#1329. Proverbs 9:1–6 – Wisdom invites to a feast (14/8/25)
- Matt Beaney
- Aug 14
- 4 min read
Welcome to this Come to Jesus Daily Devotional where we are continuing in our Wisdom for Life series from Proverbs.
Today, from Proverbs 9:1-6, we reflect on how foolishness and wisdom offer us a feast, so let’s choose wisdom’s life-giving feast.
To watch this devotional, please select the link below.
'Wisdom has built her house; she has set up its seven pillars. She has prepared her meat and mixed her wine; she has also set her table. She has sent out her servants, and she calls from the highest point of the city, ‘Let all who are simple come to my house!’ To those who have no sense she says, ‘Come, eat my food and drink the wine I have mixed. Leave your simple ways and you will live; walk in the way of insight.’ (Proverbs 9:1-6)
i. Wisdom and folly offer a feast
Wisdom is often portrayed as boring or restrictive—a path of rules, dryness, and duty. Meanwhile, the way of foolish abandon, living for the moment—“rock and roll!”—is sold to us as the path to authenticity and joy. But today’s reading flips that script. Wisdom offers a feast, rich and satisfying, that leads to life and health.
Both wisdom and folly prepare a feast. Earlier in Proverbs, we hear a different kind of invitation:
‘“Today I fulfilled my vows, and I have food from my fellowship offering at home. So I came out to meet you; I looked for you and have found you! I have covered my bed with coloured linens from Egypt. I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes and cinnamon. Come, let’s drink deeply of love till morning; let’s enjoy ourselves with love!”’ (Proverbs 7:14-18)
Every day, we are offered the choice between these two tables: the false feast of sin or the true feast of righteousness. The path of the flesh or the path of the Spirit. And the stakes couldn’t be higher:
‘Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.’ (Romans 8:5-6)
Proverbs calls us to action: “Leave your simple ways and you will live; walk in the way of insight.” To walk in insight is to feast on truth. To choose wisdom over foolishness.
ii. An invitation for those who lack
Verse 4 is both encouraging and insightful: it’s those who lack, those who know they are in need, who are invited to the feast. Wisdom calls out to “the simple” and “those who have no sense”—not the proud, but the humble. It’s the hungry and honest-hearted who will hear the invitation and respond. What a beautiful reminder: God's wisdom isn't for the self-sufficient, but for those who are willing to admit their need.
iii. Which feast will we choose?
So how will you feast today? How do you ‘snack’ and ‘feed’ your heart and mind throughout the day? Are you consuming content and ideas that promote goodness and godliness—or things that feed the flesh?
We all know how a poor physical diet affects our health. Fast food, ready meals, and processed snacks are easy and appealing—but over time, they harm us. The same is true spiritually. Feeding on wisdom may take more intention, but it leads to wholeness and peace. If it’s true in the natural, how much more in the spiritual?
So let’s listen to the Holy Spirit, and feast on what is good.
Let’s pray together:
“Holy Spirit, lead me into truth. You are ‘the Spirit of truth who guides us into what is true’ so please move my mind and will to seek truth. Give me the self-control required so as to choose to feast on wisdom and to choose wise paths. Amen.”
Community Group Notes
1. Notices
It might be good to begin with notices. Please share from this week’s Church News.
2. Icebreaker
How has God been speaking to you from His Word this week, and how has this helped you?
3. Worship together
Let’s begin our time together by lifting our eyes and hearts to worship our great God. Perhaps you have readings and songs that you would like to use together. Let’s be open to the gifts that the Spirit wants to give in order to encourage one another.
4. Study and pray together
Balanced Time Allocation - Please ensure a balanced focus on discussion, SIV (Serve, Invest, and Invite), and prayer so that each section is meaningful and fruitful.
Week #10. Proverbs 8:12-9:9. The facets of wisdom.
1. What themes stand out in this week’s section? Identify key ideas and repeated patterns. What is the focus of this section?
2. What promises does God offer, and what warnings does He give? Look for specific encouragements, blessings, or cautions in the text.
3. How does this speak into our lives today? What are the practical ways we could live this out — individually, in our families, in our community?
4. How is God calling you to respond? Consider what this means for your heart, your choices, and your direction.
5. SIV (Serve, Invest, and Invite)
How might the wisdom in this week's section of Proverbs help us to be a light for Jesus?
Have you had any recent opportunities to Serve, Invest in, or Invite someone toward Jesus? Let’s encourage one another by sharing testimonies of God at work through us.
6. Let’s pray together:
Let’s pray for one another based on our study, and bring before God any other needs or requests for prayer.
Pray for one another's SIV opportunities and boldness in following the Spirit's promptings.
Pray specifically for the 'people of peace' in our lives—asking God to open hearts and provide opportunities to speak life and truth.
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