Proverbs 9

Proverbs 9

The Way of Wisdom

9 Wisdom has built her house; she has hewn her seven pillars. 2 She has slaughtered her beasts; she has mixed her wine; she has also set her table. 3 She has sent out her young women to call from the highest places in the town, 4 “Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!” To him who lacks sense she says, 5 “Come, eat of my bread and drink of the wine I have mixed. 6 Leave your simple ways, and live, and walk in the way of insight.”

7 Whoever corrects a scoffer gets himself abuse, and he who reproves a wicked man incurs injury. 8 Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you; reprove a wise man, and he will love you. 9 Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning. 10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight. 11 For by me your days will be multiplied, and years will be added to your life. 12 If you are wise, you are wise for yourself; if you scoff, you alone will bear it.

The Way of Folly

13 The woman Folly is loud; she is seductive and knows nothing. 14 She sits at the door of her house; she takes a seat on the highest places of the town, 15 calling to those who pass by, who are going straight on their way, 16 “Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!” And to him who lacks sense she says, 17 “Stolen water is sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.” 18 But he does not know that the dead are there, that her guests are in the depths of Sheol.

Devotional

Introduction

I don't know if you have realised this yet...Wisdom and Folly are not the same thing. Well, if you didn't already know that, Solomon wants to make sure you completely understand. They are polar opposites. And in order to ensure that this is not confused in your mind, he offers us two scenes. One of Wisdom in her home and her dialogue to the people, and Folly in the same sort of setting. But as soon a we see many comparisons that make these scenes look almost identical, we can see some visible contrasts.

Study

In order to see these comparisons and contrasts more clearly, I have written out a table with some of those contrasts.

There may be many more contrasts and comparisons I could make. But in my personal study, something really stood out to me:

There is something very wrong going on here!

And you might be thinking "Yeah, I think I've figured that out already. I think the book of Proverbs has shown me that. Goodness knows the whole Bible has shown me that!"

And you would not be wrong.

Today is a different study today because this passage is a bit different to me. It is not really saying one path is better than another, it is visually showing it. In both scenes, it looks really similar. Which one is better, wisdom or folly?

But in the table up above, I have shown that there are many differences between the two.

Three main things I want to point out:

1. Wisdom wants back the simple, Folly wants back the righteous. Both are fighting over each other's victories.

2. Wisdom truly offers good things (a good banquet, life), Folly offers poor things (the banquet is stolen and limited, her guests die). Therefore, wisdom is good and folly is bad.

3. Folly is a deceiver, truly, she is not good.

And after that passage, we can all read that, we can all understand that. But how many times do we eat from the unsatisfying banquet of folly? How many times do we chose death over life?

How many times do you think wisdom is better, but act as if folly is the better choice? A passage may show you one thing. My table may demonstrate it as well. But it is very clear in your own heart?

Conclusion

This was a short study today, but my aim is not length, I pray that the Holy Spirit is really working in your heart to transform it. The temptation to sin is a deception from within your sinful heart. Jeremiah 17:9 says this:

The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it? (Jeremiah 17:9)

Within your heart is utter deceit. You are being tempted by Folly every single day. Folly appears as wisdom. Just as she utters the same words of Wisdom (vs.4 and vs.16). And you are always deceived.

And more often than not, we think that God does not have our good in mind. We do not think he offers good to us. Read this section of Genesis 3:

Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’” But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate. (Genesis 3:1-6)

The serpent tempts the people to think that God has not done good for them. But the same God looked at all of creation and said "It is good" (Genesis 1:31). Why do we continuously believe that God is the one deceiving us? The bible says that Satan is the father of lies (John 8:44). Within God is not deceit.

And Jesus, the son of God, is called "the way, the truth, and the life" (John 14:6). He was perfect and only contained truth/ He calls out to those who are truly sinful is calling out to the elect. 1 Peter 2:22-25 says this:

He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls. (1 Peter 2:22-25)

The Wisdom of God - Jesus Christ - suffered for us. He did so because he loved the elect (John 3:16). And the way he acted was ultimately wise, because as God, no folly could be seen in him.

This is the gospel: that those who are sinners can turn to back to the triune God in repentance, look to his death and resurrection in faith, and find forgiveness in him. You think as much as I do, that your sin, your folly is what's good, because that is what your heart desires. But God only promises good things, just as wisdom does in 9:1-12.

I pray that you might understand this truth today and praise God if you already have understood!

Thanks for joining, see you tomorrow!!