Read Genesis 13, Nehemiah 2, and Proverbs 1:20-33.
This devotional is about Proverbs 1:20-33.
Personification is a style of writing that describes an idea as if it were a person. Here in Proverbs 1:20-33, Solomon used personification to describe wisdom as if it were a woman. One reason for his is that the Hebrew word for “wisdom” is feminine by form, so the word itself suggests femininity. Another reason is that Solomon’s son was a young man and young men are interested in women, so the image of wisdom as a woman might help make Solomon’s teaching about wisdom more memorable.
Verses 20-21 tell us that wisdom isn’t shy. In fact, she’s out in public asking for attention. But the attention she wants isn’t romantic or flattering attention; instead, she “calls aloud” (v. 20) to those who are simple (v. 22a), those who are mockers (v. 22b), and those who are “fools” (v. 22c). The point is that anyone who needs wisdom for any reason can come to her and receive what she has to offer.
It isn’t hard to get a young man interested in spending time with an attractive woman. But spending time with woman wisdom requires something from the man. Verse 23 says, “Repent at my rebuke! Then I will pour out my thoughts to you….” If you want wisdom to talk to you, you have to change your mind first. That’s what “repent” means–to turn around, reversing the direction of your thinking immediately. And this repentance comes “at my rebuke” (v. 23). In other words, before the wisdom woman will talk kindly to you, she’s going to tell you off and then wait to see if you change your mind before she says another word to you.
Do you like to spend time with someone who is always telling you that you’re wrong? Most of us don’t. If that person is telling you you’re wrong just to be mean, difficult, or controlling, then avoiding time with that person is justified.
But, if someone tells you that you’re wrong and you really are wrong, you should listen! That person cares about you and wants to see you avoid the problems that your wrong thinking will lead you into (vv. 26-32). And that’s Solomon’s point: Most of us are either headed for deep trouble or we’re already there. And, what led us to that trouble? Our own naiveté, our own pride, and our own stubborn ignorance. That’s what verse 22 is describing. “Simple” people are naive, “mockers” are people who make fun of others because they think they are smarter, and “fools” are people who trust their own ideas so much that they can’t and won’t learn anything.
The book of Proverbs addresses a lot of specific things–work, debt, wealth, marriage, adultery, child-rearing, and more. But before getting into those topics, Solomon urges us to admit that we are clueless, stubbornly proud, and staggeringly misinformed. When you are willing to admit that to yourself, then you are in position to learn how to be wise. Wisdom is easy to find and will tell you everything if you listen to her and open your mind to be changed by her.
Are you open-minded when you read God’s word? Do you expect to have your foolish thinking confronted by what God says? When your foolish ways are exposed, will you abandon them immediately and follow God’s pathways instead?
This is the way to real wisdom. It will help you avoid all sorts of problems in life (vv. 26-32) and live a life that is safer and easier (v. 33). Choose a humble mind and heart; you will never become wise without them.