Day 156: Two voices calling - Proverbs 9 vs 1 - 18

1-2 Wisdom has built her house; she has carved its seven columns. She has prepared a great banquet, mixed the wines, and set the table. 3-5 She has sent her servants to invite everyone to come. She calls out from the heights overlooking the city. “Come in with me,” she urges the simple. To those who lack good judgment, she says, “Come, eat my food, and drink the wine I have mixed. 6 Leave your simple ways behind, and begin to live; learn to use good judgment.”

7-9 Anyone who rebukes a mocker will get an insult in return. Anyone who corrects the wicked will get hurt. So don’t bother correcting mockers; they will only hate you. But correct the wise, and they will love you. Instruct the wise, and they will be even wiser. Teach the righteous, and they will learn even more. 10-12 Fear of the Lord is the foundation of wisdom. Knowledge of the Holy One results in good judgment. Wisdom will multiply your days and add years to your life. If you become wise, you will be the one to benefit. If you scorn wisdom, you will be the one to suffer.

13-14 The woman named Folly is brash. She is ignorant and doesn’t know it. She sits in her doorway on the heights overlooking the city. 15-16 She calls out to men going by who are minding their own business. “Come in with me,” she urges the simple. To those who lack good judgment, she says, 17 “Stolen water is refreshing; food eaten in secret tastes the best!” 18 But little do they know that the dead are there. Her guests are in the depths of the grave. New Living Translation (English Standard Version link)

There are always two voices calling out to us in life to which our conscience must respond. The writer here pictures two woman who from their houses overlooking the city streets, were sending out an invitation for people to join them in a feast. The first woman had prepared a real banquet of good food and choice wine. What was the aim of her invitation in vs 6?

It was an invitation to leave foolish ways behind and to experience the better life that comes from applying wisdom and good judgement. What was the aim of the other woman whose name, the writer says, was Folly? vs 17.

It was an invitation to give in to things we know are wrong, but which seem so exciting and attractive. She suggested that the cheap food she had to offer would actually be better and more fun than the lovely feast the woman named Wisdom had prepared. The apostle Paul describes this conflict of 'two voices' calling out to us in this way. He said “The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions.” (Galatians 5:17

But did you notice that both woman were ‘calling out’ to the people? There's a sense in which they could not force anyone to come in to their home. So if people choose to go down the route of stolen water and bread in secret they can't say afterwards 'the Devil MADE me do it'. Perhaps this is why the writer included vs 7-9. What's the big lesson there?

You can't force wisdom on those who will only mock it, and even attack you for daring to challenge their way of life. But people who have begun to see the value of wisdom and right living will welcome any help to correct their life and get it on the right track. What is the basic truth of the matter according to vs 10-12.

To recognize God's absolute power and authority and show him the reverence we should is where the road of wisdom begins. And it's a road that will lead to a full life. Jesus Christ said: “I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, they will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it more abundantly!” John 10:9-10. That's a wonderful invitation.