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Wisdom is Calling

SCRIPTURE: Proverbs 1:20-33 (ESV)

DATE: 4-30-17

We’re in the second week of a series in the book of Proverbs. Last week, we looked at what wisdom is and at what it means to be a wise person. We saw that there’s a way of living that’s wise and a way of living that’s foolish. There’s wise living and foolish living. And the book of Proverbs is an invaluable resource in helping us gain wisdom. 

Over the next few weeks, Pastor Ben and Mike Barnhart will get very practical for us. They’ll show us how wisdom speaks to specific situations we experience every day. That’s what’s coming up over the next few weeks.

And today we’re going to see that wisdom isn’t hidden. Wisdom’s available — it’s accessible to all of us— it’s like a person with a bullhorn calling out, “Listen to me!” And the question for all of us is “Will we listen to wisdom or will we go the way of a fool?”

SERMON INTRODUCTION

Now I don’t know if you’ve ever made an unwise decision before — my guess is that you have — but what I mean is one of those things you look back on and think, “Boy. That was really dumb.”

I grew up in central Florida and one year in high school a group of us were having a pool party. And me and another guy were driving around picking up some of our friends to take them to the party. 

And I can’t remember why, but we weren’t in either of our cars — we had borrowed a car from one of the girls at the party. And one of our friends lived out in the boonies in central Florida where there are no paved roads — and if you don’t know — dirt roads in Florida can be more like beach sand roads than actual dirt roads. 

So we picked up our friend and were driving along this road that was more like driving on a sandy Florida beach. And we were coming to this hill and — yes — Florida occasionally has a hill — and I remember someone in the car saying, “Guys. This isn’t going to work. That hill — with this slippery sand of a road — just isn’t going to work.” And then someone — I don’t know remember who — said, “Nah. We got this.” 

And my friend — who was driving — decided to floor it so we’d make it up the hill. And do you know what happened? Well instead of driving up the hill — we drove into the hill.

No lie. The sand was so thick and slippery that we didn’t go up the hill at all. We drove straight into the hill. And sand was everywhere. In fact, the front of the car was buried into the side of the hill and sand was covering most of the car’s hood.

Now if we’d been a wise group of fellas, we’d have listened to that voice in the car calling out “We’re not gonna make it” — but we didn’t listen. So we got stuck like a bunch of fools. 

Luckily for us there was a house at the bottom of the hill. And the owner had a bulldozer. And attached to the bulldozer was a chain — you know why? Because we weren’t the first fools to think we could make it up the hill. Apparently lots of people got stuck just outside of this guy’s house.

Now I’m not the only idiot in the room. You’ve made some choices in life that you regret. Maybe you haven’t gotten a car stuck in the side of a hill before, but you’ve done some unwise things. 

That’s why we love the show America’s Funniest Home Videos, right? For twenty-seven years we’ve found enjoyment in watching an hour of nothing but person after person making unwise decisions. And we enjoy it because all of us have had a moment or two — or twenty — in our lives that could’ve made the show — if only we’d gotten it on video. 

In fact, raise your hand if you’ve done something that you know would’ve made it on America’s Funniest Home Videos if you’d had caught it on video? Look at the hands raised. Look at all of the unwise decisions we’ve made.

Now something common to all of these moments in life was wisdom — she was calling out to us. She was saying, “Don’t do it. Don’t be a dummy. Don’t be such a fool.” Yet we ignored her call and got on the trampoline, or pogo stick, or slip in slide, or whatever it was that we now know was an unwise decision. 

And what I want to help us see today is that we all have a choice when it comes to being wise or foolish. We don’t have to choose the way of the fool — we can listen to the voice in the car saying, “We’re not going to make it” — because wisdom — like that kid in the car — is calling out to all of us. And we don’t have to take the path of a fool — we don’t have to shut off our ears from the correction, instruction, and guidance that’s available to help us live wisely. 

For wisdom is calling out to us. The question is, “Will we listen to her call?”

ANNOUNCE THE TEXT

If you have your Bible please turn with me to Proverbs chapter one. We’ll be looking at verses twenty through thirty-three this morning.  

And, if you’re a guest with us, something we like to do here at Gateway is let you ask questions. So if you have a question during the sermon, you can text your question into the number that’s on the screens or you can submit it on the Gateway app.

RE-ANNOUNCE AND READ THE TEXT

And this morning, I’m going to read through all of our verses and then we’ll go back and see what wisdom is wanting to teach us today. Here are the words found in Proverbs chapter one. Beginning in verse twenty. 

“Wisdom cries aloud in the street, in the markets she raises her voice; 21 at the head of the noisy streets she cries out; at the entrance of the city gates she speaks: 22 “How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple? How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing and fools hate knowledge? 23 If you turn at my reproof, behold, I will pour out my spirit to you; I will make my words known to you. 24 Because I have called and you refused to listen, have stretched out my hand and no one has heeded, 25 because you have ignored all my counsel and would have none of my reproof, 26 I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when terror strikes you, 27 when terror strikes you like a storm and your calamity comes like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come upon you. 28 Then they will call upon me, but I will not answer; they will seek me diligently but will not find me. 29 Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the Lord, 30 would have none of my counsel and despised all my reproof, 31 therefore they shall eat the fruit of their way, and have their fill of their own devices. 

32 For the simple are killed by their turning away, and the complacency of fools destroys them; 33 but whoever listens to me will dwell secure and will be at ease, without dread of disaster.” (Proverbs 1:20-33 ESV)

PROPOSITION

Here’s the big idea for us today. “Because wisdom is calling out, none of us have an excuse for being foolish.” Because wisdom is calling out, none of us have an excuse for being foolish.

Look with me in verse twenty of Proverbs chapter one. And when you see a word in all caps, yellow, and underlined…go ahead and say those words out loud with me. In verse twenty we see that…“Wisdom CRIES aloud in the street, in the markets she raises her VOICE; 21 at the head of the noisy streets she CRIES out; at the entrance of the city gates she SPEAKS:

And in verse twenty-four wisdom says…

24 Because I have CALLED and you refused to listen, I have stretched out my hand and no one has heeded…” (Proverbs 1:20-21, 24 ESV)

Because wisdom is calling out, none of us have an excuse for being foolish. 

Wisdom isn’t being silent. She’s not hiding herself. She’s screaming at the top of her lungs, “Listen to me, everyone. Listen to me!” — just like that kid in the car. Yet — we see — in verse twenty-four — that we refuse to listen. We shut off our ears to her words. Wisdom has stretched out her hand to offer us help and we refuse to reach out and receive the gift being offered.

So here’s something we need to admit right at the start. When it comes to foolishness, the one thing we can’t claim is that we don’t have access to wisdom. We can’t say, “This isn’t fair! How was I supposed to know this would happen?” 

  • How was I supposed to know that committing adultery would ruin my marriage? 
  • Or that being late for curfew would result in being grounded?
  • Or that skipping church for sports, dance, and other activities would result in my kids abandoning the faith once they got older?

How were you supposed to know? Wisdom — that’s how. And she’s calling out to you. She’s not hiding. She’s right here in God’s Word for you to discover. 

So it’s not like you have to know a secret handshake or a password or something in order to not be a fool. Wisdom’s out there in plain sight and she’s hoping that all of us will learn from her. And because wisdom is accessible to us all — because she isn’t hidden — it’s not just that we can know the wise choice to make — but what we have to admit is that when we make a foolish choice it’s because we intentionally choose to not listen to wisdom — we ignore her call.

Foolishness is a choice. And it’s a choice we make all of the time and then look for someone else to blame because we just don’t want to own up to the fact that the path of the fool is a path we’re choosing to walk down.

So let’s look at this call of wisdom. What does it mean that she’s calling out to all of us — not hidden behind a veil — not at the top of a mountain that only a few can climb to — but wisdom is out there in the open for any and all who would listen to her.

Well here’s one thing the call of wisdom means for us. 

MAIN POINT 1

“Those who listen to wisdom’s call receive a great promise.” Because wisdom is calling out, those who listen to her receive a great promise. Look with me in verse twenty-two.

“”How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple? How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing and fools hate knowledge? 23 If you turn at my reproof, behold, I will POUR OUT MY SPIRIT to you; I will make my words KNOWN to you.” (Proverbs 1:22-23 ESV)

The people who listen to wisdom’s call are given a great promise. 

So we see here that being a fool — according to the Bible — is a bit different than how we usually use the word. I mentioned this last week, but I think that most of us use the word ‘fool’ for what the Bible describes as the simple or young. But the fool — especially in the book of Proverbs — is someone who hates knowledge — who hates wisdom — who doesn’t listen to wisdom’s call — the fool ignores her. Because they’re certain that they’re right — they’re wise in their own eyes — and they don’t care what anyone else thinks — not even God.

But there’s a great promise for those who listen to wisdom’s call. She will pour out her spirit on them. And she’ll make her wise words known to them. And even right here — just at the beginning of our text — I want you to notice how wisdom not only has human characteristics, but God-like characteristics. For wisdom will pour out her spirit on those who hear her call. 

And if you have any familiarity with the New Testament you know that God pours out His Holy Spirit on all who hear and respond to His call. And — like wisdom — God has promised to make His Word known to those who listen to Him. Like wisdom — God isn’t silent — He’s not hiding — but has revealed Himself to us in His Word — the Bible — and in His Son — Jesus Christ.

Yet these promises of wisdom are only for those who listen to her call. If you ignore her, you don’t receive the promises she offers. You don’t experience her spirit being poured out on you. You’re not given her wise words. 

But the people who listen to wisdom’s call are the recipients of a great promise. They’ll experience her spirit being poured out on them and they’ll be given her words. And they will respond to her when she calls to follow her path of wisdom.

There’s a great promise for those who listen to wisdom’s call.

Here’s a second thing the call of wisdom means for us. 

MAIN POINT 2

“Those who listen to wisdom’s call avoid her judgment.” Because wisdom is calling out, those who listen to her avoid her judgment. Look with me in verse twenty-four.

“Because I have called and you refused to listen, have stretched out my hand and no one has heeded, 25 because you have ignored all my counsel and would have none of my reproof, 26 I also will LAUGH at your calamity; I will MOCK when terror strikes you, 27 when terror strikes you like a storm and your calamity comes like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come upon you. 28 Then they will call upon me, but I will not ANSWER; they will seek me diligently but will not FIND me. 29 Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the Lord, 30 would have none of my counsel and despised all my reproof, 

31 therefore they shall eat the fruit of their way, and have their fill of their own devices. 32 For the simple are killed by their turning away, and the complacency of fools DESTROYS them…” (Proverbs 1:24-32 ESV)

The people who listen to wisdom’s call avoid the judgment she will pour out on all who ignore her. 

Now we may not like the sound of wisdom’s judgment, but do you see the graciousness in her announcement? She’s telling us what will happen to all who ignore her. So it won’t be a surprise when calamity and destruction come upon those who ignore her call. We may not like that she will judge, but she’s been fair in warning us what will come of those who ignore her call.

For those who refuse to listen to her — those who ignore her call — will be judged. And this judgment is the climax of our verses — it’s the peak of the story, so to speak. And if one thing’s clear, it’s this: You don’t want to get on Wisdom’s bad side — for she is a wrathful judge.

Oh she’s gracious in warning us and providing us with wisdom, but when we ignore her grace and wisdom — she has no qualms with dropping the full weight of her judgment upon those who go the way of the fool. 

And she’ll laugh at you when calamity — when disaster — strikes you. And she’ll mock you when you’re terrified because of the choices you’ve made. 

And — maybe most scariest of all — if you come to your senses in the middle of her judgment — it’s too late. For once her judgment begins there’s no turning back for the fool. The time to reverse course and find your way back to the path of wisdom — has passed. Your fate has been secured. Destruction is your destiny.

And you’ll receive from her exactly what she received from you. For she first called out to you and you ignored her. So now when you call out to her, she’ll ignore you. You’ll look for her — the author of Proverbs says — but because her judgment has come — you won’t find her. For those who want nothing to do with wisdom will get their wish as she’ll have nothing to do with you once her judgment has come.

And notice that wisdom either pours out her spirit on you or her judgment. Remember we just saw how wisdom gives a great promise to all who listen to her call — they’ll be given her spirit. But if you refuse to listen to her call — instead of her spirit — you’ll be given her judgment.

And again, do you hear the echoes of God here? For God — like wisdom — is calling out to us. And He will bring His judgment to pass on all who ignore His call. 

And we may not like that He will judge, but He’s been fair in warning us of what will come of those who ignore His call. For God first called out to us. And once His final judgment has come, those who’ve ignored Him will call out to Him only to be ignored. Because those who want nothing to do with God in this life will get their wish for all eternity. For just as wisdom either pours out her spirit on you or her judgment — so to God either pours out His Spirit on you or His judgment.

So all of us will receive something from wisdom. It’s not that you get her spirit or nothing. For you either listen to her call and receive her spirit or you ignore her call and receive her judgment. There’s no middle ground.

And the people who listen to wisdom’s call — not only do they experience the promise of being given her spirit — but those who listen to her call avoid the judgment she will pour out on all who ignore her. 

One final thing the call of wisdom means for us. 

MAIN POINT 3

“Those who listen to wisdom’s call have security.” 

Do you want some sense of security in this unpredictable world — a confidence in knowing that nothing you experience will bring ultimate disaster your way? Well that kind of security is being offered to you because wisdom is calling out. And those who listen to her have security. Look with me in verse thirty-three.

“But whoever listens to me will dwell SECURE and will be at ease, without dread of disaster.” (Proverbs 1:33 ESV)

The people who listen to wisdom’s call have security. 

There are many troubling things the world can throw our way — even when we’re walking on the path of wisdom. 

  • Good employees lose their jobs. 
  • Health nuts have heart attacks. 
  • You may never drink, but that won’t prevent a drunk driver from changing your life forever. 
  • Troubling things — disastrous things — are unavoidable.

Yet security is offered to those who listen to wisdom’s call. A security that offers ease — a confidence not in oneself — but in Someone else who’s in control — which gives a person no sense of dread even when disastrous things occur. It’s an unbelievable confidence we see in people of faith in the midst of great tragedy. 

I was recently watching a video on YouTube about jazz music — if you don’t know I studied jazz music in college. And this video was an interview with Wynton Marsalis and another musician about the evolution of jazz music. Mainly looking at cultural changes in our country’s history and how they influenced jazz music.

And at the end of the interview they talked about the 2015 shooting at the church in Charleston, SC. And at one point, they started talking about the love and forgiveness of the family of the victims. And honestly at that point in the interview it was like all hope was lost.

The musicians tried as hard as they could to find an answer as to why these people could “love their neighbor” — that’s the language they used in the interview — how they could love and forgive the young man who murdered their family members. 

And the best the two musicians could come up with was “We just have to try really hard to not be resentful. We just have to try to be loving in these moments. We just have to decide to love even when it’s hard.” 

And my heart just sunk because — if history has shown us anything — it’s that we’ve tried really hard to not be resentful. Generation after generation has tried to be the generation of love instead of hate. And things haven’t gotten any better. Things don’t feel any more hopeful. There’s no more security today from the dread of disaster than there was in the past.

And that’s because we’re not listening to wisdom’s call. Because only by listening to her will we find the security that we’re searching for.

One last thing about that video — and this was both surprising to me — and — I think it shows us something about ourselves. Throughout the interview the two musicians would talk about a historical event and then play a song that captures that moment in time. And after this final discussion about needing to love our neighbors — with no mention of God, Jesus, or anything of a religious nature — do you know what song they ended the interview with?

What song did two jazz musicians get an entire audience to sing along with them after they just spoke of the disasters of life and their only solution being “We’ve just got to work harder at loving one another and not being resentful?” What song did these two musicians think represented the love that the victims displayed towards the man who shot up their church and murdered their friends and family? What song?

Amazing Grace. How about that? Even when we don’t want to turn to God and listen to His call — I think there’s something in all of us that knows that the real answer won’t be found from within us — because we’re never going to bring about security by trying to love harder in our own strength. But the answer to the security that we long for and the ease in the face of disaster that we hope for — I think that we all instinctively know that the answer won’t be found from within — but will come from Someone greater than ourselves. 

And those who listen to wisdom’s call have security. There’s no need for them to fear the dread of disaster.

CHRIST CONNECTION

So the question for you is: Are you listening to wisdom? For she’s calling out. She’s given promises and is offering security to all who will listen to her call. But she won’t call out forever. 

In the book of Proverbs, wisdom’s voice will now go silent until the eighth chapter. After these words we won’t hear from her again for another one hundred and sixty-nine verses. The father will talk to his son about wisdom, but she herself will be silent. And then — when she speaks — listen to what she says. At first it sounds familiar.

“I call to you, to all of you! I raise my voice to all people. 5 You simple people, use good judgment. You foolish people, show some understanding. 6 Listen to me! For I have important things to tell you. Everything I say is right, 7 for I speak the truth and detest every kind of deception. 8 My advice is wholesome. There is nothing devious or crooked in it. 9 My words are plain to anyone with understanding, clear to those with knowledge.

A few verses later she says…

13 All who fear the Lord will hate evil. Therefore, I hate pride and arrogance, corruption and perverse speech. 

14 Common sense and success belong to me. Insight and strength are mine. 15 Because of me, kings reign, and rulers make just decrees. 16 Rulers lead with my help, and nobles make righteous judgments. 17 “I love all who love me. Those who search will surely find me. 18 I have riches and honor, as well as enduring wealth and justice. 19 My gifts are better than gold, even the purest gold, my wages better than sterling silver! 20 I walk in righteousness, in paths of justice.

And then notice a subtle change a few verses later when wisdom says that…

27 I was there when he (that’s God) established the heavens, when he drew the horizon on the oceans. 28 I was there when he set the clouds above, when he established springs deep in the earth. 29 I was there when he set the limits of the seas, so they would not spread beyond their boundaries. And when he marked off the earth’s foundations, 30 I was the architect at his side. I was his constant delight, rejoicing always in his presence. 31 And how happy I was with the world he created; how I rejoiced with the human family! 32 “And so, my children, listen to me, for all who follow my ways are joyful. 33 Listen to my instruction and be wise. Don’t ignore it. 

34 Joyful are those who listen to me, watching for me daily at my gates, waiting for me outside my home! 35 For whoever finds me finds life and receives favor from the Lord. 36 But those who miss me injure themselves. All who hate me love death.” (Proverbs 8:4-9, 13-20, 27-36 NLT)

Did you notice the subtle change in Wisdom’s words? Wisdom says that I was there…

  • When God established the heavens — when He drew the boundaries of the oceans.
  • And I was there when He put the springs in the seas and the clouds in the sky.
  • I was there when He marked off the foundation of the earth.
  • I was the architect — the Chief Designer — by His side during creation and I rejoiced in His presence and was happy with the world He created.
  • I was His constant delight.
  • And I rejoiced with humanity.

Who does this sound like? Jesus, right? For Jesus was there…

  • When God established the heavens and when He drew the boundaries of the oceans and put the springs in the seas.
  • And Jesus was there when God put the clouds in the sky and marked off the foundation of the earth.
  • And — according to the New Testament — Jesus was the architect — the Chief Designer — by God’s side during creation.
  • He was AND is God’s constant delight.
  • He rejoiced in God’s presence and was happy with the world He created.
  • And Jesus rejoiced with humanity while He walked with us here on Earth.

And like Wisdom, Jesus says to us, “Dear children. Listen to me. For all who follow me will find joy — an eternal joy. So watch for My return — for I’m coming soon. And until that Day, know that everyone who finds Me finds life — and life to it’s fullest — as they receive the favor — the grace — of the Lord. But know that you have been warned. For those who hate Me — those who ignore My call — will find death.”

CONCLUSION

Wisdom’s call to us — like Jesus’ call — tells us a truth about ourselves:  We’d all go the way of the fool if it wasn’t for Someone calling out to us and leading us on the path of wisdom. Because we’re prone to wander from the road of life that most honors God — the road of wisdom — to follow down the path of foolishness that leads to death.

Yet those who’ve heard the call of Wisdom — the call of Jesus — they experience the pouring out of His Spirit upon them. His Holy Spirit who leads them on the path of wisdom. Empowering them to follow the path of Jesus — the path that leads to eternal life. 

Wisdom is calling out to you right now — are you listening to her? And more importantly, Jesus is calling out to you — are you listening to Him? For His call will not go on forever — it will come to an end — and then it will be too late to respond. 

But today is not that day. The Good News for all of us is that it’s not too late to respond to Jesus’ call today — today you can respond. Today you can listen to the call of wisdom. Today you can respond to Jesus’ call and follow Him on the path that leads to eternal life. Let’s pray. 

PRAYER

Heavenly Father, I pray that everyone who hears my voice will respond to what You’ve said to us through Your Word this morning. I pray that You will remind us often that wisdom is calling out to each of us. She is not silent. She is not hiding. She is pleading with us to listen.

And Father, we thank you. For You are calling out to us. You are not silent. You are not hidden. You want us to listen the call of Your Wisdom, Your Word, and Your Son. 

Thank you for the promises given to those who listen to Your call. Thank you for providing us a way to avoid the judgment that will come upon all who ignore Your call. And thank you for the security that You give to all who listen to Your call. May all who are here, listen to Your call and respond by following Jesus on the path that leads to eternal life. We pray these things in His name. Amen.

BENEDICTION

“Because wisdom is calling out, you don’t have to go the way of the fool. So go listening to her call — and to the call of God — so that you follow the path that leads to eternal life. Amen.”

God loves you. I love you. You are sent.