Listening to Wisdom’s Call Proverbs 1:20-33 · Join the Journey

Back before GPS, you had to use a paper map. My dad was a truck driver, and his directions were legendary. He’d say things like, ‘Turn right at the fourth Pepsi sign, cut through the McDonald’s parking lot, and you’ll see it on the hill.’ One time my brother and I ignored him, trusted MapQuest instead, and ended up taking an hour longer. Sure enough, Dad’s crazy directions were right.

Ever ignored your GPS directions because you thought you knew a better way? And then you ended up lost, in traffic, or maybe even out of gas? That’s what Proverbs is warning us about. Wisdom is like God’s GPS for life. Ignore it long enough, and you’ll end up in places you never wanted to go.

We are in our series called Uncommon Sense studying through the book of Proverbs. We said that often we ignore wisdom’s invitation. Wisdom is calling — loudly, clearly, and urgently. The question is: will we listen, or will we suffer the consequences of ignoring her voice?

Remember wisdom is God’s uncommon sense because it’s valuable and rare but He gives it away freely. Wisdom is not just knowledge, but its knowledge applied. It starts with the fear of the Lord. We must humble ourselves, trust God and act accordingly. God is God and you and I are not.

If you have your bibles turn with me to Proverbs 1. If you don’t have a bible. We have some on the back table. If you are looking for Proverbs in your bible its on the left side in the OT. Comes right after Psalms and right before Ecclesiastes.

Proverbs 1:20-21

Proverbs 1:20–21

A couple of things to notice. Wisdom is not hidden. It is in the open, aloud, in the public square, on the top of the walls and at the city gate. It’s not hidden or a mystery. Wisdom makes her plea for all to come. And yet still we often ignore her invitation.

Proverbs 1:22

How long will the simple remain and love their simple ways? How long with the fool hate knowledge? So why do we ignore wisdom when she’s calling so clearly?

One reason is what Richard Foster observed, “ in our society our adversary majors in three things: noise, hurry and crowds. If he can keep us engaged in “muchness” and “manyness” he will rest satisfied.”

Often times our lives are so filled with noise, hurry and keeping up with the crowds that it drowns out wisdom’s invitation to find her. So here is the warning and consequences of rejecting wisdom’s invitation.

Proverbs 1:24-27

Proverbs 1:24–27

At first glance, this sounds harsh — as if wisdom abandons us. But look closely — this isn’t cruelty, it’s consequence. Wisdom says that if you go on rejecting her call, hand, advice and rebuke she will not be there when disaster, calamity overtake you and when distress and trouble overwhelm you. This isn’t that wisdom is never there to help and then laughs at our downfall. No, this is that she has pleaded with us and yet we still reject her insight.

Proverbs 1:28-32

Proverbs 1:28–32

Since they hated knowledge and did not fear the Lord. They did not accept her advice or rebuke even through wisdom’s invitation is for everyone out in the open. The consequence is that they will eat the fruit of their ways and will suffer destruction.

Now remember Proverbs address probabilities and not promises. There are exceptions to this general rule. But for the most part if you reject wisdom’s call you will eat the fruit of your ways.

This is wisdom’s plea. She cries out in the open calling everyone to heed her voice. And these are the consequences. But what if we do listen to wisdom?

Proverbs 1:33

Whoever listens will live in safety, at ease without fear. Remember there are exceptions. Things can and will happen differently. But for the most part this is true.

But Thomas, I’ve done some pretty foolish things. I’ve not listened to wisdom. I’ve done my own thing for so long. Is there no hope for me? There is hope for you still.

The best time to plant a tree was 10 years ago, but the second best time is today. If you are like me you have done some pretty dumb things in your life. I have rejected wisdom’s invitation. I have done my own thing. But like me you can change today!

Proverbs 1:23

The word repent means to change direction. We often think about it with sin. Foolishness isn’t always sin. Often times it is but not always. But the repentance of wisdom’s rebuke is that you can start accepting her invitation today. You can start listening to her today. And she says that if you do, she will pour out her thoughts to you and make know her teaching to you. The father in proverbs encourages his son to listen to wisdom.

Proverbs 1:8-9

Proverbs 1:8–9

If we listen to wisdom’s instruction and start taking her teaching, it will be like a crown of grace on our heads and will adorn our necks.

So how do we actually listen to wisdom’s call instead of drowning it out?

Well if our enemies tactics are noise, hurry and crowds. A great place to start is by turning down the noise, slowing down the hurry and getting away from the crowds to be alone with the Lord.

The spiritual, biblical discipline of meditation can help. Now this isn’t the eastern meditation that is promoted on Instagram, or taught in a yoga class. In the bible we see the idea of meditation as listening to God’s word, reflecting on God’s works, reviewing God’s deeds, ruminating on God’s law.

The stress on biblical meditation is on changed behavior as a result of our encounter with the living God. Repentance and obedience are essential to any biblical understanding of meditation.

It is not looking inside of yourself to come to peace with who you are. It’s looking to God and fixing, adjusting, changing who you are and what you do because of who He is. Simply it’s the ability to hear God’s voice and obey His word.

William Penn said, “true godliness does not turn men out of the world, but enables them to live better in it and excites their endeavors to mend it.”

So to practice biblical meditation, find a place that is quiet and free from distraction. Put the phone down. We see Jesus’ practice this.

Mark 1:35

Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed

Be alone with God. Spend time in prayer with God. And spend time in His word listening to God.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer said, “just as you do not analyze the words of someone you love, but accept them as they are said to you, accept the word of scripture and ponder it in your heart. That’s all. That is meditation.”

Spend time accepting God’s word and pondering it. Take a single event, parable or even just a few verses and allow it to take root in you. As it does ask God, what are you calling me to? Is there sin I need to repent of? Is there something I need to obey? What should I be doing because of who you are God or because of that you have said?

This is not a one and done thing. This is not a single event or objective to complete. It is a way of life. It is a constant learning, listening, growing repenting and obeying.

Practice biblical meditation. Secondly get support. Listening and obeying wisdom cannot and should not be done alone. We need others because we are better together.

As Journey Church We build strong relationships, walking side by side through the messiness of life with prayer, accountability, and encouragement. We grow by studying the Bible together. We live out our walk together the other 6.

We need people that are further along their journey with Jesus than us. And we need to help those that are behind us. We are in this together. Get support.

Proverbs 11:14

For lack of guidance a nation falls,

but victory is won through many advisers.

Proverbs 12:15

The way of fools seems right to them,

but the wise listen to advice.

Proverbs 19:20

Listen to advice and accept discipline,

and at the end you will be counted among the wise.

Surround yourselves with wise counsel and be wise counsel for others. If you are looking for people that can support you and walk with you. Life Groups are a great place to find them. We have several of them that are part of Journey. Get connected to one this week. Find people that can support you and help you gain wisdom.

Practice biblical meditation. Get support. Third ask God!

James 1:5

If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.

If you lack wisdom ask God for it. And find His wisdom in His word. Look back at Proverbs.

Proverbs 2:1-9

Proverbs 2:1–9

God gives wisdom from His mouth. From His words come knowledge and understanding. Search His word and find His wisdom.

Wisdom is calling — don’t ignore her. Find her by meditating on God’s Word, walking with God’s people, and asking Him for wisdom. This is God’s uncommon sense.

Wisdom is calling — but more than that, Christ is calling. Don’t ignore His voice. Repent, believe, and follow Him today. God loves you and sent His Son so you would not perish, but have eternal life. Through Jesus, you can be forgiven, saved, and made new. Don’t wait another day — come to Him, repent, and be baptized into His life today.