Last time, we looked at how the Son of God relates to Wisdom in Proverbs and in the New Testament, noting many significant parallels. Today, we will be continuing that theme, comparing Proverbs 9:1-6 on the Way of Wisdom with 9:13-18 on the Way of Folly. Verses 7-12 will be covered in the next devotional.
The two passages that we will be covering today are almost perfectly parallel in what they cover, but one according to wisdom and the other according to foolishness. Here is 9:1-6,
1 Wisdom has built her house; she has hewn her seven pillars. 2 She has slaughtered her beasts; she has mixed her wine; she has also set her table. 3 She has sent out her young women to call from the highest places in the town, 4 “Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!” To him who lacks sense she says, 5 “Come, eat of my bread and drink of the wine I have mixed. 6 Leave your simple ways, and live, and walk in the way of insight.”
Notice first that Lady Wisdom has “built her house.” She has the wisdom and knowhow to do so. Some parallel this with Jesus going to prepare mansions or houses for the elect, depicting a heavenly abode. If this is true, then the house being built it not merely a place to live, but depicts foundationally a heavenly reality: the substance of what will be our true home. The “seven pillars” have often been understood to represent the sevenfold gifts of the Spirit from Isaiah 11:2, spoken of as the seven spirits of God in Revelation 1:4 (cf. 3:1; 4:5; 5:6), and symbolized by the seven-pronged candlestick in the original Tabernacle (Ex. 25:37). Much more can be said on that, but this should suffice. If this is true, then Wisdom “builds her house” for the holy people of God (as Jesus is doing), and this is supported by the work of the Holy Spirit (remember that we, as the church, are all being built into a spiritual house).
Verse 2 teaches that Wisdom made true sacrifice and is preparing a feast for God’s people. In fact, this passage is parallel to Matthew 22:1-14, which is about the marriage feast of the Lamb. Jesus said that He will not taste of the fruit of the vine until He returns, pointing to the great celebratory feast (see Rev. 3:20; 19:6-10). The slaughtered beasts typify Jesus’ sacrifice on our behalf, providing all that we will ever need to follow the way of wisdom to its complete end.
In verse 3, notice that Wisdom sends out “young women,” depicting those who follow in her ways (i.e., the church), to call all from the “highest places in the town,” so that all can hear the message of God’s wisdom. In verse 4, just as Christ has done, and as He sent His church to call all to follow the way of wisdom, so the young women call all to turn in towards God’s wisdom, so that they may be wise in the ways of the Lord. What does “Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!” mean? Solomon continues in a parallelism, saying essentially the same thing, but in different words: “Come, eat of my bread and drink of the wine I have mixed. 6 Leave your simple ways, and live, and walk in the way of insight.” If this seems reminiscent to you of the Passover, you would be correct. This language was ultimately used to point to Christ as its fulfillment in the Lord’s Supper. Notice that eating of the bread and drinking of the wine entails leaving one’s simple ways (the ways of an unbeliever), being given eternal life, and then living the way of wisdom. This sounds a lot like a call to repent and believe the gospel, doesn’t it? Repent, believe in Christ for salvation, and live your life singularly devoted to Him.
As we have seen in Proverbs up to this point, following the way of wisdom very much parallels following Christ, who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Wisdom (like Christ’s righteousness and a new heart) are gifts of God, for the purpose of becoming singularly loyal to God in all that He commands and teaches (a goal that Christ expressly applied to Himself for all who believe in Him). Following in God’s wisdom is a matter of the heart (just as in the Ten Commandments), just as is obeying Jesus (as seen in the Antitheses of Matthew 5). Both lead to eternal life, and both entail obedience to all of God’s revealed Word. Wisdom itself is also depicted as preceding all creation and as creating with God (much like New Testament Teachings on the Son of God). Given all this (much more can be said on this), it should not come as a surprise to us that Wisdom has so often been seen as speaking of Christ.
How does the way of folly compare? See how many parallels you can find in the passage that speak of the opposite of the way of wisdom,
13 The woman Folly is loud; she is seductive and knows nothing. 14 She sits at the door of her house; she takes a seat on the highest places of the town, 15 calling to those who pass by, who are going straight on their way, 16 “Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!” And to him who lacks sense 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.
Whereas wisdom “built her house” and “hewn her seven pillars” (accomplished by the fullness of wisdom in the fullest sense), so woman Folly is arrogant and full of pride, seeking to seduce others to get her desired end, knowing nothing herself. Woman Folly could never do the great work of lady Wisdom, but is instead the epitome of an evil heart and unwise living. One accomplishes everything of worth, while the other only worthlessness. While lady Wisdom offers true sacrifice to God for His highest blessing (wisdom and life), woman Folly offers nothing of value. While lady Wisdom (and those she sends) call out to all from the highest places in the town to follow wisdom, so woman folly calls those who lack sense to her own house for secret evil, and this to people already doing business (this interrupts anything of value that they may have been doing, to turn to evil). Both beckon, “Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!” Both have different responses “to him who lacks sense,” with lady Wisdom saying, “Come, eat of my bread and drink of the wine I have mixed. Leave your simple ways, and live, and walk in the way of insight,” while woman Folly says, “Stolen water is sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.” The former calls the simple to salvation, while the latter to death. Woman folly is not merely talking about stealing water or bread; but, just as Christ used those terms, they refer to a whole way of life. The wicked get their satisfaction and fulfillment through doing evil: stealing, killing, and destroying others. This entails living in the shadows of secret evils to fulfill fleshly desires and to acquire worldly wealth. This contrasts lady Wisdom’s open work and practice, living in the way of God’s wisdom. Finally, lady Wisdom calls all to leave their evil ways and live, while woman folly heaps up the dead for hell (all who die following her go to hell). So, the two ways cannot get further apart.
Did you notice something quite absent from the discussion of the two ways? There is no third way! In fact, no where in Scripture is there talk of a third way. All are divided between the way of wisdom and the way of folly. So, while it may be tempting to think of each of these two ways as extremes, they are not. All who are in Christ are walking the path of wisdom, while all who are not are in the path of folly. Many are deceived into thinking that they are on the path of wisdom, all the while they do not care for that wisdom! They do not heed the Word of God, and do not care about His statutes or commands. And, even when they claim to do so, this is not from a new heart, but an evil one, amounting only to legalism. Rather, those in Christ have a longing to pursue wisdom, and they show increasing evidence of a life being lived according to God’s wisdom. In other words, they exhibit a trajectory towards Christlikeness. They are growing in sanctification. Which path are you on? Are you growing in God’s wisdom? Do you desire to grow in His wisdom? Can you see its increasing fruit in your life? God supplies all that we will ever need for growing in His wisdom, just as lady Wisdom in our passage. Do you trust in God’s grace through Jesus Christ? Pursue the wisdom that God alone can supply, and get wisdom through Christ. For those saved in Christ, work out your salvation in fear and trembling. For those outside of Christ, head the call for wisdom. Wisdom calls out, “Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!” Trust in the Lord and heed the call, that you too may become wise unto eternal life in Christ. Amen.
Next time we will be looking at Proverbs 9:6-12.