Proverbs Devotion - Day 9

Have you ever seen that show “Is it Cake?” The premise of the show is that world-class bakers compete to try and make hyper-realistic cakes that look like everyday objects. They will make these creations and then the judges have to examine the cake next to the object in order to determine which is cake and which is real. Biting into one will result in a mouthful of cake, while a mouthful of the other will result in…not cake.

This is what comes to mind when reading through Proverbs 9 today. The chapter contrasts Wisdom and Folly in order to show the results of each. What is interesting is that Folly seeks to mimic Wisdom in the invitation that is offered. Wisdom offers bread and wine and Folly offers bread and wine. Wisdom invites all who are simple to come and Folly does the same. Wisdom makes the call from the highest places in town and so does Folly. There are many things that Folly is trying to do to mimic Wisdom in order to confuse and lead people to destruction. This is a clear representation of Jesus and the world. Christ offers life, satisfaction, joy, peace, and redemption. The world offers the same. Yet, it is not the similarities between their offers that are so interesting, but their differences.

The bread that is offered by Wisdom belongs to her. The wine is mixed by her. Folly offers bread and wine that is stolen and must be partaken in secret. The simple are invited in to Wisdom where they will receive life and walk in the ways of insight. Folly invites the simple and sees them led to death. Jesus offers the work of his own hands that results in life and satisfaction. It is a work that is proclaimed boldly by all who have partaken of its redeeming power. The world offers many things that are meant to try and compete with the offer of Christ, but each of them leads to only one thing: death. That is why the offerings of the world are partaken in secret. They are shameful and produce nothing other than guilt.

The climax of this chapter asserts once again, "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.” True wisdom is never mere intellectual accumulation or secular knowledge. It begins with a humble, reverent awe of God’s holiness and a right understanding of who He is. Ultimately, this chapter forces us to examine where we draw our spiritual nourishment. Will we feed on the cheap, destructive counterfeits of Folly, or will we feast upon the true bread of life provided by God's Word? In our weakness, we are called to lean continually on the Lord's mercy and to delight in the wisdom found in Christ.