Scripture
Vs 1 Wisdom has built her house;
Vs 3 She has sent out her young women to call
from the highest places in the town,
Vs 4 “Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!”
VS 6 Leave your simple ways and you will live
Vs 10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,
and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.
Vs 13 The woman Folly is loud; she is seductive and knows nothing.
Vs 14 She sits at the door of her house;
she takes a seat on the highest places of the town,
Vs 15 calling to those who pass by,
who are going straight on their way,
Vs 16 “Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!”
Vs 18 … her guests are deep in the realm of the dead.
Observation
Solomon is describing two very different “ways” in this Proverb:
The Way of Wisdom and the Way of Folly.
Defined right in the middle of the ways is “the Fear of the Lord” …
The Beginning of Wisdom.
The 2 separate “ways” (Wisdom & Folly) can start out with strikingly similar appearances …
Both have “her house”.
Both can be heard in “the highest places in town”.
Both utter the same refrain, “Whoever is simple, let him turn in here”.
Beyond appearances, however, the differences are also striking …
Wisdom “builds” … while Folly “sits”
Wisdom “sends out” … while Folly “seduces in”
Their end is their greatest difference …
The wise “live”.
The foolish are “deep in the realm of the dead”.
Application
I like to think wise ways and foolish ways are obviously different.
I like to think there’s no way I would choose the foolish path …
I think the “right” way or choice will be so clear, of course, I would not choose the wrong way!
This is actually foolish, though, to think “my insight” will make things clear.
The beginning of wisdom is to “fear the Lord”, not “trust my gut”.
I will have to choose, though.
Both wisdom and foolishness require a “turn”.
And to “turn” is to put my trust in something … or someone.
So who will I trust?
The one who “knows nothing” or the one who “knows the Holy One”?
Jesus, ultimately, is The Way … He “became wisdom for me”.
Gratefully, I do not need to rely on my own wisdom to lead to life.
Prayer
Thank you, God, that you sent Jesus to eb the Way
Thank you for your Wisdom
Help me Spirit live in this grace
In Jesus name
Amen