Proverbs 9

Proverbs 9

From The Complete Jewish Bible

Wisdom has built herself a house; she has carved her seven pillars. She has prepared her food, spiced her wine, and she has set her table. She has sent out her young girls [with invitations]; she calls from the heights of the city, “Whoever is unsure of himself, turn in here!” To someone weak-willed she says, “Come eat my food! Drink the wine I have mixed! Don’t stay unsure of yourself, but live! Walk in the way of understanding!”

Wisdom as introduced in the first 9 chapters of Proverbs is a spirit of GOD not just something we gain by study, experience and prayer. Here she (wisdom is always referred to as a female in the Bible) invites those who are unsure of themselves to partake of the sustenance she has prepared so that they may live; not just the physical life that they already have but the life that GOD calls each of us to live for Him.

“He who corrects a scoffer only gets insulted; reproving a wicked man becomes his blemish. If you reprove a scoffer, he will hate you; if you reprove a wise man, he will love you. Give to a wise man, and he grows still wiser; teach a righteous man, and he will learn still more.”

Here wisdom is teaching us what Jesus taught, that those who have much will receive more and those who have little will lose what they have. We must never stop pressing into GOD but we must always be studying His Word, waiting in His presence and praying in His Spirit (Holy Spirit). Jesus taught that there are those who believe they are saved but they are not; they believe they have a relationship with Him but they do not. How is that? It may be that they have locked in on one aspect of who GOD is and what He has done for humanity and made that a religion. It may be that they have been taught a false doctrine and because they do not study the Bible and wait on GOD and pray in His Spirit that they do not grow into the fuller understanding of who GOD is and what He calls each of us to do in His Kingdom on earth as it is in Heaven. There are also those who through their own intellect and pride think they have learned more than all the rest of us or learned all that there is to know of GOD and therefore they also go astray and lead others in their error.

“The fear of ADONAI is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of holy ones is understanding. For with me, your days will be increased; years will be added to your life, if you are wise, your wisdom helps you; but if you scoff, you bear the consequences alone.”

Jesus taught us that we are not to fear men or the devil who can only kill the body; but we are to fear GOD who can destroy both soul and body in hell (eternal death). If we have hearing ears then we should hear what the Spirit says; if we have seeing eyes then we should see what the Spirit does. These are not automatic we have to exercise hearing and seeing by studying the Bible, waiting in the presence of GOD and praying in His Spirit. When we fall into error; whether we come up with it on our own or we just follow what someone else teaches; we alone will stand before GOD in judgment. We, each and every human, has the responsibility to seek GOD first and His righteousness!

The foolish woman is coarse; she doesn’t think, and she doesn’t know a thing. She sits at the door of her house or on a seat at the heights of the city, calling to those who pass by, to those going straight along their ways, “Whoever is unsure of himself, turn in here!” To someone weak-willed she says, “Stolen water is sweet; food eaten in secret is pleasant.” But he doesn’t realize that the dead are there, and that those who accept her invitation are in the depth of Sh’ol.

The foolish woman spoken of in the Proverbs is also a spirit of GOD; a fallen spirit of lawlessness and disobedience to GOD that leads the foolish, lazy and corrupt into greater darkness and deception; into eternal damnation! It is easy for those on the straight and narrow to be lead off the path if they become complacent, satisfied with their place in life, feel they have done enough and just want to enjoy their life or they become hurt and think GOD does not care or has abandoned them. These are lies and deceptions that come from not continuing to study the Bible, waiting on GOD (no matter how long in our terms it takes) and praying in His Spirit.

But GOD is merciful and loving and He has a plan for every person ever conceived! He forgives us our sin in Jesus Christ and He continues to forgive us as we seek Him first and His righteousness. But He expects us to keep seeking, keep knocking, keep praying (asking), keep worshiping and keep rejoicing no matter what is happening!