
She has prepared her meat
and mixed her wine;
she has also set her table.
She has sent out her maids,
and she calls from the highest point
of the city.
“Let all who are simple
come in here!”
she says to those that lack judgement.
“Come
and eat my food
and drink the wine
that I have mixed.
Leave your simple ways
and you will live;
walk in the way of understanding.”
• Who / what is “wisdom”?
• What are the seven pillars? Why
are they hewn out (of stone)?
• Why is the wine mixed?
• Why has wisdom done every-thing
herself in preparation for her
guests?
• Who are the simple that lack
judgement?
• What are the simple ways they
must leave?
• What kind of life is promised?
• What is the choice presented?
• What is the difference between
“eating & drinking”
and
“walking”?
 Step 5. Suggest some Answers
(either by reflection or by referring to commentaries)
• Wisdom:
Wisdom has built her house;
she has hewn out its seven pillars.
the wisdom of God
She has prepared her meat the Creator of a wisely
and mixed her wine; ordered universe
she has also set her table. • Seven:
She has sent out her maids, suggests perfection
and she calls from the highest point
of the city.
or simply a mark of a
“Let all who are simple
prosperous home
come in here!” • Hewn out pillars:
she says to those that lack judgement. suggests effort,
“Come craftsmanship
and eat my food
and drink the wine • Mixed wine:
that I have mixed. enjoyment, richness,
Leave your simple ways complexity, subtlety of
and you will live; wisdom
walk in the way of understanding.”
 Step 6. What is the over-all Subject of the passage?
Wisdom has built her house;
she has hewn out its seven pillars.
She has prepared her meat
and mixed her wine;
Wisdom
she has also set her table. - the wisdom
She has sent out her maids, of
and she calls from the highest point
of the city. God
“Let all who are simple the Creator
come in here!”
she says to those that lack judgement.
of
“Come a
and eat my food wisely ordered
and drink the wine
that I have mixed. universe
Leave your simple ways
and you will live;
walk in the way of understanding.”
 Step 7. What does the passage say about this
over-all Subject?
Wisdom has built her house; Wisdom
she has hewn out its seven pillars. • Has gone to great
She has prepared her meat
and mixed her wine;
trouble to prepare
she has also set her table. for her guests
She has sent out her maids, • Invites to her
and she calls from the highest point
of the city. house all who lack
“Let all who are simple her insight
come in here!”
she says to those that lack judgement.
• Invites the simple
“Come to feed at her rich
and eat my food table
and drink the wine
that I have mixed.
• Exhorts them to
Leave your simple ways obey her
and you will live; instruction
walk in the way of understanding.”
• Promises them life
Step 8. What is the heart-beat of the passage?

Note:

The Heart-Beat
of a passage
is
the central point
or
core message
of that passage.
 What is the heart-beat of the passage?
Wisdom has built her house; Suggestion
she has hewn out its seven pillars.
She has prepared her meat
and mixed her wine; Really to live
she has also set her table.
She has sent out her maids, embrace
and she calls from the highest point
of the city. Wisdom
“Let all who are simple
come in here!”
she says to those that lack judgement.
“Come
and eat my food
and drink the wine
that I have mixed.
Leave your simple ways
and you will live;
walk in the way of understanding.”
The Chapel
Address
 Exposition

Wisdom and Love are two of the most

previous treasures we can ever have
• true wisdom, as opposed to false
wisdom (which we call folly) and
• true love, as opposed to all the cheap
and false kinds of love that this world
offers.
Where can true wisdom and true love be
found?
That is the most important question a
young man can ever ask.
The Book of Proverbs was written to
answer this crucial question.
For it was written as guidance to young
men on how to follow the straight path.
In particular this section speaks about
• Wisdom personified as
– a responsible woman of character,

in contrast with a second woman,

• Folly,
– a woman of loose character.
Wisdom has built a house
• she has worked hard to cut stones for
it;
• she has gone to much trouble to
adorn it with 7 pillars;
• she has completed her task perfectly,
(for 7 symbolises both
perfection and completion)
But more than completing a beautiful
building,
• she has prepared a wonderful meal with
special drinks, and
• she has set the table herself in
readiness for guests;
• she has sent out her servants with the
invitations,
but many are too busy with other more
important business, so
• she goes out herself and calls people to
come.
Who is this woman Wisdom?
– Is she not the wisdom of God
himself - offered to us?
This House of God that we re-dedicate
today is not only a beautiful building.
It is also the place where God invites
us to come and be fed on His Word.
 This House of God
as well as being a place of prayer
is also
a place for spiritual nourishment.
 God invites us
to come away
from the busyness of our lives outside
and
find time and space
to listen to Him speaking to us
in His Holy Word
from which He feeds us spiritually,
and from where
we will get our true Wisdom
and learn of His real Love.
 May we want
to come
and accept
His loving invitation
to dine with Him!
The End