The Big Idea of this study is that wisdom bids us to build a home full of wisdom that requires understanding and knowledge, but there will be other competing voices calling out to us, don’t go there.

In the book of Proverbs wisdom is often personified and depicted as a woman who builds a house.  Lady wisdom calls to the youthful to come and enjoy the benefits of living a wise life.  This image is set in contrast to another kind of woman, often a prostitute, who also calls out to come and enjoy her favours. Our text reminds us that both wisdom and folly appeal to us. Wisdom requires effort to be effective (build a house).  Understanding and knowledge often don’t come easily.

On the other hand, folly or Lady Folly, who tends to call out more loudly and boisterously, promises easy pickings. “Stolen water and food eaten in secret is delicious” (9:17). The idea of folly as a home or a place of residence that becomes a trap or house of horrors has a long history in North American lore.  Songs like Hotel California and The House of the Rising Sun depict very similar motifs to our Biblical Proverbs.  In the teaching of Jesus the wide and narrow pathways of Matthew 7:13-14 teach a similar lesson. Be careful where you go, dire consequences result from poor choices.

Questions for Discussion:

1.  Discuss the house or home motif as it depicts wisdom and folly. Does this still resonate with our culture? Why or why not?

2.  What are the rare and beautiful treasures found in the house of wisdom?

3.  Compare the effort to gain the house of wisdom with that of the house of folly.  Have you found this to be true?

4.  Why are forbidden things so attractive?

5.  What is the take home lesson from these proverbs? How should we then live?