²⁰Wisdom shouts in the street, she lifts her voice in the square; ²¹at the head of the noisy streets she cries out; at the entrance of the gates in the city she utters her sayings …

God is generous with wisdom. As James writes: “[I]f any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him” (James 1:5). Fundamental to leading a life characterized by wisdom is 1) recognizing that wisdom is available to us, 2) we only need to ask for it and receive it, but 3) once we are given it, we must embrace it.

Wisdom is not hiding, nor is it hard to find. It does not reside in a guru sitting on the top of a hill in some enchanted country. Neither is it buried in academia, dusty libraries, or in tomes of philosophical writings. Solomon, considered the wisest man who ever lived, wrote the inspired words, “Wisdom shouts in the streets, she lifts her voice in the square.”  In other words, wisdom is readily available for ordinary people; that includes all of us.

Solomon did not invent wisdom. He was not the author of wisdom. He simply wrote it down, and the Lord included it as inspired Scripture. But where did he find it? If we take our passage at face value, Solomon found wisdom wherever he looked. But, at the core, he received it from the Lord.

When Solomon first became king of Israel (he was David’s son), God wanted him to begin his reign with whatever resources he needed to rule well. So God said, “Ask what you wish me to give you.”  Solomon responded, “[G]ive Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people to discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?” (1 Kings 3:9). He knew that this could only come from God. To say that God was impressed with this answer would be a colossal understatement (see 1 Kings 3:10-13). He wrote in Proverbs 1:5 that “a man of understanding will acquire wise counsel.”

Wisdom and understanding are there for the asking, but not for the taking in disobedience to God. Adam and Eve desired and tried to steal wisdom by their own methods, as seen in their response to the temptation of the serpent: “For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil” (Gen. 3:5). The woman’s response was to gain wisdom that, as it turns out, God wanted for His image bearers. But she sought to acquire it by distrusting God and disobeying His clear commandment: “When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate” (Gen. 3:6).

As our common forebears and, as theologians say, our federal and seminal head, Adam and Eve missed out on what Solomon received simply by asking God. Again, God is generous with wisdom; He gives it freely to those who ask.

Lord, please give me wisdom to face my many life choices and challenges.