In Proverbs 8:6, Lady Wisdom calls on her listeners to pay attention and declares to them that her words are noble.
To be noble in this context means to embody power, majesty, and glory.
Hear, for I will speak noble things,
and from my lips will come what is right,
For my mouth will utter truth;
wickedness is an abomination to my lips. (Proverbs 8.6-7)
God’s wisdom, personified as Lady Wisdom in this passage, is exalted and majestic, displaying a dignified and honorable character. It is held in high regard and commands respect.
Not only is God’s wisdom noble, but it is also right and true. Wisdom speech is essential for understanding the ultimate truth. The qualifying noun, truth, refers to what is reliable.
Today, as I merged onto I-435, a semi-truck passed me. Seeing the truck, I reflected on the significance of maintaining my lane, knowing that the driver trusted me to do so, just as I trusted him to do the same.
Society runs well on the ability to trust the actions of others. God’s wisdom, which is unwavering and dependable, exemplifies this truth.
In the world we live in today, there is a pressing need for such reliability.
When we listen to God’s wisdom, decide to be attentive, and embrace His teachings, we transform into individuals who can be counted on. Our words become honest, direct, and dependable.
The Bible describes the fool as someone who believes they can act irresponsibly and without regard for truth, thinking they won’t be held accountable for the harm they inflict on others.
Righteous Words
The fools, those unwilling to make a spiritual commitment to wisdom, will distort God’s plain and truthful speech.
People who have sought wisdom submit themselves to her teachings. They attain personal, spiritual, and moral knowledge, because this is the nature of God’s wisdom.
All the words of my mouth are righteous;
there is nothing twisted or crooked in them.
They are all straight to one who understands
and right to those who find knowledge. (Proverbs 8.8-9)
God’s wisdom is compared to that of the wicked or foolish. His wisdom aligns with moral and ethical principles because, at His core, God is both righteous and just.
When we embrace God’s wisdom, we will live according to His precepts and reflect His character.
Discipline Needed
A thousand years before Jesus walked on Earth, Solomon wrote to his listeners to embrace the discipline of wisdom. He knew that there was serious competition to receive wisdom from the Lord.
The world has never experienced the unprecedented amount of information available to humanity that is present today.
No single individual can absorb all the various perspectives that are presented to us. Consequently, we must choose what we focus our attention on.
Amidst this information overload, it is of utmost importance that we set aside time to hear from the Lord through the practice of meditating on scripture and engaging in prayer.
Ever since the snake in the garden tempted Eve and asked the question, “Has God really said?” humans have been tempted to distrust God’s wisdom.
Rejecting this temptation and wholeheartedly embracing God’s wisdom requires discipline and the assistance of the Holy Spirit.
YouTube Video
Rudy Ross and I discuss this passage on YouTube today. It is on the Bob Spradling channel.
Real Voices 