The 13th discourse concludes this first section of the book of Proverbs, and it contains a general summation of what we have seen up to this point. Here, Lady Wisdom invites us to her house. Unlike the house of folly seen in chapter 7, Wisdom’s house is one of celebration; she’s going to throw a party.
The invitation is extended in verses 1-6. Everyone is invited… well almost everyone. Those who are deliberately evil aren’t invited. In verses 7-10 we see the exclusions from the invitation. “Mockers” aren’t invited, for they are just evil. These are people who willfully seek to do evil; in fact, they can take almost anything and turn it into something perverse. Try to correct or give guidance to such as these, and they will hate you for it. By contrast, correct or rebuke a wise person, and they will be wiser than they were before, and that is quite a contrast.
Instruct the wise and they will be wiser still;
teach the righteous and they will add to their learning.
Psalm 9:9
Each person has it within his or her power to choose the right path, the path of wisdom and godliness. Many will do so, but more will not, preferring the ways of folly and mockery of all that is virtuous and godly. Following God’s path is its own reward and will add to one’s days. This is because through godly wisdom, a person will more likely be able to avoid those paths that lead to a premature or violent death. You will recall that Jesus expanded upon this notion by teaching that those who choose to follow God’s path will receive the gift of eternal life.
Folly also has a house. It is represented by an “unruly” woman who calls out her invitation to passers-by. Her house is no mansion supported by seven pillars, instead it is an ordinary house in the “highest” part of town: interesting imagery. She sits on the porch and calls out to people going by who have no thought of doing anything wrong; all she has to do is tempt them inside. Both Lady Wisdom and Ms Folly invite the “simple” and it seems that then as now, these are the ones in whom the battle is waged for souls. They haven’t made a final decision as to where their lives are going, whether they will follow the path of wisdom or folly. Lady Wisdom prepared food and drink to share with her guests, Ms Folly advocates stolen waters and secret eating in a metaphorical allusion to adulterous relations.
Lady Wisdom’s guests are shown the ways of knowledge and wisdom that add to the days of a person’s life. Ms Folly seeks to set a person on the road to ruin and death. It’s almost as though I’ve heard this story before…
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