A Word to the Wise
We would typically think of the Proverbs of Solomon, or perhaps anyone else as being a ‘word to the wise.’ Although my introductory focus looks to the early thoughtful expressions of this oft’ quoted book, I direct your attention to those leaders of this day who seemingly ignore these time-tested nuggets of wisdom, candidates of cunning, men and women of questionable wisdom and little affinity for the guidance of God.
Solomon was handed everything a leader could ask for from God or his own father, the conquering King David of Israel in this case. Solomon’s wisdom was sought out by other leaders during his reign in about 970–931 BC. We read his Proverbs and ought to heed his advice of Ecclesiastes written in his old age near to the time when Israel fell into division and ruin after the time of his death.
Proverbs 1:
The proverbs of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel:
2 To know wisdom and instruction,
to understand words of insight,
3 to receive instruction in wise dealing…
A word to the wise:
Note the description of words lacking in this 21st c. AD environment of political upheaval and note that Solomon’s own country would experience a division of purpose led by those who repeatedly would do ‘what is evil in the sight of the LORD.’
… in righteousness, justice, and equity;
4 to give prudence to the simple…
Wisdom eludes the unrighteous, prudence is hidden from the cunning.
Roger Harned
Justice and equity become perverted in the eyes of evildoers.
Roger Harned
Let the reader understand the proverbs of my own understanding, as instructed in the Lord from the wisdom of the Bible. Although Solomon’s Proverbs are directed toward “.. knowledge and discretion to the youth—” understanding is reward to those seeking the Lord’s will at any age.
5 Let the wise hear and increase in learning,
and the one who understands obtain guidance,
6 to understand a proverb and a saying,
the words of the wise and their riddles.
7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge;
fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Proverbs 1 – excerpts
22 “How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple?
How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing
and fools hate knowledge?
24 Because I have called and you refused to listen,
have stretched out my hand and no one has heeded,
25 because you have ignored all my counsel
and would have none of my reproof,
26 I also will laugh at your calamity;
I will mock when terror strikes you,
27 when terror strikes you like a storm
and your calamity comes like a whirlwind,
when distress and anguish come upon you.
28 Then they will call upon me, but I will not answer;
they will seek me diligently but will not find me.
29 Because they hated knowledge
and did not choose the fear of the Lord,
30 would have none of my counsel
and despised all my reproof…
Where is God?
The fools ask too late; for we did not listen to the wisdom of the LORD when we walked in our own paths. We did not lead the people to worship the Lord with gratitude for our freedom nor did we acknowledge our blessings. We turned from the Lord and from righteousness, led astray by cunning leaders. Fools have followed fools and ignored the wisdom of the godly.
When calamity falls upon us and we finally ask God ‘Why did this happen?’ will the silence of the Lord not be appropriate to a people with ears that will not hear the wisdom of the Lord?
Are you open to receiving the wisdom of the Lord or do you rely on your own cunning?
To be continued…
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