The Treasures of Wisdom and Wisdom Regarding Fear

I was reading through Proverbs 9 the other day, and the juxtaposition of wisdom and folly caught my attention.

Wisdom

Proverbs 9:1-6 (ESV)

1: "Wisdom has built her house;

she has hewn her seven pillars."

(Wisdom is hard-working and builds with precision and permanence)

2."She has slaughtered her beasts; she has mixed her wine; she has also set her table."

(Wisdom prepares, is ready to, and desires to welcome people into her home and offer them the best)

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3."She has sent out her young women to call

from the highest places in the town,"

(Wisdom sends out an invitation and pursues. She makes herself known and meets people where they are)

4. "Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!"

To him who lacks sense she says,

(Wisdom implores those who are silly, filled with folly, and easily enticed to turn away from the way of foolishness and enter her home. She invites those who are needy and lacking understanding)

5. "Come, eat of my bread

and drink of the wine I have mixed."

(Wisdom welcomes the foolish into her home to consume the satisfying, life-giving food and drink she has prepared)

6. "Leave your simple ways, and live,

and walk in the way of insight."

(Wisdom commands the foolish to loosen and relinquish their silly, stupid ways and find refreshment and revival in the right understanding)

Folly

Proverbs 9:13-18 (ESV)

13." The woman Folly is loud;

she is seductive and knows nothing."

(Folly makes a great, rageful commotion to get the attention of people, yet she only offers foolishness and stupidity)

14." She sits at the door of her house;

she takes a seat on the highest places of the town,"

(Folly is lazy. She lies in wait, like an animal waiting to pounce on its prey)

15." calling to those who pass by,

who are going straight on their way,"

(Folly calls to and tries to tempt those who are traveling a right and prosperous path)

16." Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!"

And to him who lacks sense, she says,

(Folly mimics Wisdom, she pretends she has good advice to offer)

17." Stolen water is sweet,

and bread eaten in secret is pleasant."

(Folly allures those who pass by with instantaneous gratification and secrecy. She appeals to human nature's tendency to want what isn't ours and desire hidden pleasures)

18." But he does not know that the dead are there, that her guests are in the depths of Sheol."

(Those who pass by don't know that her invitation leads to death. The pleasure is momentary and the satisfaction fleeting)

Let's contrast the two.

Wisdom

Wisdom demonstrates her real motive to take care of, teach, and lead her followers toward life and Godly understanding through the way she prepares and plans for her guests. She actively pursues people. Wisdom invites people into the home that she has built with precision and purpose. It's a home built to last forever, a home where someone can flourish and find life.

Folly

Folly is lazy and prideful. She does not pursue people. Instead, she sits at her door and in the highest seats in the city, waiting for a passerby. She crouches like a predator waiting to pounce on its prey. She reveals her motive in the advice she offers: Steal and enjoy forbidden pleasures in secrecy. Her ways lead to death.

These scriptures help us to see the true nature of Wisdom and Folly.

In Proverbs 8, wisdom is speaking. (I encourage you to read the whole chapter)

Listen to what she declares to us:

vs. 4-5, "To you, O men, I call, and my cry is to the children of man. O simple ones, learn prudence; O fools, learn sense."

(Again, wisdom pursues. She desires to save the souls of men and has a vital, life-saving message to share)

vs. 10-11, "Take my instruction instead of silver, and knowledge rather than choice gold, for wisdom is better than jewels, and all that you may desire cannot compare with her."

vs. 20-21, "I walk in the way of righteousness, in the paths of justice, granting an inheritance to those who love me, and filling their treasuries."

(She leads those who love her in ways that are right and just and gives them an eternal inheritance, filling them with treasure that can only be found with her)

vs. 13, "The fear of the Lord is hatred of evil. Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate."

(She calls us toward humility and reverence of God and gives us insight into what the Lord hates. Her words here are reminiscent of Psalm 111:10 "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom...")

vs. 34, "Blessed (happy) is the one who listens to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting beside my doors."

(The person who listens to her, who waits expectantly for her direction, is happy!)

vs. 35-36, "For whoever finds me finds life and obtains favor from the Lord, but he who fails to find me injures himself; all who hate me love death.

(Wisdom offers us life that is fresh and strong. Her ways are pleasing and delightful to the Lord)

The person who finds wisdom, finds life and their delight and satisfaction come from the Lord.

So, where does wisdom originate and how can we find “her”?

The Bible tells us that all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden in Jesus.

Colossians 2:2-3 (ESV)

"That their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and knowledge of God's mystery, which is Christ, in whom are hidden (stored up) all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge."

Wisdom comes from Jesus; it's part of His character. When we rest our faith in Jesus, God welcomes us into His family. As children of God, we have access to the endless treasures of wisdom and knowledge Jesus holds.

In Proverbs 9, the juxtaposition between wisdom and folly can help us identify what is NOT God's character and what IS. Jesus embodies everything Wisdom is and does above.

Jesus is the Word of God, and what He has said and done cannot be undone. He lasts forever, and His kingdom is permanent. Jesus welcomes ALL to come and be part of God's kingdom, every tongue, tribe, and nation. He invites both the rebel and the religious to come and learn from Him, imploring us to follow Him and to lay aside our foolish way of life. He is the Way back to God, the beautiful Truth, and the new and nurturing Life we desperately need.

Jesus pursued us. He came to earth, lived flawlessly as a man, and willingly received the punishment for our sins. He is like a loving shepherd who pursues the one lost sheep and brings it back to the fold. His love endures forever, He has promised never to leave us or forsake us, and His mercy is new every single morning.

He is the Bread of Life, and His words are spirit and fullness of life. In Christ, we are filled with everything we need. He is our nourishment in this life and, through Him, we become heirs of eternal life.

Happy are those who belong to Him because their happiness is found in Him, and He is infinite. They find delight in His wise ways because their joy isn't rooted in temporary satisfaction and secret pleasures.

Proverbs 8:10-11, 20-21, describes the value of wisdom. The wisdom we find in the person of Jesus Christ surpasses the worth of anything we can obtain here on earth.

Wisdom invites us to look at the beauty, life, and the permanence found in Jesus. She encourages us to look past the temporary pleasures Folly offers. They are deceiving and lead to death, but the ways of wisdom lead to life eternal.

It's exciting to think about the expanse of treasures that are accessible to those who rest their faith in Jesus and seek Him. Wisdom is abundant for a lifetime, and for every situation we face here on earth. Jesus is the only treasury that is inexhaustible.

God has promised us that if we lack wisdom and ask Him in faith for it, He will give it to us generously (bountifully, openly, sincerely).

James 1:5 (ESV)

"If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting..."

Fear

Right now is a time of uncertainty; many things are changing and quickly! This can cause us to fear and be anxious.

Let's consider one of the treasures found in the Word of God regarding fear.

Psalm 46:1-3,7

"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling. The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress."

Refuge (Machaceh): a shelter, hope

Strength (Oz): power, might

Help (Ezrah): aid

Trouble (Tsarah): adversity, anguish, distress

Fortress (Misgab): a cliff, defense, high fort

*Hebrew words in parentheses

Even if the earth seems like it is imploding, the mountains totter and shake, we have a shelter and hope that is unchanged and unmovable. We have divine power and might to sustain our souls in times of adversity and anguish. Our faithful God is our high and mighty fortress. In Him, our eyes are lifted above the storm, and he helps us see with an eternal perspective because He is an infinite God. OUR GOD IS PRESENT!! He is always with us, and He is not surprised by the circumstances that shake humanity. We can direct our thoughts to our great God and find an overflowing wealth of reasons to rejoice. We can talk to Him every moment about our every concern because He is always with us!

As we see places of entertainment and luxury shut down and we experience this unprecedented time in our history of social distancing, financial instability, lack of even the essentials, and uncertainty of various kinds, I encourage us to seek the treasures that reside in Jesus. He is our constant companion and the peace that passes all understanding. In Him we can find the wisdom we need right now.

If there is a way I can pray for you, please message me!

Sincerely,

Amy