Proverbs 9:2
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She hath killed her beasts; she hath mingled her wine; she hath also furnished her table.
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She is Lady Wisdom and she offers knowledge, understanding, and wisdom. Will you accept her invitation? Continuing his personification of wisdom as the perfect woman, Solomon describes her preparations for a banquet for two. See the comments on 9:1.
The Preacher used a variety of methods to teach his son wisdom, and here he provides a glorious replacement and antagonist for the strange woman, who seeks to destroy the lives of young men. In one short chapter he describes the character and advances of the strange woman (13-18), and he also describes the free offer of Lady wisdom (1-5).
Since the flood, vegetables have never been the basis for a great meal. They were only eaten when people were too poor to afford real food - meat. Salads are a recent invention, a fad of the last two generations. Banquets and feasts were not, and are not, based on salads and vegetables. They require meat, generally not even fish or fowl. Filet mignon, leg of lamb, Beef Wellington, prime rib, veal roast: these are entrees for a meal!
When Abraham hosted the Lord, he didn't fix a salad or broccoli casserole; he prepared fresh bread, milk, and butter to go with the veal entrée (Gen 18:1-8). The Lord assumes men desire oxen and sheep in a real dinner (Deut 14:26). David celebrated the moving of the ark by giving every person a piece of meat and a flagon of wine (II Sam 6:19)!
Vegetarianism is a symptom of modern paganism, the rejection of the true God and His Word for the superstitions and fables of men and the pantheistic worship of animals. God gave man dominion over animals at creation (Gen 1:26-28), and he told man to eat meat after the flood (Gen 9:1-4). The sacrifices he chose under Moses' law were primarily red meat, and his people were taught how to eat red meat.
Elementary nutrition reveals quickly that meat is by far the most nutrient-dense food known to man. Let cattle eat a hundred pounds of salad in the field - you will only have to eat eight ounces of steak! Let the wisdom of God teach you even this simple lesson.
And what would a meal be without good wine? Your elegant hostess has not just opened one bottle; she has opened two or three, in order to mingle several different varieties to create a unique blend with perfect taste and properties for her banquet. And what should we have with the mingled wine? Bread, of course (5)! More wisdom from the Lord!
The table is set. The candles are lit. The linen cloth and napkins, the china and silver, and the decorations are all spotless. The setting is magnificent and inviting.
Reader, will you accept her most gracious offer? Wisdom and understanding are offered to you today. Will you humble yourself before the instruction of these proverbs, God's holy scriptures, and his ministers to learn the way of life and righteousness? Or will you stumble through life without a clue and be taken easily by the strange woman instead?
If you reject her offer, you will be punished (4:19; 13:15; 15:10). And when you need her most, she will righteously withdraw her offer and laugh at your calamity (1:20-32).
Christian reader, there is a feast in the gospel of fat things. Humble yourself before Jesus Christ and join one of His churches to partake (Is 25:6-8; 55:1-4; Phil 1:5).
Is there a meatless feast? Indeed! The feast of the New Testament is simply bread and wine, symbolic elements reminding us of our Lord's death (I Cor 5:7-8; 11:20-21).
The greatest feast is yet to come - the marriage supper of the Lamb. Only those who have humbled themselves before the gospel and are found dressed in the wedding garments provided by the Lord will participate in this dinner (Matt 22:1-14; Rev 19:9). And all those who reject this King shall be themselves meat for the fowls of the air at the supper of the great God (Rev 19:17-21)! Amen.
The world's most desirable woman has prepared a magnificent feast, just for you! She has gone to great lengths to obtain the finest meat, drink, and furnishings. She invites you to dine with her and receive her kind affection and friendship for the rest of your life.
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