May 16

Proverbs of Solomon (Arranged Topically) Introduction to Wisdom - Proverbs 8:1-36, 9:1-6, 2:1-22, 3:13-24, 1:20-33, 9:13-18, 4:1-27

Nowadays we wear our wisdom on our sleeves.

"Does not wisdom call out?

     Does not understanding raise her voice?

On the heights along the way,

     where the paths meet, she takes her stand;

beside the gates leading into the city,

     at the entrances, she crises aloud:

To you, O men, I call out;

     I raise my voice to all mankind."

Proverbs 8:1-4

There are a number of verses in Proverbs that encourage us to seek wisdom and understanding and to want it more than silver or gold.  But I don't think it's saying put your nose in a book.  There's nothing wrong with scholarly research but I think it produces a different kind of knowledge.  I think it's a better way to learn man's wisdom than God's and man's understanding and opinions and biases rather than God's truths.  

This verse seems to suggest that wisdom is actually looking for us and that's its not difficult to find wisdom and understanding.  They seem to be drawing an extraordinary amount of attention to themselves in the most public of places.  Other Proverbs indicate that we should ask God for wisdom and understanding and that the fear of God is where wisdom and understanding begins.  

Wisdom and understanding are more an attitude and a way of looking at things.  They are a knowledge of God that changes the way we see.  It's not what we know.  It's who we know and how he's known to open our eyes and ears so we can see what's obvious to those who follow Him.  Lord knows.