Reverend J. Loren Russell
Proverbs 1:20-22, 2:6-11 NRSV
“Wisdom cries out in the street; in the squares she raises her voice. At the busiest corner she cries out; at the entrance of the city gates, she speaks: “How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple? How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing and fools hate knowledge?
2:6-11 For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding; he stores up sound wisdom for the upright; he is a shield to those who walk blamelessly, guarding the paths of justice and preserving the way of his faithful ones. Then you will understand righteousness and justice and equity, every good path, for wisdom will come into your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul; prudence will watch over you, and understanding will guard you.”
August 28 was the anniversary of one of the most significant movements in modern history—an event that changed the trajectory of our nation and the world. It was the anniversary of the 1963 March on Washington, when Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his legendary “I Have a Dream” speech.
As revolutionary as that day was, it was not celebrated in the community, in houses of worship, or even mentioned in the news media with the significance it deserved. Even those of us who are in the public’s eye were silent. I must confess that had it not been for one of the disciples of the church where I serve mentioning it during our testimony period, we, too, would have gone through the entire worship service without a word of recognition of that monumental occasion.
The day went by much too casually for those of us who understand its significance. Every action taken that day and every word spoken has echoed through the halls of history, encouraging people of all races, creeds, nationalities, and faiths to follow the lead of those who stood for justice and equality. They drew from the well of wisdom and then proclaimed it from the highest mountain.
That is what Proverbs tells us wisdom does. “Wisdom cries out in the street.”
Wisdom does not remain silent when people need to hear it. Wisdom raises her voice. She speaks in the streets, in the squares, at the busiest corners, and at the entrance of the city gates.
We must encourage those who are called “simple”—those who are uninformed or lacking understanding—to hear the Word of God in the same way the organizers and participants in the March on Washington proclaimed their message to the nation. We must shout it from the mountaintop!
The “I Have a Dream” speech was a shout in the street, at the busiest corner, and at the entrance to the city gates. Dr. King proclaimed a vision that challenged people to understand “righteousness and justice and equity, every good path.” And when we proclaim the wisdom of God, we do the same.
For “the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.” God’s wisdom is not meant to be hidden. It is meant to be shared, spoken, and lived. When we shout from the mountaintop, we help others discover that wisdom can come into their hearts, knowledge can become pleasant to their souls, prudence can watch over them, and understanding can guard them.
So don’t keep God’s Word to yourself. If God has taught you something, shout it! If God has brought you through something, shout it! If God has given you wisdom, shout it! And if God has placed a Word in your heart that can help somebody else find their way –
DON’T WHISPER IT…,
SHOUT IT FROM THE MOUNTAINTOP!
Be Blessed!
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