Solomon was writing to his son because like every parent, it was his responsibility to prepare his child or children to face life. For every parent it means spending a lot of time guiding them through different stages of growth and helping them to develop life skills so one day they can handle the real world and live their lives to the fullest. That would include mental, emotional, moral, social, and spiritual development.
Why is this important? Because parents know that one day their children will move out and begin to make decisions for themselves, forge their own paths. And there is only so much you can impart to them, without imposing your viewpoint on them, before they have to face some of the harsh realities of life. Most parents hope that their children will make wise decisions, be around healthy influences, and make good friends. It breaks the heart of a parent when they see their son or daughter go down the wrong path and make poor decisions. But the opposite is true as well. Today we are continuing in our Wisdom that Works series and have come to Proverbs chapter 9. King Solomon has been instructing his son who now has the practical wisdom he needs to make informed decisions as a young man. But the question is what will he do with this knowledge and wisdom? Which paths will he take?
We have all been in the place where we had to make pivotal decisions at different times in our lives. We have also seen people around us whether friends, relatives, peers, young or old face come to important crossroads. Think about some of the most important decisions you have ever made. Maybe it was making a decision where to go to university, what you wanted to study, the career path you were going to take, whether or not to follow Christ after hearing the gospel for the first or 50th time, who you should marry. What are some of the most pivotal decisions you have or expect to make in the future? What is your criteria for making these decisions? Proverbs 9 talks about these types of pivotal decisions, giving every person the choice to either actively pursue wisdom’s way or a life of foolishness.
Although Proverbs chapter 9 is divided into 3 parts, there are really only two paths put before us. Proverbs 9 talks about the:
Wisdom’s Banquet - where we go to get the wisdom we need for life.
Wisdom Correction - all of us need wisdom to make course corrections time to time
Folly’s Fate - all of us have experienced the consequences of foolish decisions but that does not have to be the end of the story.
Wisdom’s Banquet
1 Wisdom has built her house; she has set up its seven pillars. 2 She has prepared her meat and mixed her wine; she has also set her table. 3 She has sent out her servants, and she calls from the highest point of the city,4 “Let all who are simple come to my house!” To those who have no sense she says,5 “Come, eat my food and drink the wine I have mixed. 6 Leave your simple ways and you will live; walk in the way of insight.”
The house that Wisdom built has seven pillars meaning that this house was solid, it was very well built and very large for the purpose of holding banquets. Wisdom has prepared her place, her food and has sent out the invitation to all of humanity to eat with her.
Wisdom has slaughtered her meat - meaning that what is being prepared for the guest is very valuable, very costly. Has mixed her wine - She did not dilute it or water it down, but she has added honey or herbs to make the wine more spicy, potent, enjoyable and far better than normal wine.
Has set her table - this means that every truth has been arranged in such a way to be enjoyed by those who partake of it. It is a picture of a beautiful feast or banquet. In Isaiah 55, this meal is without cost to the one who has been invited and this meal gives life (Isa 25; Prov 9:6). God’s wisdom not only nourishes the guest but brings them joy. She has sent out her young maidens or attendants to invite the simple, and those lacking sense to come. What is interesting here is that various scholars hold that these attendants are “wisdoms teachers” and would include fathers and mothers, teachers, mentors or prophets.
The Lord has placed certain people in our lives for our good, for our growth and maturity. One scholar said one way God accomplishes this today is through the preaching and teaching of the Word in the local church. Anyone who accepts their invitation, who comes to wisdom’s home and eats at the table, i.e. the ignorant, the immature, the naive will be transformed.
Even though in Prov 1:22 they had initially rejected the invitation, Wisdom continues to call out hoping to persuade the simple to turn, that is to repent of their foolish ways and foolish associations and eat what wisdom has prepared for them. The promise is: If you do you will live. John Gill, a Puritan theologian from the 18th century wrote,
Live on the provisions of Wisdom's house, on her bread and her wine; live on Christ himself by faith; live not as the foolish do, but as the wise; live not to yourselves, nor to the lusts of men, but to the will and glory of God; live not in sin, but unto righteousness; live not to the flesh, nor after it, but to and after the spirit: and, as a promise by way of encouragement..."ye shall live."
Wisdom has done all it can do and now the decision is up to the listener. If they repent and turn from their old ways and associations they will be healed. Repentance is more than turning away from sin, it is first and foremost, turning toward Jesus and committing ourselves to wisdom’s way. Wisdom sees that the simple/naive are on a crash course and calls out “If you want to live then you must receive...
Wisdom’s Correction (vv. 7-12)
Whoever corrects a mocker invites insults; whoever rebukes the wicked incurs abuse. 8 Do not rebuke mockers or they will hate you; rebuke the wise and they will love you. 9 Instruct the wise and they will be wiser still; teach the righteous and they will add to their learning. 10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. 11 For through wisdom your days will be many, and years will be added to your life.12 If you are wise, your wisdom will reward you; if you are a mocker, you alone will suffer.
You can always tell where a person's heart is at with God by how they receive correction. If you try to correct a mocker - they will hate you and will respond to criticism with an attack. A mocker will ridicule or scorn the belief of another. At the root of the mocker’s character is pride that hates submitting to anyone and even to the Lord Himself (21:24). His or her strategy is to debunk everything, never admit fault for anything and act very self-assured in the process. A mocker voices their disagreement by publicly humiliating all who stand against them, and then actively recruits others to join their side. Lastly they are cynical and unforgiving. Solomon is saying to the wise, do not waste your time and energy with them.
On the other hand, if you can always tell when wise person is on the right road because when you correct them, they will only become wiser and will love you for it. The wise person will hear and respond to honest criticism because it is crucial for their personal growth. In other words, they realize no one will grow in wisdom if they do not acknowledge, learn from and turn from their errors. Proverbs 1:5 (AMP) says,
The wise will hear and increase their learning, and the person of understanding will acquire wise counsel and the skill [to steer his course wisely and lead others to the truth]
Wise people are always willing to learn even from their mistakes. They are humble enough to know that they are far from perfect. They have failed and failed others, they have been hurt and hurt by others, but they do not become cynical or bitter but broken. They accept correction, because they know the one correcting them loves them enough to keep them from making the same mistakes over and over again. These people who are willing to correct you in love are your real friends. In the end, the humble learn to accept correction even though it may be painful at times, because it will go better for them in the long run, and they do not want their lives to be a poor example to others. The writer of prov said: If you are wise, you are wise for yourself (your wisdom will reward you). You make wise decisions because you know how this will affect your life, and not only yours but others will be the beneficiary of your Godly decisions.
Prov 10:17 (AMP) says,
He who learns from instruction and correction is on the [right] path of life [and for others his example is a path toward wisdom and blessing], but he who ignores and refuses correction goes off course [and for others his example is a path toward sin and ruin].
One version says whoever refuses correction leads others astray - Think about that for a minute. If someone is un-teachable and will not receive correction from the Word of God, it will negatively impact their marriage, family, co-workers, friendships and their church. Proverbs is saying - You are the one that will suffer the most loss. Little decisions made over a long period of time can have big implications for your life both in time and eternity.
Imperfect people make wise decisions every day, but for those who have not yet received the free gift of forgiveness that God offers us, the wisest decision you'll ever make is to trust in what Jesus did for you on the cross. For believers, how often, when we make pivotal decisions, do we first consider the package, the benefits, the pay, the place, the working environment, but in those moments do we ask, “is this the will of God?” When Abraham and Lot had to choose where they would live, (Gen 13:10) Lot looked around and saw that the whole plain of the Jordan toward Zoar was well watered, like the garden of the LORD, Lot chose for himself and ended up living a grieved life in Sodom and Gomorrah. Abraham on the other hand let God choose for him and was blessed. The wise person, the humble person will wrestle with these pivotal decisions but ultimately place it in the hand of the Lord because they do not want to make any decision that would cause them to leave the will of God.
Proverbs 9:12 The consequences of your choices will affect others, but the ultimate winner or loser is you and you alone. Which bring us to our last point,
Folly’s Fate
Vv. 13-18
13 Folly is an unruly woman; she is simple and knows nothing. 14 She sits at the door of her house, on a seat at the highest point of the city, 15 calling out to those who pass by, who go straight on their way. 16 “Let all who are simple come to my house!” To those who have no sense she says, 17 “Stolen water is sweet; bread eaten in secret is delicious!” 18 But little do they know that the dead are there, that her guests are deep in the realm of the dead.
Pearl and I have traveled to different countries along the Mediterranean and at almost every restaurant in these countries, there was always someone, maybe the maître d or waiter, who would be out front inviting us to come and dine. Normally, before we eat at a restaurant, we’d check the travel advisor to look at the reviews and see if it was worth eating there. Let’s say after you investigate, you find the first invitation is from the best restaurant in town— a beautiful place, outstanding reviews, great ambiance, fantastic service, reasonably priced, and promise of a wonderful experience. You just might consider eating there. Then you walk by a second restaurant and there is a person calling to you as well, but you notice it is a bit dingy, dirty, run down, with shady-looking clientele, bored-looking staff, and you read that the customers complain about feeling sick afterwards. It should be a no-brainer which restaurant you choose.
But even when choices are obvious and the consequences are clear, even when we have received godly advice or warnings, it doesn't always stop us from making bad decisions and suffering the consequences. Honestly, there are times when we think we know better than God or are indifferent to the obvious dangers of accepting folly’s invitation.
Folly is loud, seductive, ignorant, and lazy (9:13-14). She hasn’t prepared any meat, mixed any wine, nor even set her table. Unlike Wisdom, she doesn’t send out messengers but invites everyone to her party (vv. 15-16). She calls out to those who are indifferent, who did not listen to Wisdom’s invitation but weren’t planning to come into Folly’s house either. She says come to my house and party, isn’t that what life’s all about? She has nothing intelligent to say, doesn't have a plan, a purpose and no moral boundaries. She does not offer you a banquet but only bread and water and that water is stolen, and her bread is to be eaten in secret. (17) She lures you in through the promise of fulfilment, sugar coated statements but she will never tell you the empty outcomes of your pursuit. She will never tell you about the countless lives she has ultimately ruined. Such is the fate of all who listen to the voice of folly.
You and I cannot remain indifferent to the choices set before us, nor the to the voices that call us, we will always give ourselves to something or someone. Jesus is saying give yourself to me. Give your heart to me (Prov 4:23).
Because these pivotal decisions have huge implications for your life right now—for the nitty-gritty everyday details and for the life changing decisions. If you want to live the wisest way, if you want to have eternal life, then you must accept Jesus’s invitation. If you are walking toward Him, walking with Him, and trusting in Him, God will give you wisdom you need. On the other hand, if you’re walking away from Him and are far from Him, you are making the most foolish decision of your life, you are on the wrong road going in the wrong direction and ultimately you will not find what you're looking for. The path that folly invites you down causes nothing but heartache and trouble that leads to sorrow, strife and ultimately to destruction. But you do not have to stay on that path, even if you have made terrible decisions, that does not have to be the end of your story, it does not have to be your fate, in a moment you can make a decision to leave that road and return to the Lord, to the way of His Wisdom. There is hope for you.
In closing, before you make any pivotal decisions in your journey of life, even if everything looks good logistically, take time to think about where you will you go for wisdom? I want to encourage you to ask yourself the following questions:
1. What does the Word of God say about this decision? (Matt 4:4)
2. Do I have all the facts I need to make a biblically informed decision? (Prov 19:2)
3. What is my motivation for making this decision? Is it for the glory of God? (Col 3:17) Is it to do His will? Am I willing to leave it on the altar? Is it a rash decision, am I afraid of missing out on something?
4. Have I sought wise counsel? (Prov 11:4)
5. Have I honestly considered any yellow or red flags? (Prov 27:12)
6. Have I thought through the possible outcomes of this decision? (Prov 16:25)
7. How will this decision affect my testimony for the Lord? (Prov 25:26)
8. Will this decision make the greatest impact for the Kingdom of God? (Matt 4:26-32)
If after working through all these questions you believe God is leading you in a certain direction ask the Lord… “is where you are leading me?”
God has given you and me everything we need to make informed decisions for the everyday nitty gritty decisions as well as for the life changing ones. But the question is what will you do with God’s wisdom? Which choice will you make, whose voice will you listen to? Which path will you pursue? The choice is yours.
