Proverbs 9: 1 - 6

This is the last chapter on the differences between “wisdom” and “folly,” where both are portrayed as women that a “young man” needs to choose between. After this, we will look at the small, pithy "proverbs" that this book is known for. As we have seen before, these chapters that we have been studying are being used to “teach” a young person, so they have come at the same basic premises over and over as that is one of the main ways people learn. I guess that “practice makes perfect” sort of works here, too!

Proverbs 9:1 - 6 (NKJV)

1 Wisdom has built her house,

She has hewn out her seven pillars;

2 She has slaughtered her meat,

She has mixed her wine,

She has also furnished her table.

3 She has sent out her maidens,

She cries out from the highest places of the city,

4 “ Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!”

As for him who lacks understanding, she says to him,

5 “ Come, eat of my bread

And drink of the wine I have mixed.

6 Forsake foolishness and live,

And go in the way of understanding.

In Verses 1 & 2, we see that Wisdom, FIRST, puts her own house in order, building it with seven strong pillars … and seven almost always denotes “completion.” So she isn’t going off trying to teach until after she has had a chance to grow and learn, herself. After the house is strong, then she prepares the “meat and wine” that she will share.

Verse 3 shows her (Wisdom) sending out her maidens (which would be her “messengers”) to the highest places in the city, which would be another place, like the gates, that people gather to listen, teach and discuss ideas.

In Verses 4 - 6, her message to the young in these places is, come and search for “understanding.” She implores the simple ones to “eat of my bread.” Jesus often refers to himself as “the bread of life.“

John 6:32-41 (NKJV)

32 Then Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, Moses did not give you the bread from heaven, but My Father gives you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”

34 Then they said to Him, “Lord, give us this bread always.” 35 And Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst. 36 But I said to you that you have seen Me and yet do not believe. 37 All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out. 38 For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.

39 This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day. 40 And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day.”

As we see again, Jesus IS part of Wisdom’s feast, and, all the way through scripture, the wine represents the Holy Spirit, so Wisdom is calling people to join in a feast that will bring TRUE, everlasting fulfillment and life, and as Verse 6 comments, we must leave our old, foolish ways of thinking from BEFORE turning to God, so that we will eat of this “Bread of Life.”