PROVERBS 1:20-23
WISDOM'S SHOUTS
Wisdom is depicted as a beautiful and noble queen standing in the crowded plaza of humanity. There she lifts up her lovely and authoritative voice to those passing by.
The personification here of wisdom was meant to give some kind of tangibleness to what could be an abstract concept. Thank God that we today have a better understanding of wisdom than personification in language. In Jesus Christ, we have wisdom personified in human flesh and manifesting the infinite intelligence of love and truth.
Here true wisdom is the revealing of the mind of God. Wisdom is shouting out to humanity and humanity seems to pay her no mind. But the real question is are you hearing and responding to wisdom's call?
I. THE VOICE OF WISDOM, 1:20-21.
II. EARS THAT REFUSE TO HEAR, 1:22
III. WISDOM'S COUNSEL, 1:23.
In verse 20 we learn that God's wisdom is shouting out in the market place of humanity. "Wisdom shouts in the streets, she lifts her voice in the square;" The voice of wisdom in the world earnestly desires to be heard. Wisdom shouts and "lifts up her voice." The communications of heaven to humanity are not distant utterances, but plain truth expressed loudly in the work-a-day world.
Wisdom is even crying out through nature, through the story of past ages, through conscience, through reason, through the Bible, even through life itself--to be heard. God is earnest in attempting to communicate to men. For "the whole earth is filled with the knowledge of the Lord."
Have you noticed how life so impacts us, sometimes even vehemently striking us, trying to wake us up to the eternal reality? Wisdom is trying to get our attention, trying to awaken us from our deafness and deadness.
In verse 21 we find that wisdom teaches her ways in the public courts, squares and streets of life. "At the head of the noisy streets she cries out; at the entrance of the gates in the city, she utters her sayings:"
In daily life all kinds of voices are making their loud clamor to get our attention. Advertisers for products of worldly pleasure, flash their neon lights. TV images twirl their spell and the radio songs lull us down their avenues strewn with human wreckage. Yet God says wisdom is "at the head of the noisy street," it has the priority place in its cry to an uncertain, mixed up world, crying out to be heard.
All these phases emphasize wisdom's full blown public search. The streets and square were chief places of public discourse and official business transactions. It was the custom of the past to hold discussions and court at the city gate in the open air. People respected for their learning and wisdom would collect in such places to speak and listen.
We, as the church today, must add our voice, our voices, to the shout of wisdom and herald the call of God as a light house sends forth light so that truth can shine forth to awaken and give hope to those lives headed for destruction against the sharp rocks of foolishness. No matter who people are, no matter where people are, they need to hear wisdom's call and they hear it better when its personified, when the voice has human flesh wrapped around it. God wants His gospel in the market place. Those striving for success there must hear your voice and see your action supplementing the voice of wisdom and actions of wisdom.
We find in Colossians 2:3 that wisdom is incarnated in the person of Jesus Christ, because in Him are hidden all the treasures of knowledge and wisdom. To know what to think, how to act, what to say in any situation, simply ask WWJD [what would Jesus do]. Though Jesus is the manifestation of wisdom, in Proverbs wisdom is represented as a woman calling aloud in the streets. This literary device is personification which is used to make wisdom come alive for us. Wisdom is not a separate being; it is the mind of God revealed. By reading about Jesus Christ's earthly ministry, we can see wisdom in action. In order to understand how to become wise, we can listen to wisdom calling and instructing us in the book of Proverbs. [For New Testament calls to wisdom, see 2 Timothy 1:7 and James 1 :5.] Make sure you don't reject God's offer of wisdom to you. [Jon Courson. Application Com. OT. Vol. 2. Nelson. Nashville. 2006. p 180.]
II. THOSE THAT LACK WISDOM, 22-23.
In verse 22 wisdom makes a special appeal to those who have been rejecting her words and ways. "How long, 0 naive ones will you love simplicity? And scoffers delight themselves in scoffing, And fools hate knowledge?
Wisdom is crying out asking "how long" will you ignore me? How long will you refuse me? Note again the urgency with which all three groups are addressed. Wisdom bids them not to delay in their complacency but come to God. "How long" is the cry. Do you not realize how brief life is? How urgently you need the touch of spiritual transformation. Do they not know that the Spirit of God will not always strive with man (1 Thess. 4: 19; Gen. 6: 13).
Three kinds of person are specifically mentioned as being spoken to by wisdom: the simple, the scoffers and the fools. The reason for calling out to these directly is because they are more likely to reject wisdom's appeal.
The "simple" or naive (p t yim) ones are those who believe most anything and examine very little. They are gullible or susceptible to the voice of the majority and easily led astray. They are ignorant of the value of their souls and the real meaning of life and do not realize the danger they're in.
"Scoffers," scorners or mockers are men who are so hardened by sin that they resist God and mock, sneer, laugh, make fun of or light of devoted persons or things. They think they know everything (21:24) yet mock at the things that are really important. While the simple has an unconcerned or empty look the scorner wears a sneer. They believe themselves too high, too intelligent, to admit the error of their ways, and humble themselves by accepting the Gospel of Jesus Christ. They fight to keep the alarm of self awakening from troubling their life so they shut out and mock that which desires to make them "wise unto salvation."
In the book of Proverbs a "fool" is not someone with a mental deficiency but someone with a character deficiency (such as rebellion, laziness, or anger). The fool is not stupid, but he or she is has difficulty telling right from wrong or good from bad. So fools are people who are ignorant of the truth because they are dull and stubborn of heart, not mind. Their problem isn't a low IQ or poor education. Their problem is a laziness, a lack of spiritual motivation or desire to seek and find God's wisdom. Fools enjoy their foolishness but don't realize how foolish they are. Their outlook is materialistic and humanistic. They hate holy "knowledge" and have no interest in learning of their lost condition and its consequences.
The simple don't notice, the scoffer disdains, and the fool maligns. How great the mercy of God that He condescends to speak to them, and yes, even to us.
III. WISDOM'S ADVISE, 23.
God is wanting to make His heart and thoughts know to us. So wisdom's advise is available to all who will listen, to all who will not let pride stand in the way. Have you heard the voice of wisdom as you walk the streets of life? What does wisdom cry out to those in the streets? Verse 23 tells us that wisdom is calling out to, is searching for, those willing to repent. "Turn to my reproof. Behold, I will pour out my spirit on you; I will make my words known to you."
1st, "Turn to My reproof."
How long do you plan on remaining in your dangerous spiritual condition? Wisdom has spoken time and time again. Listen to the invitation. Turn away from worldliness and wickedness and come to love, holiness, and truth. Turn for if you heed you can do it. You must turn to reproof, there is no other way. You are obligated to do it. This turning is called repentance and faith. Turn to Jesus Christ and accept His discipline and correction. No matter if you are naive, scoffer or a fool, you can become wise. She promises to change your heart and teach you the wisdom of God from the Word of God.
"Let the wicked forsake his ways and the unrighteous man his thoughts and let them return to the Lord and He will have mercy upon him, and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon." Isaiah 5:7
Pete Seeger's number one hit song of the 1960s was, "To Everything There Is a Season, Turn, Turn, Turn," based on the opening verses of Ecclesiastes 3. Turning is a common biblical principle, and usually we think of it as turning from something-from sin, from temptation, from selfishness, from idolatry, from laziness. That turning away is what Jesus is talking about when He tells sinners that they must "repent" (see Luke 13:3).
We might first think of turning as a turning away from something, but we also need to focus on the positive side of turning. When we turn away from one thing, we need to turn toward another. So when we turn away from sin (repent), we need to also turn to Jesus. When we turn away from selfishness, we start serving others! God wants us to replace the old way of sin and self with the new way of righteousness and love. We turn from self, sin, and Satan so we can turn to Jesus.
2nd, The evidence of those who have turned.
Repentance toward God opens the fountain of God's wisdom. The wisdom of God is found in His Spirit and His Word. God pours out His Spirit upon them, and they learn, grow and live out the Word of God. Then the fountain of His Spirit and His Word refreshes and strengthens them (18:4). There is no greater promise of God's grace than the promise that man can receive God's Spirit so that He might abide within man and help him understand and live out God's Word.
Those that turn to reproof will learn the Words of His Book. Before you turn to reproof you are uninterested in the Word of God. The Bible was a dark sealed book. But now it is clear because God's Spirit is leading you into its truth (Jn.14:26; 16:7). The Word will touch not only your mind in knowledge but your heart in love.
Pride is thinking more highly of our own wisdom and desires than of God's. If we think we know better than God or feel we have no need of God's direction, we have fallen into foolish and disastrous pride. One of the greatest tortures for those in hell will be remembering how often they turned their back on God. All those times they adamantly refused to listen to and to believe His Word. It will haunt them forever.
IN CONCLUSION
Such is the voice of wisdom. "He that hath ears to hear let him hear." So hear that your soul may live. Hear right now. Delay is sinful and perilous. How dangerous to defer these momentous decisions which your awakened conscience has solemnly preached to your heart! If they are neglected the difficulty to heed is increased. The heart is receding degree by degree from the warm and hopeful zone, till at last it will enter the Arctic Circle and become fixed in relentless and eternal ice.
How long will you turn a deaf ear to God's voice of wisdom which is calling you? Will you hear His voice today?
