Wisdom and Folly Part 2: Proverbs 4-6

These chapters in Proverbs had a whole lot more to say about Folly/the Strange Woman.

So many thoughts that pop out at me. The virtuous woman is not one to gossip, thinks about the paths before her and walks accordingly on the path of light (wow!). And listens to instruction and knowledge.
The Strange Woman despises instruction and knowledge and her path is one of darkness on which she stumbles along not thinking about the way she has chosen.
One thing that stands out to me as I do this comparison is how the Virtuous Woman description has depth. Whereas the Strange Woman is only characterized by the externals. Her eyes, her tongue, her speech. Her actions, attitudes, words, and appearance all give her away. It seems that the Virtuous Woman would be more reserved. And not known by what she does, but rather what she does not do, or does not say. Just interesting.

Wisdom/Virtuous Woman	Folly/Strange Woman
Listens to instruction 4:1	Wicked and violent 4:17
A high prize 4:8	Way is deep darkness 4:19
Path is light 4:18	They do not know what makes them stumble 4:19
Guards her heart with vigilance 4:23	Crooked speech 4:24
Thinks about the path she chooses 4:26	Lips that drip honey 5:3
Uses discretion 5:2	Speech smoother than oil 5:3
Lips that guard knowledge 5:2	Bitter and sharp speech 5:4
Led by wise instruction 6:22	Follow the path of destruction 5:5
See’s teaching and instruction as a light to their path 6:23	Does not think about the path she chooses 5:6
	Wanders without thinking 5:6
	Hates discipline 5:12
	Despises reproof 5:12
	Does not listen to teachers or instructors 5:13
	Held in sin 5:22
	Lazy 6:6 6:9
	Worthless 6:12
	Perverted heart 6:14
	Haughty eyes 6:17
	Lying tongue 6:17
	hands that shed innocent blood 6:18
	Feet that run to do evil 6:18
	False witness who breathes out lies 6:19
	Sows discord 6:19
	Captures with her eyelashes 6:25
	Commits adultery 6:32
	Lacks sense 6:32
	Gets Wounds and dishonor 6:33

Wisdom and Folly or the Virtuous Woman and Strange Woman?

My husband challenged me as I read Proverbs to do a comparison chart and view wisdom and folly as the virtuous woman and strange woman. We all know that Proverbs was written by Solomon to his son. So, it makes sense that to relate to his son, Solomon would talk in comparison to the right and wrong woman. Interesting thought. Today I read Proverbs 1-3 and it was easy to see the traits of a virtuous woman verses the traits of a strange woman. Check out the chart below and strive today to put on the traits of wisdom! I will be sharing my charts over the next few days as I travel through proverbs!

Wisdom/Virtuous Woman	Folly/Strange Woman
Fears the Lord 1:7	Despise wisdom and instruction 1:7
Does not walk in the way of fools 1:15	Feet run to evil 1:16
Has security 1:33	Delight in scoffing 1:22
Does not fear disaster 1:33	Greedy of unjust gain 1:19
Knowledge is pleasant 2:10	Hate knowledge 1:22 1:29
Understands righteousness, justice, and equity 2:9	Refuse to listen to wisdom 1:24
Walks in integrity 2:7	Did not choose to fear the Lord 1:29
Saved for the upright 2:7	Destroyed by complacency 1:32
Given by God 2:6	Perverted speech 2:12
Delivered from evil 2:12	Forsake the paths of uprightness 2:13
Inhabit the land 2:21	Walk in darkness 2:13
Trusts in the Lord 3:5	Rejoice in doing evil 2:14
Honors the Lord with wealth 3:9	Delight in perverseness 2:14
Better than silver and gold 3:14	Ways are crooked and devious 2:15
More precious than jewels 3:15	Smooth words 2:16
Hands hold long life, riches, and honor 3:16	Forsakes the companion of her youth 2:17
Ways are pleasant 3:17	Forgets the covenant of her God 2:17
Paths are peace 3:17	House sinks to death 2:18
Tree of life 3:18	Depends on own understanding 3:5
Inherit’s honor 3:35	Wise in own eyes 3:7
	Despises discipline 3:11
	Get’s disgrace 3:35

Thoughts as I begin reading about Solomon.

As I ponder the life of David, (that I just finished reading about) and begin reading about Solomon, and catch glimpses of the heart of this man, I am struck by a single thought. Our legacy is important. 

David did not live a perfect life. He dealt with anger, lust, and adultery. Yet, he was called a "man after God's own heart." I look at his life and see how God can take our sin cursed lives and turn them into something beautiful. 

Just beginning in the life of Solomon, much is shown of his heart. He loved his Lord. He cared much for his people and the responsibility before him as their king. So much so that when God asked him what one thing he desired, he asked for wisdom and understanding to better lead and guide his people! 

If God came to you and asked you what one thing you desired, what would your response be? Would you ask for riches and power? Or would you ask for wisdom on how you can better lead and guide your family? 

We live in a materialistic world. I am sure Solomon also lived in a world where "things" were what counted towards ones wealth in the eyes of man. 

Back to the legacy. Solomon had the guidance from a man who was not perfect, who made wrong choices in his life, who stumbled in his walk with God. He saw firsthand how sin could destroy a man's life and the lives of others. His father was king David! 

No, we are not royalty. No, we do not have nations to lead. But we have precious lives of the children that God has given to us. Children who will see our low moments in life. Who will see us fail and make mistakes and sin against God. But do our children also see us raised up again by God to worship Him in the midst of our darkest moments in life? Are we teaching our children about the heart of God? Are we teaching our children about sin? Are we teaching our children about the redeeming power of the Gospel? Or are we just correcting behavior? I am preaching to myself today. 

So many times I desire my children act a certain way to please me. This is not altogether bad, but if all I reach is the outward actions and lose their hearts, then I have failed as a parent! 

I need to reach their hearts! I need to teach them what a redeemed heart looks like! I need to lead their hearts to God so that they can then give God their hearts and lives! 

As parents we have a very large and overwhelming task before us. A task that, without God, is truly impossible. Let us strive to be parents after God's heart and also parents after the hearts of our children! Let us ask God for wisdom and knowledge to lead these little ones that we have been entrusted with. Just as Solomon learned to love God from the legacy of his father, let us start a similar legacy that teaches our children to love God as a result of our lives!