Text verses: Proverbs 1:20-25

Solomon turns from teaching his son – to proclaiming the rebellion and rejection by the mass of the people in the city to Wisdom (or God; or the Truth; or the Preachers of Truth).

God has always had a Messenger of Truth on the earth. From Adam to Abel to Seth to Enoch to Noah; to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, the Prophets; to John the Baptist to Jesus to the Apostles; and now to the Pastors of the Churches; even the Written Word of God. (See Hebrews 1:1-3.)

Solomon is describing the Who, the Where, and the What in Proverbs 1:20-25 concerning His Message of Truth.

Then, in verses 29-33, he describes:

a) What they (the sinners) have done with His Message (verses 29-30);
b) What His Judgment will be on the rebellious (verse 31);
c) What He will do for those who harken to His Message of Truth (verse 33).

Solomon seems to switch to the prophecy of the City of Jerusalem, which reached all the way to when the Jews, as a Nation, rejected Jesus, and to the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D. by the Romans; as the Romans battles the Zionists, the Zealots, and other factions in Jerusalem (see Luke 21 and Matthew 24), as the fulfillment of Daniel 9:24-27.

The Who

“Wisdom crieth without; she uttereth her voice in the streets:” (Proverbs 1:20)

“She crieth in the chief place of concourse, in the openings of the gates: in the city she uttereth her words, saying,” (Proverbs 1:21)

“Wisdom” – refer to the introductory devotion on “Wisdom.” Wisdom is Christ, The Truth. Wisdom is the Message of Truth and of Judgment.

As stated previously, God has always had a witness of Himself as the Creator, Controller, and Consummator of all. The entire purpose of Creation is to reveal Who God is; for He is God and there is no other God. He alone is the Alpha and Omega; the Beginning and the End. He alone is the Author of life, the Sustainer of life, and the Consummator of life (Revelation 1:8; 17d, 18). Jesus said of Himself, after His Resurrection from the dead, “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth” (Matthew 28:18). (Also see Romans 1:4.)

The Where

“Crieth without” – that is, God’s witness is “without”; not to a select few, but to the entire city. Notice the following phrases:

a) “She uttereth her voice in the streets”;
b) “She crieth in the chief place of concourse” (or in the court square);
c) “In the openings of the gates” (the gates of the city is where the judges, the sages, the men of wisdom sat);
d) “In the city she uttereth her words, saying”

The above phrases relate to the reader that God’s Word of Truth is proclaimed in all places of the city; in the streets, in the chief places, and in the gates. His Truth is not hidden, but out in the open.

Once again, here is proof that the rebellious, even the fools, who despise wisdom and instruction, refuse and reject God’s Word.
It is the same today. God’s Word is flowing from Mount Sion, the Mountain of the Lord, His Holy City, even the Church of the Living God.

“But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,” (Hebrews 12:22)

“To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:” (Ephesians 3:10-11)

“Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.” (Ephesians 3:21)

Today’s devotion looked at the Who and the Where; tomorrow we will discuss the What.