Proverb 1.1-3
“The proverbs of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel: To know wisdom and instruction, to understand words of insight, to receive instruction in wise dealing, in righteousness, justice, and equity.”
We are living in the information age, but it is painfully evident we are not living in the age of wisdom. People have access to more information than any time in human history. However, despite the nearly unlimited availability of information, wisdom is increasingly absent. People display a frightening inability to distinguish truth from error. Common sense is a rare thing. T.S. Eliot, the great English poet, got it right when he asked two questions: “Where is the wisdom we have lost in knowledge? Where is the knowledge we have lost in information?”
We are in desperate need of wisdom. The current political discourse is a prime example. Most news agencies are not seeking to report what is true; instead, they seek to promote partisan agendas. Despite all the noise and “breaking news,” there is very little wisdom among the politicians, the media, or the citizen voters. Politicians don’t speak truth; they say what their constituents want to hear. Voters don’t seek truth; they seek politicians who tell them what they want to hear. The media don’t report truthfully; they simply pander to their respective markets.
Digital media have greatly increased the number of platforms for the distribution of information and opinions, but they have not increased our wisdom. In many instances, digital media have become platforms for deceitfulness, manipulation, and stupidity. Thankfully, there are some who utilize the new media for the distribution of what is good and right and true. We need more.
Thus the relevance of the book of Proverbs. It is an invaluable resource for learning wisdom. The entire purpose of the book is to help us acquire and apply God’s wisdom to the decisions and activities of daily life. Read carefully and apply diligently what Proverbs teaches, and you will increase in discernment and discipline. You will live and work more skillfully, and your will better decisions.
Proverbs describes wisdom in a multi-faceted way. True wisdom has several characteristics, and this passage describes five essential elements of true wisdom: 1) Understand words of insight. Then, receive instruction in 2) wise dealing, 3) righteousness, 4) justice, and 5) equity.
Before we consider what each of these words/phrases mean, keep in mind that the passage says the purpose of Proverbs is to train us to understand these elements of wisdom and implement them into our life. As we saw yesterday, this training is the process of musar, a Hebrew word which means to teach, train, and instruct. Musar appears twice in this short passage, thus emphasizing that it is necessary to train in order to learn wisdom for skillful living.
- Understand words of insight. This means the ability to see into a situation. It means looking beyond the surface level to discover key factors that are affecting and shaping the event, situation, or person. It is the disciplined process of looking deeply into a situation. We could call it “careful observation.”
- Receive instruction in wise dealing. The word which is rendered “wise dealing” is the Hebrew haskel, which means “thoughtfulness.” It is the process of thinking through a situation or an issue. It is understanding the true nature of a situation or circumstance. The previous verse tells us to see with discipline, this verse tells us to think with discipline.
Do you recognize the powerful combination of seeing and thinking with discipline? These are essential elements of living wisely. It is foolish to react on the basis of old habits or jump to a conclusion on the basis of emotion. Our choices must be guided by careful observation and clear thinking.
The book of Ephesians gives us similar instruction regarding wisdom, telling us to “look carefully.” Ephesians 5.10 says “try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord.” A few verses later we are told, “Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.” (Ephesians 5:15-17). How much better the world would be if people “looked carefully” before they spoke or took action!
- Receive instruction in righteousness. This the Hebrew tsedek, and it means “rightness” according to God’s standards. As we said earlier, there are three categories of rightness that we must learn to master: moral, functional, and relational. Moral rightness is character. It is doing the right thing ethically. Functional rightness is competence. It is about being highly skilled at our job. Relational rightness is connection. It is being effective in the way we interact with people.
- Receive instruction in justice. This is the Hebrew mishpat, and it means the wise application of rightness. It is correct judgment of human actions and life situations. It is knowing how God’s standards apply to the many different situations of life and work. Sometimes the application is clear, many times it is not clear. Therefore, insight is needed.
- Receive instruction in equity. This is the Hebrew mezimma. It is means “wise planning” and carries the idea of resourcefulness in both developing and executing a plan. We could call is strategic thinking. In this context, it refers to developing and implementing a plan that is is faithful to God’s standards and principles. It also refers to adjustments one makes as a plan unfolds. The wise person sets a goal, develops a plan, executes the plan, and then makes the necessary adjustments along the way; the foolish person fails to plan, and is stubborn and resists change as they move through life. Once again, this process of wise planning is not natural. It is a discipline that must be learned.
To summarize, here are the five attributes of wisdom:
- Insight. Careful observation. Seeing into a situation.
- Wise dealing. Thoughtfulness. Thinking through a situation.
- Rightness. Knowing and doing the right thing morally, functionally, and relationally.
- Justice. Making wise judgments about how God’s standards apply to people and situations.
- Equity (mezzima). Wise planning. Strategic thinking. Setting a goal, developing and executing the plan, and making adjustments.
If you want true wisdom, these are the attributes you must build into your life. You must trust God and do the work. Go back and re-read the five attributes. Ask yourself: Where in my life am I practicing these attributes? Where in my life am I not practicing them? What do I need to do to get better?
Pray and ask the Lord for wisdom in answering those questions.
I will stop here for now, but I hope this has your attention. We have a great deal to learn from the book of Proverbs about what it means to be a wise follower of Jesus in the 21st century.
