Proverbs 9:1-18
The Word which was "in the beginning with God", which "was God", came down to speak to men, and to bring them the revelation of the Father (the subject of John’s gospel). Thus He is the Wisdom of God. The Word did not remain "with" or at the side of God. He was made flesh, and He dwelt (set up His home) among men (John 1:14), and invites them "Come, eat . . . drink" (cf. John 6:51; John 21:12). He first offers refreshment, and then instructs. The Lord first fills the heart, before occupying the spirit and the mind. For if love for Him does not precede the knowledge of the "commandments", we shall not be able to keep those commandments. Furthermore, the instruction of wisdom must start at the beginning, which is the fear of the LORD (v. 10): that is to have the sense of the authority of the One who is giving the teaching. We must behave ourselves before God with the greatest respect, recognising the importance of every one of His words. We should not read the Bible in any other way.
In the world, another voice is seeking to distract men: the voice of folly (and of sin)! It assumes the appearance of wisdom (cf. vv. 4, 16) and offers us the opportunity "to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season" (Hebrews 11:25). But let us look more closely at the faces of the guests. At its grim feast are seated . . . the dead (v. 18; Proverbs 2:18-19).