Wisdom at the Crossroads (or, the Ghosts of Folly’s Past!)

Wisdom at the Crossroads

Proverbs 8:1–2 NIV

Does not wisdom call out? Does not understanding raise her voice? At the highest point along the way, where the paths meet, she takes her stand;

Proverbs 8:1-2

We only need wisdom when there is a choice to make.

On the other hand, every moment presents us with a new choice.

On the other hand, every moment presents us with a new choice.

Senora Sabiduria (Lady Wisdom)

9:1-3a - Wisdom is always working.

The seven pillars of her house may signify how much success her godly lifestyle has brought her.

Interestingly there are seven verbs applied to Lady Wisdom, i.e. sevent things the text lists her as doing in this short poem: (1) built, (2) set up, (3) prepared, (4) mixed, (5) set, (6) sent, (7) calls. (Note that the Hebrew text also lists seven verbs).

The verb “hewn” in Hebrew is חָצְבָ֖ה [chatsavah] which refers to the work of a stone-mason. This imply very hard, precision work, which would require an immense amount of knowledge (for instance about the nature of various types of stones), and also wisdom of how to use the stones to craft something beautiful.

More significnatly for the Christian, it is quite possible that what the New Testament means when it says that Joseph was a carpenter. The Greek behind calls Jesus ὁ τέκτων [or craftsman]. In context stonemasonry is quite likely, but also possibly not the only thing in view.

9:3b-4 - Wisdom is offerred to whosoever will

(v. 3b) She calls from the highest point in the city such that her voice reaches everyone.

(v. 4) She invites the inexperienced, and those whose hearts are lacking (i.e. without knowledge, or possibly without courage)

Note the similarity to

“When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw him eating with the sinners and tax collectors, they asked his disciples: “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?” On hearing this, Jesus said to them, ‘It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.’”

17 On hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

9:5 - Wisdom offers bread and wine

These are her own personal products that she has prepared

The poem seems to implicate that by consuming the bread and wine of Wisdom, her guests will gain her attribute.

Note the similarity to Jesus’ teaching in

“Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day. For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in them.”

9:6 - Wisdom ultimately results in life.

Fräulein Folly

9:13-18 presents a short parallel poem to 9:1-6. They both:

are about ladies vying for the public’s attention

are of similar length [9:1-6=40 Heb words; 9:13-18 = 41 Heb. words]

feature dinner invitations (vv. 5, 17)

direct messages to whosoever-will, but particularly thone lacking wisdom (vv. 3-4, 14-16).

—In Hebrew vv. 4 and 16 are nearly identical.

both end with a summary statement “moral-of-the-story” (vv. 6, 18)

With all these obvious commonalities, the key is in the contrasts! Fräulein Folly is:

(v. 14) lazy. While Lady Wisdom is busy doing seven things, Fräulein Folly sits on her seat.

—(v. 13) In fact, Fräulein Folly is so lazy that apparently in order to keep the lengths of the two poems approximately the same, the poet has to use five words of description for the latter.

(v. 13) a chatterbox, not a know-it-all, but a know-nothing-at-all. In other words Fräulein Folly has a lot to say about nothing!

(v. 15) aiming to trip up those who are currently doing just fine. Notice that she calls out to people “who go straight on their way”.

— Think about it! Whereas Wisdom seeks to help the simple avoid pitfalls, Folly seeks to steer the simple into pitfalls.

(v. 17) a seductress towards the easier, more sinful path. She accolades the sweetness of stolen water, and the pleasantness of secret bread.

(v. 18) a death trap. Her house is haunted by the ghosts (Heb. rafa’iym) of those who previously took her up on her offer. How different from Lady Wisdom whose guests receive life from listening to her.

What the Chaiasm Reveals

A—Lady Wisdom’s Dinner Invitation (vv. 1-6)

B—Responses to Wisdom’s Invitation (vv. 7-9)

C—The Recipe for Wisdom (v. 10)

B’—Results of the Invitations (vv. 11-12)

A’--Fräulein Folly’s Dinner Inviation (vv. 13-18)

*The point of the chapter is to urge the reader to accept Lady Wisdom’s invitation. In doing so, the reader learns that Wisdom’s road is more difficult and takes a whole lot more work. However in it end it is much more rewarding, since it leads to life—(and life more abundantly, see ).

The recipe for wisdom is as difficult as it is simple (v. 10):

Fear Yahweh.

Fear Yahweh (v. 10a)

Know Heaven’s expectation (v. 10b)

Know Heaven’s expectation.