Impact

Wise Guys

I have always been drawn to the first chapter of Proverbs. More specifically the verses 20-21, “Wisdom calls aloud in the street, she raises her voice in the public squares; at the head of the noisy streets she cries out, in the gateways of the city she makes her speech”. Solomon knew a thing or two about wisdom. He asked God for it and God granted his request.

I have always been drawn to the first chapter of Proverbs. More specifically the verses 20-21, “Wisdom calls aloud in the street, she raises her voice in the public squares; at the head of the noisy streets she cries out, in the gateways of the city she makes her speech”. Solomon knew a thing or two about wisdom. He asked God for it and God granted his request. Solomon says that wisdom is not elusive and in fact it is calling out to us. Typically when I think about how God speaks to us I am reminded of that still small voice or the quiet promptings of the Holy Spirit. You can easily not hear a still small voice or ignore a prompting when life is going to fast or time with God is short but wisdom that “calls aloud” is much more difficult to ignore.
The passage says that the cry of wisdom is a warning. Warnings are urgently important messages that are repeated over and over. It reminds me of being on the boardwalk at the shore and hearing that constant recorded voice “watch the tram car please”. The voice was deep and not very friendly sounding. We would joke about it and say it to over and over to each other so I guess the tram car operators accomplished their purpose because we knew what to do when it came around, get out of the way. Although, we also have a tendency to drown out even the most repeated and vocal of messages. It’s human nature. God’s wisdom is being displayed to us like street signs that continually warn us of danger and direct us to the right path. We can’t afford to miss them.
If wisdom is not elusive but calls out to us everyday why don’t we live wise lives? Solomon had great wisdom but also made many foolish decisions. We can know scripture and hear the warnings of wisdom but still choose foolishness. When I make foolish decisions it’s not because of ignorance or poor hearing but usually pride. Wisdom requires humility. The book of James compares God’s wisdom and man’s wisdom. There is a big difference between God’s wisdom and man’s wisdom and you and I can attest to it. Man’s wisdom goes solo and God’s wisdom requires dependence. Pride says I can figure it out on my own and humility demands I ask for help. What type of wisdom are you practicing? When the warnings are loud and the signs are clear there is no excuse for not heeding them.
In that same chapter of Proverbs verse 23 says, “If you had responded to my rebuke, I would have poured out my heart to you and made my thoughts known to you.” God’s wisdom comes with great blessing and understanding so don’t ignore it.

One Comment

  • Steve Drain

    Wisdom is like a Billboard for the Blind

    Proverbs 8:1-2: "Does not wisdom call out? Does not understanding raise her voice? On the heights along the way, where the paths meet, she takes her stand"

    Wisdom is like a Billboard at the crossroads where everyone can see it… like the huge screen at Times Square. And yet we stray…

    "This only have I found: God made mankind upright, but men have gone in search of many schemes" (Ecclesiastes 7:29).