Proverbs 3:15 ESV
James 1:5 ESV
Wisdom in today’s world seems to be an uncommon way of thinking and speaking. We seldom hear words of wisdom spoken on television. Wisdom apparently doesn’t have entertainment value.
Funny has entertainment value.
I can’t remember the last time I had a conversation with someone about hearing wise words. After I thought about that, it made me sad.
Has wisdom fallen out of favor completely?
Wise King Solomon is attributed for writing most of the Proverbs, including this chapter. He has been called the wisest man who ever lived. (https://www.learnreligions.com/king-solomonwisest-manwhoeverlived701168#:~:text=King%20Solomon%20was%20the%20wisest,particularly%20the%20temple%20in%20Jerusalem.)
Solomon wrote Proverbs 3 and the theme of Proverbs 3:13-18 is Wisdom.
Proverbs 3:15 says, “She is more precious than jewels, and nothing you desire can compare with her.”
Hakmot is the Hebrew word for Wisdom and it is a feminine plural noun. But we can’t be sure that’s the reason SHE is the chosen word.
The nearest modern comparison we have today is ‘She’ when it refers to a car.
For example, My bright red Mustang is named Rubie.
SHE is my car.
The car is bright red.
Rubys are red.
But in my case, Rubie was also my maternal grandmother’s name and she spelled it with ‘ie’ instead of ‘y’.
The point is we don’t know why we refer to a car as SHE…but we do.
In much the same way Solomon refers to wisdom as she.
In the big scheme of things I’m not really sure that matters. Wisdom is wisdom and Proverbs 3:15 tells us that wisdom is more precious than jewels.
In order to get the context of that, when Solomon wrote this Proverb jewels were a prized position. Saying wisdom was more precious than jewels then would be like saying wisdom is more precious than gold today.
I have to admit that even though wisdom is not a trendy thing, wisdom is a very desirable trait. Having a friend who gives wise council is a treasure.
Have you known anyone who is so wise that everyone stopped what they were doing in order to listen to them speak?
Years ago I knew a women who was truly wise. People stopped and listened when she spoke. She was normally quiet. She only spoke when she really had something important to say. While other people around her would chatter away, she just listened.
But she was the one people went to when they really needed good solid Godly advice.
She was also a praying woman. Looking back, I’m sure she had prayed for wisdom.
James 1:5 tells us, “ If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.”
I’m sure she had prayed for wisdom for years. It was clear that God honored her request.
It’s also notable that in Proverbs 3:15 Solomon said nothing can compare with ‘her’ meaning wisdom.
That’s quite a statement.
Nothing can compare with wisdom.
Hummm…nothing compares with wisdom.
And according to James 1:5, we can ask for it.
God will give us wisdom if we ask for it.
So, Today’s Spiritual Practice is: Ask for Wisdom
Make a regular habit of asking God for wisdom. It’s a promise you can count on.
In God, Deborah
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