Emphasis Preaching Journal
Hearing and not hearing
Commentary
The Old Testament lesson gives us an example of the diversity that characterizes the writings in the wisdom literature. Here is a poem that personifies Wisdom as a prophetess crying in the street. This personification of Wisdom comes to full flower in the Jewish writing, Sirach. The context in our lesson is the open marketplace of ideas where many voices compete for a hearing. Lady Wisdom is not without competition. Mistress Folly is also on a soapbox (Proverbs 9:13-18). The Word faces competition.
