“Wisdom” has given her invitation (1-6) and now describes how she’s received (7-12). Those who reject her are fools and mockers who hate correction, attacking those who try to help them. Every attempt to fix a fool is fruitless (7-8a). In contrast, those who are wise grow in wisdom (8b-9) and are thankful for those who help them. The fool’s mind is closed to the Lord’s while the mind of the wise is open to Him. If you’ve ever tried convincing someone who’s obstinately going the wrong way that they’re wrong, you’ve experienced something of this! The fundamental, root issue is if you fear the Lord (10-11). Remember, the fear of the Lord is a reverent belief in the God of the Bible, exclusively loving, obeying, and worshiping the One you will give an account to. The fear of the Lord is the “beginning of wisdom” in the sense that it is its foundation and fount, what it is based on and springs from (cf. 1:7). If you live fearing the Lord, that will positively affect your life (11). Ultimately you’re responsible for yourself (12), whether you’ll be wise and live from God’s perspective or be stubbornly foolish and reject Him.
- What can you learn from vv. 7-9 about the best direction to give your energies and effort?
- How do you respond when someone points out a problem in your life?
- If you don’t listen to correction, what will happen?