Accepting Wisdom’s Invitation 

By Rev. Ed Fredrick 

In this section of Proverbs, wisdom is personified as a woman. She is preparing her house for company. Getting together with friends and family is one of the enjoyable life experiences that we missed during the time we were dealing with the pandemic. Now with the pandemic rules relaxing, once again we can plan gatherings and accept invitations. 

Deuteronomy 8:3 states: “Man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.”

The banquet that wisdom has prepared provides that “bread of life.” She invites us to leave our simple ways. The Hebrew word for “simple” can be translated as “naïve,” “inexperienced,” or “gullible.” 

The word in Proverbs generally denotes a person who is without moral direction and inclined to evil. To accept the invitation means we must admit that those words describe us. By nature, we are “simple” people. 

God’s Word points out our sin. But it also declares the cure for sin.

The Good News of Jesus is the cure. It is wisdom’s invitation. The Holy Spirit works through the Word and enables us to believe what Jesus has done. James 1:22 tells us to be people who do what the word says, not people who only hear it. Such people are deceiving themselves. 

Putting that Word of God into practice, coming to the Lord in repentance and receiving that assurance of forgiveness in Jesus is accepting the invitation. What a blessed invitation it is. All our sins are removed. We are made children of God by grace—all ours by the gift of God. 

Yes, listen to wisdom’s invitation: “Leave your simple ways and you will live; walk in the way of insight.”

Prayer: Lord, thank you for your gracious invitation! All we had to offer was sin and death. But you offer forgiveness and eternal life. Continue to send the Holy Spirit to work in our hearts, enabling us to accept wisdom’s invitation. Amen.