Reflections on Proverbs 9

 Proverbs 09 (Contemporary English Version)

1. Wisdom has built her house with its seven columns.
   
2. She has prepared the meat and set out the wine. Her feast is ready.
   
3. She has sent her servant women to announce her invitation from the highest hills:
   
4. "Everyone who is ignorant or foolish is invited!
   
5. All of you are welcome to my meat and wine.
   
6. If you want to live, give up your foolishness and let understanding guide your steps."
   
7. Correct a worthless bragger, and all you will get are insults and injuries.
   
8. Any bragger you correct will only hate you. But if you correct someone who has common sense, you will be loved.
   
9. If you have good sense, instruction will help you to have even better sense. And if you live right, education will help you to know even more.
   
10. Respect and obey the LORD! This is the beginning of wisdom. To have understanding, you must know the Holy God.
    
11. I am Wisdom. If you follow me, you will live a long time.
    
12. Good sense is good for you, but if you brag, you hurt yourself.
    
13. Stupidity is reckless, senseless, and foolish.
    
14. She sits in front of her house and on the highest hills in the town.
    
15. She shouts to everyone who passes by,
    
16. "If you are stupid, come on inside!" And to every fool she says,
    
17. "Stolen water tastes best, and the food you eat in secret tastes best of all."
    
18. None who listen to Stupidity understand that her guests are as good as dead.

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Wisdom and folly are contrasted in this chapter as are those who seek both. Immediately we see the preparations made by lady wisdom for those she will invite to partake of her banquet to gain wisdom. She has prepared not only the meal which will be served up to the guests, but has also prepared an elaborate house in which to serve it. The seven pillars of her house are in question as to their meaning. A possbility is found in James 3:17 which says that the wisdom from above is, (1) pure, (2) peaceable, (3) gentle, (4) willing to yield, (5) full of mercy and good fruits, (6) without partiality and (7) without hypocrisy.

Once the banquet is prepared an invitation is sent to potential guests. It is a general invitation which is broadcast throughout the city inviting any who are inexperienced or lacks sense to come and "eat my bread, and drink the wine I have mixed." By accepting the invitation they will "leave inexperience behind" and "pursue the way of understanding." The outcome will be life - "you will live." This refers to true living as opposed to mere existence.

Verses 7-12 contrast those who hear the invitation and either accept it or not. Those who accept the invitation are open to instruction and even rebuke so they may become wiser and have understanding. They value both. But the mocker hates the one who gives instruction or a rebuke. He does not wish to be corrected nor value wisdom and understanding. Nor does he believe that wisdom will add years to his life or that there will be consequences if he persists in his life of mockery.

The woman Folly is then portrayed as she sits by her doorway calling to those who pass by. They are not looking for her or expecting her, but are headed along with other intentions. She diverts some, though, with her invitation to "Stolen water . . and bread eaten secretly . . !" She has made no preparations and has nothing to offer except for what she has taken from others and indiscreet activities. Those who are attracted to her invitation are drawn only to a good time. But the good time offered by woman Folly is not very good and has hidden outcomes, for she does not reveal that her former guests have departed and are in "the depths of Sheol." Rather than life which wisdom offers, folly offers death.