Proverbs 7
Proverbs 7:1-5 Admonition to keep the commands of wisdom close, like a relative. Perhaps the wayward woman is a metaphor for other spiritual deceits that tempt us away from God, although this chapter is quite explicit. Making a decision upfront to obey wisdom is perhaps the only way to avoid disaster.
Proverbs 7:6-9 Just wandering around, checking out the neighborhood, going to see what temptations are out there (there is indeed a rush that comes with temptation by itself), is to not make a decision, which ends up being a decision. It indicates a lack of common sense. This is not scouting enemy territory, it is walking into it unarmed.
Proverbs 7:10-21 A detailed description of the seduction process. This includes an aggressive self-introduction by a taste of what is offered (7:13), a description of what is being offered (7:16-18), and a statement about the risk being taken care of (7:19-20). The reference to the husband is possibly based on the same understanding stated earlier of the offended husband destroying the adulterer (6:34-35).
There are other temptations that lead to destruction. For example, alcohol and narcotic drugs are obvious ways to ruin your life, and the seduction process is probably pretty similar; an introduction to what is offered, a description of its consummation, and assurances that the risks are taken care of. Beyond that, the temptation to get rich or become powerful follows a similar path. I am sure there are other paths to self destruction, and Solomon is here focusing on just one, but Satan has a bag of tricks, not just one.
Proverbs 7:22-23 Yielding to temptation and paying the price. Like an ox on its way to the slaughterhouse (imagine the blood and raw meat being produced from a formerly live animal), an arrow piercing a deer’s liver (certain, painful death), or a bird entering a trap. There are many efforts in literature to communicate the pains of hell. Solomon started it.
Proverbs 7:24-27 A summary of the admonition: do not stray into the path of the adulteress, for it leads to death.
Is there the possibility of redemption when one has gone down this path? Jesus offered it to the woman caught in adultery (John 8:1-11). Did she receive His offer? We don’t know what happened after that incident. The offer was there - He did not condemn her. But He also admonished her to go and sin no more. Did she make a lifestyle change, to serve God rather than living by the flesh, by the habits and within the social framework she was used to? Was she able to change her life because of the humiliation and nearly being stoned to death? Ultimately, she could only be saved and forgiven based on Jesus’ (then future) death on the cross. What about us? Does God allow us to reap the fruit of our waywardness before death to motivate us to repent and change our ways while the opportunity is open?
Proverbs 8
Proverbs 8:1-4 The call of wisdom. Wisdom as an expression of God’s nature and character is not a separate divine being, but personification of one of His attributes.
Proverbs 8:5-9 Wisdom describes her virtues. Wisdom speaks what is trustworthy, right, true, just, and upright. Being this virtuous may not sound like an interesting life, but the rest of Proverbs (really the rest of the Bible) tells of the joy and fulfillment of this life.
Proverbs 8:10-11 Contrasting the value of wisdom to worldly wealth. Nothing we desire can compare to wisdom, so it only makes sense to choose it.
Proverbs 8:12-21 The role of wisdom in the affairs of life. Wisdom is the first of the gifts of the Holy Spirit identified by Paul. (1 Corinthians 12:8) Political power should be exercised based on wisdom (sadly not the case these days). Enduring wealth results from wise choices, because her blessings are based on righteousness and justice. Temporary wealth or political power may be obtained through evil injustice (slaveholders in the antebellum south, Nazi Germany, the USSR), but they will not endure.
Proverbs 8:22-31 The presence of wisdom in creation. Before Genesis 1:1, the Lord created wisdom. (8:22) Wisdom was there when the world was created. (8:23-26) Wisdom was present when the heavens were separated from the earth. (Genesis 1:6-8) (8:27) Wisdom was present when the ocean waters were separated from the land. (Genesis 1:9-10) (8:28-29) Wisdom was present celebrating the creation of mankind. (Genesis 1:26-27,31) (8:31) Humankind via wisdom is looking to creation as unfallen, but also has responsibility for it. (Genesis 1:26)
Proverbs 8:32-36 The blessings of finding and heeding wisdom. We need to seek and receive wisdom (God) every day to receive the promised blessing. (8:34)
Proverbs 9
Proverbs 9 Wisdom’s final appeal before revealing her secrets
Proverbs 9:1-6 Wisdom invites us to her banquet. Jesus told a parable about a man who gave a great banquet and invited many; they made excuses as to why they would not come. In the end, the man threw the banquet open to any on the street and sent his servants to first invite, then compel the poor, crippled, blind, and lame to come to his feast. The point Jesus made was that we can get preoccupied with the affairs of life in this world and miss God’s kingdom, while the down-and-out are not thusly distracted and He takes them in. (Luke 14:16-24)
There is a parallel between wisdom at the beginning Proverbs 9, and folly described in 19:13-18. Both prepare a meal. Both are at the high point of the city. (9:3&14) Wisdom sends out servants while folly herself calls out the invitation. (9:3&15) Both call out to the simple. (9:4&16) Wisdom offers meat and wine while folly offers bread and water. (9:2&17)
Jesus invites us to a meal, the Lord’s Supper, which is the ultimate call of wisdom. (Matthew 26:26-28) While there is a sacramental symbolism in celebrating the Lord’s Supper, perhaps the greatest lesson of both this chapter and Jesus’ parable is that we join with Him to dine. Just do it. It is wise to have supper with the Lord.
Proverbs 9:7-12 Contrast between the wise and mockers. God or self is the basic choice of life. Beware of self-reliance. Mockers make fun of both wisdom and those who choose to act wisely. The wise listen and love being corrected when they err. The wise receive instruction and that is why they are wise. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom (9:10) is often repeated. The wise understand the rewards of wisdom, which means ultimately those who fear God recognize the ultimate eternal rewards He offers, as well as the temporal rewards of earthly obedience to Him. Those who mock Him, His words, and His ways will suffer both loneliness in this life, and eternal separation from God.
Proverbs 9:13-18 Folly invites to her meal. See contrast with wisdom’s banquet, discussed above. Folly herself is simple and knows nothing, yet somehow folly lures people to the deep realm of death. The difference between folly and being simple is this. A simple person does not understand a lot of things (and we are all simple in that respect), but can try to do the best with what he does know. A fool doesn’t know much, but doesn’t care about doing the best, he simply does what he wants, he don’t need to listen, which inevitably means being drawn into temptation to some disastrous sin. We hear this today. Do what feels good!
After this passage, Solomon moves on to the content of wisdom. Enough cajoling and warning.







