Shannon Bond, Pastor of Cherokee Baptist Church
Proverbs 9:13–18 (ESV) 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.
In Proverbs 9, Solomon speaks of two houses: one belonging to Lady Wisdom (vv. 1-6), the other belonging to Lady Folly (vv. 13-18). Both call to the group in the middle (vv. 7-12). Lady Wisdom has so much to offer: wisdom, fellowship, fullness of life. What can Lady Folly offer?
Nothing. She’s an empty shell. She’s beautiful on the outside, but in a sinful way. Her beauty isn’t for beauty’s sake, but for the sake of seducing, for trapping, for leading to death. Notice the difference between her and Lady Wisdom. Folly sits—at the door of her house and on the highest places in town. Looking seductive, she calls. But to what? She has no table set, no beasts slaughtered, no wine mixed. No fellowship and fullness of life.
Lady Wisdom doesn’t sit. She sends out her young women to call from the highest places in town. Lady Wisdom is proactive. She sends out her women to invite anyone who would come.
Notice that both have a similar message: 'Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!' (vv. 4, 16). Both address 'him who lacks sense' (vv. 4, 16). Lady Wisdom offers bread and fellowship. Folly recommends stolen water and bread eaten in secret (probably stolen also). Lady Wisdom offers life. Lady Folly, getting the simple to live for the present (YOLO!!), herds the simple toward the slaughterhouse.
In this last chapter addressing his sons, Solomon lays it all out in black and white. No gray areas. Both Ladies invite. Both promise satisfaction. Only one delivers.
Solomon’s wisdom echoes Deuteronomy 27-28. Moses instructs the people of Israel to perform a ceremony when they get into the Promised Land. The ceremony is an object lesson. They are to stand between two mountains, Mount Gerazim and Mount Ebal. Mount Gerazim is the mount of blessing and Mount Ebal the mount of cursing. Part of Israel’s religious leaders go up on Gerazim, the other part go up on Mount Ebal. The law is to be read to the people, then the leaders remind the people that they have a choice to make. They must choose between blessing and cursing, between life and death—like having to choose between Lady Wisdom and Lady Folly.
Life and blessing, death and cursing. Those are the only two options. Life and blessing can only be found in Christ Jesus. Choose Him today!