Proverbs 9.13
“The woman Folly is loud; she is seductive and knows nothing.”
Having described Lady Wisdom and her invitation, the passage now describes the woman Folly and the offer she makes. Folly is boisterous and dramatic and ostentatious. She tries to get your attention with what’s provocative and exciting.
She appeals to your passions and impulses.
She tells you what you want to hear, not what you need to hear.
She invites you to act without thinking.
She exaggerates and sensationalizes.
She seeks to deceive you with attractive lies.
But the reality is that Folly is ignorant. Despite her arrogant and assertive claims, she actually knows nothing. Folly is empty and vapid. She asserts many things with great confidence, but she is wrong. Dead wrong.
Proverbs 9.14-18
“She sits at the door of her house; she takes a seat on the highest places of the town, calling to those who pass by, who are going straight on their way, “Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!” And to him who lacks sense she says, “Stolen water is sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.” But he does not know that the dead are there, that her guests are in the depths of Sheol.”
Please note that the woman Folly tries to mimic everything that Lady Wisdom does. But Folly is a counterfeit. A fraud. This is important to keep in mind, because error masquerades as truth.
Her house is on a high place in the city, which is clearly a reference to idolatry. She calls to everyone in the town, but especially the spiritually vulnerable: “the simple.”
She seeks to seduce and deceive “him who lacks sense.” She tempts him with the attractiveness of what is forbidden. She calls to everyone, so undoubtedly at certain times in your life she has tempted you. She has called to you: “I know this is wrong, but isn’t it exciting? You want some of it, don’t you? Here … just try it … doesn’t it taste good?”
The foolish man lacks discernment, fails to discipline himself, and is taken in by the seduction. But what he discovers is that the House of Folly is the gateway to Sheol … in other words, hell. It’s habitants are the dead.
Beware the deceit of foolishness.
