Feast with Wisdom

June 28, 2020 Background Scripture: Proverbs 9 Lesson Passage: Proverbs 9:1 – 6, 8 – 10, 13 – 18 The questions one should ask about a proverb are: What should I learn from this? What timeless message is the author conveying in this proverb? And, how do I apply the message or lesson of this proverb in my life? What good are “wise sayings” if one does not extract the wisdom from them and make it profitable for one’s life? Today we examine Proverbs 9. Proverbs 9 continues with the personification of wisdom and brings alongside it the personification of foolishness. Wisdom and Foolishness are presented in contrast with each other as two hosts. Both hosts invite people into their homes for a feast. Just imagine, as a recipient of this proverb, you have been sent these two invitations. Each invitation is for a feast that the host has prepared for you. Each host is expecting an RSVP from you. How do you decide which invitation to accept? The answer is simple, however, getting to the details needed to make the decision is rather complex. There are several questions that you might need answered prior to responding to those invitations. Do you know anything about either feast? What do you know about the hosts of the feasts? Will there be other guests at either feast—and do you know any of them? What about the quality of the food? I have attended banquets where some of these questions did not have favorable answers. Sadly, I have attended those same banquets on numerous occasions. I have also declined invitations to banquets because I couldn’t ascertain answers to those questions in a timely manner, and I didn’t want to take a chance. Proverbs 9 teaches me something different. There is a relevant question that I have not asked in the past about banquets or feasts, “What kinds of preparations are made in anticipation of receiving guests?” The answer to this question is more important than the answers to the previous questions. To be sure, if the host goes out of the way to ensure all details are taken care of for the feast, then that would encompass the previous concerns. A great host knows that proper planning and preparation will produce successful outcomes. This is the only criteria that we need to apply to this proverb. The difference between the two invitations in Proverbs 9 can be seen in the preparations that are made for guests and the outcome of having indulged each. Wisdom makes elaborate preparations and then sends out invitations. The invitations are addressed to the simple and to those who lack understanding. The “main course” of the feast appears to be, “How one should respond to scoffers, the wicked, the wise, and the just.” There is nothing positive to be gained from correcting or rebuking a scoffer or the wicked. However, rebuking and teaching the wise and the just will yield even greater results than previously delivered by each. The appetizer is “Fear God.” Contrast to this the preparation of the foolish. The foolish sits in her doorway reinforcing the error of the simple and those who lack understanding. Eternal damnation awaits all who turn in to the foolish and accept her invitation. The only preparations are to allow the wayward to continue on their course to destruction. Both invitations are extended, and to be sure, people will accept both. Foolishness leads to destruction. But, for all who wish to increase their understanding and longevity of days, accept the invitation to feast with Wisdom. Robert C. Hudson June 17, 2020