Proverbial Wisdom Vol. 1

by Dave Rueter on May 26, 2021

Proverbs 1:1-7

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,

    in righteousness, justice, and equity;

4 to give prudence to the simple,

    knowledge and discretion to the youth—

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.

As a parent, one of the great goals for my time raising my children is to impart enough wisdom to them that they are well prepared for life as productive adults. The book of Proverbs is a collection of wisdom written by Solomon. Solomon followed his father, David, as the king of Israel. The nation of Israel was at its zenith during Solomon’s reign. 

In 2 Chronicles 1:7, we read how God offered to bless Solomon telling him “Ask for whatever you want me to give you.” Solomon’s response set the stage for a major element of his greatness as king on the world stage and explains the source of the wisdom relayed to us in the book of Proverbs. 

8 Solomon answered God, “You have shown great kindness to David my father and have made me king in his place. 9 Now, Lord God, let your promise to my father David be confirmed, for you have made me king over a people who are as numerous as the dust of the earth. 10 Give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may lead this people, for who is able to govern this great people of yours?”

Note that Solomon does not request something that might be of immediate benefit to him alone. He does not seek for his own glory but asks for wisdom, a gift we would hope all of our leaders would seek after. God chooses to bless Solomon with great wealth and honor as well as a further blessing to the wisdom that God would grant him. 

In this context, Solomon sets out to impart the wisdom granted to him by God. Solomon defines the purpose of the book of Proverbs in v. 2 when he writes: To know wisdom and instruction, to understand words of insight. God has knit the church together as the body of Christ in such a way that we are best able to provide insight and thus wisdom to one another as we have need (see 1 Corinthians 12:12-30). 

Given the state of our world, v. 3 seems especially poignant, when Solomon states that wisdom is for us in order to receive instruction in wise dealing, in righteousness, justice, and equity. Then as now, we are called upon to deal wisely with one another, which requires that we act in righteousness, justice, and equity. Yet, how are we able to do so if we do not first seek the wisdom of others. 

Having pursued a good amount of education over my lifetime and career in ministry, I could easily be tempted to think that I have arrived when it comes to understanding ministry and what it takes to serve the local church and the community in which it has been called together. While I know that both my education and my experience continue to serve me well, I also realize that without an ongoing openness to continued learning I would close myself off to true wisdom. New contexts for ministry call for reflection and seeking to listen in order to understand. Just the same as the culture around us continues its own process of change over the years, congregations have an ongoing need to listen to those external to their typical circles in order to remain connected to the context and community in which they have been gathered together by God to serve and grow His kingdom. In this way, no congregation ever truly arrives. 

Moving on to v. 4 Solomon continues to explain that wisdom is to give prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the youth. As I continue to come to terms with the increase of grey in my beard, I also must realize a pair of critical foci for my ministry. First, I have my own accumulated wisdom to share and second, I have new generations to sit with and learn alongside, because as Solomon continues in v. 5-6 suggesting that we Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance, to understand a proverb and a saying, the words of the wise and their riddles.  I still have much to learn. Honestly, we all do. The idea that in any way that any of us have truly intellectually arrived is foolishness. Even the brightest among us are wise to remain humble in our knowledge and continue to seek after the wisdom of God found in and through the people that God places in our lives to enlighten us. 

Solomon concluded this initial section of Proverbs 1 with v. 7 which is critical to our growth in Christ and personal accumulation of wisdom. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction. One of the keys to understanding the wisdom that we can gain from our initial consideration of the story of Solomon is that wisdom is neither self-serving nor self-referential. I do not seek wisdom to be known as one who is wise. It is doubtful that one who seeks to be known for their wisdom will achieve their desired notoriety. While there is a good deal of contemplation that one might embark upon in order to increase in wisdom, I do not see in Proverbs an isolated context for the pursuit of wisdom. Rather it is within the context of a community where young and old alike grow and seek wisdom together. 

This is the value of the church. As we gather together, we pool our life experiences. As we study God’s Word together, we engage in a quest for understanding that is sharpened as we share insights with one another, not for the purpose of looking smart, but in an authentic quest for our growth in Christ together.

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