Wisdom Lesson 6 - Get Wisdom
Reflective Reading: Proverbs 4
Wisdom Lesson 6 is one of my favorite lessons, and it starts with the reminder to obey correction.
Obey, O sons, a father's correction, and be attentive, that you may gain discernment. (4:1)
Correction continues to be a dominant theme in each of the Wisdom lessons. Why? Correction aligns and realigns our heart’s desires. Correction humbles us and teaches us how to yield. Correction forms and reforms our attitudes. Additionally, godly attitudes and a yielded spirit open the door to our heart, which unleashes passion. A passionate person that has a yielded spirit possesses power that compels others to follow.
Unless we and our children heed and embrace correction, Wisdom is unattainable. Attitudes stiffen, passions are stifled, and our spirit repels instead of compels others. We are thus stuck living protected lives, only allowing others in on our own terms.
Over the years I have had the opportunity to work with many young adults, and without fail the hardest thing for them to embrace is correction. Little do they realize that their rejection (or acceptance) of correction will be one of the primary determining factors for their future.
I can remember two young men who were apprentices under my mentorship—both struggled with laziness. Both were confronted with loving correction. One is successful today with a good paying job and enjoying his life and marriage. The other is still looking for employment that can support his family. What was the difference? Proverbs 15:32:
He who disdains instruction despises his own soul, But he who heeds rebuke gets understanding.
I cannot emphasize this enough: correction is the tool God uses to change our character in order to bless our lives and prove his love. In Hebrews 12 we read:
My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; For whom the Lord loves He chastens, And scourges every son whom He receives. If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten? But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons. Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live? For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness. Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
The key to accepting correction is humility. Conversely, the main reason we reject correction is because of pride. Only by pride comes contention (Proverbs 13:10). Did you know that the ancient meaning for the word pride is a seething, boiling pot of soup? This is how God describes someone who resists correction. To overcome this destructive vice, all that is needed is to admit wrong; to ask for help and be willing to be needy—yes, needy. Let me explain that.
When you are in the midst of conflict, you need to be vulnerable and ask the other person their perspective. What is it that they see in you that you cannot see for yourself? Without being needy, you can’t experience reconciliation or love (True Faced by McNikol, Thrall). That is why God places such a premium on receiving correction. When we embrace correction, we will begin to see what we’ve been missing in our relationships and our character. As we mature our eyes open to what we’ve been missing—God’s love and the opportunities to love others. A humble, yielded spirit is a conduit of love!
What Solomon says next in Wisdom Lesson 6 is nothing less than astonishing. He writes:
When I was a son with my father, timid, the only one in the sight of my mother, he taught me and said to me, ‘Let your heart hold fast my words; keep my commandments, and live.’ (4:3-4)
Solomon is rehearsing what it was like to be the only son of Bathsheba, and one of many sons of King David. Can you imagine all of the talk behind Solomon’s back from his other step-brothers, sisters, and servants? And the talk was not based on rumors. He was an illegitimate son; his father was an adulterer who murdered his mother’s first husband. As the text reveals, he was also a weak and timid child. Solomon certainly did not have an easy childhood, and that is why his father urges him to:
Get wisdom; get discernment; do not forget, and do not turn away from the words of my mouth. Do not forsake her, and she will guard you; love her, and she will watch over you. Wisdom is the principle thing: Get wisdom, and whatever you get, get discernment. Prize her highly, and she will exalt you; she will honor you if you embrace her. She will place on your head a graceful garland; she will bestow on you a beautiful crown.” (4:5-9)
First, let’s unpack the word “get” which appears a grand total of five times! You can be sure that God is communicating something significant when a word is repeated that much. The word “get” in ancient Hebrew carries the idea of acquiring something at a cost. I like to put it this way: Grace is free, but Wisdom is costly. To acquire wisdom requires sacrifice and hard work. To gain knowledge that leads to wisdom requires study and perseverance.
In the book of Ecclesiastes chapter 10, Solomon writes:
If the iron is blunt, and one does not sharpen the edge, he must use more strength, but wisdom brings success.
If you have ever operated a chainsaw, then you understand this parable. I can’t count how many times while sawing I’ve nicked the ground with my chain, thus dulling the blade. Too impatient to stop and remove the chain to resharpen it, I would just press the chainsaw harder and harder to cut through the log, thus, If the iron is blunt, and one does not sharpen the edge, he must use more strength. And more strength I did use! If I had used wisdom and taken the time to resharpen the blade, I would have been able to cut the logs much more efficiently, with less effort, and quicker. With a sharp chain the chainsaw cuts through the logs as if they were butter! Wisdom always brings success.
Several decades ago, I had an interest in old church buildings. One of the outstanding features that always caught my eye was the plaques that hung on the walls in the back of these churches. On these plaques were the names of the pastors who were the overseers of the congregation. In most cases the names of the pastors were prefixed with the titles of Dr., Th.D., or Ph.D. These learned men had spent years in seminary studies gaining their doctorates which consisted of mastering the languages of Greek, Hebrew, and German. If we are to be skillful at what we do we must be willing to pay the same type of price. If we are to be effective in communicating the Word, then we need to study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth (2 Tim. 2:15).
The sacrifice and difficulty needed must not be regarded as negative. The Apostle John wrote in his first letter that, this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. Following God’s Word and obeying his commands brings joy and freedom. When we acquire Wisdom, we also receive her promise to guard us. Allow me to present Wisdom’s promises through the following structure:
Do not neglect her
she will guard you
Love her, and
she will watch over you
Wisdom is the principle thing!
Get Wisdom, and whatever you get, get discernment.
Prize her highly
she will exalt you;
She will honor you
if you embrace her.
This above poetic device is beautiful! For me, it’s like standing in front of a 19th century impressionist painting, soaking in its beauty. The more you ponder Wisdom’s romantic poetic writing, the more you will see its truth and beauty. Note that in the above frame Wisdom and discernment are at the center. Not only are they at the center but they are also framing the center. Additionally, the instructions for how the son should relate to Wisdom is sequential:
Don’t neglect her
Love her
Prize her
Exalt her
Embrace her
Can you see the sequential nature to this intimate relationship with Wisdom? This is godly, romantic language, and it is the same in our relationship with our spouse (or future spouse). Solomon provides a roadmap revealing how we are to value one another. Note that it ends in a physical embrace! Just epic…just beautiful. Only God.
But there’s more! Solomon continues writing,
Hear, my son, and accept my words, that the years of your life may be many. I have taught you the way of wisdom; I have led you in the paths of uprightness. When you walk, your step will not be hampered, and if you run, you will not stumble. (4:10-12)
This needs no commentary. But what is said next is another reminder of one of our primary themes. Can you guess what it is?
Take fast hold of correction; let her not go: keep her; for she is thy life. (4:13)
There is more to the father’s instruction to the son, but this is a good place to end. We began with correction, and we end with correction. In the center, Wisdom is found.
Correction
Wisdom
Discernment
Correction
In closing, we must never forget, that if you approach Wisdom by not forsaking her, loving her, prizing her, exalting her, and embracing her, then you can expect her to guard you, watch over you, exalt you, and honor you. It just doesn’t get much better than this!
Recommended Reading:
Hand on the Bridle (Ages 12+)
So Shall We Live (Ages 9-14)
