Wisdom

Good Morning,

Proverbs 9:1-12 (NIV)
Wisdom has built her house;
she has hewn out its seven pillars.
She has prepared her meat and mixed her wine;
she has also set her table.
She has sent out her maids, and she calls
from the highest point of the city.
"Let all who are simple come in here!"
she says to those who lack judgment.
"Come, eat my food
and drink the wine I have mixed.
"Leave your simple ways and you will live;
walk in the way of understanding.
"Whoever corrects a mocker invites insult;
whoever rebukes a wicked man incurs abuse.
"Do not rebuke a mocker or he will hate you;
rebuke a wise man and he will love you.
"Instruct a wise man and he will be wiser still;
teach a righteous man and he will add to his learning.
"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom,
and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
"For through me your days will be many,
and years will be added to your life.
"If you are wise, your wisdom will reward you;
if you are a mocker, you alone will suffer."

I looked at these verses this morning and my first reaction was, "Wow!" I know I've seen these words before, but, well, I'm not sure that I've really paid a lot of attention to what is contained in them. Or, maybe, like many, I just wasn't prepared to see what's right here in front of my nose. My next thought was, "Well, I wonder if these words are just for me today. Or, should I send them along and let the Lord decide who needs to see them?" Obviously the answer that came was to send them along and let God do His part. After all, I just hold the pen here...He's the one in charge of what goes out and gets said.

Solomon, the writer of Proverbs, tells us how wonderful wisdom is. He is, after all, the one who asked for, above all other things, wisdom. God granted that wish. So, we know that wisdom is a marvelous thing and that we should all strive to have this wisdom that he speaks of throughout the Book of Proverbs. The thing that many of us ponder over, however, is just exactly HOW do we get this wisdom? Well, in His way, as is normal, God gives us His answer right here contained in these verses. I know I've seen it, but maybe I just wasn't bright enough to really understand it? I'm not sure. I think that might be true because it's so simple and really very clear.

Clearly stated Solomon writes for us and for all generations to come, "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding." Duh! Of course! And, I've read these words so many times. I thought I knew what they said and what they meant. Maybe, deep down inside, I really have always known. Perhaps these words today aren't truly just for me, but for someone else who is struggling a bit with the whole "wisdom" and "knowledge" thing.

Sometimes when I read Scripture the words that I read are replaced in my mind by others which seem to make more sense to me and are much, much more personal to me. What my mind sees this morning is, "The fear and total love for God, begins my journey toward true wisdom. Knowing Jesus Christ, knowledge of who He is, what He's done, and His love for me brings understanding to my life and what my life means."

You see? There is so much here that could be discussed and so much that can be explained. I'll leave that to the scholars among us and those who have had some real education in Biblical study to go over. What I am supposed to do, I believe, is simply put these words, and the thoughts that have been put into my mind, in front of those who would read them.

My job is to be obedient to God and do as He asks me to do. That's what I try to do.

That's what I'm doing today.

Please read these verses...then read them again...then again. Spend some time, I don't think it will take a long time, in pondering what they mean to you in your life, at this point in time. Meditate on what God has placed here in front of you to learn and understand. It will be worth it.

Love, peace, and blessings,

David