P 9 Women

Reading Proverbs nine recently, I saw it in a new way.  It’s about two women, one is the personification of wisdom; the other, folly.  Each of these women is inviting the “naive” to come into their home.  They each offer something different.  Folly’s offer is short and sweet – she offers juicy, enticing pleasure.  Also, the woman herself is boisterous and ignorant.  And like a siren, she is luring the naive to their death. 

Consider the offer of these two women (the Proverb is below).  Take some time and study each of them, understanding with your mind.  

Now consider yourself.  You are the person walking down the road.  Two women cry out to you, offering you something.  Can you tell the difference between their voices?  Which one sounds good?  Which offer should you accept? 

Wisdom’s offer isn't nearly as enticing as folly’s allure, but once inside the house, Wisdom offers a banquet and a long life, whereas Folly offers us a moment of a sweet treat followed by bitterness and death. 

Remember one more thing: it’s easier to resist Ms. Folly if you’re strong, wise and mature.  She is most vicious with the weak, the immature and the struggling.  May God grant you the ears to heed the wise woman.

  == Proverbs 9 ==  

Wisdom has built her house, she has hewn out her seven pillars;

She has prepared her food, mixed her wine & 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've mixed.  Forsake folly and live, and proceed in the way of understanding:

·       He who corrects a scoffer gets dishonor for himself, and he who reproves a wicked man gets insults for himself. Don’t reprove a scoffer, or he’ll hate you, reprove a wise man and he’ll love you. 

·       Give instruction to a wise man and he’ll be wiser still, teach a righteous man and he’ll increase his learning.

·       The fear of Yahweh is the beginning of wisdom, & the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding

For by me your days will be multiplied, & years of life will be added to you. If you are wise, you’re wise for yourself, & if you scoff, you alone will bear it.”

The woman of folly is boisterous, naive and knows 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; & bread eaten in secret is pleasant.”

But he doesn't know that the dead are there, that her guests are in the depths of the grave.