This is a sermon preview for the second week of our “Walking in Wisdom: A Lenten Study Through Proverbs” series.
Visit FBCM’s Church Center Channel to view video live stream (live) or audio version of sermon (published week after).
“Out in the open wisdom calls aloud,
she raises her voice in the public square;
on top of the wall she cries out,
at the city gate she makes her speech:
“How long will you who are simple love your simple ways?
How long will mockers delight in mockery
and fools hate knowledge?
Repent at my rebuke!
Then I will pour out my thoughts to you,
I will make known to you my teachings.”
-excerpt from Proverbs 1:20-33
Fans of the 1990’s sitcom Boy Meets World love to quote “The Feeny Call.” Eric Matthews–a high school student–is neighbors with his teacher, Mr. Feeny. While both Eric and Mr. Feeny often complained about their constant close proximity, deep down they both loved it. On special occasions, usually when Eric needed advice, he would come out of his house and call for his beloved teacher in a ridiculous, sing-songy voice: “Feeny?! Fa-fa-fa-fa-feeny! Feenay! Fee-hee-heenay!”
Good teachers like Mr. Feeny know that they’re making a difference when their students seek them out for help. But in the second half of Proverbs 1, we see the opposite happening. No one is seeking Lady Wisdom. In fact, everyone is ignoring her. It’s Lady Wisdom who is going out calling to her students: “Eric?! Eh-eh-eh-eh-eric! Eric! Er-ri-iiiiic!”
What are we supposed to make of this role reversal?
Lent is the season of the Church year when Christian intentionally reflect on how much we need Jesus to be our Savior and Sustainer each day. To remind us of how much we really don’t understand about the world, and how much we need God’s help to make sense of our lives, we are studying the book of Proverbs. Proverbs is one of three books of the Bible which is considered “Wisdom Literature,” and it includes poems and expressions that point to God’s infinite wisdom and goodness.
A lot of people may not know this, but Proverbs' has a main character. A mascot, if you will. Her name is Lady Wisdom. Proverbs introduces our protagonist in an unusual way here in 1:20-33. Initially, Lady Wisdom comes across harshly. She is loud. Obnoxious even. Lady Wisdom is calling folks out and reproving them for their foolishness. She even mocks those who refuse to take her guidance to heart, allowing them to suffer the consequences of their choices.
That doesn’t feel very Christ-like or gracious!
Or is it?
During Lent, we are mindful of our sin. Sins of the things we have done but shouldn’t have. Sins of the things we haven’t done that we should have. Sins of the past and sins of the present. The painful reality of knowing that we will sin again. As we are convicted by the Holy Spirit, we feel the sting of Lady Wisdom correcting us. As it turns out, walking in wisdom requires developing the fear of the Lord, and the fear of the Lord requires us to listen to God’s correction.
But there is grace in conviction. It should comfort us to know that Lady Wisdom is seeking out the lost, and offers the promise of security (vs. 33) to those who listen. Lady Wisdom doesn’t just hide herself away and expect the naive to come find her. They simply wouldn’t, and then they’d never be wise! No! Instead, Lady Wisdom takes it upon herself to meander through the streets and the crowds, reaching out her voice and guidance to all in hopes that they might hear. Lady Wisdom seeks those who need her before they even know they need her.
Now this sounds like the Jesus we’ve come to know and love. This Lady Wisdom who seeks the lost sounds a lot like Jesus in Luke 15, who leaves the 99 sheep to find the one. Or this Jesus who is like the woman who turns her house upside down to find a coin. Or this Jesus who welcomes the Prodigal Son home by running towards him, even while he is a long way off.
Lady Wisdom certainly has things to tell us. But she calls out because she loves us and knows that we need her to make the first move every time. The question is: will we be humble enough to listen when she shows up? Walking in wisdom requires us to listen to God’s correction.
Reflection Questions:
How does it make you feel knowing that God seeks you out?
How do you see God’s grace at work when you feel the Holy Spirit correcting your sin?
What is something in your life that you think Lady Wisdom would call out? How is God working to correct that sin or situation?