PROVERBS CHAPTER 9
I. OUTLINE: I. The Rival Feasts In Life: 9:1-18 A. The Feast Offered By Wisdom: 9:1-6 B. The Closed And Opened Mind: 9:7-12 C. The Feast Offered By Folly: 9:13-18 In this life two options or feasts are offered. One is offered by wisdom and the other by foolishness. The centerpiece of this chapter (7-12) describes the typical products of the above opposing camps: “the scoffer, with his closed mind, and the wise man, ever teachable and ever progressing” (Kidner p. 81).
II. COMMENTARY: 9:1 “What wisdom constructs is spacious and enduring….the pillars may represent no more than recognizable structural features of a large and well-built house” (Kidner p. 82). Note, wisdom does offer pleasure and fun. But her rewards are real and lasting. In contrast to the false promises of the harlot, wisdom offers her guests a strong, well-built, magnificent place, pure, real and wholesome pleasures, and a life crowned with blessedness. The life (house) that wisdom offers is both sturdy and complete (Matthew 7:24-27). This is the same type of life that Jesus talked about, a life that is built upon the bedrock of His teachings. 9:2 “Mixed her wine”-may refer to diluting wine with water. Undiluted wine was considered distasteful by the Jews, and the wine of the Passover consisted of three parts water and one part wine. In addition to this, spices were often added besides water to enhance the flavor. Since we are dealing with wisdom here, but must reject the idea that wisdom would add drugs to this wine to make it
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more intoxicating. Wisdom is never interested in escaping reality, but rather, in seeing it. “The figures of meat and wine represent the good teaching of wisdom that will be palatable and profitable” (Gaebelein p. 948). This whole illustration is very much like Matthew 22:1ff and Luke 14:16ff. God’s teachings are a great feast! Bible study might be boring to the scoffer, but not to the righteous person. 9:3 Again, the call offered by wisdom is public. Her servants station themselves in public places where they can reach the largest number of people. What a contrast to the harlot, who attempts to ambush and deceive her guests. Points To Note: 1. There isn’t death or doom in this house (like the house of the harlot), rather wholesome pleasures, things which are worthwhile, food that is nourishing, things which build a person up, rather than destroying them. Wisdom strengthens character and right convictions, it makes one whole and sound. What wisdom provides is emblematic of life, health, happiness and celebration. 2. Let us clearly reject the idea that serving God leads to a life of misery. Or, that serving God means missing out. “All this imagery lets the simpleton know that what wisdom has to offer is marvelous” (Gaelbelein p. 948). 9:4 Once again, one doesn’t have to remain naïve or foolish, there is hope even for the biggest jerk! No one is predestined to be a fool, God has always wanted all men to come to the knowledge of the truth (1 Timothy 2:4). Everyone is invited to this feast, even those whom society might say are beyond hope or who aren’t worth instructing. “Proverbs, too, is a book available to all. It is not meant just for one particular stratum of society; all who are needy are urged to partake of its rich fare” (Alden p. 78). Wow, talk about great motivation to study the Scriptures! (Psalm 19:7ff) Especially, for the young person. The Bible will enable me to grow up, mature, and avoid many of the mistakes that naïve, gullible and foolish people have made. 9:5 “Come”-“Put an end to living without wisdom; cease ignorance and folly. Adopt a new way: the way of understanding. All who make this change are glad they did” (Hunt p. 105). God doesn’t offer any half-hearted invitations, God really wants us to change for the better, God really believes that we can! (Matthew 11:28-30). In like manner, we need to have more faith in what God knows we can do and become. Instead of balking at God’s moral and ethical
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standards, let us say to ourselves, “If God believes that I can change, then I can!” 9:6 Foolishness can be abandoned! But starting on the path of wisdom is a choice. Note the free will in this passage. God is offering a wonderful banquet, the invitation is compelling, but the individual must chose, no one is forced into this house, no one will be dragged to this banquet. “The feast represents more than a new outlook: it is a changed pattern of life in new company” (Kidner p. 82). 9:6 “life”-which would include spiritual and eternal life. But I also believe that a fullness of life in this life is also under consideration. The sinner does miss out on many wonderful things in this life. Yet, how often does the world try to persuade us that the life of sin and folly is really living?
The Closed And Open Mind 9:7 “Scoffer”-Note, one isn’t born a scoffer or predestined to play this role. The fool doesn’t have to become such a person, for the fool can change (9:4,6). But the scoffer is the person who hears the invitation offered by wisdom (possibly many times) and yet rejects it. This is the person who has determined to remain a fool. “gets dishonor for himself”-“When someone corrects him he responds in an attitude of hatred by lashing out with insulting verbal abuses” (Bible Knowledge Comm. p. 924). “He is the person who will not live by wise and moral teachings and is not content to let others do so without his cynical mocking…Strife, insult and abuse are second nature to this cynical heckler” (Gaebelein p. 949). “The further one goes with folly or wisdom, the less or the more one will put up with the criticism which is wisdom’s teaching-method” (Kidner p. 83). Point To Note: Of course the question is, “How do I tell the difference between a scoffer and a non-scoffer?” I believe that the above truth is much like Jesus’ comment about not casting your pearls before swine (Matthew 7:6). That is, you must first feel some of their cynicism and rage before you realize that they are indeed a scoffer. Don’t keep on trying to rebuke or correct the person who just keeps rebuffing your attempts. And the world is full of such people. People who resent your moral standards, who resent your wholesome speech, who resent your trust and faith in God. People who try to make you look like the bad guy.
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9:8 Note that the wise man isn’t the man who knows everything (the scoffer thinks he knows everything) and neither is the wise man a perfect man. For the wise man might need to be corrected now and then. What makes him wise and what will increase his wisdom is his attitude towards his faults and correction. He or she has the courage to honestly look at themselves, and the courage to seriously listen to constructive criticism. The wise man never resents the truth! This also means that it is very hard to offend a wise man, he or she is teachable to the end. The priority in their life isn’t comfort or some false view of themselves, rather it is conformity to what is right. The wise meekly receive the Word (James 1:21). They have a love for the truth (2 Thess. 2:10-12). To them the important thing is that God is always found to be right (Romans 3:4).
9:9 The wise person—teachable, ever learning right up to the end of their lives. Always progressing, always improving. Points To Note: 1. Righteousness is either seen or not seen in how we receive criticism. How are we at receiving rebukes? Do we get angry? Do we hold a grudge, do we immediately try to prove our critic wrong? Do we immediately respond by pointing fingers at their faults? (as if their faults make ours any less serious to God). Is the person who corrected us our enemy for life, or do we spend our lives trying to find a flaw in their behavior so we can get back at them? Do we immediately try to undermine their credibility or their “credentials” for judging us? 2. These verses also infer that cynicism is a downward trend. If the wise man is increasing, then the fool is decreasing constantly in true knowledge. The scoffer only ends up becoming increasingly cynical, bitter, prejudiced, ignorant and miserable. 3. Isn’t it ironic that the people in our society who boast the most about their “open-mindedness” are probably more closed-minded towards the truth than anybody else! Far from being open-minded, the homosexual activist, the abortion advocate, and the promoter of pornography are all scoffers and are close-minded to the truth. You will find yourself severely rebuked, hated and challenged, if you just attempt to reason with them. 9:10 Once again, the foundation of all true learning is respect for God. Yet, how many modern “experts” argue that a fear of the Lord is an unhealthy thing? “The verse implicitly rejects secular or atheistic ethics” (Garrett p. 115). Compare with 1:7 and Psalm 111:10.
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9:10 “And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding”-Wow, boy does this turn the thinking of the world on its head. How many people argue that the bible and Christianity get in the way of understanding? Knowing the true God and His will is the basis for properly applying all other subjects. Without God, the scientist is completely unable to determine if something which is possible is at the same time ethical! How many modern fields of learning, like science, medicine and psychology, can become so perverted in their applications when God is removed? How do you define ethical behavior in the workplace or in the business realm apart from the knowledge of God? 9:11 Yes, there are even temporary and earthly rewards to being wise. 9:12 “The joy she offers is for the taking, but everyone must bear responsibility for his or her own decisions” (Garrett p. 116). The ultimate gainer or loser is the man himself. “Your character is the one thing you cannot borrow, lend or escape, for it is you” (14:10) (Kidner p. 83). Compare with Ezekiel 18:1ff and Galatians 6:4-5.
The Invitation Offered By Foolishness Christians always need to remember that we are not the only people who are preaching or attempting to convert others. There are many other messages being preached (Galatians 1:6-9) and the devil has many of his own ministers (2 Cor. 11:13-15). So when someone says, “Don’t push your religion on me”, please remind them that they have just pushed their religion on you when they told you to keep quiet. And that every time you turn on the TV or radio, their kind of preaching is being pushed on you. 9:13 “boisterous”-she is loud and undisciplined. The bible doesn’t have any compliments for the adulterous, does it? She is loud, aggressive, pushy, and brazen. She is naïve or simple-minded, because her trade doesn’t require that she exercise her mind, and it would forbid her from exercising some moral judgment or thinking about eternal things. Once again, to Hollywood, this woman is a hero, she is independent, self-made, strong, and resourceful. But, God doesn’t see her has a leading character or someone who should be idolized or admired. She isn’t a Steel Magnolia, rather God sees her as loud, simpleminded and ignorant. In addition, God never argues that she is simply the product of her society, culture or time. Her lack of character has determined her profession or lifestyle. 9:14-15 “She sits at the door”-“it has an air of slovenliness (sloppy); whereas wisdom, despite her importunate appeals, is always the great lady” (Kidner p. 84). 5
“Who are making their paths straight”-She is trying to tempt individuals who are on the right path. “We see a picture of busy people going about their daily chores. All are active except for this woman who sits on her stoop trying to detain those who have other places to go” (Alden p. 79). I like the above illustration. The answer to temptation or foolishness, is “no thank you, I have a life!” Instead of viewing “sin” as the opportunity or gateway to life, we need to view sin as a deterrent to living and building a meaningful and exciting life. May I suggest to you that the typical sinner leads a fairly boring existence, even with his or her sin. My life is much richer and fuller by far than the life that I was leading before I became a Christian. 9:16 She is also trying to catch the simple-minded, the gullible, naïve and the foolish. But note that God believes in this chapter that even a naïve and gullible person still can be honest enough to tell the difference between wisdom and folly. Reality is clear enough and the Bible is clear enough that even a simpleton can make the right decision! So, let us hear no more about people not having enough information to believe in God or accept the Bible as God’s Word. In addition, all of these verses just naturally infer that when a person is honest, they can see the same truth which is seen by every other honest person. If our attitude is right, yes we can understand the Bible alike (Eph. 3:4-5; 5:17). 9:17 “Stolen water is sweet”-In contrast to the legitimate, wholesome, real, and abundant feast that wisdom offers (9:2), the woman offers things that she doesn’t have any right to offer. “Eve had to be convinced that the sweetness would survive the stealing; we have fallen far enough to be persuaded that it depends upon it” (Kidner p. 84). Stolen water may also in this context refer to illicit sex (7:18-19). “bread eaten in secret is pleasant”-How often does the world try to convince us that what is “forbidden” offers the best pleasure of all? Former sinners will testify that what is forbidden isn’t better, rather it only brings pain, shame, etc…..There are many good reasons why forbidden or unlawful things are forbidden! Note the contrast, wisdom offers wine and meat. Folly offers stolen water and bread! Here again we see that wholesome pleasures offer far greater blessings, pleasure, and memories then the “bread and water” life offered by temptation. God offers steak—the devil offers fake meat products! 9:18 What a contrast between the promise and “glamour” offered by temptation, and the pathetic reality. “Those ensnared by folly are as good as in hell, for that house is a throat to hell” (Gaebelein p. 951). The home of foolishness is not a home, but a mausoleum. If you enter this path, chances are you will not leave alive. In reality, the sign that should be posted over every bar, nightclub, adult book store, etc…is “Gateway To Hell”. 6
“The two paths of Wisdom and folly resulting in life or death reach a vivid climax in chapter 9. Almost every verse in the remainder of the book points to one or both of these paths and/or their consequences” (Bible Knowledge Comm. p. 925).
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