Proverbs 9 Lady Wisdom vs Madame Folly

Two female figures, Lady Wisdom and Madame Folly. An lesson for every human to learn from. You can accept the lesson as one that compares a wise woman of virtue as mentioned in Proverb 31, versus an immoral woman of folly who tears down her home with her actions as in Proverb 14. Or as I will share with you today, it's a lesson of good versus evil. The right way to live versus the wrong way to live your life.

Either way, it's very common for God to teach us different lessons from the same passage throughout the Scriptures. The book of Proverbs is a prime example of this method of teaching. Today's commentary is of contrast between the woman of wisdom, or the good, (Proverb 9:4-6) versus the woman of folly, the evil. (Proverb 9:16-18).

"Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!"
As for him who lacks understanding, she says to him,
"Come, eat of my bread
And drink of the wine I have mixed.
Forsake foolishness and live,
And go in the way of understanding. Proverb 9:4-6

"Whoever is simple, let him turn in here";
And as for him who lacks understanding, she says to him,
"Stolen water is sweet,
And bread eaten in secret is pleasant."
But he does not know that the dead are there,
That her guests are in the depths of hell. Proverb 9:16-18

Here we see the, “Lady Wisdom”, serving as the personification of God’s voice inviting us in to learn lessons from Him on how to be a righteous person. Compared to “Madame Folly” mimicking the voice of God to lure us in with anything that might replace God in our life. All throughout our walk in the world, Satan will attempt to lure us into sin by disguising himself as an angel of light. This is what we see him doing in verse. Using the exact same words as God used in verse. This is important to understand, because the essence of foolishness is living a life that apart from God. Check out the contrast;

1.) WISDOM builds her house, but FOLLY just sits there, lazy.
2.) WISDOM offers us meat and wine, but FOLLY offers us bread and water.
3.) WISDOM speaks honestly, but FOLLY makes deceptive offers.
4.) WISDOM offers life/wisdom, but FOLLY deceptively offers life while concealing the death within her doors.

In the ancient near East, to invite someone over for a meal was to invite them into a close personal relationship. Here, both wisdom and folly are inviting us into a relationship. Who will we enter into a relationship with? The choice seems obvious, but in reality we find ourselves going back and forth from having meals with Lady Wisdom and then a meal with Madame Folly. We will treat our walk with Christ in the world like a smorgasbord. We will take a little bit of grace as we praise God, then grab a side of hostility for the idiot who disrupts our day day.

Martin Luther King said that Christians suffer from a form of Schizophrenia. One moment we will be driving down the road praising God, as we loudly sing along to a song on the radio. The very next block, the same mouth that was praising God, will be cussing out a driver who cut our in front of us. Satan is trying His best to lure us away from God, and while we have moments of righteousness, we usually have a lot more moments of foolishness and self righteousness.

God knows the struggles we go through, He knows Satan is crouching at our door, waiting to pounce on us the moment we struggle. This is why He has offered us His Wisdom to help guide and nudge us on our long road to the Celestial City. Like Christian in “Pilgrims Progress”, there are many obstacles that Folly puts in our way to lure us into her kitchen. The pleasures of this world are at our fingertips, and even if we are strong enough to stay away from them, there are the pitfalls in life where Folly bring us to despair. There's the “Hill of Difficulty”, the “Valley of the Shadow of Death”, and the “Road of Betrayal”. All of which we will need the Wisdom of God to help us arrive to our final destination.

So don't allow the traps of this world to cause you to lose the race. Trust in God's Wisdom, and lean on Him for support. Also, remember that in the times when Satan sends Folly your way, you do have the full armor of God to protect you.

The belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the "shoes" of the gospel of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit Ephesians 6:10-18

Remember that Jesus Christ of the Proverbs is Wisdom. He calls on you to forsake your evil way and to follow Him. Will you persist in seeking only momentary pleasure, or will you choose the way of righteousness and peace which leads to eternal salvation? The Disciple Thomas asked Jesus, “How can we know the way?” Jesus responded;

"I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. John 14:6

I pray that those who have ears will hear the voice of the Lord and call upon His name for salvation and eternal life. May the good Lord bless you all, Amen.

Proverb 9 (NKJV)
The Way of Wisdom

Wisdom's Invitation
01 Wisdom has built her house,
00 She has hewn out her seven pillars;
02 She has slaughtered her meat,
00 She has mixed her wine,
00 She has also furnished her table.
03 She has sent out her maidens,
00 She cries out from the highest places of the city,
04 "Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!"
00 As for him who lacks understanding, she says to him,
05 "Come, eat of my bread
00 And drink of the wine I have mixed.
06 Forsake foolishness and live,
00 And go in the way of understanding.

07 "He who corrects a scoffer gets shame for himself,
00 And he who rebukes a wicked man only harms himself.
08 Do not correct a scoffer, lest he hate you;
00 Rebuke a wise man, and he will love you.
09 Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser;
00 Teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.

10 "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom,
00 And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
11 For by me your days will be multiplied,
00 And years of life will be added to you.
12 If you are wise, you are wise for yourself,
00 And if you scoff, you will bear it alone."

The Way of Folly
13 A foolish woman is clamorous;
00 She is simple, and knows nothing.
14 For she sits at the door of her house,
00 On a seat by the highest places of the city,
15 To call to those who pass by,
00 Who go straight on their way:
16 "Whoever is simple, let him turn in here";
00 And as for him who lacks understanding, she says to him,
17 "Stolen water is sweet,
00 And bread eaten in secret is pleasant."
18 But he does not know that the dead are there,
00 That her guests are in the depths of hell.