I enjoyed chapter eight for its descriptive writing from the perspective of wisdom in the first person (vs. 12-31). Wisdom is more than a high level of knowledge or competency. These verses tell us that wisdom is a path. Wisdom is the correct application of learned knowledge and known experiences (and by "correct" here I mean godly or Christ-centered). The results of godly decision making are godly blessings, as described in this chapter. Read through them as an encouragement to take the tougher, but more blessed path.
Solomon continues his poetic description of wisdom in chapter nine. He again characterizes wisdom as a woman, but now also uses the same imagery to describe folly. It is amazing to read this chapter as you can picture the attributes of wisdom and folly in an actual person. He says, the woman, Folly, is loud, seductive and knows nothing (vs. 13), yet wisdom prepares a meal, sets the table and calls out to her guests (vs. 1-6). Wow! Based on these descriptions it should be easy to identify the difference between wisdom and folly. Take a note, though, that both wisdom and folly call out to you (vs. 4, 16). Both call out, yet wisdom leads to blessing and folly leads to death. The difficulty is, folly can be seductive (remember vs. 13). Folly, as compared to wisdom or virtue, is the carnal side of man and is interested only in pleasures (stolen water is sweet, stolen bread is pleasant). It is ignorant to God, wisdom, virtue and God's blessings. One of the many lessons here is we must be able to not only identify folly but to learn how to defend against the seductiveness of her ways. Continue to pray and ask God for clarity, understanding and more wisdom. As we have read in prior chapters, God is waiting to pour out His wisdom on His children, we just need to ask for it and receive it.
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