“Does not wisdom call? Does not understanding raise her voice? On the heights beside the way, at the crossroads she takes her stand; beside the gates in front of the town, at the entrance of the portals she cries aloud: ‘To you, O men, I call, and my cry is to the children of man. ‘The Lord possessed me at the beginning of his work, the first of his acts of old. Ages ago I was set up, at the first, before the beginning of the earth.'” (Proverbs 8:1-4, 22-23)
The writer of Proverbs takes poetic license and personifies Wisdom as a woman. Therefore we must be wary of viewing this attribute as if it were a real being. Wisdom as defined by God’s word is not like what we humans call wisdom, i.e. the ability to make profitable or advantageous choices. It is clear that here wisdom is based on faith in God. It is focused on the Lord and leads human beings to follow and obey Him. Such obedience is the essence of true worship. Wisdom teaches us to honor the Lord alone in all we do. Wisdom is not given just to a chosen or elite few, but offered to all mankind so that all may see that the Lord is the Creator of all that is and the giver and sustainer of life. Her words broadcast to all the benefits of prudence, discretion, discernment, humility, honesty, and temperance.
Wisdom teaches righteousness. She is the basis for the counsel and sound judgment that those who govern should possess but often do not. Since wisdom was present at creation, she sets the boundaries and limits of human behavior. The Lord used wisdom when He set the limits and boundaries for the things He created. This understanding of God’s laws for man and all creation will enable rulers to make just laws that protect people from violence and harm, encourage and reward righteousness, and punish wickedness. We would do well to heed wisdom for since the Lord created all that is He is the one who knows how things work as well as the consequences of selfishness and the blessings of righteousness. He alone knows better than we what will give us satisfaction and fulfillment in life. Therefore those who are wise consult the Lord first when faced with difficult decisions, crises and problems.