Proverbs 1:21 “at the head of the noisy street she cries out; at the entrance of the city gates she speaks”
When I was around about 20 years old and living in Edinburgh in Scotland, I decided to take a short break up to the Highlands of Scotland where my foster father lived, in Glenfinnan. This was quite a usual thing for me to do, and often would be spontaneous. A friend was going to come with me this time, he had been with me to Glenfinnan before. We decided to leave early in the morning to miss the traffic. So around 3.30 am we loaded up the bags onto my motorbike, got all our leathers and protective gear on and eventually set off about 4 am. It was usually around about a 3-hour trip max, with some fantastic winding roads on the way.
The first part of the journey is a motorway for around 40 or 50 miles. During this journey, my friend on the pillion seat was struggling to stay awake and his crash helmet kept clicking onto the back of mine as his head rolled forwards. That was a bit annoying and worried me for the winding sections up ahead where we both needed to move together as we took the challenging corners at speed. At one point he gave a really big shove in the back of my head with the front of his helmet as he nearly fell asleep. My head went forwards and my eyes looked down to the controls, and at that exact second the red oil warning light came on.
Instinctively I yanked in the clutch and freewheeled to the hard shoulder. We had been travelling at around 120mph so it took probably close to a minute to get right off the road and stop. When we stopped and dismounted and I released the clutch and checked for damage, the engine had seized. Had I not pulled the clutch in we would have locked up the back wheel at 120mph and would have been lucky to survive the following mess.
Sometimes wisdom can seem inconvenient, and could easily be missed. It’s really great if we can stay open and be ready for when God wants to show us a red light in our life……..
KNOWLEDGE
The object of this verse is the Wisdom of the previous verses, and this verse amplifies the availability of this wisdom that in our time looks like holiness. There is no noise that can drown this out, no business that can shut this out, no distraction that can move this out – it is always available, and always clear. Wisdom is to be heard in the busyness of life and to be heard in the areas of commerce, law, and society. There is clear guidance in every situation.
UNDERSTANDING: Let’s pick one word from this verse to look closer at and see if that can help us gain a deeper insight into how God would love us to live? We could easily slip past the word “head” in this scripture. In the Hebrew language, it is pronounced “ro’s” and appears 600 times in the Old Testament. It is translated into the English words: mouth of a river; head; top; beginning; capital; forehead; temples; census; heights; finest produce; mountaintop; companies (military); bodyguard; summit; chief; leader; leading; directors; officers; highest stars; chiefs; highest; helmet; and, the cornerstone. Wow! Wisdom is visible, is heard, is positioned to be seen. Wisdom has the highest authority and status as the cornerstone. What a great picture this word paints!
WISDOM: In what situations do I hear guidance from God more clearly than others, and where in life do I possibly airbrush out His leading?
STRENGTHS THOUGHT: Empathy is a beautiful Relationship Strength – you hear and see the emotions with and without words, and ask the best questions at the best moments, unlocking and freeing others simultaneously. You can predict the reactions to changes with accuracy and sensitivity. Those around you know they are cared for and value you and your insights. Take time to ensure you care for yourself so that you bring your “A” game each day, and don’t avoid the challenging conversations, don’t procrastinate in the middle of difficult decisions. Consider the outcomes of delaying the difficult decisions!
Allan’s Unauthorised Version: [no matter where you go in the city, in community and in commerce, even in your car, Wisdom is available and can be clearly seen and heard]
PRAYER: Father thank you for today. Please help me to listen well, through all the bustle and business that I would hear the voice of wisdom and purity ever so clearly. Thank you.
Hi Allan
This is a verse I can reflect too. I’ll always find myself asked about a situation or a confrontation to resolve. The funny thing is no matter how bad it is, somehow ill always end up back to the gospel by the Holy Spirit and it will always resolve the situation.
This verse reminds me of the verse – My word will not return to me void without accomplishing what I desire, and without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it. (Isaiah 55:11)
I pray that no matter who it is or what the circumstances are, that our wisdom pours out with the good news. Amen
The message today is to listen to God’s words of wisdom. They are there for all to hear. God’s words of wisdom will always give us strength and knowledge to make the right decisions.
It is reassuring to know that wisdom is always available if we just pause, listen and then respond in tune with God’s leading. No matter the outcome we can be secure and at peace when we are able to have confidence in our decisions because we have made wisdom our priority.
Very challenging and encouraging thoughts today.
“wisdom that in our time looks like holiness”, this is a very beautiful thought. We ask the Lord for His wisdom and the result is that we look more like Him. And “ it is always available, and always clear.” This knowledge brings great comfort to my heart. Thank you Pastor Allan!
Hey Allan,
Sometimes wisdom can seem inconvenient, and could easily be missed. This really stood out to me. I think sometimes we take for granted or are ignorant to the Wisdom that may be around us. Truthfully I’ve had many a situation were wisdom was present but I chose the other road, it’s interesting in hindsight to see that it was always their, even in the loudest of situations. I think something to consider would be – what is loudest in my life and where do I need to tune up.
120mph, that’s a bit fast! I love that wisdom stands and calls out to us. In all honesty, the HS does lead us into all truth and the Godly wisdom we can receive can be the difference between life and death, success and failure. The trick is of course, not that the HS doesn’t speak into our situations but rather are we listening and obeying.
Great thoughts Allan, thank you!
That’s a good question -where in life do I possibly airbrush out his leading ?
It’s that knowing in your heart ,that feeling in the pit of your stomach that you are aware he wants you to do deal with SOMETHING , resolve, or make decisions to change (be set free) and ask for His freedom In that area that can seem daunting or scary to face or possibly an area of weakness that seems too difficult to fix, or simply an area we just airbrush over so as to avoid facing it or are fleeing from it. But it’s our surrender that sets us free , wisdom leads us because there is always Collateral damage when we don’t make wise decisions . Otherwise there is missed opportunities for God to move us into more of what he has for us ! Yeah wow when we don’t heed His warning or prompting somewhere down the path of our life we will look back and have regretS Hmmm
Father give me the courage to listen and show me the vision YOU have for my life !
Keep prompting me. Thank you for your grace
I like it that if we listen intently and with an open mind, we can surely hear the voice of wisdom loud and clear. The more we listen the more intune we are to God’s voice instead of the voices of our busy lives that constantly seek our attention. God’s voice can drown the unnecessary clutter that can dominate my mind. Thanks for sharing your life stories Pastor Allan.
Allan
What resonated with me was that wisdom can at times be inconvenient or lead to a correction but with hindsight you can see God is meeting you right were you are and ready to guide you.
Thank you pastor Allan for the strenth thought.
Empathy is one of my strengths and I can totally relate to what your saying,
I often avoid challenging conversations as in my experience , t hey haven’t ended up well .so I have shut them or burried them for sometime ,which pops up time to time ,and I keep doing the same thing without trying to find a way through
I also find myself delaying to make important decisions.
Taking your advice I have today written down some challenging conversations I have pushed back without addressing ,
Trusting to resolve or restructure some issues
This is such an incredible thought wow!!!
“Sometimes wisdom can seem INCONVENIENT, and could easily be missed. It’s really great if we can stay open and be ready for when God wants to show us a red light in our life”
It’s in the interruption that we take our eyes off ourselves and have no choice but to trust in Jesus!
I pray that I would go humbly each and every day seeking and listening for God’s wisdom like it is hidden treasure. Amen Amen Amen
I see this scripture let’s us know clearly & loudly that God’s wisdom is available to us at any time if we will draw aside from the busy-ness of our lives & take time to ponder & hear that voice. When our mind is clouded & confused it’s most likely because there are too many voices speaking all at once!! God is so merciful that He will often put a red light in front of us to help us make the right choice.
Love this thought! We so need Wisdom all the time and especially when we are not looking for it – and learning to listen to that still soft voice and acting on it is something I still try to remember to do!
Sometimes wisdom can seem inconsistent and could easily be missed.so it’s good to stay open and be ready for when God wants show us or speak to us … He cares for us!
That wisdom is always available. What a wonderful reality. To have God’s thoughts in our minds.
Powerful word that comes to tell me and ask how much do I trust Jesus and in how many things had I use my own strength and lost cause I didn’t understood or I couldn’t hear him and then even then when I found myself down His voice was still there
He knew what I need it even in the smallest act He broke me down and show me mercy.
Do I trust Him now? Yes with my whole life and heart.
Lord please keep shouting your wisdom your love and mercy and that it gets cemented in our hearts.
Love it Allan.
Wisdom / Gods voice can come in any situation. I pray that the Loudest voice I would hear would be Gods voice and his Guidance. In the midst of challenges, wisdom can be found like diamond found in the crushing and in the unexpected hiding places.
The imagery Solomon uses is no accident. A woman calling out in a busy public place will be seen and heard, essentially, by everyone in the community. Whether they are looking for her (Wisdom) or not, everyone will have to make a decision about her offer. Because of our daily busyness of work, family and other commitments time must be made to wait, be still and know that Lord is our God.
Thank you Pastor Alan
Thank you for this Allan. It is so good. ‘Sometime wisdom can seem inconvenient and can easily be missed’ – it is very important to stay open and listen out to those cries of wisdom in the midst of the noise all around.
Wisdom Must be heard in the busyness of life and at work and all areas where we walk in life. There is direction and guidance and wisdom is calling out.
Have a listening ear, empathy and give time to hear where there is need.
Another great perspective on Wisdom-thanks Allan.
There’s a lack of Godly Wisdom in display in the Market place…maybe it’s a fear how it will be received…?!..
Wisdom is not hard to find, it is within our reach. Are we yielding to his wisdom is the question. I am thankful that when we ask God always gives us wisdom, it’s matter of us listening and surrendering. That also keeps our hearts pure. What an amazing cycle of life – God is so good!
Wisdom is given free at the cost of self discipline and obedience.
When we see the red warning lights…slow down, pull over and check the issue, fix it even though it will take some time and realign and continue the journey. My struggle is do I have the patience for it, do I take the red lights seriously and do I reach out for help?
This is the area I work out the discipline and obedience.
Once again great insight Allan. Thank you.
Allan thank you. This reading and explanation is so valuable. I’ve previously read this and interpreted it differently. That is, (Wisdom is calling out in the streets) – meaning, that we don’t really get to hear it because we are deaf or not alert or even uncaring. We keep walking past so we don’t even hear it at all. We are spiritually unable to hear it because of our immaturity or distance from God. But your interpretation is refreshing – the wisdom is readily here and now with us in every situation, it looks like holiness…. back to your original words:
“The object of this verse is the Wisdom of the previous verses, and this verse amplifies the availability of this wisdom that in our time looks like holiness. There is no noise that can drown this out, no business that can shut this out, no distraction that can move this out – it is always available, and always clear. Wisdom is to be heard in the busyness of life and to be heard in the areas of commerce, law, and society. There is clear guidance in every situation.”
Thank you Michael – beautiful reflection!