Wisdom and the Wise: Themes in Proverbs 1

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Introduction:

As we begin a short series of messages on “themes in Proverbs,” we begin with the topic of wisdom—wisdom and the wise. This book is part of what is called the Wisdom Literature of Scripture, and so in one sense everything the book teaches falls under the heading of wisdom. But I want to focus on wisdom and the wise specifically in this first message. Consider it a crash course in a subject that does not admit of crash courses.plant-from-bible

The Text:

“Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: And with all thy getting get understanding” (Prov. 4:7).

Summary of the Text:

With all your doing, do wisdom. In all your singing, sing wisdom. In all your getting, get wisdom. In all your purchases, purchase wisdom. In all your hunting, hunt wisdom. And why? Because wisdom is the principal thing. Whatever else you do, do not neglect wisdom.

Those who do not get wisdom are pursuing something else instead. It might be pleasure, or rules, or partial wisdom, or self-righteousness, or superficial wisdom. But whatever it is, if it is not true wisdom, wisdom all the way down, it is not worth the time or trouble.

Many volumes could be written on what Proverbs alone says about wisdom—it is a mountain range with many boulders. My purpose here is simply to point out some of the major peaks. And as you gaze at the whole, remember that Christ is the mountain range.

Wisdom Is Valuable:

The value of wisdom is seen in our text—wisdom is the principal thing. Get it. Make sure you get it. The value of wisdom is highlighted in other ways as well. It shines against one of its chief competitors.  “How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! And to get understanding rather to be chosen than silver!” (Prov. 16:16).

Wisdom is precious and good, and it is valuable in matters that can seem quite mundane. The wealth of a millionaire gets down into the pennies. So live life with the telos of wisdom in mind. Keep in front of you when you shovel the walk, and change the oil in your car, and stay away from the painted ladies. And, these days, as you stay away from the painted men.

Wisdom Is Not Self-Referential:

Modern man is told, ad nauseam, to “believe in himself.” Dig down deep. We knew you had it in you. Go for your dreams, whatever they are. “He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: But whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered” (Prov. 28:26).

For creatures like ourselves, wisdom cannot be something we autonomously generate. “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: But fools despise wisdom and instruction” (Prov. 1:7).

Yardsticks don’t measure themselves. Scales don’t weigh themselves. Tests don’t grade themselves. “Be not wise in thine own eyes: Fear the Lord, and depart from evil” (Prov. 3:7).

But the temptation to a self-referential wisdom is a strong one. It is a foundational lie, and it is used as often as it is because it works so well. “Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? There is more hope of a fool than of him” (Prov. 26:12).

Christ is the wisdom of God. There is no hope of wisdom apart from Him, or outside of Him. “There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the Lord (Prov. 21:30).

Wisdom Is Open to Reproof:

In this fallen world, one of the ways wisdom is gained is through openness to reproof and correction. This means that without humility, there can be no wisdom. There might be intellect, but that is simply a measurement of the brain’s horsepower. It does not matter if you can make the mental tachometer bounce if you are on the wrong road, in the middle of the night, and the bridge is out. “Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: Rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee” (Prov. 9:8).

And reproofs are harder to hear from certain quarters, your parents for instance. But Scripture says: “A wise son heareth his father’s instruction: But a scorner heareth not rebuke” (Prov. 13:1).

If you want to live among the wise, then let the reproof of life speak to you plainly. “The ear that heareth the reproof of life abideth among the wise” (Prov. 15:31).

Wisdom Is Attached to the Tongue:

And we see that wisdom governs the tongue in both directions—in what it does not say, and in what it does. “In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: But he that refraineth his lips is wise” (Prov. 10:19). And positively: “The heart of the wise teacheth his mouth, and addeth learning to his lips” (Prov. 16:23).

Wisdom Is a Peacemaker:

Wisdom knows when to fight, and when not to. Wisdom does not stumble into conflicts accidentally, or unnecessarily. “Scornful men bring a city into a snare: But wise men turn away wrath” (Prov. 29:8).

Wisdom Is Evangelistic:

Wisdom understands folly in a way that folly cannot reciprocate. The wise know why the lost are driven the way they are. And the wise are righteous enough to do something about it. “The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; And he that winneth souls is wise” (Prov. 11:30).

Wisdom Is Most Practical:

Wisdom is found in the next step. It is located on the workbench in front of you. It is there in the next room. Wisdom does not live in the clouds. “Wisdom is before him that hath understanding; But the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth” (Prov. 17:24).

Wisdom Is Something That Sweats:

Many think that wisdom is always holed up in the library. No, not exactly. Not really. “He that gathereth in summer is a wise son: But he that sleepeth in harvest is a son that causeth shame” (Prov. 10:5).

Wisdom Is Marvelously Mundane:

Wisdom is commonplace, and wisdom is beyond all description. It soars and it crawls. “There be four things which are little upon the earth, But they are exceeding wise: The ants are a people not strong, Yet they prepare their meat in the summer; The conies are but a feeble folk, Yet make they their houses in the rocks; The locusts have no king, yet go they forth all of them by bands; The spider taketh hold with her hands, and is in kings’ palaces” (Prov. 30:24–28).

Wisdom Is Jesus:

Although there are various challenges in interpreting the Wisdom of Proverbs 8 as referring to Christ, there is a long and healthy history of doing so. “While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, Nor the highest part of the dust of the world. When he prepared the heavens, I was there: When he set a compass upon the face of the depth” (Prov. 8:26–27).

Christ is our wisdom. Christ is the tree of life. Christ is our salvation. “But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: All they that hate me love death” (Prov. 8:36). If you hate wisdom, you love death. The only alternative to this is to love death on the cross.

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Dan Phillips
Dan Phillips
7 years ago

Ooh, Proverbs!

doug sayers
doug sayers
7 years ago

But of God are you in Christ Jesus, Who is made unto us wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption…. he that glorieth let him glory in the Lord. 1 Cor 1

If I had it to do again, I would spend more time in Proverbs with our kids when they were young.

Thanks Doug.