Proverbs 9:4-6
“Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!” To him who lacks sense she says,“Come, eat of my bread and drink of the wine I have mixed. Leave your simple ways, and live, and walk in the way of insight.”
There is a voice of wisdom that speaks like a woman, beckoning those who are brave enough to acknowledge their lack of sense and knowledge. She invites those who are hungry to come and dine in the open, not merely on ordinary water, but on wine that has been pressed, aged, and infused with herbs.
Meanwhile, the voice of foolishness also offers its own invitation, personified as a woman.
Proverbs 9:16-18
“Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!” And to him who lacks sense she says, “Stolen water is sweet,
and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.” But he does not know that the dead are there, that her guests are in the depths of Sheol.
Folly is a deceptive character who lures people into drinking water that she claims is sweet, but in reality, it is tasteless, abundant, and freely available. She encourages people to drink it in secret, but this only results in the water becoming foul and disgusting. Folly also provides bread, but instead of enjoying it openly, she encourages people to hide and eat in secret. This behavior is not only shameful but also dangerous, leading people down a path of death. By eating and drinking in secret, people are seen as thieves who are not free to enjoy their food and drink in public.
John 6:53
So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you.
Jesus Christ is often depicted as the wine and bread of life, symbolizing his spiritual nourishment and sustenance to those who follow him. His teachings and actions are said to be an open book, with nothing hidden from those who truly seek him. In fact, Jesus encourages us to drink from his fountain of life without fear or shame, reassuring us that eternal life is the reward for those who partake in his teachings.