The only key out of that jail is truth.”
–Ron Schwab (Old Dogs)
“I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.”
“I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.”
–3 John 4 (NIV)
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In these last few verses from Proverbs 9, we see that Folly promises sweetness and delicacy but delivers death and hell. Bob Beasley says, “Folly is just like those she calls, and she’s heading ultimately to the same place. She is undisciplined and knows no shame, nor has she knowledge of the Holy One.”
13 — A foolish woman is clamorous; she is simple, and knows nothing.
14 — For she sits at the door of her house, on a seat by the highest places of the city.
15 — To call to those who pass by, who go straight on their way:
16 — “Whoever is simple, let him turn in here”; and as for him who lacks understanding, she says to him,
17 — “Stolen water is sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.”
18 — But he does not know that the dead are there, that her guests are in the depths of hell. (NKJV)
The “clamorous,” which means “violently excited” or “bustling”. I like the way the NLT translates this verse. “The woman named Folly is loud and brash. She is ignorant and doesn’t even know it.” The path to wisdom, we have seen, is intentional. “We don’t drift into holiness, and we don’t drift into a life marked by wisdom.” (Mike Leake) We instead have the tendency to drift towards the banquet hall of Folly and as the Prodigal we must come to our senses. Dan Dick warns us, “When we allow ourselves to be distracted from our pursuit of God, the results can be disastrous. Sin, which leads us from our pursuit of the Lord, can pull us into situations that we don’t want to be in, but before we can change them we are trapped.” Therefore, be forewarned and listen to godly instruction.
The foolish woman doesn’t go out and seek, people come to her. Foolishness (Folly) runs a college, it sets forth what appears to be a marvelous feast; one that is appealing to the senses. “Turn in here,” might be better said, “Come in, ignorant people!” Or maybe better yet, “Come in dummy, and taste.” Remember what I wrote earlier in our study, “You can fix ignorance, but stupidity is fatal.” (Don Edwards) Her call is as the mirage of the desert, promising relief to the weary soul, promising refreshing, but it is phony and deceptive and its end is death.
“The power of sin lies in its pleasure” (Arnot). This foolish woman holds her hands out, promises secret enjoyment. Hmm, notice the folly offered by the serpent, the deceiver in the Garden. The serpent offered the deception and Eve fell for it. “Then the serpent said to the woman, ‘You will not surely die. For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.'” (Genesis 3:4-5, NKJV) Here, God is holding back on you. Here, eat the forbidden fruit; taste that it is good. However, that taste, that bite would lead to disaster, and the way to hell was now open.
The words of Lord Byron relate strongly to this passage:
“My days are in the yellow leaf,
The flowers and fruits of love are gone;
The worm, the canker, and the grief
are mine alone.”
Take time to compare and contrast the Way of Wisdom with the Way of Folly. Examine your walk. “Though she gets lots of attention, her appeal makes sense only to him who lacks understanding.” (NKJV Study Bible) Heed the words of the Lord.
—————————–
In these last few verses from Proverbs 9, we see that Folly promises sweetness and delicacy but delivers death and hell. Bob Beasley says, “Folly is just like those she calls, and she’s heading ultimately to the same place. She is undisciplined and knows no shame, nor has she knowledge of the Holy One.”
13 — A foolish woman is clamorous; she is simple, and knows nothing.
14 — For she sits at the door of her house, on a seat by the highest places of the city.
15 — To call to those who pass by, who go straight on their way:
16 — “Whoever is simple, let him turn in here”; and as for him who lacks understanding, she says to him,
17 — “Stolen water is sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.”
18 — But he does not know that the dead are there, that her guests are in the depths of hell. (NKJV)
The “clamorous,” which means “violently excited” or “bustling”. I like the way the NLT translates this verse. “The woman named Folly is loud and brash. She is ignorant and doesn’t even know it.” The path to wisdom, we have seen, is intentional. “We don’t drift into holiness, and we don’t drift into a life marked by wisdom.” (Mike Leake) We instead have the tendency to drift towards the banquet hall of Folly and as the Prodigal we must come to our senses. Dan Dick warns us, “When we allow ourselves to be distracted from our pursuit of God, the results can be disastrous. Sin, which leads us from our pursuit of the Lord, can pull us into situations that we don’t want to be in, but before we can change them we are trapped.” Therefore, be forewarned and listen to godly instruction.
The foolish woman doesn’t go out and seek, people come to her. Foolishness (Folly) runs a college, it sets forth what appears to be a marvelous feast; one that is appealing to the senses. “Turn in here,” might be better said, “Come in, ignorant people!” Or maybe better yet, “Come in dummy, and taste.” Remember what I wrote earlier in our study, “You can fix ignorance, but stupidity is fatal.” (Don Edwards) Her call is as the mirage of the desert, promising relief to the weary soul, promising refreshing, but it is phony and deceptive and its end is death.
“The power of sin lies in its pleasure” (Arnot). This foolish woman holds her hands out, promises secret enjoyment. Hmm, notice the folly offered by the serpent, the deceiver in the Garden. The serpent offered the deception and Eve fell for it. “Then the serpent said to the woman, ‘You will not surely die. For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.'” (Genesis 3:4-5, NKJV) Here, God is holding back on you. Here, eat the forbidden fruit; taste that it is good. However, that taste, that bite would lead to disaster, and the way to hell was now open.
The words of Lord Byron relate strongly to this passage:
“My days are in the yellow leaf,
The flowers and fruits of love are gone;
The worm, the canker, and the grief
are mine alone.”
Take time to compare and contrast the Way of Wisdom with the Way of Folly. Examine your walk. “Though she gets lots of attention, her appeal makes sense only to him who lacks understanding.” (NKJV Study Bible) Heed the words of the Lord.