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We shift from a father’s instructions to wisdom herself calling from the streets. Wisdom’s call is contrasted with what we saw in the previous proverbs of the seductive woman entrapping the unwise to walk the forbidden path of folly’s way. Lady wisdom’s call can be broken down into five sections. First, she calls all men. Second, a reason for listening, followed by a description of her flawless character. Fourthly, wisdom states she was there in the beginning when the Lord founded the earth. Finally, she appeals again to all men though this time her appeal is to the next generation. Again, we understand the pursuit of wisdom as important at every stage in life at any age.
Let’s get into the text. We see wisdom standing in plain sight, on the heights beside the way, at the crossroads she takes her stand; beside the gates in front of the town, at the entrance of the portals she cries aloud. Wisdom is in plain sight and can be heard. Whether or not she will be listened to is another story.
Wisdom’s way might be the most visible, but often, her path is the least traveled. This is why she puts her appeal in these terms, verse 5, O simple ones, learn prudence; O fools learn sense.
Pay attention to the quality of wisdom’s offer (vv.6-9). What wisdom offers is of utmost desire (vv.10-11). Speaking of desire, the Proverbs are set to direct the desires of our hearts towards excellent things. Verse 13, The fear of the LORD is the hatred of evil. Here the Proverbs remind us to set our heart not on things that displease the Lord but on those things that delight him. The Proverbs is inviting us to examine our own hearts to ask, “Do you hate evil?” Hating evil means loving the things the Lord love and thus means seeking after him. In hating evil we direct our desires towards all that pleases God.
Notice the repeated pattern of directing our steps towards loving the Lord (vv.17, 21, 36).
Additionally, we see the extent of wisdom’s offer reaches those in influential positions of power (14-16). As we enter an election here in the US in November, I will be interested to hear how many times a candidate is referred to as “wise.” If we are seeking after wisdom, shouldn’t we want a wise ruler?
Wisdom then makes her appeal by reminding us that she was God’s “first acts of old” (v.22). Wisdom was present with God when he created the world. What does this mean? The fabric of the universe is a coherent fabric. The systems God established in the world are rightly called wise systems.
Walking wisely means enjoying the world the way God intended it to be enjoyed. Many pursue gold, silver, and precious jewels, but the yield of wisdom outweighs them all. Those that are not in pursuit of wisdom hate themselves (vv.35-36).
The final appeal reaches through generations (v.32). Notice the particular and perpetual attention we must give wisdom (vv.33-34). Pursuing wisdom takes every effort for all of your life. No wonder Jesus, who himself is the ultimate personification of wisdom, says, follow me. As my Missions Professor, Ant Greenham taught us, a disciple is one who is irrevocably embarked on the Jesus way. Jesus’ way is the way of Wisdom.