Proverbs 4:5-7 “5 Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth. 6 Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee. 7 Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.”
Of all the things which one could pursue with zeal (money, pleasure, fame, health, etc.), God sets the noblest at the getting of wisdom. This is the overarching theme of the book of Proverbs, and of many other passages of scripture. It seems characteristic of the people of God, from Bezaleel (Exodus 31:2-5) to the first seven proto-deacons of the early church (Acts 6:3), to be wise. This is undoubtedly due to the fact that “the fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom/knowledge” (Psalm 111:10; Proverbs 1:9; 9:10). True wisdom comes from God (Job 38:36). By contrast, “the fool” makes many appearances throughout scripture (e.g., Job 5:2; Proverbs 1:32). At various points in the Bible, one can hear the very mournful lamentation over the fool (e.g., Psalm 94:8), and even of the fool (Proverbs 15:11-14). “It is not good” when we are without knowledge (Proverbs 19:2), we are forced to “go into captivity” when we have no knowledge (Isaiah 5:13), and are ultimately “destroyed for lack of knowledge” (Hosea 4:6).
Deuteronomy 32:28-29 “28 For they are a nation void of counsel, neither is there any understanding in them. 29 O that they were wise, that they understood this, that they would consider their latter end!”
Proverbs
The book of Proverbs is written from a father-son (e.g., Proverbs 1:8; 2:1), or father-children (Proverbs 4:1; 5:7; 7:24; 8:32), perspective. Interestingly, as he quotes the book of Proverbs, the author of Hebrews refers to the father figure in Proverbs as God the Father, who “speaketh unto you as unto children” (Hebrews 12:5-6; cf. Proverbs 3:11-12). This means that the advice and proverbs of Solomon to his son are also advice and proverbs of God to us, his children. The first proverb in the book of Proverbs relates to this theme: “A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish son is the heaviness of his mother” (Proverbs 10:1). To gladden the heart of God (Proverbs 15:20; 27:11) and cause him to rejoice (Proverbs 23:15, 24), we must be wise children of God.
Proverbs 17:21 “He that begetteth a fool doeth it to his sorrow: and the father of a fool hath no joy.”
Proverbs begins with a nine-chapter prologue developing various themes whereby it exalts wisdom, and then takes off with the “proverbs” section of nineteen chapters (chapters 10-29) in which it expounds wisdom, and concludes with two epilogues, by “Agur” (chapter 30) and by “Lemuel” (chapter 31) where it commends wisdom. Probably the most memorable aspect to the prologue is the representation of wisdom as a lady, who makes various speeches beckoning us to her (Proverbs 1:20-33; 9:3-12), and she is often commended by the father-figure of the book (Proverbs 2:4; 3:13-19; 4:5-13; 7:4; 9:1-3).
Throughout the prologue, wisdom is personified as a woman, lady wisdom (e.g., Proverbs 8). The description of wisdom as feminine is likely to draw her appeal to the young man seeking wisdom. Several observations of lady wisdom justify this idea:
- Wisdom is Beautiful: Women are prized for their attractiveness, when they are “fair” (e.g., Genesis 6:2). So also, wisdom is the most beautiful adornment and feature of one’s life (Proverbs 1:9; 4:8-9).
- Wisdom is Available: As a young woman is normally accessible to the desirous man, in the same way wisdom is obtainable to any interested soul (Proverbs 1:21-23). Lady wisdom is seen speaking in public (Proverbs 8:1), in trafficked areas (Proverbs 8:2-3), and directly to mankind (Proverbs 8:4).
- Wisdom is Pursuable: For one to get a woman to wife, they have to search (Proverbs 18:11) and seek for her. Those who long for wisdom must also go after it the way a man does a woman he likes (see Proverbs 8:17).
- Wisdom is Valuable: A good woman is of immeasurable value, and the virtuous one is so precious that “her price is far above rubies” (Proverbs 31:10). Wisdom is as silver and hid treasure (Proverbs 2:3-4), and better than fine gold and rubies (Proverbs 3:13-15; 8:10-11, 19).
- Wisdom is Useful: A righteous woman will be a “help meet” to her spouse and in the way that she serves her husband “will do him good and not evil all the days of her life” (Proverbs 31:12). Wisdom adds time and blessing to one’s life (e.g., Proverbs 3:16-18; 9:11).
Proverbs 8:35 “For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the LORD.”
Lady wisdom in Proverbs is contrasted with lady folly, who is the embodiment of foolishness. Lady folly equals lady wisdom in her appeal, but has a negative effect on her victims. There are three groups of people in Proverbs whom these women call out to: the fools (Proverbs 1:7), the simple (Proverbs 1:4), and the wise (Proverbs 1:5-6). The fool is one who hates wisdom (Proverbs 1:22), the wise man loves wisdom (Proverbs 12:1), and the simple man does not have wisdom. There is a great battle between lady wisdom and lady folly to win the heart of the simple ones who are in-between. Both have the same call––“Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither…”––but lady wisdom beckons the simple to be wise (Proverbs 9:4), be righteous (Proverbs 9:5), and therefore live (Proverbs 9:6); lady folly shouts out to the simple to be fools (Proverbs 9:16), be wicked (Proverbs 9:17), and therefore die (Proverbs 9:18).
Proverbs 8:4 “Unto you, O men, I call; and my voice is to the sons of man.”
The Wisdom Of Solomon
The author of three of the wisdom books (i.e., Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon), Solomon is the archetype of a man of wisdom, whose wisdom “excelled the wisdom of all the children of the east country, and all the wisdom of Egypt” (1 Kings 4:30). “for riches and for wisdom,” Solomon unparalleled by any earthly king (1 Kings 10:23). The wise condition of Solomon was recognized by his father (1 Kings 2:6), his people (1 Kings 3:28), and the world at large (1 Kings 4:34; 10:24); God said of the understanding heart that he gave Solomon, “so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee” (1 Kings 3:12).
Solomon is, however, a grand enigma, for he was simultaneously one of the wisest men of the world, and also one of the most foolish. There is a progression in his life in which he goes from a state of wisdom (early life: 1 Kings 3) to foolishness (mid-late-life: 1 Kings 11) then back to wisdom again (end of life: Ecclesiastes 12:8-14).
The ACQUISITION of Solomon’s Wisdom: Request for Wisdom
After Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings in Gibeon, the Lord appeared to him in a dream by night, where he asked him, “ask what I shall give thee” (1 Kings 3:4-5). Solomon’s response in asking for wisdom demonstrates the priority of wisdom above everything else, but is also telling about how one should seek wisdom (1 Kings 3:7-9).
Solomon sought wisdom from God (piety of heart) – “O Lord my God” 1 Kings 3:7). Solomon asked none other than the Lord for wisdom (see James 1:5).
Solomon sought wisdom humbly (humility of heart) – “I know not how to go out or come in.” Solomon recognized that he did not know much, and thus was not wise in his own conceit (see Proverbs 26:12; Romans 12:16).
Solomon sought wisdom early (simplicity of heart) – “I am but a little child.” Though young, Solomon at his youthful age inclined himself to getting wisdom above all else.
Solomon sought wisdom selflessly (largeness of heart) – “to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad…”; “hast not asked for thyself…” When offered the freedom of choice to ask for anything from God, Solomon did not ask for anything for himself, but for wisdom and knowledge for his people’s sake (2 Chronicles 1:10-12). One’s heart is only as wise as it is large (1 Kings 4:29; see also John 17:19).
The ATTRIBUTES of Solomon’s Wisdom: Display of Wisdom
When the fame of Solomon reached the queen of Sheba, she came to test the genuineness of his genius. Her examination of Solomon’s wisdom shows some of its attributes (1 Kings 10:1-9). Solomon’s wisdom was known (v.1a)––he gained worldwide notoriety. Solomon’s wisdom was sought (v.1b)––the queen of Sheba probably traveled from her place of authority in Ethiopia all the way to Jerusalem, making the distance she traversed some ~3,500 kilometers, or ~2,200 miles. Solomon’s wisdom was rewarded (v.2)––the queen brought Solomon many gifts in her procession of a “very great train.” Solomon’s wisdom was true (v.3, 6)––the queen had all of her questions answered, and found him to be greater than his praise (see Proverbs 27:21). Solomon’s wisdom was pervasive (vv.4-5)––every area of Solomon’s life was affected by his wisdom. Solomon’s wisdom was deep (v.7)––Solomon knew much more than the queen of Sheba found out by her inquiry, as she put it, “the half was not told me.” Solomon’s wisdom was a blessing (vv.8-9)––the queen opined that Solomon’s servants were richly benefitted by being able to stand continually before him and hear his wisdom.
The ACTIVITIES of Solomon’s Wisdom: Work of Wisdom
Solomon had wisdom for others (arbitrating between the two harlots: 1 Kings 3:16-28), wisdom for himself (slaying Adonijah who wanted Abishag as wife: 1 Kings 2:13-25), and wisdom for the Lord (contracting with Hiram for timber for the temple: 1 Kings 5:1-7).
The Benefits Of Wisdom
- Wisdom Makes You Wise
While there are many external benefits which wisdom brings to one’s life, it is essential to see the getting of wisdom as an end in and of itself. “He that getteth wisdom loveth his own soul” (Proverbs 19:8). Just like it is good to be good, or spiritual to be spiritual, it is wise to be wise. It is a “pleasant thing” when the words of the wise are “within thee” and “fitted in thy lips” (Proverbs 22:18). There is just something heavenly about our thoughts when they are graced with acumen and erudition (see Proverbs 12:5; 24:9). A man that is wise is “profitable unto himself” (Job 22:2; see also Proverbs 19:20).
Proverbs 9:12 “If thou be wise, thou shalt be wise for thyself: but if thou scornest, thou alone shalt bear it.”
- Wisdom Adds Virtue to Your Life
There is a connection between virtue and knowledge (2 Peter 1:5), and then, proceeding onward, between knowledge and virtue (2 Peter 1:6). Of wisdom, it is said that “she shall preserve thee” and “she shall keep thee” (Proverbs 4:6). The man that is good in God’s sight is given by God wisdom and knowledge (Ecclesiastes 2:26), and people who are not wise are more often than not disobedient (Luke 1:17) and wicked people (Daniel 12:10).
When wisdom enters into one’s heart, “it shall lead thee,” “it shall keep thee,” and “it shall talk with thee” (Proverbs 6:22). When we know what is right––morally, spiritually, etc.––it naturally leads to a change in our life. The wisdom that comes from God has a way of piercing into our heart and transforming us (see Hebrews 4:12). Wisdom tells one the right path that they should go in (Psalm 119:35), and wisdom warns one of the wrong paths that they should not go in (Proverbs 4:14).
Proverbs 16:21 “The wise in heart shall be called prudent: and the sweetness of the lips increaseth learning.”
- Wisdom Raises Your Reputation
It is easy to see how sin and foolishness tarnishes one’s reputation (Ecclesiastes 10:1). We should conversely observe, however, that “a man shall be commended according to his wisdom” (Proverbs 12:8). Everyone likes to be around smart people. Mark carefully that, in society, it is the highly educated (e.g., doctors, lawyers, engineers) who are often highly regarded. The honorable position which one’s understanding brings them into gives them a glow, for “a man’s wisdom maketh his face to shine” (Ecclesiastes 8:1).When we live foolish lives, we bring shame both to ourselves (Proverbs 13:18) and to those who have spent much of their own lives to guide and develop us (Proverbs 10:5; 19:26; 28:7; 29:15)
Proverbs 3:35 “The wise shall inherit glory: but shame shall be the promotion of fools.”
- Wisdom Causes You to Do Great Works
Exploits are done by the “people that do know their God” (Daniel 11:32), and “he that winneth souls is wise” (Proverbs 11:30). Wisdom arms the wise with a tool better than weapons of war (Ecclesiastes 9:18), strengthens the wise more than ten mighty men (Ecclesiastes 7:19; see also Proverbs 21:22), and directs the wise to sharpen themselves and not be dulled in their labor (Ecclesiastes 10:10). The fool is full of excuses (Proverbs 26:16) and inabilities (Proverbs 15:19). Only wise Christians are working Christians, because “a wise man’s heart is at his right hand; but a fool’s heart at his left” (Ecclesiastes 10:2). The wise man’s eyes are also “in his head” (Ecclesiastes 2:14).
Ecclesiastes 10:15 “The labour of the foolish wearieth every one of them, because he knoweth not how to go to the city.”
How To Increase Wisdom
The Lord Jesus Christ is the model for how to get wisdom, who is himself “made unto us wisdom” (1 Corinthians 1:30), and “in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Colossians 2:3). The Bible tells us that as he grew physically, he grew also mentally; as it is written, “Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man” (Luke 2:52). Wise people speak wise things (Psalm 37:30; 49:3; Proverbs 15:2, 7), think wise things (Proverbs 3:3; Psalm 51:6), and do wise things (James 3:13).
Jesus’s example shows us where wisdom does not come from as well as where it does. Wisdom cannot be inherited, seeing as Jesus did not get his wisdom from his upbringing (Mark 6:2), so that his countrymen “were astonished, and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works?” (Matthew 13:54). Wisdom cannot be purchased (Proverbs 17:16; 3:15), because Jesus was born into a poor family (see poor persons’ offering in: Luke 2:24) and was himself impoverished (2 Corinthians 8:9). Wisdom cannot be osmosed, where one is made smarter merely by being in an institution of learning or with smarter persons. Jesus actually did not go to any college or university to learn his doctrine, insomuch that the Jews were amazed and asked, “How knoweth this man letters, having never learned?” (John 7:15).
Per Luke 2 in the account of Jesus’ time at the temple in Jerusalem, the wisdom he grew in was attained simply through temple-attending (Luke 2:43), scripture-reading (see Luke 4:16), and studying (Luke 2:46-47). Jesus preached that the queen of Sheba would condemn the foolish generation which denied him, because he was greater than Solomon. God “hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son” (Hebrews 1:2); so that now, we have a Bible which is the “word of Christ” (Colossians 3:16), assemblies which are “the churches of Christ” (Romans 16:16), and inherent ability to learn by means of the Holy Spirit, who is “the Spirit of Christ” (Romans 8:9).
Matthew 12:42 “The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for she came from the uttermost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here.”
Seeing the greater value of wisdom, it is essential that the devout Christian have a proper “heart” about obtaining it. God desires that we abound “in all wisdom and prudence” (Ephesians 1:8; see also Colossians 1:9). The means of reaping the incalculable benefits of wisdom are actually right before us, whereas “the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth” (Proverbs 17:24). The Bible says that “knowledge is easy unto him that understandeth” (Proverbs 14:6). One very important principle to never forget is the “line upon line, precept upon precept” principle (see Isaiah 28:10, 13), which states that we grow and improve little by little (2 Corinthians 3:18; see also Exodus 23:30; Deuteronomy 7:22). Those who “despise the day of small things” (Zechariah 4:10) are not being “faithful in that which is least” (Luke 16:10) and, consequently, they become “weary in well doing” (Galatians 6:9; 2 Thessalonians 3:13).
- Bible Reading
The scriptures are able to “make thee wise…” (2 Timothy 3:15). Out of the mouth of the Lord comes wisdom (Proverbs 2:6). It was a law of the Old Testament that the king of Israel was supposed to read the words of scripture “all the days of his life” (Deuteronomy 17:18-20). This suggests that God considered the reading of his word to be more important than anything else, because the king’s work can well be seen as the most significant occupation in a nation. We, who are “kings and priests unto God” (Revelation 1:6), are also expected to set aside daily time to read the word of God (see Proverbs 8:34). The “wise man” is “he to whom the mouth of the Lord hath spoken” (Jeremiah 9:12). The Bible makes “wise the simple” (Psalm 19:7), and reading it is an straightforward way to increase in spiritual wisdom. Jesus’ “have ye never read” statements sprinkled throughout the gospels prove that a lack of Bible reading is the culprit for foolishness (Matthew 9:13; 12:3-4; 19:4; 21:16, 42; Mark 12:26; Luke 24:25). Those who don’t regularly and seriously read through the entire Bible are unlearned and easily deceived.
Deuteronomy 4:6 “Keep therefore and do them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations, which shall hear all these statutes, and say, Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.”
- Church Attending
God expects us to “continue steadfastly” in the “doctrine and fellowship” of our local, Biblical church (Acts 2:42; Hebrews 10:25). It is a great privilege to go to the house of the Lord (Psalm 122:1), and the more we frequent church, the more we will learn and grow. Unstable people are wavering people (James 1:6; Genesis 49:4), who cannot be found to be consistent to God’s house (Hebrews 10:23). “Wisdom and knowledge,” however, “shall be the stability of thy times” (Isaiah 33:6). Even when the church is not perfect, God still commands us to be zealous and faithful in the ministry we have received, “that thou fulfill it” (Colossians 4:17). To the Christians at the practically dead church of Sardis, Jesus exhorts, “Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God” (Revelation 3:2). That is, even in a Biblical church, but which is terrible in almost every way, God wants us to serve with joy, to be those “few names in Sardis which have not defiled their garments” (Revelation 3:4). This is why we ought to be three-to-thrive in our local New Testament Baptist church, coming for all three church services: Sunday morning, Sunday evening, and Wednesday evening. The only way to be a positive influence on church for good is to be there as often as possible. Those who don’t regularly and seriously attend church services are unfaithful and unreliable people.
Proverbs 17:2 “A wise servant shall have rule over a son that causeth shame, and shall have part of the inheritance among the brethren.”
- Studying and Skill-Learning
The Bible exhorts us to constantly and ever be “redeeming the time” (Ephesians 5:16), to be using our free time productively. “The heart of the wise teacheth his mouth, and addeth learning to his lips” (Proverbs 16:23), says the scripture. If we want to be wise, we must always “lay up knowledge” (Proverbs 10:14) and “study to answer” (Proverbs 15:28). Spiritually speaking, whenever we are to learn from a true and good Bible teacher, we should pay close attention (see Job 29:21-23; “judge” what is said: I Corinthians 10:15; 14:29), take notes (Jeremiah 23:18), and review/study the material afterwards (see Acts 17:11).
Even if it is not always religious, we should still always try to fill our time with productive, edifying, and intellectual activities (like reading books (Daniel 9:2), singing/playing instruments (2 Samuel 6:5), learning/improving a foreign language (Daniel 1:4), developing a trade skill (Acts 18:3), etc.). Those who don’t regularly and seriously study and learn skills are shallow and unproductive people.
Proverbs 18:15 “The heart of the prudent getteth knowledge; and the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge.”