Loudmouth Lady

April 9th

Read: Proverbs 9 (Part 1 of 2)

Loudmouth Lady

I would like to meet this woman named “Wisdom”. She has gone through an extraordinary amount of work to set up a meal for us to eat. Just look at the passage: “Wisdom” built a house, hewn pillars, butchered animals, mixed and prepared wine, set a table, and sent out invitations. (v.1-3) That is a lot of effort when you think of it! This picture is a stark contrast to the “wisdom” of other religions… take for instance Hinduism or Buddhism. The wisdom of God, personified here in “Lady Wisdom”, does not sit like a recluse in the woods or rest upon some far off and inaccessible mountain top… it is quite the opposite actually. The wisdom of God has been made available! It is not hidden or “monkish”… in fact - God’s wisdom is “calling out” from the most noticeable place in town, declaring: “Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!” To him who lacks sense she says, “Come, eat of my bread and drink of the wine I have mixed. Leave your simple ways, and live, and walk in the way of insight.” (v.3-6) Have you heard her voice before? Have you accepted the invitation to consume the wisdom of the Lord?

There is another “woman” who calls out as well. This is Lady “Folly”. Look at how she is described: “She is loud, seductive, and knows nothing”. (v.13) Imagine how many things in this world are “loud and seductive” and yet are empty of any real truth or knowledge. Lady Folly is sly in that she uses the same opening line as Lady Wisdom: “Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!” (v.16) But from there Lady Folly shifts… she declares: “Stolen water is sweet,

and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.” Little do those who take her up on her offer realize that death is what awaits them… literally the place of the dead (Sheol). Notice how secrecy is a theme of Lady Folly. How ironic that we often picture wisdom as hidden, distant, difficult to access when it is actually Folly that is trying to draw us into hidden-ness and secrecy. Their opening lines are the same, but the end results are polar opposites… Wisdom leads to life and Folly leads to death. So how do we tell the difference?

1.) Notice that both approach us when we are “simple” and “lacking sense”.

We will never take up the offer of Lady Wisdom if we are arrogant and think we know it all. We need to feast on a meal prepared not by ourselves, but by the Lord. We have to admit that we need wisdom and instruction. We don’t know what we don’t know. If we are feeding ourselves at Lady Wisdom's house, we are not out on the street being called to by Lady Folly. When we just roam around on our own… we are susceptible to the “Siren’s call” of Lady Folly.

2.) Lady Wisdom has “sent out her young woman to call”- others will help lead you to wisdom.

Notice that Lady Wisdom does not work alone. She has proven herself good and wise… she has others who have learned from her and are helping to call out and invite others in. Lady Wisdom is back home working hard and setting up while those whose lives have been transformed are inviting others in. This is what the people of God do. As we are transformed we call out to others and invite them in to partake of the LIFE that is in Christ. Lady Folly has to work alone, because destruction has fallen upon the others that have come in and taken her meal. Why is it that so many still march right in and eat, despite having seen so many others destroyed before them?

3.) Folly is rooted in secrecy and abuse - “Stolen water is sweet” vs. Wisdom which is open and inviting.

If it needs to be “hidden” and “whispered about” then it is probably NOT WISE…There is a much greater chance that it is something that leads to DEATH. Humans will always try to manipulate and “manage” those things that they know deep down are not wise.

Whose voice is calling to you today? Who have you been listening to? What meal are you eating? Are you drinking the wine of wisdom or the “stolen water” of folly? (Interesting how wisdom gives you wine but folly gives you water!) Are you sharing a meal of wisdom with others or are you eating bread in secret and alone? Do you feel like you lack wisdom… like you are “simple”? Take heart, God gives wisdom to those who ask for it (cf. James 1)… God is calling to you to reveal wisdom to you and to lead in the ways of LIFE. Do not be seduced by the loud-mouth Lady Folly and consume what you have already seen destroy so many other people before you. You will not escape! Love you guys… part 2 coming later. - JDP