Get Wisdom!

 Have you ever found yourself in a really bad situation and realized that:  You should have seen it coming  There were things you could have done earlier that would have prevented the problem from ever happening in the first place?  The book of Proverbs teaches us that wisdom (such as that found in the book of Proverbs) equips us to begin avoiding these kinds of experiences.

 The Book of Proverbs was primarily written by King Solomon, a man who was wiser than all the kings of his day (1 Kings 4:29-34).  The purpose of the Book of Proverbs is to give wisdom to all who read it (cf. 1:1-7):  To those who lack wisdom and are therefore in desperate need of it  To those who have wisdom that they might have even more!

 The book of Proverbs has a total of 31 chapters.  Solomon spends most of the first nine chapters of the Book of Proverbs dealing with the topic of wisdom itself.  So, starting this morning and for the next few lessons, I plan to focus on various aspects of the topic of wisdom drawn from these first nine chapters.  But before I do that, it is important for us to first make sure that we understand what Solomon means when he talks about “wisdom”.

 Wisdom (Hebrew: HOKMA) generally means “masterful understanding, skill, or expertise”. In the Bible it is used of:  Technical and Artistic skills (Ex 28:3; 31:6)  The Arts of Magic (Exodus 7:11; Isaiah 3:3)  The Ability to Govern Well (1 Kings 5:7; Proverbs 8:14-16; 20:26; 2 Samuel 14:20)  The Ability to Have Success in War (Isaiah 10:13)  The Ability to Judge Justly (1 Kings 3:28; Isaiah 11:1-6)

 The possession of wisdom enables humans to cope with life and to achieve what would otherwise be impossible. Through wisdom weak and vulnerable creatures such as the ant and the rock badger, cope and survive against insuperable odds. (Prov. 30:24-28) (Bruce Waltke, p.76-77)  Wisdom is competence with regard to the realities and complexities of life. Wisdom is the ability to know the right thing to do in the 80% of life where the rules of morality don’t apply. Being good and moral is not enough – you’ve got to be wise. (Tim Keller)

 True Biblical Wisdom begins with a proper understanding of God and a right attitude towards Him: The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight. (Proverbs 9:10)  Note : “The fear of the LORD” is that affectionate reverence by which the child of God carefully learns what pleases the LORD and humbly conforms himself to it.

 In the first chapter of Proverbs (1:20-33), wisdom is personified or pictured as a woman going throughout the city, calling out to anyone who will listen to her warnings: 20 Wisdom cries aloud in the street, in the markets she raises her voice; 21 at the head of the noisy streets she cries out; at the entrance of the city gates she speaks: 20 Wisdom cries aloud in the street, in the markets she raises her voice; 21 at the head of the noisy streets she cries out; at the entrance of the city gates she speaks:  And she is pleading with them, over and over, to get wisdom – before it’s too late!

 The message here is this: wisdom is readily available to all who desire it.  Do you lack wisdom? If so, it isn’t because it’s not available! There must be another reason…

 The Proverbs describe three major categories of people who lack wisdom:  The Simple – those who have not fully committed themselves to pursuing wisdom and are therefore gullible and easily led astray. They are in grave danger, but there is still hope for them.  The Fool – The fool is worse off than the simple: he lacks wisdom (17:16; 24:7); despises discipline and correction (1:7; 15:5); is hot-tempered (12:16; 20:3) and finds pleasure in evil conduct (10:23), etc.  The Scoffer – is everything a fool is, only worse! He is proud and arrogant and filled with overweening pride (21:24)

 Wisdom’s plea here is addressed to all three categories – there is no reason for anyone to continue on in their lack of wisdom: 22 "How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple? How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing and fools hate knowledge? 22 "How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple? How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing and fools hate knowledge?

 Anyone who responds to wisdom’s invitation can eventually become wise: 23 If you turn at my reproof, behold, I will pour out my spirit to you; I will make my words known to you. 23 If you turn at my reproof, behold, I will pour out my spirit to you; I will make my words known to you. Or as the NIV puts it: If you had responded to my rebuke, I would have poured out my heart to you and made my thoughts known to you.

 If you’re not willing to get wisdom today while it’s still available to you, some day you could end up being blindsided by a huge problem and you won’t have the insight to see it coming or to know how to deal with it: 24 Because I have called and you refused to listen, have stretched out my hand and no one has heeded, 24 Because I have called and you refused to listen, have stretched out my hand and no one has heeded, 25 because you have ignored all my counsel and would have none of my reproof, 25 because you have ignored all my counsel and would have none of my reproof, 26 I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when terror strikes you, 26 I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when terror strikes you, 27 when terror strikes you like a storm and your calamity comes like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come upon you. 27 when terror strikes you like a storm and your calamity comes like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come upon you.

 When disaster strikes you may realize your mistake and try to get a quick dose of wisdom to patch things up, only to find that it’s too late to undo the damage… 28 Then they will call upon me, but I will not answer; they will seek me diligently but will not find me. 28 Then they will call upon me, but I will not answer; they will seek me diligently but will not find me. 29 Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the LORD, 29 Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the LORD, 30 would have none of my counsel and despised all my reproof, 30 would have none of my counsel and despised all my reproof, 31 therefore they shall eat the fruit of their way, and have their fill of their own devices. 31 therefore they shall eat the fruit of their way, and have their fill of their own devices.

 If you are among the simple do not procrastinate in your pursuit of wisdom – in the end it will kill you. 32a For the simple are killed by their turning away 32a For the simple are killed by their turning away  You’re a fool if you think you can ignore wisdom and still be okay – in the end it will destroy you. 32b the complacency of fools destroys them;  But if you listen to what the Proverbs have to say and get wisdom while it is available, you will be prepared when the time comes to use it. 33 but whoever listens to me will dwell secure and will be at ease, without dread of disaster. 33 but whoever listens to me will dwell secure and will be at ease, without dread of disaster.