Introduction
In this chapter, there is an invitation from two people.
1. A responsible woman who represents wisdom. Proverbs 9:1-12.
2. A prostitute who represents folly. Proverbs 9:13-18.
Invitations Of Wisdom And Folly
‘Wisdom has built her house; she has set up its seven pillars. She has prepared her meat and mixed her wine; she has also set her table. She has sent out her servants, and she calls from the highest point of the city, ‘Let all who are simple come to my house!’ To those who have no sense she says, ‘Come, eat my food and drink the wine I have mixed.’ Proverbs 9:1-5
What does Solomon mean when he says, ‘wisdom has set up its seven pillars’? The number seven means completeness or perfection. He’s basically saying that wisdom lacks nothing, James 3:17.
Do these words sound familiar? Luke 14:15-24. Read the following verses, Proverbs 9:2 and Revelation 19:9, Proverbs 9:5 and John 6:27.
Notice also that wisdom is personified as someone who is carefully prepared and beautifully presented. She wants to be heard; she has sent out her servants.
She cries out from the highest places of the city and she invites the simple and those who lack understanding to eat and drink of her prepared feast.
‘Leave your simple ways and you will live; walk in the way of insight.’ Whoever corrects a mocker invites insults; whoever rebukes the wicked incurs abuse. Do not rebuke mockers or they will hate you; rebuke the wise and they will love you. Instruct the wise and they will be wiser still; teach the righteous and they will add to their learning.’ Proverbs 9:6-9
She won’t invite scoffers because correcting a scoffer only shames and harms the one doing the correcting. The wise and just, however, appreciate and will learn from correction.
How do you feel when someone insults you? It’s pretty difficult not to retaliate in some way, but wisdom tells us otherwise, Romans 12:11-18.
‘The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. For through wisdom your days will be many, and years will be added to your life. If you are wise, your wisdom will reward you; if you are a mocker, you alone will suffer.’ Proverbs 9:10-12
When we fear the Lord and know the Lord, we will have long life, Proverbs 3:2 / Proverbs 3:16. Our days will be multiplied, and years added to our lives.
There’s a sense of loneliness in being foolish, whereas the wise grow wise together. We need to be careful about judging others, Matthew 7:2.
‘Folly is an unruly woman; she is simple and knows nothing. She sits at the door of her house, on a seat at the highest point of the city, calling out to those who pass by, who go straight on their way, ‘Let all who are simple come to my house!’ To those who have no sense she says, ‘Stolen water is sweet; food eaten in secret is delicious!’ But little do they know that the dead are there, that her guests are deep in the realm of the dead.’ Proverbs 9:13-18
The unruly woman as opposed to wisdom, she makes no preparation, she is loud, seductive and knows nothing. the words, ‘stolen water is sweet, and food eaten in secret is delicious’ are an allusion to illicit intercourse, Proverbs 5:15, but it is a false promise, Proverbs 20:17 / Proverbs 5:3-5.
The real promise is unknown to the simple who lack understanding. Her home is the house of the dead, Proverbs 2:18-19, her house is the way to death, Proverbs 5:5 / Proverbs 7:27.
What’s Solomon saying here? He simply says that sin is dangerous. He’s saying that pleasure is attractive because it is forbidden, it is deadly.