Wisdom is a word of enormous importance in Proverbs. (Note: Wise and wisdom are used at least 125 times.) A purpose of the Proverbs is that the reader might "know wisdom" and allow it to govern his or her life. The word here is chokma and is the most frequent word for wisdom in Proverbs. It meant skill (Exodus 28:1-3; 31:25; 1 Chronicles 22:18), here skill in living. Originally the term was used to describe people skilled in working with their hands, craftsman. It was used in reference to the detailed work of Bezalel and Aholiab in constructing the tabernacle (Exodus 31:1-11).
God gave them and others skill for artwork, building, weaving, and carving. It came to mean the "use of life knowledge in practical and skillful ways." God crafts wisdom into a life so that one learns how to live skillfully, or successfully before Him. The emphasis is not on theoretical information but on a proper discernment for decisions between choices, to know good from evil, and right from wrong.
People with wisdom have the skill to face life honestly, courageously, and manage it successfully so that God's purposes are fulfilled in their life. Wisdom orders and directs life for proper purpose. It brings us into harmony with the priorities and principles of God. A purpose of Proverbs is to know or attain wisdom "and instruction."
Instruction is the teaching of priorities and principles. It's the corrective teaching which results in values or morals, but it is more than intellectual enlightenment. It refers to training and discipline for life skills. Instruction (Hebrew, musar) refers to the fact that training is needed so that one might keep themselves walking God's way, under His restraint and control and in His direction. Instruction is ordering life according to divine principles so that we can live skillfully.
Another purpose of Proverbs is listed as "to discern the sayings of understanding." "To discern" is to have insight into (1 Kings 3:9), to separate, to make distinct. These Proverbs give us insight into the sayings of understanding. These sayings are the pulling together of the observable knowledge from life or lives. The focus is not merely on what goes on in life, but the ability to understand it then apply that understanding to your life, so that life can be corrected or trained skillfully. Certainly, there will be much in-depth thought required to see the implications of many of the wise saying of Proverbs. But this attempt to absorb them is a healthy mental exercise which will sharpen the mind.
Now, there are many people who profess a belief in God, but demonstrate by attitude and lifestyle a total disregard for His wishes, and complete disdain for His Word. They show by their unwise behavior that the God they believe in has not been discovered through fear. God demands His due recognition of His sole right to be Lord of life, every life.
A man may fill his mind with facts until it overflows, But without wisdom he's a fool unless he knows the Lord. Foolishness is a liar. It promises pleasure, peace, and prosperity. But, as its victims discover, it delivers the opposite. What follows the pleasure is a gaping void and inescapable pain.
Wisdom, however, delivers more than we could hope for. She says from the beginning her way is hard. She demands our respect and requires discipline on our part. But in return she gives her children freedom, security, and joy (Proverbs 4:6-9) These jewels of wisdom are thrown away on him who has no heart for them. Achieving wisdom may seem difficult. But the end result is worth it. The fear of the Lord is the starting point and essence of wisdom.
In this information age, knowledge is plentiful, but wisdom is scarce. Wisdom means far more than simply knowing a lot. God's wisdom guide us in how to live our life right. It grows out of a daily walk with the Lord. The foundation for this knowledge of true wisdom is the fear of the Lord. Wisdom begins by honoring and respecting God, by living in awe of His power, and in obedience to His Word. Faith in God's revealed wisdom should be the controlling principle for your understanding of the world, your attitudes, and your actions. Trust in God and He will make you truly wise.
Always remember, God is the absolute final authority of everything and everyone. Wisdom begins with a submissive reverence to God Almighty, recognizing who He is. Once His greatness and holiness is reverend, lives will be lived in obedience to His revealed will. To too many people God is an after-thought, not the first thought. Therefore most do what is right in their eyes, with little of no concern for God's will or way or word.
This fear of the Lord is where knowledge begins. Satan has intellectual knowledge, but true knowledge, spiritual knowledge, the knowledge of self, the universe, eternity, Christ and man comes from God. For knowledge to become an eternal building block in one's life it must be based on this reverent acknowledgment and submission to Almighty God.
Scripture: James 1:5; Ephesians 5:15-17; James 3:17; Colossians 3:16; Ecclesiastes 8:1; Job 12:12-13; Proverbs 19:20
Now, let's pray...
O Father, give us the humility which realizes its ignorance, admits its mistakes, recognizes its need, welcomes advice, accepts rebuke. Help us always to praise rather than to criticize, to sympathize rather than to discourage, to build rather than to destroy, and to think of people at their best rather than at their worst. This we ask for in thy name's sake. Amen
Have a blessed week!
Bibi
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