Wisdom and Folly Speak to the Simple in Proverbs 9

Brokenness and loss deliver a pivotal moment when you need to seek the way of wisdom and insight. We are all simple people in need of deep wisdom. Introduce grief to a simpleton and the stage is set for upheaval.  Confusion emerges from shock and numbness. It’s a painful and vulnerable time with monumental consequences.

Enter Wisdom.

“Wisdom has built her house… She has sent out her young women to call from the highest places in the town, ‘Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!’ To him who lacks sense she says, ‘Come, eat of my bread and drink of the wine I have mixed. Leave your simple ways, and live, and walk in the way of insight.’” Proverbs 9:1, 3-6

We are all simple and vulnerable. Solomon introduces wisdom as the antidote we need. Wisdom, from the high places of the town, calls out to the simple to acknowledge your need to detour and turn in. She continues and calls on you to admit you lack sense and turn in to come and eat bread and have drink. The invitation is to leave your simple ways and to leave your unwise thinking. The simple are invited to live and walk the way of insight. Wisdom and insight are gifts offered to the simple.

And we are all simple people in need of wisdom and knowledge.

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.” Proverbs 9:10

The simple are made wise when you fear the Lord. Awe, respect, honor, and fear of the Lord begin your journey toward wisdom. Knowledge of the Holy One begins your journey toward insight.

Simple people need wisdom and insight.

This proverb does not question whether you are simple or not. We are all simple. We all need wisdom and insight. Wisdom offers that whoever is simple should turn in, come, eat, drink, leave your simple ways, live, and walk in the way of insight.

“You shall never get into a higher class in the school of wisdom than the class which Christ teaches.” C. H. Spurgeon, The Risen King

However, this offer from Wisdom is not the only offer on the table.

Enter Folly.

Conversely, the woman Folly contradicts Wisdom using a similar sounding offer.

“The woman Folly is loud…calling to those who pass by, who are going straight on their way, ‘Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!’ And to him who lacks sense she says, ‘Stolen water is sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.’” Proverbs 9:13, 15-17

Wisdom says to turn in here if you are simple. Folly, similarly, says to turn in here if you are simple. Both call out to you and make promises. Again, we are all simple. And both Wisdom and Folly call out to us to turn aside and turn in.

Wisdom says if you lack sense to come and eat of the bread and drink offered. Folly, with a tempting offer, says if you lack sense to come and have sweet stolen water and pleasant bread eaten in secret.

Sweet stolen water and pleasant bread eaten in secret. It’s tempting. It sounds good.

Loss is a time of great vulnerability. If you are simple and in need of wisdom, you are in even greater need when injured by loss. Loss delivers confusion and vulnerability to the simple.

And we are all simple.

Wisdom and Folly both come after you seeking to either help you or hurt you. They make similar sounding promises. The choice you make is consequential.

Wisdom or Folly?

“You shall never get into a higher class in the school of wisdom than the class which Christ teaches.” C. H. Spurgeon, The Risen King

If you choose Folly, Solomon ends by telling you that the dead are there and Folly’s guests are in the depths of Sheol. Again, consequential.

We are all simple. Both Wisdom and Folly speak to us.

Choose Wisdom.

“Then I saw that there was more gain in wisdom than in folly, as there is more gain in light than in darkness.” Ecclesiastes 2:13

“So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.” Psalm 90:12