The Plea of Lady Wisdom
If you’ve ever had someone beg you to listen for your own good—like a GPS screaming, “Recalculating!” while you barrel down the wrong freeway—then you understand the heart behind Proverbs 1:24-31. Lady Wisdom is doing her best to get our attention. She’s not being cryptic, and she’s certainly not playing hard to get. According to Proverbs 1:24, she’s called and reached out to everyone who might benefit from her guidance. She’s the person waving flares on the highway, trying to stop you from driving into disaster.
But here’s the problem: the people she’s calling out to aren’t interested. In fact, they’re doing the opposite of listening. Proverbs paints this picture with strong action verbs: the people are refusing, ignoring, and shrugging off Wisdom’s life-saving counsel. It’s not a passive mistake—it’s an active rejection. It’s like someone turning down a life jacket on a sinking ship because they “don’t like the color.”
When the Tables Turn: Wisdom Walks Away
And then, something surprising happens. Wisdom stops calling. In a twist you might not expect from Scripture, Lady Wisdom—this wise, gracious figure—starts laughing. Yep, you read that right. In Proverbs 1:26-27, she begins to mock the people who now find themselves in crisis. It sounds harsh at first, but there’s a painful truth behind it: she’s mirroring their own behavior. They laughed at wisdom, so now Wisdom laughs at them. She’s not being petty; she’s being just.
Lady Wisdom is no longer in rescue mode. She’s not handing out advice or tossing lifelines anymore. Proverbs 1:28 says that people will call out to her, but she won’t answer. It’s like trying to schedule a doctor’s appointment after the symptoms turn into something serious, only to find out the office is closed for good.
And why this dramatic silence? The answer is found in verses 29-31: they hated knowledge, chose not to fear the Lord, and rejected Wisdom’s advice over and over. Eventually, the consequences catch up. It’s not that Wisdom wanted to hurt them—it’s that they insisted on doing things their own way. And now they get to experience the full return on that investment.
God’s Patience Isn’t Forever
Here’s the hard reality: God is loving, patient, and full of grace—but He also honors free will. He desires that none should perish (2 Peter 3:9), but He will not force His wisdom on anyone. Romans 1:24-28 illustrates this clearly: God will eventually give people over to the consequences of their own choices.
So, what’s Wisdom calling you to today? Is there a gentle nudge—or maybe a full-on warning siren—you’ve been ignoring? Don’t assume the door will always be open. Wisdom’s invitation is generous, but it isn’t eternal.
A Timely Invitation
Lady Wisdom isn’t just some poetic figure in Proverbs. She represents the very heartbeat of God’s guidance in our lives. And while her plea begins as an openhanded offer, it doesn’t last forever. Let’s not be the ones she laughs at later—let’s be the ones who listen now. We don’t need another “I should have listened” moment. We need to respond while we still can.
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