Jesus throughout the Scriptures: Wisdom Literature (1)
Pray Psalm 111.1, 2.
Praise the LORD!
I will praise the LORD with my whole heart,
In the assembly of the upright and in the congregation.
The works of the LORD are great,
Studied by all who have pleasure in them.
Sing Psalm 111.1, 2.
(Manoah: When All Your Mercies, O My God)
Praise the LORD! O let my heart give thanks here amid His chosen race!
Your works are great, O LORD, and sought by all who know Your grace.
Read and meditate on Proverbs 1.20-33.
Preparation
1. What does Wisdom promise?
2. What happens to those who reject Wisdom?
Meditation
We think of wisdom as something to be sought, and so it is. But Wisdom—our Lord Jesus Christ—came to seek and save that which is lost (Lk. 19.10). The Wisdom of God seeks us, both through the Word of God and the works of His hands, as Solomon shows so magnificently in the three books attributed to him, part of the Wisdom Literature of Scripture (along with Job and Psalms).
Wisdom is personified as “she” in Proverbs, but only because, in the Hebrew language, abstract nouns tend to be feminine in gender. But this has nothing to do with gender as we think of it. It’s only a grammatical construct. Wisdom here calls out, proclaiming and rebuking in the open spaces of life, promising the Spirit of Wisdom as well as safety and security to all who will take Wisdom by the hand and walk His paths (vv. 20-24, 33). It’s not too hard to see here our Lord Jesus Christ, as the prophets of old proclaimed Him and as He preached the Kingdom of God all over Judea and beyond.
Wisdom calls out from the precepts of God’s Word and the works of His hands, as the writer of Psalm 111 knew. Wisdom is constantly seeking us, ever eager to lavish us with blessings, but requiring that we must fear the LORD, the Giver of Wisdom, and labor to understand His Word (Ps. 111.10; cf. Eccl. 1.13).
Jesus, the Wisdom of God, taught us to fear God so that we might turn from our sins to the Wisdom of God in Christ (Matt. 10.28-31). Wisdom calls out to us day by day. But unless we nurture the fear of the LORD, the words and promises of Wisdom will avail us nothing, and we will bear no fruit for Him.
Treasure Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162.
“Therefore they shall eat the fruit of their own way, and be filled to the full with their own fancies. For the turning away of the simple will slay them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them…” (Prov. 1.31, 32).
An apt description of the one upon whom great hubris has fallen—one who mistakenly thinks they know better than the Creator how the world works—the one whose own “wisdom” guides their thinking and doing.
We are told to trust in the LORD with all our hearts and never to lean on our own understanding (Prov. 3.5, 6). For when we do, chaos ensues.
Maybe you know someone for whom this is true.
It is a painful process to observe, especially for those close to our hearts.
“The foolishness of a man twists his way, and his heart frets against the LORD” (Prov. 19.3). Or as the Living Bible parses it out: “A man may ruin his chances by his own foolishness and then blame it on the Lord!”
Jesus’ life was Wisdom personified. Everything He did exuded the beauty of holiness in every situation, circumstance, and experience. Foolishness, He explained, ran rampant in the hearts of those for whom the Scriptures lacked importance. As He said to some quarrelsome Sadducees: “Are you not therefore mistaken, because you do not know the Scriptures nor the power of God?” (Mk. 12.24).
There is an upside: “But whoever listens to me [Wisdom] will dwell safely, and will be secure, without fear of evil” (Prov. 1.33).
“Unto the upright there arises light in the darkness…he will never be shaken…he will not be afraid of evil tidings…his heart is steadfast, trusting in the LORD. His heart is established; he will not be afraid…” (Ps. 112.4, 6, 7, 8).
Wisdom calls us to choose wisdom—choose Jesus as the way, truth, and life (Jn. 14.6)—choose Light instead of darkness; Wisdom instead of foolishness; Vigor instead of complacency; Peace instead of fretting; Joy instead of sorrow; Obedience instead of lawlessness; Life instead of death. Wisely Choose Jesus.
“For it is God Who commanded light to shine out of darkness,
Who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God
in the face of Jesus Christ” (2 Cor. 4.6).
Amazing grace! How sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found, was blind, but now I see.
(John Newton, 1779)
Reflection
1. How can we keep from thinking we are wiser than Jesus?
2. How would you counsel a new believer to seek the wisdom of God?
3. How can believers help one another stay in the path of wisdom?
Are we yet despisers of wisdom? Let us hearken diligently, and obey the Lord Jesus, that we may enjoy peace of conscience and confidence in God; be free from evil, in life, in death, and for ever. Matthew Henry (1662-1714), Commentary on Proverbs 1.20-33
Pray Psalm 111.3-10.
Pray that God might show you His wisdom in all the works of His hand and all His Word. Pray that He will give you both fear and love for Him, that you might grow in wisdom and in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Sing Psalm 111.3-10.
(Manoah: When All Your Mercies, O My God)
For Your work is full of splendor, LORD, and of majesty most pure;
Your righteousness, O glorious God, forever will endure!
You have caused Your many wondrous works to remain before our face.
For You are full of mercy, LORD, and abounding all in grace.
For all who fear You, You provide; Your covenant endures.
Your pow’r You show Your people, LORD, and make the nations theirs.
The works of Your all-sovereign hands are faithful, LORD, and just.
Your precepts evermore are true and worthy of our trust.
You have sent redemption, to us, LORD, in Christ of cov’nant fame,
and we in wonder, grace, and awe adore Your holy Name.
All they who would true wisdom know must learn to fear You, LORD,
and in that wisdom daily live and praise You evermore.
T. M. and Susie Moore
If you have found this meditation helpful, take a moment and give thanks to God. Then share what you learned with a friend. This is how the grace of God spreads (2 Cor. 4.15).
Other columns of interest this week: Read Moore (from the book, Revived!); from Crosfigell, “He Knows What He’s Doing”, on the work of the Holy Spirit; and “More of Jesus” from our ReVision series, “Pray for Your Church.” And new in our bookstore, Let God Be True and Enjoying God, both free to download and share.
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Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. For sources of all quotations, see the weekly PDF of this study. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter.
