Year of the Bible: Part Seven of TwelveSample

Wisdom: The Way of Life

Through Wisdom, we can understand God's ways. Wisdom understands how the world was created and established. She knows the proper order in which we should live because she experienced God's delight in creation, especially as He made humans.

Wisdom is meant to be the guiding force in everything we do, calling out to all people from the places of human interaction. She calls from the centers of economic and judicial exchange (the "crossroads" and the "gates" in verses 2-3), as well as from the ordinary spaces of social life ("On the height, beside the way" in verse 1). Wisdom cries out to "all that live" (verse 4), for the "simple" to receive instruction (verse 5), and for rulers to "govern rightly" (verse 16).

Wisdom shares with us her ways: prudence, intelligence, truth, instruction, discretion, and insight (verses 5-14). Wisdom is all knowledge, and she is willing to reveal the proper exercise of her abilities for the right task.

For all people, Wisdom is the most valuable possession, and she assigns wealth to those who love her (verses 18-19). Wisdom walks "in the way of righteousness, along the paths of justice" (verse 20), guiding human affairs in the right direction. Indeed, the very purpose of knowledge, insight, and discretion is to lead people into the proper ordering of a just society.

That Wisdom is God's very delight. God brought forth the world by Wisdom. Proverbs 8 tells us that God delights in His creation, particularly humans. Human life, guided by God's Wisdom in the ways of righteousness, is God's special delight; Wisdom draws human beings into a favorable relationship with Him. Truly, in response to this, our purpose is to delight in relationship with God and bring Him glory. It really is that simple!

Question: What was your most recent assignment from Wisdom?

Prayer: Jesus, help me to have ears to hear Your instruction. Let me recognize Wisdom's voice; I want to walk in Your ways, and I want to bring You delight! I love You! Amen!