Wisdom Speaks, Wisdom’s Origin

(Encouraged reading: Proverbs 8)

v. 1-21, 32-36 Wisdom Speaks

     Wisdom is not idle. She seeks high and low for the simple and those lacking understanding; she wishes to impart excellent, right, and true words to them. Wisdom tells how she was used by kings, rulers, princes, and judges. There is no doubt that whatever comes out of her mouth is righteous and godly, it is never crooked or perverse. As we learned from chapter 5 God hates evil, today we see that wisdom also hates evil, especially in the ways of pride, arrogance, and perverseness. Those who love wisdom (and hate evil) obtain favor from God and find life. Those who hate her, she says, love death.

v. 22-31 Wisdom’s Origin

     We learn here that wisdom has been with God since the beginning. Wisdom was God’s companion as He created our world, she was His master craftsman. God delighted in wisdom and in turn wisdom delighted in the sons of men. Wisdom is from God; He possesses all wisdom. We, who love God, must also desire wisdom and delight in it, for it is part of His nature.  

Application:

     As we reflect on this chapter and the whole of Proverbs, we see repetition. It may feel like it’s getting old but when something is important it is repeated often. Wisdom is something that Solomon valued because he desired the things of God. People once valued knowledge and gaining wisdom from elders. Now, the youth think that those of older generations are of an outdated mindset and could never speak into their lives; instead, they share with peers and hide things from God-given authority. Not only is this assumption false, but it is a sad commentary on this generation. In what ways can we learn to be a student of wisdom? In what ways can we learn to delight in it as God does?

Prayer:

     Lord, You value wisdom as we ought to… and you know all! Yet we, who know very little, don’t see the treasure it is. Give us a heart like Solomon had, a heart so thirsty for wisdom he wrote a whole book on its value! In knowing and valuing wisdom may it compel us to live differently, to walk uprightly and not in sin.