King Solomon has been instructing his son who now has the practical wisdom he needs to make informed decisions as a young man. But the question is what will he do with this knowledge and wisdom? Which paths will he take?
Although Proverbs chapter 9 is divided into 3 parts, there are really only two paths put before us. Proverbs 9 talks about the:
Wisdom’s Banquet - where we go to get the wisdom we need for life.
Wisdom Correction - all of us need wisdom to make course corrections time to time
Folly’s Fate - all of us have experienced the consequences of foolish decisions but that does not have to be the end of the story.
Wisdom’s Banquet
1 Wisdom has built her house; she has set up its seven pillars. 2 She has prepared her meat and mixed her wine; she has also set her table.
3 She has sent out her servants, and she calls from the highest point of the city, 4 “Let all who are simple come to my house!” To those who have no sense she says,
5 “Come, eat my food and drink the wine I have mixed. 6 Leave your simple ways and you will live; walk in the way of insight.” (Proverbs 9:1-6)
The house that Wisdom built has seven pillars meaning that this house was solid, it was very well built and very large for the purpose of holding banquets.
Wisdom has prepared her place, her food and has sent out the invitation to all of humanity to eat with her.
Wisdom has slaughtered her meat - meaning that what is being prepared for the guest is very valuable, very costly.
Has mixed her wine - She did not dilute it or water it down, but she has added honey or herbs to make the wine more spicy, potent, enjoyable and far better than normal wine.
Has set her table - this means that every truth has been arranged in such a way to be enjoyed by those who partake it. It is a picture of a beautiful feast or banquet.
In Isaiah 55, this meal is without cost to the one who has been invited and this meal gives life (Isaiah 25; Proverbs 9:6). God’s wisdom not only nourishes the guest but brings them joy.
Even though in Proverbs 1:22 they had initially rejected the invitation, wisdom continues to call out hoping to persuade the simple to turn, that is to repent of their foolish ways and foolish associations and eat what wisdom has prepared for them. The promise is: If you do you will live.
Wisdom has done all it can do and now the decision is up to the listener. If they repent and turn from their old ways and associations they will be healed.
Repentance is more than turning away from sin, it is first and foremost, turning toward Jesus and committing ourselves to wisdom’s way.
Wisdom’s Correction
Whoever corrects a mocker invites insults; whoever rebukes the wicked incurs abuse. 8 Do not rebuke mockers or they will hate you; rebuke the wise and they will love you.
9 Instruct the wise and they will be wiser still; teach the righteous and they will add to their learning. 10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
11 For through wisdom your days will be many, and years will be added to your life.12 If you are wise, your wisdom will reward you; if you are a mocker, you alone will suffer (Proverbs 9:7-12).
You can always tell where a person's heart is at with God by how they receive correction.
If you try to correct a mocker - they will hate you and will respond to criticism with an attack. At the root of the mocker’s character is pride that hates submitting to anyone and even to the Lord Himself (21:24). His or her strategy is to debunk everything, never admit fault for anything and act very self-assured in the process.
On the other hand, if you can always tell when wise person is on the right road because when you correct them, they will only become wiser and will love you for it. The wise person will hear and respond to honest criticism because it is crucial for their personal growth.
The wise will hear and increase their learning, and the person of understanding will acquire wise counsel and the skill [to steer his course wisely and lead others to the truth] (Proverbs 1:5, AMP).
They accept correction, because they know the one correcting them loves them enough to keep them from making the same mistakes over and over again. These people who are willing to correct you in love are your real friends.
He who learns from instruction and correction is on the [right] path of life [and for others his example is a path toward wisdom and blessing], but he who ignores and refuses correction goes off course [and for others his example is a path toward sin and ruin] (Proverbs 10:17, AMP).
“Imperfect people make wise decisions every day,”
but for those who have not yet received the free gift of forgiveness that God offers us, the wisest decision you'll ever make is to trust in what Jesus did for you on the cross.
Proverbs 9:12 The consequences of your choices will affect others, but the ultimate winner or loser is you and you alone.
Folly’s Fate
13 Folly is an unruly woman; she is simple and knows nothing. 14 She sits at the door of her house, on a seat at the highest point of the city, 15 calling out to those who pass by, who go straight on their way.
16 “Let all who are simple come to my house!” To those who have no sense she says, 17 “Stolen water is sweet; bread eaten in secret is delicious!” 18 But little do they know that the dead are there, that her guests are deep in the realm of the dead (Proverbs 9:13-18).
Folly is loud, seductive, ignorant, and lazy (Proverbs 9:13-14). She lures you in through the promise of fulfilment, sugar coating sin
“but she will never tell you the empty outcomes of your pursuit. ”
She will never tell you about the countless lives she has ultimately ruined. Such is the fate of all who listen to the voice of folly.
You and I cannot remain indifferent to the choices set before us, nor to the voices that call us, we will always give ourselves to something or someone. Jesus is saying give yourself to me. Give your heart to me (Proverbs 4:23).
Because these pivotal decisions have huge implications for your life right now—for the nitty-gritty everyday details and for the life changing decisions.
If you want to live the wisest way, if you want to have eternal life, then you must accept Jesus’s invitation.
If you are walking toward Him, walking with Him, and trusting in Him, God will give you wisdom you need.
On the other hand, if you’re walking away from Him and are far from Him, you are making the most foolish decision of your life, you are on the wrong road going in the wrong direction and ultimately you will not find what you're looking for.
The path that folly invites you down causes nothing but heartache and trouble that leads to sorrow, strife and ultimately to destruction. But you do not have to stay on that path, even if you have made terrible decisions, that does not have to be the end of your story,
it does not have to be your fate, in a moment you can make a decision to leave that road and return to the Lord, to the way of His wisdom.
There is hope for you.
Before you make any pivotal decisions in your journey of life, even if everything looks good logistically, take time to think about where you will you go for wisdom? I want to encourage you to ask yourself the following questions:
What does the Word of God say about this decision? (Matthew 4:4)
Do I have all the facts I need to make a biblically informed decision? (Proverbs 19:2)
What is my motivation for making this decision? Is it for the glory of God? (Colossians 3:17) Is it to do His will? Am I willing to leave it on the altar? Is it a rash decision, am I afraid of missing out on something?
Have I sought wise counsel? (Proverbs 11:4)
Have I honestly considered any yellow or red flags? (Proverbs 27:12)
Have I thought through the possible outcomes of this decision? (Proverbs 16:25)
How will this decision affect my testimony for the Lord? (Proverbs 25:26)
If after working through all these questions you believe God is leading you in a certain direction ask the Lord … “is where you are leading me?”
Will this decision make the greatest impact for the Kingdom of God? (Matthew 4:26-32)
God has given you and me everything we need to make informed decisions for the everyday nitty gritty decisions as well as for the life changing ones.
But the question is
“what will you do with God’s wisdom?”
Which choice will you make, whose voice will you listen to? Which path will you pursue? The choice is yours.
