Chapter 9
More about wisdom. Three sections.
First section: Wisdom invites the simple to figuratively come to the feast she has prepared to nourish them. She offers a bounty to any who will come and partake. She offers this without cost or obligation.
Second section: This section offers some wise "principles". Some insight into dealing with certain kinds of people. A little about scoffers, a little about the wise.
2021, 5/9 - 7 He that reproveth a scorner getteth to himself shame: and he that rebuketh a wicked [man getteth] himself a blot. 8 Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee. [Pro 9:7-8 KJV]. It occurred to me this morning that the point of this is that we should recognize scorners and wicked men, and not waste our time trying to talk them into doing the right thing. Doing so brings only more problems with them where none existed before. Leave them alone, don't confront, don't correct, don't reason with people like this. Save your time and your breath and leave them to God's correction. Just not worth your time to "fix them". But you have to know one when you see one. Correcting one who has just made a mistake is a good thing, but you have to know his underlying character before you decide whether to reprove or not.
2021 - 11/9/21: I think these verses are making the point that we are much better off - if we have wisdom to impart, and not all of us really do - mentoring the wise, the seekers, the learners, than we can ever be trying to re-direct the arrogant scoffers. Scoffers offer no positive return, and in fact may lead to personal hurt and injury. I'd say it is almost guaranteed. Teach the seekers, don't correct the closed.
Third section: The woman "Folly" described. Again, this is about prostitutes, and the dangers of consorting with them. They lead to death.
A really good study, in Proverbs especially, would be the phrase "the fear of the Lord". This is used several times, and each time gives us information as to just what exactly this "fear" looks like. Here is an example:
13 The fear of the LORD is hatred of evil. Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate. [Pro 8:13 ESV], and there are also verses where it is phrased like this:
10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight. [Pro 9:10 ESV]
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2022 - Here are all the occurrences of "fear of the Lord" in Proverbs. There are a lot more than I expected to find:
7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction. ... 29 Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the LORD, [Pro 1:7, 29 ESV]
5 then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God. [Pro 2:5 ESV]
13 The fear of the LORD is hatred of evil. Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate. [Pro 8:13 ESV]
10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight. [Pro 9:10 ESV]
27 The fear of the LORD prolongs life, but the years of the wicked will be short. [Pro 10:27 ESV]
26 In the fear of the LORD one has strong confidence, and his children will have a refuge. 27 The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, that one may turn away from the snares of death. [Pro 14:26-27 ESV]
16 Better is a little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure and trouble with it. ... 33 The fear of the LORD is instruction in wisdom, and humility comes before honor. [Pro 15:16, 33 ESV]
6 By steadfast love and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for, and by the fear of the LORD one turns away from evil. [Pro 16:6 ESV]
23 The fear of the LORD leads to life, and whoever has it rests satisfied; he will not be visited by harm. [Pro 19:23 ESV]
4 The reward for humility and fear of the LORD is riches and honor and life. [Pro 22:4 ESV]
17 Let not your heart envy sinners, but continue in the fear of the LORD all the day. [Pro 23:17 ESV]
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2021 - I recall doing a FB post on this chapter, contrasting the invitation of Wisdom to come and dine, to leave your simple ways, to walk in the way of insight, with the invitation of Folly, where "Stolen water is sweet, and secret bread is pleasant". We can spend our lives striving for understanding, going straight ahead, turning neither right nor left, or we can hide all that we do, focus on devious, indirect methods of gain. We can live a truthful life or a deceitful one. This is a crucial choice, each and every time it occurs.