Proverbs 9:1-18

God presents a very clear distinction between what is right and wrong.  He seeks to show us a contrast between what is black and what is white.  Satan seeks to paint a world that is hundreds of shades of grey.  This Proverb presents a very clear contrast between two “women” that call for our attention.  The distinctions are very clear and the destinations are very different.  We must make a choice between the two because it is impossible to have both.

THE “WOMAN” CALLED WISDOM: This woman has built a beautiful home that is safe and secure.  She has prepared a wonderful feast and she calls out with a loud voice for all who desire to come in and be fed of her wisdom.  She calls to the simple to come in and leave their folly behind that they might learn to walk in truth and light.  Unfortunately there are many scoffers who hear this instruction and turn away in hatred or resort to violence because they are offended by the words of wisdom and correction.  The wise man will turn from his simple ways and delight in gaining wisdom and the more wisdom he gains the more he longs for additional wisdom.  The first step towards wisdom is in fearing the Lord and gaining knowledge from Him.  This will prolong our life as well as make it more productive.  Sounds like a very easy choice to make; unfortunately, there are many who reject that choice and prefer folly.


THE “WOMAN” CALLED WICKED: This woman is also very loud in her appeal for followers but she has no wisdom to impart.  She has no secure place or banquette to offer but she calls out to all who pass by.  Her appeal is also to the simple and those without sense, but she has nothing to offer.  The best she can do is offer bread and water and the only allure that the bread and water have is that they are stolen.  That which is forbidden always sounds attractive and promises to be sweeter than that which is blessed by God, but it is always followed by the bitter taste of remorse, regret and guilt.  The end result of going in to this wicked woman is death.  Unfortunately, there are many who have been allured by this stolen bread and water who find themselves in eternal torment because they scoffed and the woman called wise and were seduced by the woman called wicked.

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