The foundational Jewish prayer is called the Shema. It is usually translated as “Hear O Israel,” (Deuteronomy 6.4).
Just as the Shema calls on the people of Israel to “hear” that there is one God and He is the Lord, Proverbs calls us to listen to the words of wisdom.
Listen, children, to a father’s instruction,
and be attentive, that you may gain insight,
For I give you good precepts:
do not forsake my teaching. (Proverbs 4.1-2)
To “hear” includes heeding, taking to heart, and acting on the wisdom that is being imparted. It involves active engagement with the teaching. It’s not passive hearing, but transformative listening.
Generational Wisdom
As a little child, Solomon learned from his father, King David. Both Solomon and David learned from the Lord.
When I was a son with my father,
tender and my mother’s favorite. (Proverbs 4.3)
Wise humans pay attention to the wisdom imparted to us in Scripture because it is divinely inspired by the Holy Spirit.
“All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16).
Wisdom’s Value
Before we examine the value of wisdom, let’s recall the theme of the Book of Proverbs.
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom;
fools despise wisdom and instruction. (Proverbs 1.7)
What do we mean by “the fear of the Lord?”
The fear of the Lord means wholeheartedly loving God and humbly submitting to Him. By doing so, we open ourselves to His wisdom and commit to following His guidance.
It is not too big a stretch to equate this definition of the fear of the Lord with the message of wisdom taught in the book of Proverbs.
Wisdom is of great value to humans. It’s as though we enter into a mutual relationship with wisdom, almost like that between spouses.
When we are committed to wisdom, we can count on wisdom being committed to us, providing both guidance and protection.
Do not forsake her, and she will keep you;
love her, and she will guard you. (Proverbs 4.6)
Wisdom, once loved, will encircle and protect us, providing an encompassing safeguard.
Recall the days when you were first in love. Remember those endless hours you spent talking about your beloved, yearning to be with them?
That intensity of feeling is the thought behind the desire for wisdom.
The beginning of wisdom is this: get wisdom,
and whatever else you get, get insight. (Proverbs 4.7)
When we think of wisdom in terms of a human love relationship, it might seem abstract. Yet, when we recognize that wisdom represents a profound bond with God, it becomes clearer.
In this bond, we submit humbly to Him, seeking His direction for our lives. Therefore, it’s only natural that we pursue this relationship wholeheartedly.
As I’ve previously written, God is not a vending machine where you put in the right behavior and get the desired result.
That being said, when we embrace wisdom as the pearl of great price, we can count on God’s benefits.
Prize her highly, and she will exalt you;
she will honor you if you embrace her.
She will place on your head a fair garland;
she will bestow on you a beautiful crown. (Proverbs 4.8-9)
Follow the Lord Aggressively
The verses we’ve examined today contain compelling directives urging us to passionately chase wisdom.
It’s a pursuit we owe to ourselves, for by embracing wisdom with the fervor of chasing a loved one, we unlock all of God’s blessings in our lives.
YouTube Video
Rudy Ross and I discuss this passage on YouTube today. It is on the Bob Spradling channel.
Real Voices 