Wisdom Calls for a Hearing
Listen as Wisdom calls out! Hear as understanding raises her voice! On the hilltop along the road, she takes her stand at the crossroads. By the gates at the entrance to the town, on the road leading in, she cries aloud, “I call to you, to all of you! I raise my voice to all people. You simple people, use good judgment. You foolish people, show some understanding. Listen to me! For I have important things to tell you. Everything I say is right, for I speak the truth and detest every kind of deception. My advice is wholesome. There is nothing devious or crooked in it. My words are plain to anyone with understanding, clear to those with knowledge.
Choose my instruction rather than silver, and knowledge rather than pure gold. For wisdom is far more valuable than rubies. Nothing you desire can compare with it.
“I, Wisdom, live together with good judgment. I know where to discover knowledge and discernment. All who fear the Lord will hate evil. Therefore, I hate pride and arrogance, corruption and perverse speech. Common sense and success belong to me. Insight and strength are mine. Because of me, kings reign, and rulers make just decrees. Rulers lead with my help, and nobles make righteous judgments.
“I love all who love me. Those who search will surely find me. I have riches and honor, as well as enduring wealth and justice. My gifts are better than gold, even the purest gold, my wages better than sterling silver! I walk in righteousness, in paths of justice. Those who love me inherit wealth. I will fill their treasuries.
“The Lord formed me from the beginning, before he created anything else. I was appointed in ages past, at the very first, before the earth began. I was born before the oceans were created, before the springs bubbled forth their waters. Before the mountains were formed, before the hills, I was born—before he had made the earth and fields and the first handfuls of soil.
I was there when he established the heavens, when he drew the horizon on the oceans. I was there when he set the clouds above, when he established springs deep in the earth. I was there when he set the limits of the seas, so they would not spread beyond their boundaries. And when he marked off the earth’s foundations, I was the architect at his side. I was his constant delight, rejoicing always in his presence. And how happy I was with the world he created; how I rejoiced with the human family!
“And so, my children, listen to me, for all who follow my ways are joyful. Listen to my instruction and be wise. Don’t ignore it.
Joyful are those who listen to me, watching for me daily at my gates, waiting for me outside my home! For whoever finds me finds life and receives favor from the Lord. But those who miss me injure themselves. All who hate me love death.” Proverbs 8
Wisdom. I long for it. The Lord places such a high price on it that it is “far more valuable than rubies.” Solomon asked for it and the Lord granted him wisdom such that he was the wisest man on earth at his time and the wisest there ever would be. ( I will give you what you asked for! I will give you a wise and understanding heart such as no one else has had or ever will have! 1 Kings 3:12)
Because God said there wouldn’t be anyone else as wise as Solomon, I know I won’t ever be as wise as him. But I still ask for wisdom (1) because it is pleasing to the Lord (2) I know that I need all the help I can get to live this life pleasing to the Lord and according to His will and (3) it would make my life so much easier if I were a little wiser.
God’s ways will be accomplished, I’ve no doubt. I tried posting both Saturday and Sunday but each time there was some kind of barrier that I couldn’t post. I don’t believe these happenings are coincidence, but the work of God. There are some out there that will say, “You can’t attribute that kind of stuff to God!” To that I say, I can and I do. The older I get, the longer I walk in faith with Jesus, the more I see God’s hand in everyday seemingly meaningless instances/situations.
Wisdom! Ahh! If only I had a little more of that when dealing with my husband or my children. Solomon received the wisdom that he asked for right away and all at once. I wonder if that would be hard to cope with? I think it would, especially when dealing with others that lacked wisdom. I think wisdom is a learn as you go thing; the more you go - or encounter situations - the more wisdom you learn.
Note on verse 8:13
The more a person fears and respects God, the more he or she will hate evil. Love for God and love for sin cannot coexist. Harboring secret sins means that you are tolerating evil within yourself. Make a clean break with sin and commit yourself completely to God.
Note on verses 8:22-31
God says wisdom is primary and fundamental. It is the foundation on which all life is built. Paul and John may have alluded to some of Solomon’s statements about wisdom to describe Christ’s presence at the creation of the world (Colossians 1:15-17; 2:2, 3; Revelation 3:14).
I think it is interesting how this last note puts it…”It is the foundation on which all life is built.” I think if all relationships were approached with that knowledge, then there would be much more willingness to be less selfish and self-centered and more giving towards others.
I especially think it would work well in marriage. A house is built by wisdom and becomes strong through good sense. Through knowledge its rooms are filled with all sorts of precious riches and valuables. Proverbs 24:3-4 My husband and I are both hard-headed, stubborn and think we are right about everything. The problem then is that we will not concede to the other, especially my husband because he thinks that he “is the authority” on all things since he is the “head of the household.” He’s told me before that when he’s wrong, he is still right, so I better drop it because he will not give in…or something along those lines. Not much room for argument or correction there huh?
To my shame, I haven’t learned yet to just simply be quiet and allow him to “win” even though he is wrong. (Not that he is wrong all of the time or even a greater portion of the time, I’m only speaking to the times when he is wrong.) Anyway, wisdom would be to quiet myself and allow the Lord to change his mind. I am getting better at this, but I’m still way off of the mark!
Solomon said, “The greater my wisdom, the greater my grief. To increase knowledge only increases sorrow.” Ecclesiastes 1:18 I have found this to be true. Ignorance really is bliss! The more I know the more it grieves me whenever I do wrong or when I see someone else doing wrong! And yet, we each fall into our own traps time and again!
Thankfully the Lord is patient, kind and merciful. I desire to be more like that with my husband, more full of wisdom and discernment. I am sure that the Lord is working in me to help me to be more like Him.
May God provide the increase.
I was getting concerned about you when you didn’t post Saturday or Sunday. Hope all is well. I know how crazy weekends can get.
My simple definition for wisdom is “saying and doing the right thing at the right time” Which is based on God’s Word. When we walk in wisdom everything seems to work better.
I was taught when becoming a teacher, the importance of “acting” and never “reacting”.
Reacting is usually our impulsive response to something someone has said or done to hurt us. It is usually done immediatly after being hurt while we are still angry. Responding without thinking it through.
“Acting” is thinking, praying, meditating on the wisest thing to say or do before responding to someone. That to me is “wisdom in a nutshell”
But again when our flesh gets riled our first impulse is to “react”. “Oh Lord, help us to crucify the flesh!
Thank you so much for your words on wisdom. We’ve talked about this before & I’m glad you brought these things back up. Your words are simple and true.