Dave's Diary

Daily Readings: Psalm 46 and Proverbs 9

In Proverbs 9, both Wisdom and Folly are personified as women who invite people into their homes. The plain truth is that every one of us has a clear choice in our daily lives: Shall I live in the self-disciplined, thoughtful, considered way of wisdom, or in the lazy, short-sighted way of folly?

Wisdom is presented as a gracious woman offering generous hospitality (v.1-12). “Wisdom’s Home” is characterised by permanence, solidity, and quality. Her “banquet” consists of the best of food and wine. All of this implies that those who choose to walk in the more difficult and self-disciplined ways of Wisdom’s good judgment will find in the long run that this ultimately leads to great fulfilment, true satisfaction and high quality flourishing in all of life. “Wisdom will multiply your days and add years to your life. If you become wise, you will be the one to benefit.” (v.11-12a) So, the hard work required by wisdom in the short-term, leads to long-term benefits.

Folly, by contrast, is compared to a “brash” and unpleasant woman. She is completely foolish, yet she believes that she is wise. She knows nothing but believes she knows it all. She is proud, arrogant and loud as she invites passers-by into her “home” to enjoy stolen water (as opposed to Wisdom’s high-quality wine) and “food eaten in secret”. Folly tempts us with our base desire for forbidden pleasure. In this analogy we see that foolish choices in life always seem easier and offer short-term satisfaction and reward, but behind such tempting offers lies the reality: “If you scorn wisdom, you will be the one to suffer.” (v.12b) So, the ease and apparent benefits on offer by Folly in the short-term, lead to long-term losses.

God of all Wisdom, by Your Spirit empower me to make the daily choice to live my life on the more challenging highways of Wisdom and to reject the easy road of Folly. Amen