The Dead are There
In Proverbs chapter nine Solomon writes about the differences between wisdom and folly. He uses an allegory to compare the two. The allegory can be summarized as follows:
Wisdom is a woman who takes care of her home, prepares a fine meal and invites guests to feast at her table so that they may gain the benefits of life and insight. Wisdom’s call is to the simple, in order that they leave their way and walk a new path toward full understanding.
Folly is a woman who sits at the door of her house and calls to those who are walking “straight on their way”. Folly’s invited guests are not wandering around. Instead, she invites those with places to go. Those with a task to accomplish. Folly is an “unruly” woman. Her home is unkept and her way is undisciplined. Folly’s invitation is to enjoy the “sweet” taste of stolen food and water.
Wisdom and Folly are inviting each one of us to a feast. Take care which feast you attend.
Before we venture into Solomon’s conclusions on the comparison between wisdom and folly it may be a good idea to understand who and/or what we are comparing. By dictionary definition wisdom is said to be “the quality of having experience, knowledge, and good judgment.” On the other hand, folly is defined as “lack of good sense; foolishness.” So from a defined attribute standpoint we understand that wisdom is being wise and folly is being foolish.
Looking back at our scripture today, we understand from Solomon’s writings that both Wisdom and Folly invite their guests from the “highest point of the city.” Neither Wisdom nor Folly hide their actions. They are not ashamed of their invitations and want people to understand them for what they are. We also understand that Wisdom has put effort into the meal that she presents to her guests. Wisdom is hard at work to provide her guests, “the simple”, the most beneficial experience possible. Not so with Folly. Folly is a slacker. She has prepared nothing for her guests, “those straight on their way”. Instead Folly invites her guests to steal and take from others the food she admonishes them to eat. Folly sees value in taking from others and enjoying the delicacy of eating that which was stolen.
Unfortunately, many take Folly’s invitation. Many follow the way of ease that comes from stealing the production of others. It is an enticing proposition to not work for your food. Folly’s way is attractive and many a hapless wanderer falls prey to her invitation. They eat the fruit of foolishness and end up addicted to Folly’s “sweet water”.
I say these poor wanderers are unfortunate because they don’t understand what Solomon points out in his proverb. According to verse 18 of Proverbs 9, “Little do they know that the dead are there, that her guests are deep in the realm of the dead.” Folly’s got dead bodies in her basement. In fact, as far as serial killing goes, Folly is in a league of her own. The souls that have been claimed by Folly’s promises of delicious food in secret are too many to count.
Wisdom and Folly both announce their invitations, giving us the opportunity to choose to feast on that which has been thoughtfully and with great effort prepared for us by Wisdom, or to steal our food and eat with Folly that which we foolishly believe is tasty and good for our soul. We must be careful in our decision making. One way will lead us to life. It is the harder of the ways, but it is the one that moves us toward knowledge. On the other way we will follow a staircase down to foolishness and utter darkness. Folly will accompany us and laugh when at last we end our days in ignorance and without hope.
Wisdom is calling. We would be wise to listen to her.