Lords Day Reflection
Proverbs 9--Wisdom's Invitation
In today’s Lord’s Day service, the text was Proverbs 9, comparing the invitations of the “Woman of Wisdom” and the “Woman of Folly.” It is a beautiful text and a clear warning of the consequences of following folly instead of wisdom.
The message can be summarized concisely: wisdom leads to life, and folly leads to death. There is no middle ground where we can avoid choosing one or the other. If we are not actively choosing wisdom, we are choosing folly by default.
As we exegeted the text, it struck me as highly “chiastic.” For those unfamiliar with the term, here is a definition:
A chiasm (or chiasmus) is a literary and rhetorical device in which words, phrases, or concepts are presented in a specific order and then repeated in reverse order, creating a symmetrical or mirrored structure. The term derives from the Greek letter chi (Χ), which visually resembles the crossing pattern of the structure.
In literature, particularly in biblical texts, a chiasm organizes ideas in an A-B-B-A pattern (or more complex variations like A-B-C-C-B-A) to emphasize a central point or theme, often highlighting the middle element. For example:
Simple chiasm: “Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country” (A-B-B-A).
Biblical example (Isaiah 6:10, NASB95):
A: “Make the heart of this people dull,
B: And their ears heavy,
B': And their eyes blind,
A': Lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and return and be healed.”
Proverbs 9 not only exhibits a chiastic pattern but is also a comparative chiasm, meaning the “A” elements communicate contrasting opposites. The text presents two mirroring characters at the ends, with the keys to discerning between them in the center.
My contention is that Proverbs 9 forms an A-B-C-D-C'-B'-A' chiasm, with D being the central teaching of the text, where we find its greatest meaning.
Let’s examine this in detail:
A and A’: We have a comparison of Wisdom’s house with Folly’s house. Proverbs 9:1-3 (NASB95) states about Wisdom:
“Wisdom has built her house, she has hewn out her seven pillars; she has prepared her food, she has mixed her wine; she has also set her table; she has sent out her maidens, she calls from the tops of the heights of the city.”
In contrast, Proverbs 9:18 (NASB95) describes the outcome of Folly’s house:
“But he does not know that the dead are there, that her guests are in the depths of Sheol.”
This thematic contrast of life versus death frames the chapter.
B and B’: Both Wisdom and Folly call out to the same type of person with nearly identical language. The Hebrew word peti is commonly translated as “naive” (referring to a young, impressionable individual) or “simple” (indicating a gullible, thoughtless person lacking understanding).
Here is the Woman of Wisdom’s call in Proverbs 9:4-6 (NASB95):
“‘Whoever is naive, let him turn in here!’ To him who lacks understanding she says, ‘Come, eat of my food and drink of the wine I have mixed. Forsake your folly and live, and proceed in the way of understanding.’”
And here is the Woman of Folly’s call in Proverbs 9:16-17 (NASB95):
“‘Whoever is naive, let him turn in here,’ and to him who lacks understanding she says, ‘Stolen water is sweet; and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.’”
Wisdom offers life and generosity, while Folly offers illicit pleasure that leads to death. Wisdom gives generously and promotes understanding, whereas Folly tempts with sweetness and hedonism, portraying stealing and isolation as pleasant.
C and C’: This section contrasts the wise, who accept correction, with scoffers, who reject it. Proverbs 9:7-9 (NASB95) teaches Wisdom’s principle:
“He who corrects a scoffer gets dishonor for himself, and he who reproves a wicked man gets insults for himself. Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you, reprove a wise man and he will love you. Give instruction to a wise man and he will be still wiser, teach a righteous man and he will increase his learning.”
In contrast, Proverbs 9:13-15 (NASB95) presents Folly’s imitation:
“The woman of folly is boisterous, she is naive and knows nothing. She sits at the doorway of her house, on a seat by the high places of the city, calling to those who pass by, who are making their paths straight.”
Notice that Folly does not promise anything substantial but instead calls out to those attempting to walk righteously, tempting them off the path. She sits high, projecting authority, while Wisdom’s setting resembles a home. (This contrast is significant and worthy of further exploration, perhaps another time.)
Before we address the central premise of Proverbs 9, consider this: If you are the person being called by both Wisdom and Folly, how do you discern the right choice? In some cases, the distinction may be clear, but often it is not. Honestly, choosing wisdom over folly is not always straightforward. You may know that folly is bad and leads to death, while wisdom is good and leads to life (though, if you are not a Christian, I might challenge how you claim to know this). Why, then, are there so many foolish people? According to the text, Folly falsely offers pleasure and goodness in rebellion, while Wisdom offers instruction and correction leading to righteousness.
D: The central teaching of Proverbs 9 answers how to choose wisdom over folly. The key is that it is not your wisdom. See Proverbs 9:10-12 (NASB95):
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. For by me your days will be multiplied, and years of life will be added to you. If you are wise, you are wise for yourself, and if you scoff, you alone will bear it.”
Do you fear the Lord? Do you know the Lord? In these verses, it is as if the Holy Spirit breaks the “fourth wall” to speak directly to us. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, the starting point.
So, who can fear the Lord? In the Classical Reformed view, only the Christian, regenerated by the Holy Spirit, can truly fear the Lord. Only the Christian, by the power of the Holy Spirit, can intentionally choose wisdom over folly. Consider Romans 5:10-11 (NASB95):
“For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. And not only this, but we also exult in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.”
Before the Holy Spirit grants new life through Christ Jesus, we are enemies of God, preferring folly over wisdom. Romans 1:21-22 (NASB95) further explains that, in our fallen state, we reject God knowingly because we love our sin:
“For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools.”
Thus, the call is clear: Choose wisdom. Fear the Lord. And navigate your life and your relationships with this understanding: most of the world operates in folly because they don’t have Christ. As Christians, it is part of our job to help them navigate people to see that true wisdom comes from the Lord and the Lord alone.
For King and for glory.