31 Days of Wisdom: Day 9 - Proverbs 9

Proverbs 9 Background
Proverbs 9 contrasts two banquets, one hosted by “Lady Wisdom” and the other hosted by “Lady Folly.” While the two banquets share many similarities, there is a major difference between them: Lady Wisdom’s banquet is a source of life, but Lady Folly’s banquet is a source of death.

Proverbs 9 
The Way of Wisdom
1 Wisdom has built her house,
She has hewn out her seven pillars;
2 She has slaughtered her meat,
She has mixed her wine,
She has also furnished her table.
3 She has sent out her maidens,
She cries out from the highest places of the city,
4 “Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!”
As for him who lacks understanding, she says to him,
5 “Come, eat of my bread
And drink of the wine I have mixed.
6 Forsake foolishness and live,
And go in the way of understanding.
7 “He who corrects a scoffer gets shame for himself,
And he who rebukes a wicked man only harms himself.
8 Do not correct a scoffer, lest he hate you;
Rebuke a wise man, and he will love you.
9 Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still 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 One is understanding.
11 For by me your days will be multiplied,
And years of life will be added to you.
12 If you are wise, you are wise for yourself,
And if you scoff, you will bear it alone.”
The Way of Folly
13 A foolish woman is clamorous;
She is simple, and knows nothing.
14 For she sits at the door of her house,
On a seat by the highest places of the city,
15 To call to those who pass by,
Who go straight on their way:
16 “Whoever is simple, let him turn in here”;
And as for him who lacks understanding, she says to him,
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 hell.

Pastor's Reflection
Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; Teach a just man, and he will increase in learning. -Proverbs 9:9 NKJV

Solomon affirms that a person who sincerely seeks truth—the "wise" man—cooperates with correction and will become even wiser. Furthermore, those who seek to be godly, or righteous, will respond positively to your knowledge. They will improve their own wisdom by considering yours. This is in direct contrast to the arrogance of those who hate being corrected, who respond to wisdom with venom and evil (Proverbs 9:7–8).

The Christian life is not static; it is dynamic, A believer will never reach a point where they have no need for additional wisdom or further learning. The Bible challenges believers to build on their faith and to grow their knowledge of the Lord. In 2 Peter 1:5–7 the apostle Peter admonishes: "For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love." He concludes 2 Peter by writing: "But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" (2 Peter 3:18).

Even the apostle Paul, among the most wise and experienced of Christians, writes: "Forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 3:13–14).

Reflections
1. What are some specific ways you see the trap of folly pulling you away from godly wisdom? What are the idols of your heart such temptations reveal?

2. In Lady Wisdom’s invitation to the feast, she seems to invite everyone (v.2-5). Everyone except the scoffer, who is to be avoided (v.7). What does it mean to be a scoffer and why would such a person be unwelcome to Wisdom’s feast?