Bible Commentaries

Wisdom and Folly

Exodus 24:13. "She is simple, and knoweth nothing." She affects simplicity. She can simper well. See, how winsome she is; how guileless, how gentle is her voice; how benignant her countenance. Take care, young unsuspecting soul. In her breast she hides the fire of hell! She is intent on working the ruin of thy life. "She hath cast down many wounded: yea, many strong men have been slain by her." Her look is blasphemy. Her sigh is a desire for blood. "As the fishes that are taken in an evil net, and as the birds that are caught in the snare; so are the sons of men snared in an evil time, when it falleth suddenly upon them." Alas! the best exhortations are often lost when the heart wanders after things forbidden. Nothing but the grace of God can quench the flames of lust. "Whoredom and wine and new wine take away the heart." The world does not go wrong for want of bitter experience and pungent testimony. "I find more bitter than death the woman, whose heart is snares and nets, and her hands as bands: whoso pleaseth God shall escape from her; but the sinner shall be taken by her." So said the wise man. Who will sell his soul for momentary gratification? Who will leap after a bubble and fall into hell? Alas! we see the right, and yet the wrong pursue. This is the tragedy of human life! This, too, is an aspect of its divinity, for it is that man is so Godlike that he can be lost. Mystery of mysteries is it that man should tempt man! Here it is the woman who tempts. Eve never dies, nor can she die as a tempter until the seducing serpent dies. But if it is woman who tempts, it is also woman who represents the beauty and nobleness of wisdom. Remember both aspects of the woman-life, nor fail to do the mother of the world justice, whether in censure or in eulogy.

Between Wisdom and Wanton there is another person, curiously, but perhaps not illogically, introduced. That other person is the Scorner. "He that reproveth a scorner getteth to himself shame;" "Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee;" "If thou scornest, thou alone shalt bear it." Is the scorner one who is travelling from Wisdom's house to the house of the foolish woman? Is he affecting contempt, or really feeling it? Does not scorn sometimes conceal fear? Young souls should beware of a flippant tone, for flippancy opens the heart-door to many intruders. Veneration gives steadiness to character, and is in very deed the seal of dignity. He who jests with things divine will soon trifle with things human. Account for it as we may, the scoffer never wins the confidence even of those who laugh at his sneers. The buffoon has no friends. When they want to be amused they may make use of him; but when they come face to face with the realities of life they shut him out of their regard and trust. He who scorns the poor shall come to penury that no man will pity. He who scorns wisdom shall "be buried with the burial of an ass." "Judgments are prepared for scorners." Blessed is the man that sitteth not in the seat of the scornful. Thus Wisdom speaks to the sons of men. Would to God they would hear and fear and turn unto the Lord!