The Ways of Wisdom and Scoffers

Proverbs 9:1-12

1 Wisdom has built her house,
She has hewn out her seven pillars;
2 She has slaughtered her meat,
She has mixed her wine,
She has also furnished her table.

3 She has sent out her maidens,
She cries out from the highest places of the city,
4 "Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!"
As for him who lacks understanding, she says to him,

5 "Come, eat of my bread
And drink of the wine I have mixed.
6 Forsake foolishness and live,
And go in the way of understanding.

7 "He who corrects a scoffer gets shame for himself,
And he who rebukes a wicked man only harms himself.
8 Do not correct a scoffer, lest he hate you;
Rebuke a wise man, and he will love you.

9 Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser;
Teach a just 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 understanding.
11 For by me your days will be multiplied,
And years of life will be added to you.

12 If you are wise, you are wise for yourself,
And if you scoff, you will bear it alone."

The ways of scoffers is contrasted with the way of wisdom here to demonstrate the far better way of seeking understanding over those rejecting God’s words of wisdom.  Wisdom sets a good table for feasting and sacrifice which honor God and bring blessings on us in our participation.  Wisdom cries out as servant messengers from the highest places to be heard by many (Matthew 5:14-16, 10:27, Luke 12:3, Philippians 2:15-16).  The message is not to wise philosophers or brilliant people resting in their own ability, but in the simplicity of humility (2 Corinthians 1:12, 11:3), that they may turn towards hearing godly wisdom and seek true and lasting understanding there.  Wisdom cries out to us to eat heartily from her words (Jeremiah 15:16) and to run away from continuing in the foolishness of sin.  We are called to go in the way of understanding which comes from God’s word to bring us to meet wisdom face to face on her way, not the way of the scoffers who ridicule and sneer at the truth and righteousness of that understanding.  Scoffers who reject God’s word and His messengers bringing words of wisdom would rather just let it be instead of seeking out wisdom in that truth.  Scoffers cannot be corrected or rebuked for their wickedness, which is why judgment is for the house of God (1 Peter 4:17).  We cannot correct wicked men nor those mocking God’s wisdom; that only brings hatred on us and further harm to the perpetrator.  But we can correct (Hebrews 10:24-25) the wise man who has understanding that he may gain a heart of wisdom (Psalm 90:12).  The wise hear and heed God’s word (2 Timothy 3:16-17) to grow wiser in their learning as a disciple, a follower of Christ and His word.  This wisdom and understanding begins with a true fear and awe of God (Luke 12:4-5); understanding Him is deep understanding of who we are and where we stand apart from His grace, mercy, and love freely given to His chosen ones whom He has called out of darkness into such wonderful light (1 Peter 2:9, Acts 26:18, 2 Corinthians 4:6)!  Wisdom adds much to our days, whether in a long life or in the depth and meaning of each short day we have on this earth.  If we then are wise, we reap the goodness of wisdom, but the scoffers who reject Him and her will bear their own punishment of the consequences.  These are the ways of wisdom and scoffers.