Of these two, which is more valuable: paper money or gold? Of these two which is more valuable: gold or food? Friends or fame? How about yesterday or tomorrow? Today or eternity? Here is an easy one – stupidity or knowledge? I know the average person would disagree, but the wise man, Solomon, suggests thatwisdom” is perhaps the most valuable thing we might ever possess. “Wisdom” is the means to a wonderful eternity, to peace, to the prosperity which gold cannot provide.

Let’s start tonight by reconsidering this wisdom.

Some suggest this refers to an aspect of the character of Jehovah wisdom” is one of His attributes. While that is true, I prefer the suggestions of a larger group of Bible students – THIS wisdom is Christ. In Luke 11, one of the scribes was trying to argue with the Lord Jesus. Jesus replied, “Woe unto ye lawyers” and He mentioned various reasons. Then He said, “Therefore also said the wisdom of God, I will send them prophets and apostles, and some of them they shall slay and persecute: That the blood of all the prophets, which was shed from the foundation of the world, may be required of this generation.” Who was it that commissioned the prophets of God? The answer has to be God, of course, but more specifically Christ. And then we have I Corinthians 1 “Of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption.”

I know that Solomon has already introduced us, but he gives us a bit more information about wisdom.” We can’t see it in our English translation, but the word wisdom” is pluralwisdoms.” That could make reference to the Trinity – the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Or it could suggest the consummate perfection of wisdom in the Lord. Christ Jesus is “the fulness of the Godhead bodily;” He is the absolute “all-in-all.” Solomon also describes this wisdom as feminine. Despite the denials of some feminists, there are characteristics which are more often found in ladies than men. Things like compassion and concern for others, including strangers. Unconditional, unrestrained love is more often found in women than men. This female wisdom is willing to “pour out her own spirit” in order to be a blessing to these simple souls. I know that it’s a generalization which should not be generally true among Christians, but the man often will say, “That man is a fool, and it was his own choice. He deserves his fate.” While the woman is more apt to say, “What can we do to help that poor foolish soul?” The wisdom, to which Solomon refers, is compassionate and loving – feminine.

And where is she? What is the sphere of her ministry?

She has not confined herself to the ivory palaces of Heaven, or the seminary, or even the church. “Wisdom crieth WITHOUT.” The word “without” can be used as a preposition, an adverb or a conjunction. And as I usually use it, it needs an object “Wisdom crieth without restraint or remorse, or something.” In the first dictionary I checked it said that an archaic use of the word speaks of being “outside.” I hate it when dictionaries lie to their readers, telling them that my Bible is archaic. It is not! This wisdom was outside, not in hiding or inside. And it reminds me of a verse from Hebrews 13 – “Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate.”

Solomon tells us that wisdom pleads with simpletons out in their streets. She goes into the busiest places in the city – “the chief place of concourse.” She even cries out to people in the city gates – which could refer to the city hall and county courthouse.

And, again, to whom does she call? The simple ones.

Solomon has brought up these people earlier in this chapter, so we aren’t unfamiliar with them. In fact we aren’t unfamiliar with them, because we have been them. We are them. But just to refresh our memories, let’s review. The Hebrew word is translated “simple,” “simple ones,” “simplicity” 18 times, and “foolish” once. There are other words translated “foolish” and some of them refer to foolishness in the sense of evil. But this is not one of those people. And we have both “simple ones” and “fools” in verse 22. Again, this “fool” is not necessarily evil. There are lots of Hebrew words for “fool.” This “fool” is a dullard, a stupid person; in fact he is arrogant in his stupidity. This simple soul is also differentiated from the scorner, even though he is mentioned in the same verse.

This word speaks of weakness, inexperience and gullibility. Psalm 116:6 says that “The LORD preserveth the simple,” so these are not evil people or particularly proud. Other scriptures in Proverbs describes these folk. Proverbs 14:15 – “The simple believeth every word: but the prudent man looketh well to his going.” Proverbs 22:3 and 27:12 both say, “A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: but the simple pass on, and are punished.”

Who are these simple folk? They are people who are vulnerable – inexperienced in the dangers of our wicked world. It is easy to see how this word applies to young people. They may not recognize the black widow spider for the dangerous creature that he is. But very sadly, the truly simple ones, want to remain simple. “How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity?” Paul will one day write – “When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.” “When you were young, you used your inexperience mind, boldly spoking about things of which you had little understanding, but you are expected to grow up and put away those childish, simple ideas.”

What is Wisdom’s warning to these simple inexperienced people?

Basically – “When are you going to grow up?” “How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity?” Not thinking about mental retardation or other emotional problems, we expect children to learn and grow up. We hope that our children will mature, becoming circumspect, and able to spot or anticipate dangers. When will that come? For some, for whatever reason, that might come quickly. For many, they don’t sufficiently grow up until they are in their twenties. Sometimes it is the responsibilities of marriage and parenthood which bring them to their senses. But for others, they never really grow up. “How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity?” Fools will hate knowledge to their dying day – denying the God who created them. And it seems that with more corrupt education the more they become scorners. “How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity?” because the longer we hold on to our simplicity, the easier it is to fall into the realm of the fools and scornful.

Wisdom says, “Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you.” Wisdom has a language all her own “I will make known MY words unto you.” She has a library which is quite unlike the city public library. It begins, of course, with the Word of God – the revelation of God.

Does this verse suggest that we are not capable of learning her words without her guidance? If we are not willing to sit down at her feet hungry for her blessings, we will never possess the wisdom of Wisdom. If we don’t turn when she calls us, we will continue down the road to wicked foolishness and scorn. We are all simpletons until wisdom corrects us; we must turn or burn. And what if she some day stops calling altogether? Then the simpleton is doomed.

“Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you.” Apparently, our translators did not believe that Solomon was referring to the Holy Spirit, and I am not going to correct them. But I will apply his lesson in that direction anyway. The key to spiritual maturity is not a degree from Baptist Bible College or a PhD from Dallas Seminary. As I suggested a couple weeks ago, the home-schooled teenager may be more wise than the seminary professor. The key to Wisdom’s wisdom is the blessing of God through the Holy Spirit.

The general theme of this chapter is this: “You that love simplicity – when are you going to wake up?” Isa there any difference between this scripture in Proverbs 1 and II Corinthians 6:2? “I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.”