Pearls before Swine
Proverbs 9:1-18
The Prologue of Solomon's book of Proverbs ends with a choice of two paths. - an invitation from Lady Wisdom and an invitation from Lady Folly. These descriptions and quotations of Wisdom and Folly are a study in similarities and contrasts. Both Wisdom and Folly call out from a house situated in the highest point of the city. Both begin with the same invitation: ‘Let all who are simple come in here,’ . Lady Wisdom is inviting her guests to a meal however Lady Folly's invitation is definitely not to a meal. We shall look into this later. Both Wisdom and Folly use proverbs; Wisdom’s speech concludes with a series of proverbs, ending with, ‘If you are wise, your wisdom will reward you; if you are a mocker, you alone will suffer’ (Proverbs 9:12). Folly has only one proverb, but it is revealing: ‘Stolen water is sweet; food eaten in secret is delicious’ (Proverbs 9:17).
Solomon shows these similarities only to point out the glaring differences between them. Wisdom has built her house; she has hewn out its seven pillars. (verse 1-2) and she works at preparing a sumptuous banquet offering wine and meats to her guests while Folly sits at her door, loud [as was the adulteress in Proverbs 7:11], undisciplined, and without knowledge. What Folly was offering was not food and water. There is also the differences in outcome. Wisdom offers a future, a call to maturity, and in a life. Folly only offers the immediate pleasure of an illicit nature enjoyed outside their intended boundaries, hiding the fact that such pleasure brings death.
Lady Folly 's glamour however dependents on cosmetics and clothes (7:10). Wisdom's pillars of seven is no doubt symbolic of completeness and perfection
Lady Wisdom has prepared her meat and mixed her wine; she has also set her table.
Mixed wine here may refer to wine mixed with spices, as in Song Of Solomon 8:2, or to wine mixed with water, as was common for wine drunk at meals.
“She has sent out her maids, and she calls from the highest point of the city.
‘Let all who are simple come in here!’ she says to those who lack judgment
‘Come, eat my food and drink the wine I have mixed.’” - verses 3-5
Wisdom is first personified as a woman in Proverbs in 1:20-33; the personification is picked up again in 3:13-18 and 4:1-13. All of Proverbs 8, the chapter immediately preceding today’s passage, consists of the longest and most developed of the personifications.
The personification of wisdom in today’s passage is paired with a personification of Folly in Proverbs 9:13-18, also as a woman. The similar structures of the two passages indicate that they are to be read together and in contrast. Both invite the “simple” into their houses for a meal, using the same invitation (vv. 4, 16). Wisdom has gone so far as to build her own house, prepare her own meal, and to make efforts to invite people in. But Lady Folly merely sits at the door of her house, calling to whoever happens to pass by (vv. 14-15), and is she really offering her guests a meal when she says " “Stolen water is sweet; food eaten in secret is delicious!” (v. 17) ? Moreover, while wisdom’s meal leads to life (v. 6), those who visit Lady Folly ends up dead (v. 18).
The description of wisdom’s meal paints a picture of a true feast in a lavish, even sacred setting. The opening verse states that she has built her own house and that this construction involved setting up “seven pillars.” Pillars would only be used in building a house of substantial size and quality, and the number seven implies some special character to the house.
The meal itself and the invitation likewise indicate the rich and open nature of the feast. Wisdom has slaughtered an animal and set a table (Proverbs 9:2), indicating that this meal will go beyond the everyday meals of the average Israelite (the typical meal for the average person in ancient Palestine did not involve meat). Bread and wine are also to be served (vv. 2, 5). Wisdom has servant girls — she is a woman of means, clearly — and she has sent them out to issue the invitation where all can hear it (v. 3). It is a rich feast.
Partaking of this feast leads to life (Proverbs9:6). The connection between wisdom and life is frequently made in Proverbs : “For whoever finds me finds life” (8:35a); “Long life is in her right hand…She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her” (3:16a, 18a). To accept wisdom’s invitation is to embrace the life that God has designed for us.
“Leave simple ones and live, and walk in the way of understanding. For one to stay in the company of simpletons would mean to fail to use good judgment and to pursue a way of life that is senseless. By seeking wisdom or truly wanting to have it and to live accordingly, individuals would continue to live a purposeful life and would not shorten their life through foolhardiness and senseless actions.
The simple does not want to change his way and arrogantly turns against anyone who would even suggest that he is in the wrong. Therefore, he who attempts to correct a scoffer will bring dishonor upon himself, opening himself up to insult and abuse.
By his foolish attempt to correct the corrupt individual, he would likely be subjected to verbal or physical abuse from the one whom he tried to reprove. Translations have commonly added words to convey a more specific meaning than does the Hebrew text. “Whoever rebukes a wicked man incurs abuse.” (NIV) “The one who rebukes a wicked man will get hurt.” (HCSB) “And he who rebukes a wicked man only harms himself.” (NKJV)” (9:7)
A mocker resents and rejects any reproof that he may be given and will become hostile toward anyone who might attempt to correct him. Therefore, wisdom dictates heeding the admonition, “Do not reprove a mocker lest he should hate you.” A wise person, on the other hand, is willing to change, humbly responds to merited reproof, and is favorably disposed toward the one who corrects him. “Reprove a wise person, and he will love you.” (9:8)
Wise persons are desirous of making advancement in conducting themselves in a manner that God approves and in a way that observers regard favorably. Therefore, one’s giving sound advice or corrective counsel to a wise person will make him wiser. For one to teach a righteous man would lead to his increasing in learning, for he would value the knowledge imparted to him and would make it his own..” (9:9)
The “fear of God is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight” or understanding. This “fear” is a reverential regard for God who has communicated His will and purpose to us and to whom we are accountable for our actions. It is a wholesome fear that reflects itself in being concerned about not displeasing him and promotes an earnest desire to avoid wayward conduct — words and actions that are typical of senseless individuals who have no regard for God.
Therefore, true wisdom has its start or its source in a reverential regard for God (the “fear of the Lord” ). One’s knowledge of him would indicate one’s having a relationship with Him and conducting oneself in a way that results in preserving a standing before Him. This knowledge is “insight” or “understanding,” for it involves a recognition of what constitutes divinely approved conduct and a desire to live accordingly.
Wisdom personified represents herself as providing the guidance and training that promotes a purposeful life and shields one from acting in ways that can shorten one’s life. “For by me, your days will be many [or increased], and years of life will be added to you.” (9:11)
Wisdom, the woman, chooses her guests carefully. They are not the guests whom we might select. She does not choose only clever people, whose conversation will be good. She does not choose only famous people, so that other people will respect her. She does not even select wealthy people.
Wisdom’s guests are ‘simple’ people. They are people who do not know about good and evil behaviour. These people have not yet learned to be wise. Wisdom, the woman, wants to teach them. She wants to show the right way to them. She wants to lead them to righteousness.
The wise individual will make the right choices and will be upright in his dealings with fellow humans If, on the other hand, a person ridicules others and what is right, acting contrary to wisdom, he alone will bear the calamitous consequences to which his senselessness leads
Lady Folly its at the door of her house,” and her seat is on the “heights of the town,” suggesting that she wants an audience to see her and to hear what she has to say. (9:14) Unlike wisdom (9:3), Lady Folly does not send messengers with an invitation to come to a banquet. From her seat at the door of her house, she merely calls to passersby and persons who “are going straight on their paths.” Lady Folly wants those who “are going straight” to turn away from their paths to share with her in her senseless ways. (9:15) She tells the “simple,” (the inexperienced ones or those who are easily seduced to engage in wayward conduct), to “turn aside” to her or to where she is seated. (9:16)
To the one without good sense, Lady Folly says (9:16) “Stolen waters are sweet, and bread consumed in secret is pleasant” or tastes good. Her invitation has nothing to do with a meal. The words allude to the temporary pleasure of engaging in illicit relations and doing so in secret. (9:17).
The Lady Folly is lazy. She did none of those things that Lady Wisdom did to prepare for the feast . She does not even stand to invite her guests. She sits down.
Folly offers immediate gratification whereas wisdom offers long-term satisfaction. Both wisdom and folly point to either life or death. Almost every verse in the remainder of Proverbs points to one or both of these paths and their consequences.
The Foolish Woman wants to tempt them away from the straight path. She wants to take them on the path to her house. She will lead them away from their journey. In the end she will destroy them.
Her invitation reminds us of Proverbs 5:15-18. In that passage, ‘water’ refers to illicit love and sex. This is the same invitation as Proverbs 7:18-20.
The woman tempts the simple man with evil ideas. Solomon is thinking about all evil things, not just sex. If we are foolish, then we shall choose to do evil things. If we refuse to be wise, then we also refuse to follow God.
Evil actions might feel ‘good’. Evil actions might feel ‘wonderful’. These are only feelings; they are not reality. The reality is that evil behaviour is always wrong. The reality is that evil behaviour will destroy us. The reality is that God hates all evil things.
The one whom Lady Folly seduces does not “know” or realize that death is there in the place to which her seduction leads and that her guests are in the “depths of Sheol” or in the lowest part of the realm of the dead.
A wise person is not always the intelligent or clever person . He might know only a few things. Maybe, he has only learnt his lessons well.
Wisdom offers a real reward. Wisdom will benefit our whole lives. If you refuse to be wise, then you will suffer.
The messages of the two women both come from the highest place in the city. So everyone will hear both messages. Nobody will miss them. Everyone will receive both invitations. But we cannot accept both invitations. We must choose. Either we follow wisdom, or we follow lady Folly
We must make our choice. We can be wise, or we can be foolish.
Make the right decision! God wants us all to learn to be wise.
