Proverbs 9
1 Wisdom hath builded her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars: 2 She hath killed her beasts; she hath mingled her wine; she hath also furnished her table. 3 She hath sent forth her maidens: she crieth upon the highest places of the city, 4 Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him, 5 Come, eat of my bread, and drink of the wine which I have mingled. 6 Forsake the foolish, and live; and go in the way of understanding.
7 He that reproveth a scorner getteth to himself shame: and he that rebuketh a wicked man getteth himself a blot. 8 Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee. 9 Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.
10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding. 11 For by me thy days shall be multiplied, and the years of thy life shall be increased. 12 If thou be wise, thou shalt be wise for thyself: but if thou scornest, thou alone shalt bear it.
13 A foolish woman is clamorous: she is simple, and knoweth nothing. 14 For she sitteth at the door of her house, on a seat in the high places of the city, 15 To call passengers who go right on their ways: 16 Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: and as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him, 17 Stolen waters are sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant. 18 But he knoweth not that the dead are there; and that her guests are in the depths of hell.
Wisdom is not just cleverness. God inspired Solomon to write these words for a specific purpose.
The similes used here is again used in the New Testament, like the story of the great banquet, when the king sent forth his servants to invite the guests. Jesus used it because the Jews were familiar with this text.
Wisdom is very solidly formed. She has built her house on seven pillars. She has prepared a feast. She has prepared pure messengers to go out with the invitations, maidens.
Usually one is very selective with invitations because there is limited space. But here it seems there’s only one condition, being simple, even foolish.
This is a vocal message announced in the market square, “you who are simple and foolish, come and dine”. This invitation is very discriminatory, it does not include the wise and rich and those who have a good understanding of wisdom.
So today if you see yourself as simple you may come and dine with Wisdom at her banquet.
It is also noteworthy that in her house one is not going to be lectured to, as one would expect if you’re simple. She has prepared a feast and the simple ones are invited to partake of her feast.
The Lord is on a completely different level to how we think things ought to be.
This bread refers to sustenance, that which will give you strength. God uses this symbol of bread right through the Bible. Jesus said in John 6:35, ” I am the Bread of Life; he that comes to Me shall never hunger and he that believes on Me shall never thirst.”
Wine in the Bible symbolises joy, victory and happiness. It is also a mixed wine, referring to the fruits of the Spirit. Wisdom has mixed the wine in just the right quantities to give us life and wisdom.
In the darkest of hours, when the sufferings of the Lord Jesus began, He was celebrating the Passover together with His disciples. Jesus said to them in Matt 26 as He passed the bread around, “Take, eat, this is my body”; and He took the cup and gave thanks and gave it to them, saying, “drink you all of it for this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins”.
Jesus also said:
John 6
53 Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.
54 Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.
The pharisees saw it as instant blasphemy. They saw it as cannibalism, an abomination detestable to God. Even those who didn’t object verbally, cringed and felt that it was wrong and many deserted Him and left. It was too much to bear. They appreciated His miracles but the revelation of God was hidden from them.
There were those who remained with Jesus, even though they did not understand. They simply knew that His words produced life within them. But the pharisees planned His death.
People twisted Jesus’ words and so they do the words of His followers to mean something completely different than what was meant.
Little did they know that by crucifying Him they were fulfilling His words.
Back to our text in Proverbs – even though those who respond to Wisdom’s invitation are simple people, they are granted enough wisdom to respond to the invitation and realise, “this is life to me”.
If we look at the initial part of the invitation of the foolish woman (v13 onwards) we see that the initial part of the invitation is almost identical, only the organiser of the feast is different. We see in this the subtlety of the devil.
So too the devil will deceive many by his miracles in the last days. Elijah prayed to God and God answered Him by fire. So too the antichrist will call down fire from heaven and do miracles to impress people.
Satan wanted to be God, and was thrown out of heaven because of his pride. He is the great counterfeiter.
This foolish woman is a loose woman, enticing men sexually by saying “stolen water is sweet”. She is a prostitute of a woman who invites young men to taste of her delights.
In verse 17 we see how she appeals to the baser instincts of young men, “stolen water is sweeter,” she wispers. She says that something that you get in a dishonest way is more enjoyable. “Bread eaten in secret is pleasant”. Lucifer, the old serpent invites us to enjoy sin in secret. It shows how Lucifer’s agenda is the exact opposite to God’s.
In 1 John 1 we read that those who belong to God, “walk in the light” and they “confess their sin”.
We need to go home and apply this is a practical way today, tomorrow and the days that follow.
The young man who is enticed by this wicked woman is so foolish that he doesn’t know that every single one who crossed her threshold is dead and in hell, unless shown grace to repent.
In contrast we read in verse 11 that the one who responds to the invitation of Wisdom “your days shall be multiplied, and the years of your life shall be increased.”
See how a road which seems to start together can depart completely so that the one ends in life and blessing and the other in death and hell.
Choose life and live.