Wisdom From the ProverbsSample

Proverbs 9

Wow, what a picture this chapter conjures up. We start today's reading by meeting Wisdom as she prepares her home. With my mind's eye, I see an elegant lady gracefully conducting herself from room to room, guiding the people in each to make the preparations, setting tables, pulling up chairs, opening windows and airing the space. She flows back to the kitchen and prepares the food for the party. She goes out from her house filled with light, filled with provision and invites, calls to, even meets the simple on their path, extending a life-giving invitation to community.

Contrast this with Lady Folly. Verse 14 shows her sitting at the door – in my mind, she is unkempt, slumped in the doorway, with no effort made; her home is dank and dark. She speaks of stolen drink and food eaten in secret – those who go into her house will have no elegant place settings meeting them, no prepared meal. Her invitation will strip life from them, not replenish and refresh.

Both women call from the highest points of the city. Hills are raised above the citizens. And if position alone were a guide to the feet of those passing by, it would be easy to think there was no distinguishing between the lady hosts. But in reality, one has prepared, worked and laboured so that when you seek her out, you will be rewarded.

The other, by contrast, has made no preparations; she doesn't even meet you on the way but just calls from where she is slumped. The journey to her house is still uphill, but the reward she offers for the climb is to glorify the selfish; to allow those making sinful choices to steal or operate in the shame of the shadows to stay where they are; not to elevate, enhance or enable a better life for those that join her in their thievery and slovenliness.

I wonder what choices you are facing today that, at first glance, may have very little between them. Take a moment to look deeper. Examine the fruit each path will offer. Examine those offering the choice metaphorically or even literally.

Is the fruit of their lives, or the fruit of this avenue, going to bring light and hope into your life? Have the preparations been made so that as you climb the hill of effort to pursue that choice, you're going to be met with an open-armed welcome?

Let Wisdom guide your choices today. Seek her out. Climb the right hill.