Real Hope: ProverbsPrimjer

Ultimate Wisdom

Several years ago, our Bible Study group looked at Proverbs. I wrote the studies and found it hard to work out how to approach this vast volume of helpful and curious guidance. I went with themes, grouping proverbs under the recurring banners of, for example, ‘work’ or ‘money’. Admittedly, I didn’t think too much about which parts of Proverbs would stand out to my friends. I was still taken aback when we spent a lot of time on wisdom. Like, a lot of time. Basically, we discussed and debated about what wisdom is and if all wisdom is God’s wisdom.

Plenty of people, sayings, activities, essays or guidebooks are wise but they don’t claim to have anything to do with God. So, are they truly wise? I prompted these detailed deliberations because, through my preparations, I noticed how the early chapters of Proverbs make a lot of noise about wisdom. I was struck by the repetitive links between us, God and the getting of wisdom. Proverbs 3:5–7 is an example of how Proverbs proclaims wisdom. ‘Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil.’ Without directly answering our questions about defining wisdom, we can see the hierarchy of wisdom worth giving our life to. According to Proverbs, ultimate wisdom is wholeheartedly trusting the Lord God and leaning ‘not on your own understanding’. Now that’s wise.

Written by BEN McEACHEN