Proverbs 8:1-14
Understanding Wisdom

Doesn't wisdom cry out?
      Doesn't understanding raise her voice?
On the top of high places by the way,
      where the paths meet, she stands.
Beside the gates, at the entry of the city,
      at the entry doors, she cries aloud:
"To you men, I call!
      I send my voice to the sons of mankind.
You simple, understand prudence.
      You fools, be of an understanding heart.
Hear, for I will speak excellent things.
      The opening of my lips is for right things.
For my mouth speaks truth.
      Wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
All the words of my mouth are in righteousness.
      There is nothing crooked or perverse in them.
They are all plain to him who understands,
      right to those who find knowledge.
Receive my instruction rather than silver;
      knowledge rather than choice gold.
For wisdom is better than rubies.
      All the things that may be desired can't be compared to it.

"I, wisdom, have made prudence my dwelling.
      Find out knowledge and discretion.
The fear of Yahweh is to hate evil.
I hate pride, arrogance,
      the evil way, and the perverse mouth.
Counsel and sound knowledge are mine.
      I have understanding and power.

World English Bible

If we are to gain wisdom—and who wouldn't want that?—we must get rid of a lot of misconceptions. Solomon, revered as the wisest man in the world of his era, wanted to help us gain a true understanding of wisdom.

Let's start with the aura and mystique of wisdom. We have this cliché of seeking the wise man up the mountain, a robed, white-haired sage sitting cross-legged in flowing robes, with an appearance so obviously different from us because his wisdom is so far above ours.

In Proverbs, we see Wisdom looking for us! Wisdom leaves the center of town to go searching where everyone would be, at the markets, the crossroads, and the gates. She is working very diligently to get the attention of everyone. Solomon taught us we have to work harder to avoid Wisdom than to find Wisdom!

Let's look at the nature of wisdom. In our dictionaries, we see that wisdom is considered to have a higher philosophical and intellectual quality about it.

On the other hand, the first word that Wisdom uses to describe herself is "prudence"—a practical common sense that emphasizes self control and moderation. Prudence includes a great respect for following teachings, rather than an eagerness to invent "new" teachings. Where we view intellectual wisdom as a source of pride, Wisdom requires humility.

We expect wisdom to require strong mental gymnastics, developed over years of studying and honing our knowledge. We don't expect to understand wisdom, and we are often impressed by the mental capabilities of those who present to us what is beyond our ability to comprehend.

Wisdom, on the other hand, presents truths. She bores through the "smoke and mirrors" erected to give the illusion of wisdom, and condemns that which is twisted, deceiving, or easily misunderstood. Wisdom does not want to be admired from an unapproachable distance; she wants to guide us by the arm to where we should go.

We want to think the opposite of wisdom is ignorance. Instead, the opposite of Wisdom is pride and arrogance.

The choice to follow Wisdom sounds similar to the choice of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. The temptation the Serpent gave to Eve was to become knowledgeable like God, to gain a measure of equality with God. Our cultural misperceptions of wisdom also want to make us into our own gods.

Choose the Wisdom that eagerly desires to bring you closer to God.