WISDOM FROM ABOVE (3)

The books of Mishleh (Proverbs) and Kohelet (Ecclesiastes) are the foremost sources on the subject of wisdom in Scriptures. Written, or at least inspired, by Shelomo (who is described in 1 Melachim 4:30 as a man whose wisdom excelled the wisdom of all the men of the East and all the wisdom of Mitsrayim), these are among the most valued and precious books about wisdom of all times. Over the centuries, many people have written and spoken about wisdom – philosophers, writers, poets, songwriters, politicians, academics, theologians and fanatics – but none of these, with their efforts to grasp the essence of true wisdom, can quite be compared with the wisdom literature of King Shelomo, son of Dawid. What was his secret? Perhaps there are more than one answer to this question, but in my own mind, the one factor that puts the wisdom of Shelomo a notch above all the others, is the fact that he fully understood what the source of wisdom was: "For Yahweh gives wisdom; out of His mouth come knowledge and understanding" (Mishleh 2:6) … and: "He gives wisdom and knowledge and joy to a man who is good in His eyes" (Kohelet 2:26). Don’t think for one moment that these words were spoken in an abstract or academic sense. No, when Shelomo confesses that Yahweh gives wisdom, he does so against the background of what he had quite literally experienced in his own life, as we read in 1 Melachim 4:29: "And Elohim gave Shelomoh exceeding great wisdom and understanding, and largeness of heart like the sand on the seashore." Let us look into some of the areas of wisdom that Shelomo’s writings reflect.

  1. Wisdom is most suitable for those who are simple at heart, young of age and eager to learn.
    2.

    Mish 1:4-5 (These proverbs are) for giving insight to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the young. The wise one hears and increases learning, and the understanding one gets wise counsel.

    Mish 2:1-5 My son, if you accept my words, And treasure up my commands with you, so that you make your ear attend to wisdom, incline your heart to understanding … if you seek her as silver, and search for her as hidden treasures, then you would understand the fear of Yahweh and find the knowledge of Elohim.

  2. Wisdom brings along a pleasantness of heart and protection from the evil one.
    3.

    Mish 2:10-12 For wisdom would enter your heart, and knowledge be pleasant to your being, discretion would guard you; understanding would watch over you, to deliver you from the evil way, from the man who speaks perversities.

    Mish 3:7-8 Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear Yahweh and turn away from evil. It is healing to your navel (the centre of your strength), and moistening to your bones.

  3. Wisdom is worth more than all the treasures, desires and delights of this world.
    4.

    Mish 3:13-15 Blessed is the man who has found wisdom, and the man who gets understanding; for the gain from it is better than gain from silver, and its increase than fine gold. She is more precious than rubies, and all your delights are not comparable to her.

    Mish 16:16 How much better it is to get wisdom than gold! And to get understanding is preferable to silver.

  4. Wisdom guarantees an inheritance of esteem and greatness.
    5.

    Mish 3:35 The wise do inherit esteem, but fools are bearing away shame!

    Mish 4:7-9 The beginning of wisdom is: Get wisdom! And with all your getting, get understanding. Exalt her, and let her uplift you; she brings you esteem when you embrace her. She gives your head a fair wreath, she shields you with an adorning crown.

  5. Wisdom is built upon discipline and prevents one from stumbling.
    6.

    Mish 4:11-13 I have taught you in the way of wisdom, I have led you in straight paths. When you walk your steps shall not be hindered, and if you run you shall not stumble. Hold fast to discipline, do not let go; watch over her, for she is your life.

    Koh 7:12 For wisdom protects as silver protects, but the advantage of knowledge is that wisdom gives life to those who have it.

  6. Wisdom causes people to to turn their back upon lies, crookedness and wrongness.
    7.

    Mish 8:6-8 Listen, for I speak noble words, And the opening of my lips is about straightness; for my mouth speaks truth; and wrongness is an abomination to my lips. All the words of my mouth are in righteousness, none of them twisted or crooked.

    Mish 14:16 The wise fears and turns away from evil, but a fool rushes on and is reckless.

  7. Wisdom is characterised by not too many words but a lifestyle worth following.
    8.

    Mish 10:19-21 When words are many, transgression is not absent, but he who restrains his lips is wise. The tongue of the righteous is choice silver … the lips of the righteous shepherd many, but fools die for lack of heart.

    Mish 17:27 He who has knowledge spares his words, and a man of understanding is cool of spirit.

  8. Wisdom goes hand in hand with humbleness and integrity of heart.
    9.

    Mish 11:2-3 Pride comes, then comes shame; but with the humble is wisdom. The integrity of the straight ones guides them, but the slipperiness of the treacherous destroys them.

    Mish 28:18 He who walks blamelessly is saved, But the perverted of ways falls at once.

  9. Wisdom creates within a person the strength to accept suffering and adversity.
    10.

    Koh 7:10-11 Do not say, "Why were the former days better than these?" For it is not wise … to ask about this. Wisdom is good with an inheritance, and an advantage to those who see the sun.

    Koh 7:19 Wisdom makes the wise strong, more than ten rulers that are in the city.

  10. Wisdom makes one understand that everything is in the hands of Yahweh.
    11.

    Koh 9:1 For all this I took to heart, even to search out all this: that the righteous and the wise and their deeds are in the hand of Elohim. No man knows whether love or hatred awaits him.

    Mish 16:3 Commit your works to Yahweh, and your plans shall be established.

  11. Wisdom brings forth the kind of fruit only found on the tree of life.
    12.

    Mish 11:30-31 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who is winning lives is wise. See, the righteous in the earth shall be rewarded, how much more the wrong and the sinner!

    Mish 15:4 A healing tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it crushes the spirit.

  12. Wisdom is founded on the Torah, recognised as the fountain of life.

Mish 13:13-14 He who despises the Word is destroyed, but he who fears the command is rewarded. The Torah of the wise is a fountain of life, turning one away from the snares of death.

Mish 14:27 The fear of Yahweh  is a fountain of life, to turn away from the snares of death.