Proverbial Wisdom: Feasting on Wisdom

 Read Proverbs 9

Chapter 9 is another poetic proverb giving us a description of wisdom as a woman preparing a house.  In chapter 8, we saw Wisdom at work in creation, but here we see her having built a spacious house (seven pillars) where she has prepared a sumptuous banquet.  Much like our Lord Jesus Christ is doing for us in heaven, preparing a place for us and preparing the Marriage Supper of the Lamb.  The Jewish people didn’t use their flocks and herds for food, so opportunities to eat things like roast beef or lamb were not common and a very exciting event.  The table would be spread with the finest foods and rare foods and wine that were not commonly ate.  Much like a Thanksgiving, Christmas, or Easter meal.  Only the finest was at this table and that’s what we receive when we partake in the wisdom of the Lord, only the finest instruction there is.  Not only that, but God has prepared us this table not to just be admired, but to be consumed.  It should nourish us every day and God is daily inviting us to his table.  Just as a proper diet asks for nourishment every day, we must nourish ourselves with the Word of God on a daily basis.  How often are you eating from God’s table of wisdom?  How often do you go to the Word of God for guidance in your life?  I’m amazed at how often we as Christians will go to self help books, social media, and other sources for instruction and guidance in our lives, when we have the perfect source in God’s Word.  It has everything we need and will fulfill our hunger and needs.

Instead of Wisdom going out herself as in the previous two “calls”, Wisdom sent her servants to the highest places of the city to invite people to the feast.  It was customary in those times for a host or hostess to issue two invitations.  The first one, given some days in advance of the feast; the second one, given the day of the feast, would ascertain who was actually coming.   Knowing the approximate number of the guests, the cooks could then prepare enough food in order to have plenty for everybody with absolutely nothing wasted.  We don’t read here of any preliminary invitation.  Instead we hear the same call that the Holy Spirit calls to all of us, to simply, “Come.”  Come right now.  Do not delay, the table is prepared, and God has a place for you at His table.  All you must do is simply surrender yourself to the Lord Jesus Christ. 

God invites us to the feast of wisdom and instruction.  He invites us to be like the wise man.  To be rebuked at times, but to understand that during those times of correction, we accept the correction as a wise person to help us lead a more fruitful life.  If we eat from the table of wisdom from God, then it is a healthy meal and will be one that will extend our life.

However, we are invited to another meal and we must be careful not to enter.  The foolish woman sits in front of her house and tries to entice us to have dinner with her.  She calls to us telling us how good her food is but it’s all just junk food that may temporarily satiate our hunger but it will only leave us hungry moments later.  It’s also unhealthy food that will eventually lead to an early death.  This is the wisdom of the world.  God does not want us to partake of this meal.  If we listen to the advice of the world which goes against the knowledge of God, then we will not have a successful life, but one that will be short lived.

If we listen to things like, “look out for yourself”, “look out for number one”, “it’s not a big deal”, etc when it comes to sinful living, our lives will be cut short.  Think about the past sins in your life and maybe some of the disasters you have found yourself in.  Could it have been because instead of the nourishing feast of wisdom from the Lord, could it have been because you partook of the fast food of folly?