“Wisdom is too lofty for a fool; he does not open his mouth in the gate” (Proverbs 24:7).
“My son, eat honey because it is good and the honeycomb which is sweet to your taste. So shall the knowledge of wisdom be to your soul; if you have found it, there is a prospect and your hope will not be cut off” (Proverbs 24:13-14).
The theme of “Embrace wisdom and eschew folly” runs deep and often in so many of the proverbs. One marvels at how creatively Solomon repeatedly echoes this message as he seeks to hammer it permanently into the mind of every one of his listeners.
With these two contrasting snapshots, he again repeats this theme.
Snapshot # 1: The fool (v. 7). Too lazy and disinterested to pursue wisdom, he lives impulsively, recklessly, and imprudently. In his latter years, he does not sit in the gate as a respected man among his peers. He does not open his mouth there either; he does not have any sage counsel to share. No one seeks his advice about weighty matters, because he cannot give away something he does not have.
Snapshot # 2: The wise (vv. 13-14). He loved and pursued wisdom. Like the inevitable stings of bees, obtaining wisdom was unpleasant at times but its contents were always sweet to his mind and desired by his heart. In his latter years, his soul and his hope are vibrant because of a wise, well-lived life.
Each of us gets to choose the snapshot we will have in our latter years.
Embrace wisdom and eschew folly.
