TEXT: Proverbs 1:20-32

SUBJECT: Exposition of Proverbs #3: Wisdom's Plea

Tonight brings us to the third sermon in our study of Proverbs. It also marks a literary change. Solomon began with straight prose; now he turns to poetry, adding beauty and power to his doctrine. The subject is wisdom. But now, it's no longer an attribute to be gained and used, but a person who ought to be listened to. Are we willing to listen to her? I can only hope so. May the Lord give us "ears to hear".

In the first place, we find Wisdom's method, vv.20-21: "Wisdom calls aloud in the streets; she raises her voice in the open squares. She cries out in the chief concourses, at the openings of the gates in the city..."

Listen to the language: "Streets, open squares, chief concourses, openings of the gates". What do these places have in common? They're all public places; often crowded places. They're equivalent to parking lots, malls, stadiums, and parks. Wisdom, therefore, is available to everyone. It's not reserved for scholars or other elite thinkers. It's there for the taking--your taking!

As the Wisdom of God, our Lord Jesus taught quite openly and with great plainness. Occasionally, He pulled His disciples aside for special training, but most of the time, He taught on beaches and mountains, in synagogues and in the Temple. Nor was His teaching encrypted--"the common people heard Him gladly".

Why is wisdom so accessible? Because God wants us to have it! "I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and revealed them to babes. Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight".

Secondly, we read Wisdom's reproof, vv.22-23: "How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity? For scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge. Turn at my reproof; surely, I will pour out my spirit on you; I will make my words known to you".

Three kinds of people are criticized, "the simple, scorners, and fools". The "simple" are ignorant. Their ignorance, however, is not the result of mental defect; it's a choice. They "love simplicity". Wisdom is hard to come by; ignorance is easy. They choose ease over wisdom. The "fool" was once "simple" himself. Over time, his mental sloth became a habit; now he's confirmed in it. The "scorner" is the fool come to maturity. Confirmed in folly, he's talked himself into believing folly is wisdom.

These people are in a bad way. But it's good to know they're not hopeless. Wisdom is still pleading with them, urging them to repent of their old ways and to become "new creatures" in Christ Jesus. The appeal is sincere; there's still time; even "scorners" can be humbled and put in the way of wisdom. Let me illustrate from the annals of Judaism:

If we but "turn at Wisdom's reproof", the "Spirit will be poured out on us". The Holy Spirit will become our Teacher; He'll "bring to our remembrance" what Christ has said. He'll take the "treasures of wisdom and knowledge" which reside in our Savior, and share them with us. "His Words--God's Word--"will be known to [us]".

But not until we humble ourselves; until we admit our folly--and mean it!--we'll never have wisdom. "Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him" says 26:12. Most of us are "simple", "fools" or "scorners". Let's become wise by heeding Wisdom's reproof.

Thirdly, we have Wisdom's warning, vv.24-32: "Because I have called and you refused, I have stretched out my hand and no one regarded, because you disdained all my counsel, and would have none of my reproof, I will also laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your terror comes, when your terror comes like a storm, and your destruction comes like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come upon you. Then they will call on me and I will not answer; they will seek me diligently but they will not find me. Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the LORD, they would have none of my counsel and despised all my reproof, therefore, they shall eat the fruit of their own way, and be filled to the full with their own fancies. For the turning away of the simple will slay them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them".

Wisdom is kind and patient. It pleads with us to turn from out follies; often for many years, the appeal goes on. But Wisdom is not indulgent or unjust. If we insist on living like fools, we'll die like fools.

The language is sharp and terrifying; it's meant to be. We'll suffer "calamity, terror, destruction, distress, and anguish". In this life and the next. We won't be pitied. Wisdom will "laugh" at our ruin. We won't be bailed out at the last minute either--no matter how loudly we call or earnestly we seek it. In short, we will "eat of [our] own ways and be filled to the full with [our] own fancies".

The offers of Wisdom are periodic, not perennial. We can only have it when it is offered. When we spurn its claims time and again, we'll be hardened in our folly. Isaiah warned of "a spirit of slumber" to be poured out on the stubborn Jews of the First Century. Paul issued the same warning to professed Christians in his age (and ours): "For this cause God will send them a strong delusion, that they should believe a lie, that they might all be damned who did not believe the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness". We must "Seek the LORD while He may be found and call upon Him while He is near".

Finally, we have Wisdom's promise, v.33: "But whoever listens to me will dwell safely, and will be secure, without fear of evil". Wisdom may be flouted; it should be received. Receiving it is not only right, but rewarding. The wise person is safe in this world and in the world to come. Why? Because he "fears the LORD" and this fear banishes all other.

Wisdom and folly have been set before us. To the former is attached life, growth, and glory. The latter results in death, decay, and damnation. Only a fool would choose folly; many do, every day. But you needn't make this choice. Wisdom is pleading with you--"Turn at my reproof". It doesn't matter how unwise you have been in the past--Wisdom is still there for the taking. But the offer has an expiration date; maybe it's tonight. You'd do well, therefore, to "turn at Wisdom's reproof" right now. If you do, you won't regret it. If you don't, you'll pay dearly for your choice--more dearly than the human mind can conceive of.

Wisdom is offered in Jesus Christ alone. Come to Him and you'll find Him "the Wisdom of God". May the LORD so enable you. Amen.