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Proverbs 9:13-18 (ESV)
The Way of Folly
13 The woman Folly is loud; she is seductive and knows nothing.14 She sits at the door of her house; she takes a seat on the highest places of the town, 15 calling to those who pass by, who are going straight on their way, 16 “Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!” And to him who lacks sense she says, 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 Sheol.
In last Sunday’s sermon, I explained that the Hebrew language of Proverbs has at least 6 distinct words for being a fool. That’s because there are many directions we can stray from God and be foolish, but only one direction toward God and God’s wisdom. In this section, we have the word “simple,” which refers to someone who is foolish because they don’t want the responsibility and effort that comes with knowing the truth. They plead the excuse, “I know nothing, I see nothing.” They choose to remain ignorant and hope for the best, or hope that somebody else will take responsibility. Whenever we say “I don’t want to know about that …” we are being this kind of fool. The problem is, like all forms of foolishness, this too leads to death! (9:18).