The Bold Invitation of Lady Wisdom (Proverbs 1:20-22)

The Street Preacher You Didn’t Expect

Have you ever walked downtown and stumbled across someone shouting wisdom into the air? Proverbs paints that picture vividly. But instead of a bearded guy with a sandwich board, we meet Lady Wisdom. She’s not hiding in a temple or an ivory tower. Nope, she’s in the street, at the crossroads, and outside your front door yelling, “Hey! Listen up!”

In Proverbs 1:20-22, Wisdom calls out to the “simple ones,” the scoffers, and the fools. And let’s be honest—we’ve all taken a turn as one of those characters. Maybe not full-blown fool status, but we’ve all made choices we wish we could take back. Lady Wisdom isn’t here to shame you, though. Her voice is firm, yes, but it’s full of love. Her rebuke is more like a GPS rerouting than a slap on the wrist.

Wisdom Isn’t Always Trendy (But It’s Worth It)

Let’s get something straight: choosing wisdom will not win you a popularity contest. It often means standing out, standing up, or standing still when everyone else is sprinting in the wrong direction. Proverbs doesn’t promote the wisdom of the world—it offers the kind that reorients your soul, the kind that says, “Fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge.”

That kind of wisdom doesn’t show up in a TikTok trend or get you the most likes. It asks for something deeper: humility, surrender, and obedience. But in return, it offers direction, clarity, and even peace.

Reproof: It’s Not a Dirty Word

Most of us hear the word “rebuke” and brace for impact. But what if we saw rebuke as a gift? As a gentle (or not-so-gentle) nudge back toward wholeness? Lady Wisdom isn’t wagging her finger at us; she’s waving us down before we drive off a cliff.

When we accept reproof, we open ourselves to transformation. We let God shape us. Proverbs 1:23 promises that if we respond to Wisdom’s call, she will pour out her spirit on us and make her words known. That’s a pretty great exchange: correction for clarity, humility for understanding.

Application: Tune In to Wisdom’s Voice

So how do we do it? First, we need to ask ourselves some hard questions:

• Where have I ignored Wisdom’s call?
• What patterns or choices in my life are rooted more in self than in Scripture?
• Am I willing to listen to correction and grow from it?

The good news? Wisdom hasn’t given up on you. She’s still out there calling. All you have to do is tune in.