Where the Dead Are - Proverbs 9:18

In the book of Proverbs Solomon said, “A foolish woman is clamorous: she is simple, and knows nothing. For she sits at the door of her house, on a seat in the high places of the city, to call passengers who go right on their ways: Whosoever is simple, let him turn in here: and as for him that wants understanding, she says to him, stolen waters are sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant”, and in chapter nine and verse eighteen of Proverbs Solomon said, “he knows not that the dead are there” where we read,

But he knows not that the dead are there; and that her guests are in the depths of hell.

The verse begins, “But he knows not that the dead are there;” Solomon began with the words, “but he knows not” or “however, nonetheless, notwithstanding and moreover he, the simple person, does not perceive, discriminate, distinguish, recognize or consider” “that the dead are there” which means “that people who are non-breathing, deceased and as ghosts exist within the foolish woman's dwelling place”. Solomon shared how the simple person who yields to the invitation of the “foolish woman” is without the understanding that people who are deceased and non-breathing exist within her home.

The verse continues, “and that her guests are in the depths of hell.” Solomon added the words, “and that her guests” or “and her, the foolish woman's, invited and summoned ones” “are in the depths of hell” which means “exist within the unfathomable, strange and deep portion of sheol, the underworld, the grave and the pit which has no return”. Solomon said the people who surrendered to the invitation of the “foolish woman” now exist within the deepest part of the underworld and grave.

When we consider the words in this verse, we learn through Solomon the lack of understanding and consequences which are experienced by the person who submits to the beckoning call of the “foolish woman”. Sin, though perhaps fun for a season, holds a heavy price to be paid. Paul the apostle wrote, “the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (See Romans 6:23), and because God was aware of the inevitable result of sin, He sent Jesus into the world to die on the cross in our place. When we believe and trust in Jesus as our personal “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and keep us from suffering the lack of understanding and “hell” that awaits those who do not turn to Him.

Next time we begin a new chapter and see Solomon say, “a wise son makes a glad father”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".