Proverbs 8:1-16: a reflection

1Doesn’t wisdom cry out? Doesn’t understanding raise her voice? 2On the top of high places by the way, where the paths meet, she stands. 3Beside the gates, at the entry of the city, at the entry doors, she cries aloud: 4“I call to you men! I send my voice to the sons of mankind. 5You simple, understand prudence! You fools, be of an understanding heart! 6Hear, for I will speak excellent things. The opening of my lips is for right things. 7For my mouth speaks truth. Wickedness is an abomination to my lips. 8All the words of my mouth are in righteousness. There is nothing crooked or perverse in them. 9They are all plain to him who understands, right to those who find knowledge. 10Receive my instruction rather than silver, knowledge rather than choice gold. 11For wisdom is better than rubies. All the things that may be desired can’t be compared to it. 12“I, wisdom, have made prudence my dwelling. Find out knowledge and discretion. 13The fear of the LORD is to hate evil. I hate pride, arrogance, the evil way, and the perverse mouth. 14Counsel and sound knowledge are mine. I have understanding and power. 15By me kings reign, and princes decree justice. 16By me princes rule, nobles, and all the righteous rulers of the earth.

Proverbs pictures wisdom not as something hidden away, available only to a searching few, but as a woman crying aloud in the most public places: at the heights beside the way, at the crossroads, beside the gates of the city, at the entrances. To you, O men, I call, she cries; my voice is to the children of mankind. Wisdom is not hiding; she is calling out, openly, publicly, to everyone who will listen, offering herself freely.

Notice how available wisdom is made to be. She stands where the paths meet, where people pass, and she cries aloud, calling to the simple and the foolish, offering instruction more valuable than silver or gold. Wisdom is not reserved for the elite or the clever; she calls to all, especially the simple who most need her. The question is not whether wisdom is available, she is crying out in the streets, but whether we will stop and listen to her call.

That reframes the pursuit of wisdom. We sometimes imagine wisdom as something obscure and hard to find, available only to the specially gifted. But Proverbs pictures her calling aloud at every crossroads, offering herself to anyone who will heed. God's wisdom is not hidden from us; it calls to us, in his word, in the counsel of the wise, in the ordinary crossroads of our days. The question is whether we are listening, or hurrying past her cry. Do not hurry past the wisdom that is calling to you. Stop, listen, and receive the instruction wisdom offers freely to all who will heed her voice.

Lord, your wisdom is not hidden away but crying aloud at every crossroads, calling to all who will listen, offering herself freely, more valuable than gold. Forgive me for hurrying past her call. Help me stop and listen to the wisdom you offer, in your word, in the counsel of the wise, at the crossroads of my days. Give me ears to heed wisdom's cry rather than rushing past it. Make me one who listens and receives the wisdom you hold out to all who will hear.