Day 982: Proverbs 9- Wisdom's Welcome

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 Folly13 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.
 
Meditation
The love of God invites people to feast at the banquet of wisdom. Jesus invites people to feast on Himself as the bread of life, true food and true drink (John 6:51, 55), and wisdom invites you to find abundant life feasting in her house.
 
“Come and eat of my bread, and drink of my wine,” wisdom summons (5). The house of wisdom (1) has prepared a feast (2) and sent invitations for all people (3).
 
In contrast, folly invites people into her home, too (13-18). Folly is loud (13), screaming from her doorway (14-15), offering only stolen water and secrets that will make you sick (17-18).
 
The two invitations have mirror summonses (4, 16): All who know their need are welcome to feast in one house or the other. To which invitation will you respond? To ignore wisdom’s invitation is to welcome folly.
 
The middle verses (7-12) offer character sketches of who responds to each invitation. Those who feast on foolishness end up alone by rejecting rebuke, teaching, and the way of the Lord. Those who feast on wisdom love you for rebuke and welcome the knowledge of God. Those who feast on wisdom will multiply and endure. Those who feast at folly’s house will flounder.
 
As wisdom welcomes all who seek abundant life, so the Lord welcomes all who long to be satisfied. ““Come, everyone who thirsts… come, buy and eat…without money and without price.” (Isaiah 55:1) Jesus reinforces the welcome saying, “Come to me, all who are weary… and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:18).
 
Richly Dwelling
-The remarkable symmetry of the chapter emphasizes the invitation of both wisdom and folly. Whose feast will you choose?
 
-Looking at the middle section descriptions of the wise and foolish, who do you identify with more? Do you welcome rebuke, teaching, and knowledge of God?
 
-Jesus offers the ultimate invitation for abundant life, to feast on His love, grace, work, and word. How can you more intentionally feast on Jesus? Be specific.
 
Key Verse
5 “Come, eat of my bread and drink of the wine I have mixed.