Wisdom Has A Name
Who in your life would you consider wise?
Would you consider yourself wise?
Before reading Proverbs, I know I did.
In Proverbs, Solomon (son of King David) writes to his own son, urging him to be raised by the wisdom that Proverbs goes on to mention. How does one appear when raised in this way of wisdom?
I could go on to list all of the practical actions and heart postures of one who is wise, as Solomon does in Proverbs 22-29, but I’d like to invite us to open our hearts to look at Proverbs through a new perspective. Can we examine Proverbs through a gospel-oriented perspective today, one that finds Jesus in each chapter? Pastor David Murrary claims, “God has never manifested himself to men in any other way than through the Son, that is, His sole wisdom, light, and truth” (Murrary, Jesus on Every Page).
If you’re a bit confused about where Jesus falls into the book of Proverbs, that’s okay. After all, His name is not mentioned once, and He wasn’t born until about 400 years later. Despite his physical absence, though, Christ still appears significantly in the pages of Proverbs through Solomon’s desperation for his son to be raised in wisdom. For example, let’s look at the verse we discussed last month.
Proverbs 9:10 says, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.” Last month, we discussed the fear of the LORD. Now, I want to discuss the remainder of that verse. “Knowledge of the Holy One is insight.” Solomon is suggesting in the second half of the verse that knowing the Holy One is knowing wisdom. Jesus Christ is fulfilled wisdom.“And because of Him, you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, ‘Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.’” (1 Corinthians 1:30-31) Sinners are incapable of achieving perfect wisdom, hence the need for our Savior’s perfection. Our Savior, Jesus Christ, fulfilled wisdom when we couldn’t; therefore, our “wise” acts are nothing but foolish if done without Him. What is wise in our own eyes is failed wisdom, but what is wise through the righteousness of Christ dwelling amongst us produces great fruit.
With this in mind, let’s dissect the two invitations Solomon provides in Proverbs 9. Both invitations appear similar, but the consequences of accepting the wrong one make the biggest difference. The first invitation is to the way of wisdom; the second is to the way of folly. The way of folly lacks the most crucial thing that the way of wisdom begins with: a relationship with the Holy One. I urge you as Solomon does, do not be deceived by foolishness in the same way that his father, David, was. As David reflects in Proverbs 30, he admits, “I have not learned wisdom, nor have I knowledge of the Holy One.” (Proverbs 30:3) Upon his realization of failure, he points us to the Holy One we should look to who meets Wisdom’s expectations and more. Jesus Christ fulfills the LORD’s perfect wisdom. “And the Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD.” (Isaiah 11:2) To be raised in wisdom is to walk with it. Who is wisdom? Jesus Christ.
REFLECTION:
I have a mentor who I consider one of the wisest ladies I know, not only because of her advice but because of who she points me to in times I need advice. Friends, is Jesus at the forefront of your heart, mind, and soul? What has been motivating your good works recently? My prayer for us is that in continuing Proverbs, we lean closer and closer into the One who gives Wisdom a name.
“And how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.” (2 Timothy 3:15)
Lizzy Laymon