Wisdom’s Invitation
9 Wisdom has built her house,
She has hewn out her seven pillars;
2 She has [a]prepared her food, she has mixed her wine;
She has also set her table;
3 She has sent out her maidens, she calls
From the tops of the heights of the city:
4 “Whoever is [b]naive, let him turn in here!”
To him who lacks [c]understanding she says,
5 “Come, eat of my food
And drink of the wine I have mixed.
6 “[d]Forsake your folly and live,
And proceed in the way of understanding.”
Once again we see that wisdom is not hiding in some cave, or under a rock. We don’t stumble into it by accident, like one pans for gold. It calls out to all who will listen, inviting us to put away our folly and live a full life. It reminds me quite a lot of what God said to the church at Laodicea, after scolding them for being lukewarm:
“Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me.” God isn’t hiding, or being stingy, rather He generously goes out of his way to make sure we all get an invitation. Not content to just shout from the “tops of the heights of the city”, He goes so far as to knock on our door.
Sure, we often see this as an invitation to salvation, to choose Jesus, and while that certainly applies, it was written to the church. Just as this instruction was written to Solomon’s own sons, and is handed down now to us, it is a call for all of us. Don’t be content to leave God’s wisdom on the shelf, but put aside your folly, and your busyness, and whatever else distracts you.
Listen, God stands at the door and knocks, even now. Take the time to open the door, invite God into your day, today and everyday, and “dine” with Him. Talk with him, and especially take some time to listen.