Competing Voices Part 2

Competing “Voices”,,,Part 2

In verses 20-27 we hear part of what “wisdom” says, in contrast to what “sinners” say which we talked about yesterday.  Let’s read that below:

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.  24 Because I have called and you refused,
I have stretched out my hand and no one regarded,  25  Because you disdained all my counsel,
And would have none of my rebuke,  26 I also will laugh at your calamity;
I will mock when your terror comes,  27  When your terror comes like a storm,
And your destruction comes like a whirlwind,
When distress and anguish come upon you.

I have a couple of observations about wisdom’s voice here:

1.  Wisdom calls aloud outside and in the open square with a raised voice.  This is in contrast with the voice of sinners which calls out in secret and seeks to hide its motives.  Sin deals in the shadows.  Sin thrives in the darkness.  Wisdom from God need not hide for it has nothing to fear.

2.  Wisdom offers a second chance.  The voice of wisdom here is focused on speaking to those who have already chosen the wrong path.  But wisdom offers a second chance.  Wisdom promises to “pour out my spirit on you” and “make my words known to you”.

3.  Wisdom speaks of judgment.  Sin always brings judgment.  There may be a momentary escape from the consequences of sin, a respite from judgment; but ultimately sin is always judged.  Wisdom is seen here as pronouncing the inevitable judgment on the sinner who ignores its voice.

There will be much more in Proverbs contrasting wisdom and foolishness and wisdom and sin; but just in these first verses of chapter 1, I can see which side I’d rather line up with.  I’ll line up with wisdom….I’ll follow her voice.

In wisdom,
Eric