Psalm 84:10
The Choice Between Two
In life, there are two invitations given, to two very different banquets, and the consequence of that choice has an eternal effect on our soul.
Let’s begin by reading the main Scripture, Proverbs 9.
Proverb 9: 1-6, 10-11
The first call
Wisdom has built her house; she has hewn out her 7 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 fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. For by me your days will be multiplied, and years of life will be added to you.
The fear of the Lord is a motif found often in the Bible and in specific places in order to gain our attention. Here in Proverbs 9, it draws a contrast between wisdom, wickedness and the consequences of that choice.
Proverbs 9:13-17
The second call
The woman of folly is boisterous, naive and knowing nothing. She sits at the doorway of her house, on a seat by the high places of the city, calling to those who pass by, who are making their paths straight: “Whoever is naive, let him turn in here.” And to him who lacks understanding she says: “Stolen water is sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.” But he does not know that the dead are there, her guests are in the depths of Sheol.
Notice how in both calls the invitation is the same, “ And to him who lacks understanding, she (wisdom) says”. That is very interesting. How would we be able to discern the road of blessing versus the road to destruction? We need wisdom and she is calling out!
Let’s look at wisdom via the W5 questions: Who, what, where, when and why?
Who is wisdom? See Proverbs 8: 4-13
She is the one who cries out: “To you, O men, I call, and my voice is to the sons of men “O naive ones, understand prudence, and, O fools, understand wisdom. “Listen, for I will speak noble things, and the opening of my lips will reveal right things. “For my mouth will utter truth; and wickedness is an abomination to my lips. “All the utterances of my mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing crooked or perverted in them. “They are all straightforward to him who understands, and right to those who find knowledge. “I, wisdom, dwell with prudence, and I find knowledge and discretion. “The fear of the Lord is to hate evil;
What does wisdom do: She carries out a lot of actions, in fact seven different acts: She builds, hews seven pillars (the biblical number of perfection) prepares, mixes, sets the table, sends maidens, and then calls.
Where is wisdom found? Proverbs 1: 20 – 23
Wisdom shouts in the street, she lifts her voice in the square; at the head of the noisy streets she cries out; at the entrance of the gates in the city she utters her sayings: “How long, O naive ones, will you love being simple-minded? And scoffers delight themselves in scoffing and fools hate knowledge? “Turn to my reproof, behold, I will pour out my Spirit on you, I will make my words known to you.
When does she call? Anytime, every day, every night.
Why does she call? To reach to each one saying, Forsake your folly and live, and proceed in the way of understanding.”
Let’s look at folly or foolishness:
Who is folly? The woman of folly is naive and knowing nothing, says the Spirit, who entices you, tries to lure you into something stolen. But she calls people gullible who don’t see that she knows nothing. Why so gullible? Because the victim lacks understanding and wisdom that come from the fear of the Lord.
She uses water, not wine, tasting sweet, and bread in secret, seemingly pleasant. Now, frankly, I don’t know exactly why water is used. It’s not wine like we often see used in the Scriptures, but the text says it’s deadly. And here is the secret found at the end of verse 18, he does not know… the dead are there, her guests are in the depths of Sheol.
Where is folly found? Contrary to wisdom, what does foolishness do? She is found sitting! At the doorway of her house, on a seat by the high places of the city. You see, she is not at the top itself, but by the high places and she is sitting. Big contrast to wisdom who is not sitting but is working all the time. Incidentally, idleness is rarely a good thing.
What is foolishness doing? It is calling to those who pass by, those who are making their paths straight. To those passing by or trying to live an upright life.
When: Anytime, every day, every night.
Why? To deceive man.
Foolishness is more than wickedness, foolishness lies. Yeshua said that Satan is the father of lies. He imitates the call, but the result of this choice is deadly. Satan is the great dragon, the serpent of old who is called the devil, who deceives the whole world (Rev. 12. 9). He is a liar from the very beginning. Remember what he said to the first humans, Adam and Eve? “Has God indeed said?”
Terrible, isn’t it? He imitates God’s call and disguises himself as an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11: 14). Of course, his representatives do the same. They are known as the false prophets, false doctors, false teachers who blaspheme in using the pure Word of God to lead men and women astray. Don’t think for one moment that his representatives won’t do the same! You can find them everywhere; in church buildings, on the corner of the street, on the internet, in schools- you name it. We are warned to stay close to wisdom, and get back on the right path. The Word of God will tell you where to go and how to get there. Be a student of the Word and you will more easily be able to discern those false and foolish calls.