SHE DON’T PLAY
Proverbs 1:20-23, 33 nkj
20 Wisdom calls aloud outside;
She raises her voice in the open squares.
21 She cries out in the chief concourses,
At the openings of the gates in the city
She speaks her words:
22 “How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity?
For scorners delight in their scorning,
And fools hate knowledge.
23 Turn at my rebuke;
Surely I will pour out my spirit on you;
I will make my words known to you.
33 But whoever listens to me will dwell safely,
And will be secure, without fear of evil.”
Solomon personifies wisdom as female in the proverbs. This personification shows wisdom to be one tough girl. Solomon has wisdom calling out, but she is not going to run you down. She is available, but you had better pursue her. Take a minute and go back and read verses 20-33. Wisdom is talking and she is rather blunt. And when you don’t listen to her, watch out.
In our verses for today, we see wisdom’s invitation. Of course, the wisdom Solomon is referring to is the godly wisdom that pays big dividends when we apply it to our lives. As you read the Proverbs, always keep in mind that Solomon, the author, was the young man who desired wisdom from God more than any other thing. When God asked Solomon what he wanted, a literal divine blank check, Solomon asked for wisdom to lead and bless God’s people. And God gave him amazing wisdom and then blessed him with amazing wealth. Solomon grew up as a king’s son surrounded by wealth. There is a good chance that he learned early on that godly wisdom was far more valuable than money.
Wisdom is talking in our verses for today and making herself available. She is not hiding. She is in the open places and at the public gathering spots. But what we see here is that wisdom is not hiding in the halls of academia or in the secret places. Wisdom is not for a chosen few but for anyone who has a heart to learn. For anyone who desires to not be simple or naive. For anyone who does not want to be a scorner or one who ignores knowledge.
Wisdom is not going to be affirming. Wisdom says if you turn at her rebuke. Rebuke is a sharp correction. God’s wisdom will correct us and correction doesn’t always come with flowers and rainbows. Sometimes rebukes can sting. But if you turn, if you handle wisdom’s rebuke, then you connect with the spirit of wisdom, and wisdom comes much easier. It’s when we stiffen our necks that wisdom is hard to come by. Reading verses 24-32, we see wisdom’s response to rejecting her. It ain’t pretty.
But in verse 33, wisdom lays out what is in store for those who adapt to her: safety and security without fear of evil. Those are strong blessings that vastly improve our quality of life. Wisdom don’t play but she does not hold back on the blessings.
APPLICATION
I went with the wisdom as a woman theme in order to make clear the importance of God’s wisdom in our lives. We all have experienced what refusing God’s wisdom has done. I know I have. And we have seen the results of obeying God’s wisdom. This proverb is blunt, but it underscores the importance of having a heart for wisdom. Jesus would later speak the wisdom of God during His earthly ministry and declare that He who has ears to hear let him hear. So, the principle is the same. A heart to hear, and we hear. A heart for wisdom, and we gain wisdom. And gaining God’s wisdom for our lives pays off better than money.
PRAYER
Help me develop a heart for Your wisdom, Lord. I am willing to hear correction and turn. Thank You for teaching me by Your word and Your Holy Spirit.