Proverbs
Notes on Proverbs – Chapter 9
Proverbs 9:1-6
Wisdom Hath Builded Her House
Introduction:
1. In chapter nine, Solomon continues the same figure as in the previous chapters.
2. In chapter seven, wisdom is seen looking out her window at the young and foolish men passing by the home of a harlot… making observations about the fool.
3. In chapter eight, wisdom is seen crying out in the high places for men to listen to her.
4. In chapter nine, wisdom is likened to a prudent woman who invites us into her house to feast at her table.
5. Solomon employs several different poetic images to communicate the fact that God wants US to follow the way of wisdom and to avoid the folly of sin.
Wisdom Has Built A House…
1. A house is:
a. A place of refuge and shelter from the storm.
b. A place of safety from the evil.
c. A place of rest and comfort.
d. A place of dwelling… and be at home.
2. Wisdom invites us to her house.
a. Wisdom offers us refuge from the storms of life.
• I know people who have not followed the way of wisdom, and they are being beaten down by the storms of life!
• Some Christian folks have not done a good job in bringing their children up in the things of the Lord—and are now being beaten down by the storminess of their own creation!
• Some Christian folks have not applied wisdom to their marriage and are going through some very stormy times as a result.
• Some Christian folks have not applied wisdom to their use of money, and are experiencing stormy waters as a result.
• Yet, wisdom invites each one into her house for refuge! Apply that wisdom to child rearing… to marriage… to money… and to 1001 other areas of life and you too will experience a refuge while others may be experiencing a storm!
b. Wisdom offers safety from evil.
• Out in the highways of life men are living in sin… and believers get drawn into that lifestyle too… slowly… gradually…
• Believers can become ensnared and trapped by sin…
• It is our nature to flirt with sin… to skate on thin ice…
• Wisdom offers us safety from all kinds of evil and calamity when we come into her house. We are truly safe there.
• Wisdom tells us to err on the side of safety and NOT to skate on thin ice.
• Ex: Rom. 13:14 – make no provision for the flesh; (stay away from anything that might stir up the flesh!)
• Ex: Rom. 14:23 – avoid anything that cannot be done without a pure conscience… avoid anything questionable. That’s the safe way!
• Folly says, “It’s fun on the thin ice! You don’t know what you’re missing!”
c. Wisdom offers rest and comfort.
• I don’t worry about becoming an alcoholic; or coming down with aids; or getting hooked on drugs. Other people do, but I don’t.
• If you follow the way of wisdom, you are safe in her house!
• Following the way of wisdom brings rest and comfort to the heart… to all who come into her house.
d. Wisdom offers us a house… a place in which to dwell…
• Wisdom isn’t something that we need in a pinch. It ought to be where we dwell… where we live… everyday life, not just when tragedy strikes or a big decision needs to be made.
• A house is a dwelling. God’s wisdom is inviting us all into His house of wisdom… to dwell there… and to feast there.
3. Wisdom’s house has seven pillars…
a. In other words, it is a STRONG house!
b. Upon entering this house, you don’t have to worry about the roof caving in. It is strong. Wisdom is built on a strong, solid foundation—and it is held up by seven (a perfect #) of stone pillars.
c. Wisdom’s house is like a temple… strong; beautiful; safe; a sanctuary.
d. Wisdom’s house has SEVEN pillars.
• While some go overboard in the area of numerology in the Bible, I do believe that the number 7 is significant… and seems to be used as a number of completion.
• That being the case, then the wisdom offered here is COMPLETE… this is all the wisdom we will ever need!
• II Pet. 1:3 – all things pertaining to life and godliness.
• Wisdom’s house is both sturdy and complete.
e. A house with 7 pillars is quite a substantial house… no small shanty! This is a grand old mansion!
Wisdom Has Furnished Her Table… (V. 2)
1. This is a grand old mansion… and an opulent feast has been spread out!
2. The table is furnished… the fatted calf has been killed… wine has been mingled (mixed with water)…
3. The feast is ready! She has provided everything her guests could ever want!
4. This is a figurative way of saying that the wisdom God offers will satisfy our souls… meet our every need… strengthen us in the inner man… keep us strong and healthy spiritually…
5. God hasn’t provided for us just a few nuggets or tid-bits here and there. He has furnished His table—a feast!
6. Jas. 1:5 – ask for wisdom, and God gives it liberally! Generously! Lavishly!
7. The picture is of a great feast at a grand house. The table is set… and there is a seat reserved for you! For each one of us… and the lady of the house WANTS us to come.
Wisdom Has Sent Out Maidens to Bid Us to the Feast… (V. 3-5)
1. Wisdom is going to wait for us to come on our own. She sends out her maidens/servants to beseech us to come.
a. This implies that there is some reluctance on our part TO come and feast on God’s wisdom.
b. One would think that we would all want to come to such a feast. God knows that we need to be dragged in by our ears!
c. She is crying in the high places of the city… from the walls and towers… she WANTS to be heard. (8:1-4)
2. vs. 4 – The maidens are inviting the simple (inexperienced) and those who lack understanding (ignorant).
a. Aren’t we all lacking in understanding in one area or another? Aren’t we all inexperienced in one realm of the Christian walk or another? Don’t we all need to respond to the call of wisdom?
b. You know what area of your life needs some godly wisdom applied. Don’t put it off. Respond in faith and obedience.
3. v. 5 – The invitation.
a. How simple! “Come, eat, drink.”
b. What we are asked to do isn’t difficult. Go in the house, eat, and drink. You can do that. So can I. But WILL we?!
c. There are no prerequisites; entrance fees or entrance exams; no waiting in line; no forms to fill out; just come as you are—and feast!
d. Those who come are invited to eat her bread and drink of her wine.
• These are the elements of communion… though not yet revealed.
• God invites men to come and dwell in his house of wisdom… take it in… eat and drink it… make it yours… fellowship and commune with Him through His Word.
e. Of course, we do this through His Word.
• This is figurative language, but it is designed to teach real truth.
• God is offering to each one of us a FEAST… and it is found in His Word.
• Steak and potatoes are available to us every day… just what our hungry soul needs!
• Isa. 55:1-3 – God wants us to eat that which is GOOD… namely, His truth… His wisdom.
• Job 23:12 – I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food. Job considered the food for his soul more important than the food for his body.
4. Opposition to the invitation. (v.6)
a. Lady Wisdom sent her servants out to drag us to her feast.
• The maidens beseech the young man to forsake folly…to foresee the evil that lies ahead on that road. (Prov. 22:3)
• The simple NEED to be warned and dragged into the house, because the simple are easily deceived. (Prov. 14:15)
b. However, our foolish friends are latching on to us to keep us walking in their ways.
c. The picture is of a young man being torn between the two… wisdom and folly.
d. In order to go in the way of understanding, he has to forsake the foolish.
• That implies that he is presently walking in the way of the foolish—since he is told to forsake it.
e. Once, again, the choice is ours. There are two ways to follow in life; the way of wisdom and the way of folly. You can’t straddle both roads; you can’t have the best of both worlds; it’s one or the other. You can’t have two masters…
f. God beseeches us here to FORSAKE the way of folly and come into His house of wine… a strong, safe, secure, house of comfort, refuge, that is complete… has all we need…
• Is there something in your life that needs to be forsaken… left behind?
• Perhaps the Lord has been convicting you about a habit… a time waster… a money waster… a foolish pursuit… a besetting sin… that needs to be forsaken…
g. We are invited to COME to a FEAST… a fantastic feast… one that is furnished with all we need… one that will feed and satisfy our souls…
h.) When we leave all our foolish friends behind and all the revelry, we will not be lacking.
• We will have new friends in the house of wisdom…
• Our soul will not lack for any good thing!
• The world knows nothing of this kind of feast… spiritual communion… the bread and wine in the house of God’s wisdom…
• But ALL are invited in…
Proverbs 9:7-9
Reproving a Scorner and a Wise Man
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:
1. Here Solomon warns against reproving a scorner… or rebuking a wicked man.
a. These two expressions are virtual synonyms.
b. Scorner: one who scoffs; mocks; or talks arrogantly.
c. Wicked man: criminal; one who is guilty of a crime.
d. Solomon has in mind those who mock God, truth, holiness, or righteousness.
e. The term wicked man would include any sort of wickedness or evil.
f. They are both very general terms describing the ungodly…
2. The warning is against reproving (discipline; instruct; correct) or rebuking (rebuke; correct; point out error) them.
a. “Reproof” is a theme often repeated in Proverbs.
b. It does not appear that Solomon is forbidding the reproof of a fool. Rather, he seems to be saying that such reproofs are wasted—they accomplish nothing because the fool doesn’t respond properly.
c. Prov. 28:23 – here Solomon speaks highly of reproving a man who needs reproof. This man may not like it at first, but afterwards will appreciate it.
d. The problem with reproving is we don’t know how men will respond to it. We don’t know if they will act foolishly or wisely in their response.
e. But if we DO know a man to be a stiff-necked fool—then the point of this passage is, “Don’t waste your time reproving him!”
f. Reproving a fool does not result in anything good—no good fruit comes of it. In fact, it results in BAD fruit!
3. Three results of reproving a scorner or a wicked man:
a. Shame: shame, disgrace, and dishonor.
• The one who ignores this truth, and seeks to reprove foolish men anyway should expect to receive dishonor in return.
• Ex: If we are constantly reproving a smoker for smoking; a drinker for drinking; a curser for cursing; or a tardy person for being tardy—we very well may be provoking an argument… stirring up trouble unnecessarily…
• As a result, we may bring shame to ourselves… and to the Lord we represent.
b. A blot: blemish, spot, defect;
• The man who disregards Solomon’s advice, and continually rebukes wicked men for their wickedness may get a blemish or a blot.
• That person is damaging his own testimony.
• Our constant nagging will be perceived as a defect in our character—especially if our reproof is done in public!
• Solomon warns us against such behavior. It is a waste of time… and worse—it will bring a blemish to our reputation.
c. Hatred: hatred; enmity
• Again, the one who disregards Solomon’s advice here is stirring up hatred… unnecessarily…
• And even if the evil we are pointing out is real, we are not serving God in doing so—not if we violate this Scripture!
• Some believers might attempt to point out all the evil ways of evil men and do so with a sense of self-righteousness… or believing they are doing God’s will. But that is not the case if they are disregarding this passage!
• Prov. 15:12 – a scorner loveth not one that reproveth him.
• Prov. 23:9 – he will hate your words! Don’t do it!
• Reproving fools only stirs up anger and hatred.
• Apply this passage while driving on the highway. Some “fool” cuts you off. Should you yell a word of rebuke to him? Scold his behavior with a pointed finger? You may be stirring up road rage!
• You get a blot on your reputation—by having your picture on the front page of the paper for inciting road rage.
• You might end up quite ashamed… shame… blot… and hatred—all from reproving a wicked man.
4. Solomon’s point in these verses is not that we should never reprove or rebuke. We should. However, we should be DISCERNING.
a. There are times when rebuke will be helpful and necessary.
b. There will be times when rebuke does more harm than good.
c. His point: avoid irritations. Wait for a favorable circumstance to reprove. Be discerning—not everyone can handle reproof. Some men are hardened fools!
d. Prov. 26:4-5 – Solomon gives two opposite commands in these verses.
• v. 4 – Do NOT answer a fool—or you will be foolish like him! Sometimes, a foolish or a wicked man does something foolish or wicked, and it is best to be silent. Otherwise, you will end up in a foolish argument that brings a blot, shame, and dishonor.
• V. 5 – Answer a fool—or you will cause him to become proud—thinking that his actions or argument is right… and the Christian has nothing to say against it!
• Obviously, Solomon is NOT contradicting himself—not in the very next verse. This was no oversight. These two passages were placed next to each other by design.
• His point is that when it comes to dealing with foolish and wicked men—you can’t win!
• If you speak up—you are letting him draw you into a foolish argument. (As Nabal dragged David into a foolish debate!)
• If you don’t speak up—he, in his conceit, considers himself the victor.
• In other words—you need discernment in dealing with a fool. There will be times when it is necessary to answer him. At other times, under different circumstances, it is better to remain silent.
• Solomon later wrote, There is a time to speak and a time to keep silent.
• The challenge comes in discerning when it is the time to speak up and when it is time to be silent. Pray for that kind of wisdom and discernment.
• Rom. 15:14 – Believers need to be filled with the knowledge of God and His word in order to ABLE to ADMONISH one another!
5. If we discern that the person is a fool, then wisdom dictates to us to keep silent.
a. Matt. 7:6 – Jesus warned against casting your pearls to the swine!
b. We have pearls of wisdom in God’s word. Some men will want to hear them… and will appreciate them.
c. Foolish men are like pigs—they care not for pearls. They will sniff at them and then trample them under foot…
d. They may even turn and trample over you! That’s the kind of warning in Prov. 9:8 – don’t reprove a scorner. He will not only not appreciate the correction—he will hate YOU!
8b 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.
1. It is often difficult to know what to do and how to handle foolish men.
2. However, wise men are much easier to deal with…
3. Solomon instructs us TO reprove a wise man… to give instruction to a wise man… to teach him… correct him… rebuke him…
4. Three results of rebuking wise men:
a. He will love thee.
b. He will be yet wiser.
c. He will increase in learning.
d. What a contrast to the fool: 3 results = shame; blot; hatred!)
5. The fool will hate you, but the wise man will love you!
a. Prov. 28:23 – Solomon warns us that even wise men may not LOVE you at first… it may take a while for the rebuke to do its work… but eventually, they will appreciate it.
b. Heb. 12:11 – it does not seem joyous but grievous at first, but AFTERWARD… when it has its desired effect, it is appreciated.
c. Ps. 141:5 – Let the righteous smite me; it shall be a kindness: and let him reprove me; it shall be an excellent oil, which shall not break my head:
d. Prov. 13:18 – regarding reproof leads to honor!
6. All of these warnings concerning GIVING reproof can also be understood as a warning about the way we RECEIVE reproof.
a. WISE men receive reproof. Fools reject it. Don’t be a fool!
b. WISE men profit from reproof. They respond and make the appropriate changes, which is to their honor.
c. WISE men eventually appreciate the one who points out his error.
d. We need to learn to be wise reprovers—but also to be willing to RECEIVE reproof. That is a sign of wisdom.
Proverbs 9:10-12
The Benefits of Wisdom
10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.
1. This statement is repeated four times in the Bible. (here plus Prov. 1:7; Job 28:28; Ps. 111:10)
2. The book of Proverbs is a book of wisdom… and it begins with this expression (1:7)
3. All those who want God’s wisdom should know what the starting point is: fearing God!
a. First of all, the fear of God will lead a person to salvation!
b. Men OUGHT to fear One who can cast their body and soul in Hell forever! (Matt. 10:28)
4. As believers we are to fear the Lord too. We need not fear having Him reject us or cast us into Hell, but we should fear Him in the sense of:
• being terrified of sinning against Him…
• reverence and respect for who He is…
• fear of displeasing Him…
5. Fearing God is all encompassing here. It includes believing that He is; knowing of His power and majesty; knowing that His Word is truth.
a. Even unsaved men who have this superficial kind of fear will be able to demonstrate a certain amount of wisdom.
b. Many unsaved men formed this country. Most of those men feared God… they believed that He existed… they believed His word was true… and they feared displeasing Him. They formed a great nation on that basis!
c. Other unsaved men who fear God in that sense can benefit greatly from the book of proverbs!
• The principles in Proverbs will aid men in being productive workers; good family men and women; give wisdom in the use of money; spare lots of anguish when they apply the principles concerning the tongue…
• In fact, there are times when the unsaved practice the principles in this book such that they put believers to shame! (Luke 16:8 – for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light.)
• There have been many unsaved archeologists who have used the Bible in locating ancient cities and have been quite successful in their endeavors—because they believed the Bible was accurate—while some of the liberal and New Evangelical scholars have been doubting the accuracy of the Bible!
6. The knowledge of the Holy is understanding.
a. Those who know God and His Word are those with true understanding…
b. We understand more than
• the ancient philosophers… who have spent their lives trying to discover the meaning and purpose of life…
• the leading scientists at NASA who are trying desperately to discover how the earth got here… how old the moon is…
• the leading psychologists who are trying to discover the true nature of man…
• the leading sociologists who are trying to discover a scheme whereby society can “get along”
• The knowledge of the Holy (God) is understanding.
• The least Christian has this understanding. The greatest and most brilliant unsaved mind in the world does not.
7. v. 10 – a Hebrew poetic form called synonomous parallelism.
a. The same expression is worded in two different phrases to make a slightly different emphasis.
b. If this is a synonymous parallelism, then Solomon is saying that to KNOW God is to FEAR Him!
c. The one who FEARS God has this wisdom… the one who KNOWS God has this wisdom or understanding…
d. If a person genuinely knows God, then he will fear Him!
e. In fact, the better we come to know God, the MORE we will fear Him! Everything about Him is awesome and instills fear in us!
f. God delights in that. He wants us to KNOW Him and to fear Him! They go together.
11 For by me thy days shall be multiplied, and the years of thy life shall be increased.
1. This principle too is repeated several times. (3:2, 16; 10:27)
2. The young person who follows the way of wisdom will add years to his life.
3. Remember—these are proverbs, not promises! Sometimes wise men die young. The Lord Jesus did! Sometimes very foolish men live long lives.
4. Those who play fast and loose with wisdom may die young! Some fools are executed by the state. Some are murdered by the people they angered. Some overdose on drugs. Others die of diseases they contracted through their folly. Others die in accidents because of the foolish risks they take.
5. It’s always safer to follow the way of wisdom.
12 If thou be wise, thou shalt be wise for thyself: but if thou scornest, thou alone shalt bear it.
1. Here is a kind of summary statement on the benefits of wisdom.
2. If thou be wise, thou shalt be wise for thyself.
a. In other words, if YOU follow the advice of Lady Wisdom, her wisdom will be for YOUR good! You are the immediate beneficiary of her blessings!
b. It’s for your own good!
c. Young people especially need to hear this.
• Oftentimes young people think that their teachers or their parents are always harping on them for the good of the teacher or the parent. Not so!
• The teacher isn’t the one who will benefit from you doing your homework. YOU will! YOU will benefit from following her wise counsel and working hard at school.
• The pastor preaches through the Bible… making countless exhortations from the Bible.
• Some folks get annoyed by it… and complain.
• Some folks leave and find a church where they are not so challenged… and are made to feel comfortable in a worldly lifestyle.
• But the preacher isn’t the one who benefits from you following the wisdom of God’s word. YOU do!
• If thou be wise, thou shalt be wise for THYSELF!
• Young people might think that they are constantly told to clean their room for the benefit of the parent. Not so. It is for YOUR good to learn to develop self-discipline and cleanliness. It will benefit you the rest of your life… not your mother!
• Parents are constantly giving words of wisdom and wise counsel to their children. However, often times the kids think that they are saying those things to make their life miserable… so they won’t have any fun! Not so! If you follow the wise counsel, YOU will benefit! Be wise for yourself!
d. This has been a theme in Proverbs so far: following wise counsel is GOOD for us !
• Job 22:2-3 – God isn’t the one who benefits from you being wise. YOU DO! God is seeking to bless US.
• 3:1-4 – the son who keeps his father’s words of wisdom will discover later on that they will enable you to find favor with God and man! (v. 4)
• 3:13, 16 – happiness; riches; honor;
• 4:1-6 – A father counsels his children to get wisdom… why? It will preserve you… keep you! (v. 6) She will promote you all through your life (v. 8) You won’t stumble through life. (v. 12)
3. But if thou scornest, thou alone shalt bear it.
a. In this chapter, the scorner is equal to a fool. He is seen to be the opposite of a wise man. (9:8)
b. The scorner is one who scorns wisdom. He has no use for it.
c. The one who follows wisdom receives the benefit himself. The one who scorns wisdom receives the curse himself!
d. The one who scorns Lady Wisdom will bear the awful consequences the rest of his life.
e. V. 12 is saying, “It is good for you to be wise, and it is harmful to you to be foolish!”
f. In other words, if the son doesn’t listen to his father’s wise counsel, and he runs off into a life of folly, it is the SON who will pay the awful price! The prodigal son was the one who ended up eating pig slop. The father had a fatted calf in the stall!
g. The student who scorns the advice of his teacher will bear the consequences of doing poorly in school the rest of his days. It doesn’t hurt the teacher but the scorning student! He’ll be flipping hamburgs at McDonalds till he’s 65!
4. There is an awful price to pay for scorning Lady Wisdom. This lady doesn’t like to be scorned.
a. But if she IS scorned, she is not the loser. The scorner is!
b. The one who rejects her wise counsel will bear the consequences of his folly. He’s hurting only himself.
c. The consequences of our conduct (good or bad; wise or foolish) will be borne by ourselves…
d. Prov. 8:35-36 – life and favor vs. wronged soul and death.
e. Proverbs 1:30-32 – they shall eat of the fruit of their own ways—either good or bad.
f. There is no getting around this principle: whatsoever a man soweth, that also shall he reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.” (Gal. 6:7-8)
g. Let’s LISTEN when God’s wisdom speaks to our heart. Listen and respond in faith and obedience. The consequences of disobedience are too great. The blessing of wisdom is better than rubies.
Proverbs 9:13-18
The Foolish Woman
1. Solomon now speaks of a foolish woman.
a. This is in contrast to Lady Wisdom mentioned so often in the previous chapters. (8:1) Now he speaks of Lady Folly.
b. This lady personifies FOLLY…
c. Folly is just as earnest to destroy lives as God’s wisdom is to save!
2. The temptation is to equate this lady with the harlot of previous chapters. The language used of her is quite similar.
a. v. 14-15 – she sits at the door of her house calling men in.
b. v. 17 – stolen waters are sweet—cf. 5:15—admonition given to a man tempted by the harlot. “Be satisfied at your own fountain. Don’t steal from another man’s fountain!” — Stolen waters = adultery.
c. Warnings against adultery and the harlot have been repeatedly woven through the last five chapters of the book.
d. Thus, it is easy to think of this lady folly as a harlot.
e. Everything said of her certainly would apply to a harlot, but that might be too narrow an interpretation.
f. It is probably better to understand this woman to be the counterpart to Lady Wisdom… thus, Lady Folly.
g. She should be understood in a broader sense as MORAL FOLLY in general, not a specific form of folly, such as adultery.
3. She is clamorous.
a. Clamorous: to roar; to be in a stir, be in a commotion; to be boisterous, be turbulent.
b. This lady is loud. She makes a lot of noise and commotion. She has anything but a meek and quiet spirit.
c. While God’s wisdom is likened to a still, small voice, Lady Folly is loud and boisterous… like the thunder and the fire—but the Lord is not in it!
d. Zech. 4:6 – “Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.”
e. Like the harlot, she is loud! (Prov. 7:11)
f. There are 1001 voices in the world today—all crying out in loud voices and spewing forth their folly. They are not quiet about it either.
• There are some quite vocal organizations out there promoting the murder of babies; sexual perversion; loudly demanding their rights to promote their filthy, blasphemous art and music; witches and wiccan groups loudly parading through the streets demanding their rights; groups demanding that the Bible or any trace of religion be eradicated from any public place…
• Then there are other philosophies crying out to us in loud voices… through TV ads… radio… talk at the water bubbler… saying such things as:
• Life is about making it rich!
• Anything goes. There is no right or wrong. Whatever turns you on.
• Truth is relative…
• You can be saved and still live for the world…
• Those promoting these foolish ideas and philosophies are loud and clamorous! The squeaky wheel… and they seem to get all the grease—all the attention.
• And if you really want to see how LOUD and clamorous these folks are, but try to oppose them! They will scream at you: Archaic! Bigot! Hate monger! Unloving! Relic from the dark ages!
• Folly can be quite loud and clamorous!
4. She is simple.
a. Simple: simple or naïve.
b. This woman is folly… and folly is naïve.
c. Those who follow her are naïve too.
d. The devil is a master at packaging. He can package his worldly folly in such a way that it LOOKS appealing…
e. But those who go for it are naïve.
5. Yet she knows nothing!
a. Those who know the least seem to shout the loudest.
b. She really has no truth… no wisdom… nothing of any value to offer.
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:
1. She’s right there in the midst of all the city’s activities…
2. Just like Lady Wisdom, Lady Folly is found in the high places of the city… at the door of her house…
3. Prov. 8:2-4 – Lady Wisdom was seen in the high places calling out to all who pass by to listen to her. Lady Folly does the same thing.
4. The people who pass by are hearing two different voices calling to them.
a. Let’s not be naïve. Our young people are hearing those two voices today too… more than we might want to think.
b. As sheltered as we try to keep them, these voices are heard everywhere.
c. They are being called to walk the straight and narrow AND to follow the crowd down the broad way to destruction!
d. They are being called by the Lord to come to Christ and submit to His yoke… and they are being called to throw off that old yoke!
e. They are hearing on the one hand, “to me to live is Christ” and on the other hand, “to live is to have fun.”
f. The many voices of the world are calling out to our children AND to us.
5. In order to COUNTER those opposing voices, we need to keep our mind renewed… through the constant reading of God’s Word.
a. Folly is spewed out at us when we watch TV… when we read magazines… when you drive down the road and see the billboards.
b. Lady folly is constantly telling us you can’t be happy unless you’re young, handsome, and rich. (Strike three!)
c. The voice of folly comes at us from all different directions… all day long.
d. That is why our daily devotion time is so important… that is why the local church is so important… Sunday school… Bible studies…
e. Rom. 12:1-2 – either we are renewing our mind through the word or we are being conformed to the world. We are always being affected by one of these two ladies.
1. Lady Folly again mimics Lady Wisdom. (9:4 = lady wisdom speaks)
a. Wisdom invites the simple into her house. (9:4)
b. She offers them bread and wine—fellowship with Divine wisdom. (9:5)
c. She challenges them to forsake the foolish. (9:6) All those who enter the house of wisdom HAVE forsaken the foolish.
d. Now, Lady Folly attempts to do the same: invite the simple and naïve into her house of folly.
e. But folly has no bread and wine to offer. She has nothing to offer but empty husks.
17 Stolen waters are sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.
1. She has no bread and wine to offer… so she suggests stolen bread and stolen water!
2. The language is similar to that used of the adulterer… but is used in a much broader sense here.
3. She has a corrupting effect on the simple who come to her.
a. She suggests that they steal their bread and drink.
b. Thus, she is promoting outright sin… criminal activity… violation of the law of the land… and violation of God’s law.
c. Cf. 1:10-14 – youth being enticed into a criminal gang of thieves…
d. She is naïve—if she thinks that they can get away with this very long. She must have forgotten the passage: be sure your sin will find you out!
4. She promotes laziness and a lack of diligence.
a. Lady Wisdom promotes hard work and diligence which produces its rewards.
b. Lady Folly says, “Why work hard for something? Let someone else work for it—then steal it!”
5. She has promoted a lie.
a. She said that evil is good. (Something we hear today too!)
b. Stolen bread and water is sweeter… is more pleasant!
c. She says that if you do evil, there will be sweet, pleasant consequences! Not so!
d. This is the lie of the devil. Satan told Eve that if she ate of the forbidden fruit something GOOD would result: you will be like God!
e. Lady Folly packages her products with a great looking outer cover… but it’s a lie.
f. Stolen bread and bread eaten in secret might taste good at first—BUT—(Prov. 20:17)
• Afterwards, his mouth is full of gravel.
• Perhaps this speaks of the guilt and shame to follow.
• Perhaps the consequences of getting caught!
• Cf. Prov. 5:3-4—adultery—it is sweet at first, but soons turns bitter!
• Cf. Prov. 23:31-32 – wine is like that. It looks, smells, and tastes so good at first—but in the end, it bites like a serpent!
• All sin is like that!
18 But he knoweth not that the dead are there; and that her guests are in the depths of hell.
1. The young simple ones who enter the house of Lady Folly are ignorant.
a. They don’t know that the DEAD are there…
b. Those who enter don’t leave alive.
c. Her guests are in the depths of hell…
d. She claims to offer something good… sweet… pleasant—but in reality, it is the pathway to hell!
e. Don’t be fooled by the lies and the pretty cover. There is NO form of folly or evil or stealing or sin that is good. It is all bad… and the consequences are always bad spiritually.
2. God is warning us about the real END of folly and the consequences of folly.
a. Many fools enter her house… but few escape alive.
b. God is warning young, inexperienced people to take a good, long, peering LOOK into the ways and consequences before you enter that house. Look a little deeper… beyond the pretty cover… look deep into its inner chambers… it is a house of horror.
3. This section of chapter nine presents two very different voices, each attempting to WOO us into their house… and into their ways…
• The Lord Jesus warns of two very different roads in life too. One leads to life eternal… the other to eternal destruction.
• Perhaps some of you young people should stop and think about which road you are on! Which voice you have followed!
• If you are on the wrong road—get out while you still can!
