Proverbial Wisdom: The Poetry of Wisdom

 Read Proverbs 8

Proverbs 8 is a poetic chapter on wisdom.  God gives us a summation of the excellence and worth of wisdom.  Poem’s are an excellent way to describe beauty and the preciousness of a subject.  Wisdom is a beautiful thing for us to possess and is held highly by God, hence the reason for the format of this chapter. 

Wisdom’s message is always “right” (vs. 6).  The English word “right” comes from the Latin rectus, which means “straight.”  This root is also seen in words like “direct” and “correct.”  God’s Word is also true (vs. 7) and righteous (vs. 8) and plain (vs. 9).  Folly uses descriptive and “crooked” words to achieve her purposes, language that we would today call “double-speak.”  Whatever God’s Word says about anything is right and can be trusted.  

In verses 10 through 21 we see that wisdom has better gifts to offer than perishable riches.  It includes blessings like prudence, knowledge, discretion, the fear of the Lord, humility, godly speech, wise counsel, understanding, guidance on life’s path, strength for the journey and enduring riches.  A life that’s enriched by God may be poor in this world’s goods, but it is rich in the things that matter most.  Enjoying the things that money can buy is good, provided we don’t lose the things that money can’t buy.  What wisdom has to offer can’t be purchased anywhere, no matter how rich we are.  Wisdom and the wisdom from God specifically will bring great peace to the individual.   Wisdom should be held very high in our life as a valuable and rich thing. Like Jesus said, we need to store up treasures in heaven where moth and rust does not destroy. Wisdom is a practical thing that can bring much richness to our lives and one we must hold onto.

In verses 22 through 31 one of the lessons in this stanza is that the power and splendor of God, seen all around us in creation, are evidence of what God’s wisdom can do.  Wisdom is a powerful thing and I think if we look at it from a practical viewpoint, we can see that is true.  A wise man knows the value of family, values, finances, etc. in one’s life and manages those.  A wise man uses his time wisely.  If we remember some of the foolish things that were listed in previous verses, our common sense should also attest to the value of wisdom.  A life led by the wisdom of the Lord and the way He would have us live our lives is a rich thing.  The same God who worked in the “old creation” also wants to work in our lives in the “new creation.”   The Lord Jesus Christ, who hold the universe together and causes it to fulfill His will, can hold our lives together and accomplish His purposes for His glory. We can see God in creation itself. Just the idea of us having DNA and the information involved testifies that God exists. If you spill a bottle of ink, the odds of it every spontaneously spelling out a legible word is improbable. Formation and information cannot happen on accident. There has to be an author and our author is God!

When we belong to Jesus Christ and walk in His wisdom, all of creation works for us.  All things are under our submission.  If we rebel against His wisdom and will, things start to work against us just like Jonah and others discovered.  Have you ever wondered why things sometimes don’t go your way?  Have you ever considered that maybe it’s because you are not leading a life of obedience and the wisdom of the Lord?  I know that has definitely been the instance in my life.  I pray that we all may be wise and live in the obedience of God.