A tale of two women

Value of wisdom

Over the last few months we have been looking at wisdom; the purpose the value, the application, after seeking it of course.

This will be the last of this type of message. We will continue with the rest of Proverbs in a topical way since the rest of it is written differently.

Value is it gives knowledge and understanding

Value brings the fear of the Lord which is the beginning of knowledge

Value it is available to all who seek it.

Value it is alike a father speaking to his children, in love

Value it personifies as a lady who invites people to pay heed.

Q: Have you found any value in wisdom as we have gone though this so far?

This afternoon we are going to look at a tale of two women.

One is the woman who personifies wisdom (9:1-12)

The other woman personified folly (9:13-18)

Q: What do you think folly means, is defined as?

Folly (N)- a lack of good sense, foolishness.

So, as we look at this, we will have to look at whose invitation are we going to accept, Lady wisdom or woman follow? We will break this down into two parts today.

The call of lady wisdom (9:1-12)

Pro9:1-3 “1 Wisdom has built her house, She has hewn out her seven pillars; 2 She has prepared her food, she has mixed her wine; She has also set her table; 3 She has sent out her maidens, she calls From the tops of the heights of the city:”

Pro9:4-7 “4 “Whoever is naive, let him turn in here!” To him who lacks understanding she says, 5 “Come, eat of my food And drink of the wine I have mixed. 6 “Forsake your folly and live, And proceed in the way of understanding.” 7 He who corrects a scoffer gets dishonor for himself, And he who reproves a wicked man gets insults for himself.”

Pro9:8-12 “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 his 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 alone will bear it.”

Q: Anything stick out to you in his passage?

Q: May we look together what wisdom did in this section?

Built her house (1)

Hewn out 7-pillars (1)

Prepared food (2)

Mixed wine (2)

Set her table (2)

Sent out word to come (v.3)

Her maidens

herself from tops of heights

The call is whoever is naive, whoever lacks understanding (4)

Come eat, drink (5)

Give up folly and live (6)

Proceed in the way of understanding (6)

Wisdom is inviting, inviting to all who are willing to receive it. To get understanding and knowledge.

The simple must respond and go by the way of understanding, the way of wisdom.

Look at some of the qualities of Wisdom noted in Jam3:17

“17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy.”

The lady wisdom carefully prepared meat, wine and table. Like if inviting a guest, you want to use and serve the best. (2)

Wisdom pleas to be heard (3)

Sending out maidens, is this similar to Jesus sending out His apostles?

She cries out from the highest places so to be heard.

She invites the simple (4-6)

To enjoy what she has prepared

To forsake folly (foolishness) and live

To proceed in the way of understanding

She does not invite the scoffers for it will dishonor self (7) it is a waste of time (7); it can even bring insults, injuries on self for doing it.

A scoffer will hate you (8)

But a wise man, who is corrected will love you (8)

Give instructions, teach a wise man and he will be wiser (9)

Lady wisdom makes a diligent effort to reach those who are willing to listen. Anyone, anywhere who is willing.

Q: Are you willing to listen?

Q: Do you know others that are receptive, and are you sharing godly wisdom from above with them?

Wisdom makes promises to those who are receptive

To those who fear the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and knowledge (10)

Gives long life (11, also can look at (3:2, 16)

Pro3:2 “2 For length of days and years of life And peace they will add to you.”

Pro3:16 “16 Long life is in her right hand; In her left hand are riches and honor.”

So we have days, years (11), riches and honor (3:2, 16)

Promises that it is a benefit to one’s self (12)

You will have God’s word, God’s aid.

Maybe think of this N.T. passage

Mt13:12 “12 “For whoever has, to him more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has shall be taken away from him.”

And to the scoffer you alone will bear it. You will not have God’s aid, you will do it, bear it alone.

Lady wisdom desires the best for you, offers the best for you and invites you to share in the best being offered.

Isn’t that what Jesus offers, the best? You part is to choose and partake.

Now it is time to look at the tale of the other woman, woman folly.

Woman Folly (9:13-18)

Pro9:13-15 “13 The woman of folly is boisterous, She is naive and knows nothing. 14 She sits at the doorway of her house, On a seat by the high places of the city, 15 Calling to those who pass by, Who are making their paths straight:”

Pro9:16-18 “16 “Whoever is naive, let him turn in here,” And to him who lacks understanding 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.”

Q: Anything stick out to you in this section?

Q: What characteristics of follow do you see?

Boisterous (13)

Naive (13)

Knows nothing (13)

Sits at the door way; takes a seat by the high places (14)

Calls out to those passing by (15)

Calls to the Naive (16) to the one who lacks understanding (16)

She claims stolen water is sweet, secret bread is pleasant (17)

She does not tell the naive or the one who lacks understanding that death is there, and they are guests in the depths of Sheol (18)

She does not really prepare, where wisdom takes care to prepare.

Folly and wisdom both cry from the same place the high places, but who are you going to listen to?

It is noted that woman folly calls out, cries out from a seated position. Normally when someone cries out it is standing and proclaiming, not seated for that is what is done when everything is done, or a place of judgment happens when seated.

Folly cries out to the simple as mentioned a moment ago.

Q: How do you think folly can cry out today?

Woman Folly and Lady wisdom are both competing for the same thing. The souls of men.

Woman folly still tries to make promises, some I alluded to already.

Stolen water is sweet (17) as well as secret bread (17)

Seems to be an allusion to illicit actions

Pr5:15 “15 Drink water from your own cistern And fresh water from your own well.”

Now, even though it is promised it is not one that is delivered, so it is a false promise, check out this

Pro20:17 “17 Bread obtained by falsehood is sweet to a man, But afterward his mouth will be filled with gravel.”

A true promise is not even understood by the simple who lacks understanding. (18)

As in many of the Proverbs like any other teaching it can be stated over and over again so you get it, maybe with a few different words, let me show you.

dead are there (18) as compared to

Pr2:18-19 “18 For her house sinks down to death And her tracks lead to the dead; 19 None who go to her return again, Nor do they reach the paths of life.”

Guests are in the depths of Sheol (18) as compared to

Pr5:5 “5 Her feet go down to death, Her steps take hold of Sheol.”

or even

Pro7:27 “27 Her house is the way to Sheol, Descending to the chambers of death.”

Woman folly maybe enticing, making the appearance of great things, great promises, but cannot deliver the best, but the worst. Things that can destroy self, and destroy lives and end the person in Sheol.

Q: what did you learn about these two women, Lady wisdom and woman folly from this study today?

So, in conclusion of this today, and of the discourse of wisdom in this manner.

What invitation are you going to accept?

Lady wisdom who offers much and gives much, gives what she promises, gives the best

or

Woman folly who offers, promises much, but cannot deliver except someone to Sheol.

Pretty obvious choice isn’t it?

(Pray)