Proverbs 1:20-35 – The invitation of wisdom

Reading Proverbs, we see wisdom clearly being personified by Solomon. Wisdom is seen constantly seeking young men, imploring them to turn from their foolish ways and walk in God’s wise ways and be blessed. Here in verses 20-23, wisdom is seen as a voice crying out in public places, enthusiastically attracting the attention of bystanders. She is seen calling out to everyone in the streets, in public square, in crowded places. Her discernible voice can be heard in shopping malls, market places, offices, in courts and everywhere that people are gathered.  Wisdom is unremittingly pleading and earnestly urging the naïve, the simple, the scoffers and the fools to turn from their folly to wisdom. Sadly, she is left largely unentertained despite her incessant plead. One dangerous response, singled out in verse 22, is procrastination. They are people who keep postponing the time to heed the call of wisdom. The peril of ignoring the invitation of wisdom is that they will come a time when it will become too late to respond to her call.   

One clear message is seen in verses 24-33. If you refuse to heed the call of wisdom, you will have to be prepared for the ultimate calamity. Though God is gracious, His patience must not be taken for granted. For His judgement will come suddenly and unexpectedly. There will be no further warning given. Those who refuse to accept wisdom’s invitation now will be the laughing stock later. They will then become the objects of mockery and scorn. When judgement day dawns, it will be too late and the wicked would have gone pass the point of no return. In the place of eternal doom, seeking wisdom then will be out of the question. And besides, repentance will not be possible. Then there will only be cries for deliverance which will be unheeded, just as the deaf ear that was turned away from the invitation of wisdom. What’s worse, the agony will be intensified as one recalls how they had flatly refused the opportunity to respond to the invitation of wisdom when it was given. By then regrets would be worthless. Remember Paul’s vehement warning in Galatians 6:7, “…God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap.”

Verse 33 gives us the wonderful truth for those who respond to the invitation and live by it. They will dwell securely, more so in the day of judgement. Without a doubt, we know that the voice of wisdom is the voice of God. And the apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 1:24, tells us “…Christ (is) the power of God and the wisdom of God.” In Him we are secured and blessed.  Paul further tells us that we are the ambassadors of Christ in the world today. The voice of Christ’s wisdom must be heard through us, the member of the church. Let’s responsibly discharge our duty to make wisdom known!