Proverbs 8:1–2

Here is no courting of the dark, no flattery of the careless, no smooth speech to seduce into foul deeds and forbidden indulgence. The wisdom which has its root in the fear of Jehovah is open and earnest with man… John the Baptist not only bore witness to Jesus, but "cried" (John 1:15). So did our Lord in the temple as He taught (John 7:28). He cried above all at the close of His rejected testimony (John 12:44), in urgent love.

It was prophesied of the Lord Jesus that "He shall not cry out, nor raise His voice, nor cause His voice to be heard in the street". Yet when the occasion called for it, He would stand and cry, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink" (John 7:37).

I admit that in the book of Proverbs the word wisdom usually means the right use of knowledge. But in this eighth chapter you notice that the word is applied to a person. Wisdom cries (v. 1); stands (v. 2); I cry, my voice (v. 4); I dwell (v. 12). Kings get authority from Wisdom (v. 15); Wisdom loves (v. 17); leads (v. 20); is possessed by Jehovah (v. 22); blesses the man who hears (v. 34).

That the one who calls is female need not trouble us; whenever a female is used in the types it is to set out divine principles in their inward character. No honest mind taught of God can doubt that it is Christ who is set before us in this chapter. Some claim that we cannot apply abstract principles to Divine Persons, but Luke 11:49 clearly disproves this: "Therefore also said the wisdom of God, I will send them prophets and apostles." Here we have a divine Person speaking. So we can be sure that the voice which speaks as female here in Proverbs is the same voice which speaks in Luke 11. Divine wisdom has been made available to us in Christ, as we read, "But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who has been made to us wisdom from God" (1 Corinthians 1:30).

Travellers who want to go straight on their way come to crossroads where three ways open before them. Turn one way, and you fall victim to the "strange woman". Turn another, and the "foolish woman" traps you. But to go straight on means walking in fellowship with divine wisdom, whose voice calls to us right there. Whenever we reach a point in the history of our souls where the next step needs very careful thought, Wisdom is always there to instruct us.

Thirdly, Wisdom cries "at the coming in at the doors." Here the household is in view… Am I a wife? Then subjection ought to mark me towards my husband. Am I a husband? Then love should mark me towards my wife. Am I a father? Then grace ought to mark my dealings with my children. Am I a child? Then obedience to my parents should be my attitude… It is in keeping these things that the practical marks of the children of Wisdom come to light in the world.

Though the message of wisdom is announced even where crowds gather, it is not addressed to the crowds in general. It is addressed to people one by one — "To you, O man, I call" — and to the sons of men. It presses the message home in a way that fastens on each one as personally responsible, even though simple or foolish (vv. 4-5).

How often the Old Testament, like the New, reminds us of God's favour towards mankind! It is not with angels but with the human race that God pleads, that they may hear and live… So it is here when wisdom cries aloud. More than that, it pleads with the weak and the unwise.

God has seen fit to plant wisdom in the hearts of believers by faith… Believers therefore become messengers who carry the message of wisdom to the world. They carry it from the top of the high hills, or by the gates of entry into the city, where of course there are crowds of people.

Verses 2 and 3 show remarkably the character of this testimony. She meets man where he is. She lifts up her voice above the roar and confusion of man's restless activities in this world. She meets him in the crowd. She puts herself forward in the highway where everyone passes, to bring in the light of God and His claim on man for his good. She calls man's ear to hear. She calls him to think of something besides the pressure of his own will and the muddy stream of his passions and earthly hopes. The word was proclaimed on "the top of high places," in full view of men, in the crowded places where people gather.

This is the voice we turn to: the voice of wisdom, who stands at the crossroads. The "strange woman" is on one side and the "foolish woman" on the other. Travellers who want to go straight on come to a crossroads where three ways open. Turn one way, and you fall victim to the "strange woman". Turn another way, and the "foolish woman" traps you. But go straight on, and you walk in fellowship with divine wisdom, whose voice calls to us just there. We reach points in our lives where the next step needs very careful thought. Wisdom is always there to instruct us. If we follow her instructions, we keep going straight on our way.

Here is no courting of the dark, no flattery of the careless, no smooth speech to lure into foul deeds and forbidden pleasure. The wisdom which has its root in the fear of Jehovah is open and earnest with man.

That the one who calls is female need not trouble us. In the types, a female figure always sets out divine principles in their subjective character. No honest mind taught of God can have any doubt that it is Christ who is set before us in this chapter. Some claim that we cannot apply abstract principles to Divine Persons. Luke 11:49 clearly disproves that: "Therefore also the Wisdom of God said, I will send them prophets and apostles." Here a divine Person is speaking. So we can be sure that the voice which speaks in female character in our passage in Proverbs is the same voice which speaks in Luke 11. God has made divine wisdom available to us in Christ, as we read: "And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God" (1 Corinthians 1:30).

In the book of Proverbs, Wisdom lifts up her voice. "On the heights beside the way, at the crossroads she takes her stand" (Proverbs 8:2). It was prophesied of the Lord Jesus that "He will not cry aloud or lift up His voice, or make it heard in the street." Yet when the occasion required it, He would stand and cry, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink" (John 7:37).

The One who ordered creation rightly did so for the pleasure of the Godhead. He presents to us that same wisdom, so that we might walk rightly in that creation for the pleasure of the Godhead.