The Blessing of a Lady’s Wisdom I

Friday, May 27, 2022

Lady Wisdom Calls Out

8 1-11 Do you hear Lady Wisdom calling?

    Can you hear Madame Insight raising her voice?

She’s taken her stand at First and Main,

    at the busiest intersection.

Right in the city square

    where the traffic is thickest, she shouts,

“You—I’m talking to all of you,

    everyone out here on the streets!

Listen, you idiots—learn good sense!

    You blockheads—shape up!

Don’t miss a word of this—I’m telling you how to live well,

    I’m telling you how to live at your best.

My mouth chews and savors and relishes truth—

    I can’t stand the taste of evil!

You’ll only hear true and right words from my mouth;

    not one syllable will be twisted or skewed.

You’ll recognize this as true—you with open minds;

    truth-ready minds will see it at once.

Prefer my life disciplines over chasing after money,

    and God-knowledge over a lucrative career.

For Wisdom is better than all the trappings of wealth;

    nothing you could wish for holds a candle to her.

-Proverbs 8:1-11 The Message

The Blessings of Wisdom

8 Does not wisdom call?

    Does not understanding raise her voice?

2 On the heights beside the way,

    at the crossroads, she takes her stand;

3 beside the gates in front of the town,

    at the entrance of the portals, she cries aloud:

4 “To you, O men, I call,

    and my cry is to the children of man.

5 O simple ones, learn prudence;

    O fools, learn sense.

6 Hear, for I will speak noble things,

    and from my lips will come what is right,

7 for my mouth will utter truth;

    wickedness is an abomination to my lips.

8 All the words of my mouth are righteous;

    there is nothing twisted or crooked in them.

9 They are all straight to him, who understands,

    and right to those who find knowledge.

10 Take my instruction instead of silver,

    and knowledge rather than choice gold,

11 for wisdom is better than jewels,

    and all that you may desire cannot compare with her.

Verse 1 study: Wisdom’s call contrasted with the adultress’s call in chapter 7. Wisdom comes from a woman’s viewpoint that guides us (8:1-13) and will make us succeed (8:14-21). Wisdom was presented at creation and works with the Creator (8:22-31). God approves of those who listen to wisdom’s counsel (8:32-35). On the other hand, people who love death hate wisdom (8:36). From beginning to end, wisdom should be a part of every aspect of our lives. Open all corners of your life to God’s direction and guidance.