June 5

Proverbs 7-9 (biblegateway.com)

The Call of Wisdom: Choosing the Better Voice

Proverbs 7–9 offers a vivid contrast between the seductive lure of folly and the noble call of wisdom. Solomon, as a wise father, again urges his son—and all who would listen—to treasure godly instruction and resist the powerful temptations that lead to ruin. These chapters move beyond practical warnings into poetic personifications: Lady Wisdom and Lady Folly each cry out in the streets, inviting the simple to follow. One offers life, truth, and fellowship with God; the other, death cloaked in pleasure. This section of Proverbs is a call to discernment in a world filled with competing voices. As readers, we are asked not just to admire wisdom but to respond—to choose our teacher, our path, and ultimately our destiny.

Proverbs 7 – The Lure of Sin and the Protection of Wisdom

Proverbs 7 is a poignant, dramatic warning against the seductive power of sin, especially sexual temptation. The chapter opens with a father’s passionate appeal to his son: to keep his commandments, treasure his teachings, bind them on his fingers, and write them on the tablet of his heart (v. 1-3). The words my son (and “my sons”) are used frequently and probably refer to Solomon’s own son(s) because of the reference to their mother in 1:8.

Wisdom and insight are personified as close companions, like a sister or an intimate friend, emphasizing the depth and constancy of their guidance (v. 4). The father then recounts a real-life parable. From his window, he sees a naive young man walking into danger. He is void of understanding, heading toward the house of an adulteress at twilight, a time when darkness invites secrecy and temptation (v. 6-9). The woman described is bold and crafty, dressed to seduce, speaking lies cloaked in flattery. She makes the forbidden sound enticing and spiritual, claiming she has offered sacrifices and is now seeking him alone (v. 10-15).

Her home is portrayed as luxurious and intoxicating, filled with perfumes and promises of pleasure, but her invitation is laced with deception and death (v. 16-21). The young man follows her like an ox going to slaughter, unaware that this decision is costing him his soul (v. 22-23). The chapter ends with a final plea: “Do not let your heart turn aside to her ways” because “her house is the way to Sheol” (v. 24-27). The message is clear. Sin never delivers what it promises and always leads to ruin.

This proverb reveals the devastating power of temptation when wisdom is neglected. Sin disguises itself with beauty, pleasure, and persuasive words, but behind its mask is destruction. Wisdom, rooted in God’s Word, is the only defense. This also echoes the deeper biblical truth that our hearts are the battleground (Jeremiah 17:9), and only God can give us the strength to resist temptation (1 Corinthians 10:13).

Temptation is most powerful when we are unguarded or spiritually passive. This chapter urges us to keep God’s Word close, to live alert, and to recognize the early signs of compromise. Be aware of the emotional and spiritual twilight hours, those vulnerable moments when your heart is more easily persuaded. Temptation often comes wrapped in familiarity and disguised as affection, approval, or need.

Where are you lingering too close to the edge of temptation? Is there an area where your heart has started to drift? Turn back while you can. Bind God’s truth on your heart, speak it to your soul, and surround yourself with wise voices. Ask the Lord for discernment to recognize the traps and for the strength to walk away, even when it costs you something.

Proverbs 8 – The Glory and Eternal Voice of Wisdom

Proverbs 8 is a majestic and poetic tribute to wisdom, personified as a noble woman calling out to humanity. Unlike the seductive whispers of folly in chapter 7, Wisdom raises her voice openly in the public places, on the heights, by the crossroads, at the gates of the city (v. 1-3). She calls to all people, offering understanding to the simple and urging them to listen to her noble and righteous words (v. 4-9). Her speech is true, straight, and valuable, far more desirable than silver, gold, or jewels (v. 10-11). Wisdom is morally excellent and spiritually discerning; she dwells with prudence and offers counsel, sound judgment, insight, and strength (v. 12-14). Through her, kings reign and rulers govern justly (v. 15), and she promises blessings and honor to those who love her and diligently seek her (v. 17-21).

In a breathtaking turn, Wisdom then speaks of her existence before creation. She was with God “at the beginning of His way,” before the depths, mountains, or foundations of the earth (v. 22-29). She was beside Him as a “master workman,” rejoicing always before Him, delighting in His creation and in humanity (v. 30-31). (see ANE connection)

This passage not only elevates the role of wisdom in the created order but also hints at the divine Logos, the preexistent Word fulfilled in Christ (John 1:1-3). The chapter concludes with an impassioned appeal: “Blessed is the one who listens to me… for whoever finds me finds life and obtains favor from the Lord” (v. 32-35), but those who ignore her “injure themselves,” and all who hate her “love death” (v. 36).

Proverbs 8 reveals wisdom as an eternal and divine attribute of God. Wisdom is not just a life skill but is woven into the fabric of creation and moral order. This personification anticipates Christ, “in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Colossians 2:3). God’s wisdom is not hidden but proclaimed, available to all who humbly seek it. It is both a moral compass and the means by which life flourishes.

Are you listening for the voice of wisdom? In a world filled with competing voices, many of them loud, persuasive, and self-serving, God’s wisdom still calls out in the open through His Word, His Spirit, and the counsel of the godly. Seeking wisdom is not optional for the believer. It is essential for living a life that honors God and brings blessings to others. The wisdom of God anchors us in truth, guards us from deception, and leads us to fruitfulness.

How diligently are you pursuing wisdom? Are you treating it as more valuable than wealth, status, or comfort? Take inventory of your influences, decisions, and habits. Choose to listen to wisdom daily, through time in Scripture, prayer, and community with wise believers. Ask God for a heart that treasures His wisdom above all else, and walk in the confidence that it brings life, favor, and joy.

Proverbs 9 – Two Invitations: Wisdom or Folly

Proverbs 9 draws the book’s opening section to a close by presenting a dramatic contrast between two women—Lady Wisdom and Woman Folly—each extending an invitation. Wisdom is depicted as a noble hostess who has built her house, prepared her feast, and sent out her maidens to call from the high places of the city (v. 1-6). (see note below on seven pillars)

Her invitation is to the simple and those lacking sense: “Come, eat of my bread and drink of the wine I have mixed. Leave your simple ways, and live” (v. 5-6). Her house represents a life of truth, understanding, and covenant fellowship. This imagery evokes spiritual hospitality, a banquet of truth and discernment that leads to life and godliness. Her call is intentional, prepared, and nourishing.

In the middle of the chapter (v. 7-12), Solomon inserts a reflection on how different people respond to instruction. A wise person welcomes correction and grows from it, while a scoffer rejects it and becomes hostile. “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” (v. 10) is repeated as a core theme. True wisdom begins with a reverent submission to God. Wisdom is not just about intellectual ability but moral humility before the Lord.

In sharp contrast, Woman Folly is loud, seductive, and ignorant (v. 13-18). She, too, sits at the highest places of the city, mimicking Wisdom’s position, but her message is deceptive. She calls to the same simple-minded: “Stolen water is sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant” (v. 17). Her promise appeals to secrecy and sinful indulgence. But her house is a trap. The guests who enter are unaware that “the dead are there” (v. 18). What she offers ends in destruction.

This chapter reveals that wisdom and folly both make competing spiritual appeals, but only one leads to life. Wisdom is rooted in the fear of the Lord and a right relationship with God that shapes all of life. The seduction of folly is not just immoral behavior; it is rebellion against God’s way, which leads to spiritual death. The choice between wisdom and folly is ultimately a choice between life and death, truth and deception, God’s way and the world’s way.

Every day, we are faced with the voices of wisdom and folly, whether through media, relationships, cultural values, or our own desires. Are you discerning which voice you follow? Are you willing to be corrected, even rebuked, if it means growing in wisdom? God’s wisdom may not always feel easy or comfortable, but it will never deceive you or lead you to harm. It builds, nourishes, and blesses. Don’t ignore the call of wisdom because folly is louder or more enticing.

Whose table are you sitting at—Wisdom’s or Folly’s? Examine where you spend your time and what influences you most. Ask God for ears to hear the call of wisdom and for courage to leave behind what is simple, immature, or self-serving. Seek out wise counsel, read Scripture with a humble heart, and let the fear of the Lord govern your choices. Make intentional decisions that feed your soul with what leads to life.

Conclusion

The final chapters of Solomon’s introduction to Proverbs leave us with a clear, eternal choice: embrace the fear of the Lord and live, or follow the wayward voices of folly and perish. The poetic contrast between Wisdom’s banquet and Folly’s deceptive feast illustrates the spiritual reality behind our daily decisions. Wisdom offers truth, protection, and an intimate relationship with God, while folly offers fleeting pleasure that ends in regret and destruction. This is more than moral guidance—it is a gospel call. To follow wisdom is to align our lives with the character of Christ Himself, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge (Colossians 2:3). The call still echoes today: Which voice will you heed?

Footnotes:

Proverbs 8:30 – Wisdom as Craftsman or Child. R. Murphy insightfully connects this verse to the divine name “I am” in Exodus 3:14, highlighting wisdom’s close association with God as Creator. If wisdom is viewed as a “master craftsman” working alongside God, it aligns well with Proverbs 3:19, where wisdom is foundational to creation. Alternatively, some translations interpret the figure not as a craftsman but as a “little child” at God’s side—delighting in His presence and the unfolding wonder of creation, carefree and joyful. This image resonates with the Egyptian concept of Maat, the “child of the gods” whose play brings joy to the divine. Similar creative motifs appear in Mesopotamian texts, such as Marduk forming humans in the Enuma Elish, and the competition between Nintu-Mami and Ea-Enki to craft humans from clay in the Atrahasis Epic. Egyptian theology also portrays the god Ptah as a divine artisan shaping creation. Moreover, Akkadian traditions describe seven great sages—revered as ancient craftsmen—who emerged after the flood to impart wisdom to early kings. These parallels highlight the widespread ancient Near Eastern view of wisdom as intimately involved in the creative process, whether as a skilled artisan or a joyful child in the presence of divine power.

—Adapted from The IVP Bible Background Commentary: Old Testament, Victor Harold Matthews, Mark W. Chavalas, and John H. Walton.

Proverbs 9:1 – The Seven Pillars of Wisdom’s House. Scholars have proposed a variety of interpretations for the “seven pillars” supporting Wisdom’s house. These symbolic structures have been linked to the firmaments of the heavens, the planets, the days of creation, the books of the Law, and even the seven sages of ancient Mesopotamia. A parallel appears in the Ugaritic epic of Baal and Anat, where the high god El resides in “the seven chambers of wisdom, the eight halls of judgment,” possibly reflecting a cosmic or divine architecture. R. Murphy offers an intriguing interpretation, proposing that the book of Proverbs itself, with its structured chapters, could be envisioned as Wisdom’s house. In Sumerian literature, such imagery also appears: the lament over Eridu describes Eanna, the temple of Enki (the god of wisdom), as having seven niches and seven flames. Together, these images underscore the sacred, ordered, and enduring nature of wisdom’s dwelling across ancient traditions.

—Adapted from The IVP Bible Background Commentary: Old Testament, Victor Harold Matthews, Mark W. Chavalas, and John H. Walton.