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Pike Place Market in Seattle is the oldest continuously operating public market in the United States. For nearly a century, patrons have walked its crowded aisles between hundreds of vendors who hawk their products, crying out for passersby to purchase freshly caught fish or beautiful Washington State tulips. Spreading out over nineteen acres, it’s one of Seattle’s busiest and most popular locations.
If you substitute wisdom for vendors, you get the image in today’s passage. Wisdom is like one calling out in a crowded marketplace, only she doesn’t limit herself to just one location. She is found at crossroads and other places where people congregate (v. 3). Her invitation goes to both the simple and foolish. The first group is open to instruction, but also open to destruction. They are inexperienced and uninformed and could head either way. The second group willfully chooses to be ignorant by rejecting wisdom. The phrasing of verse 1 suggests that although Wisdom calls out, few people are listening.
Although Wisdom can be found in the most down-to-earth places, her character is completely godly. Notice how her words are described: worthy, right, true, just, and faultless (vv. 6-9). What a contrast to the smooth, dripping deception that we have seen on the lips of the seductress! No wonder Wisdom is more valuable than precious metals and gems (cf. Prov. 3:13-15).
The second part of today’s passage begins another praise song for Wisdom. As we read along, we’re meant to be inspired by Wisdom. She dwells with prudence, meaning that she is shrewd and resourceful. Wisdom not only knows what to do, she knows the best way to do it. Her knowledge and discretion show that fearing the Lord also means hating all that He opposes, every form of evil.
TODAY ALONG THE WAY
The marketplace image here emphasizes a key point: wisdom reveals itself in everyday circumstances. We don’t need to remove ourselves from the pressures and complexities of life to try to find God’s wisdom. Instead, we find that as we encounter various stretching situations and seek the Lord in the midst of them, the truth in His Word becomes more real and applicable to us. The question, “Does not wisdom call out?” (v. 1) confirms this idea–wisdom is continually available to us, if we will only pay attention to it.
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