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Proverbs 9:1-12 (ESV)
The Way of Wisdom
9 Wisdom has built her house; she has hewn her seven pillars. 2 She has slaughtered her beasts; she has mixed her wine; she has also set her table. 3 She has sent out her young women to call from the highest places in the town, 4 “Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!” To him who lacks sense she says, 5 “Come, eat of my bread and drink of the wine I have mixed. 6 Leave your simple ways, and live, and walk in the way of insight.” 7 Whoever corrects a scoffer gets himself abuse, and he who reproves a wicked man incurs injury. 8 Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you; reprove a wise man, and he will love you. 9 Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning. 10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight. 11 For by me your days will be multiplied, and years will be added to your life. 12 If you are wise, you are wise for yourself; if you scoff, you alone will bear it.
After Wisdom revealed her true identity as the eternal Jesus Christ, Wisdom gives us a personal invitation in verses 1 – 6. Her proposal is direct: “I have already built the house and prepared the feast: come and enjoy!” This helps us see that Wisdom is a gift from God that we don’t have to wait until we get to heaven to receive; we can enjoy its benefits immediately. Verses 7- 12 are a brief summary of the main points of the previous 8 chapters. Proverbs does this because repetition is a key to learning. For instance, 9:10 reinforces what we learned in 1:7.