Wisdom Woman

Proverbs 1:20-33

Context
The actual proverbs in Proverbs are introduced by teachings on readings. Today's is one of the most famous - the introduction of "Wisdom" as a woman crying out to passersby.

Listening to the writer
A few questions to guide your listening:
Who is Wisdom available to - a select few, or to all?
How does Wisdom treat those who ignore her?
What does it take to avoid the dangers of foolishness?

Listening to God
Have you ever experienced the “cold shoulder” of Wisdom when you made a foolish decision? If so, spend time in God seeking healing and/or learning from the experience.
Wisdom chastises fools for not choosing "the fear of the Lord." In what ways do you “fear” God? Does the idea that "perfect love casts out fear" (1 Jn 4:18) negate this teaching, or no? Should church always be about warm and cuddly feelings, or is it appropriate to experience the challenge of the Lord of creation?
Wisdom claims that listening to her - including acting upon what you hear (James 1:22-25) - will bring security. It is all too easy to hear God’s word and then ignore it. We do so at our peril. What word is God calling you to hear today? What are you going to do about it?

Miscellaneous Meanderings
Biblical “wisdom” isn’t about the un-knowable; it’s about basic facts of life, facts that are dangerous if ignored. Here on campus, sharing some basic traditional wisdom with students - usually about alcohol and sex, the two most popular areas for foolishness at universities - is not always well received. I try to couch such statements in probabilities, knowing that plenty of people do in fact get drunk and have sex outside of marriage without their lives falling apart.
But I also remember the funeral for the boys who burned down their house after partying a bit too much. And the girls who I've tried to comfort after an abortion, or just a broken heart. And, unlike Wisdom, I don't laugh at their calamity - but I do wish they would have listened.

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