I Wisdom – Proverbs 8:12-21

According to Plato, Socrates visited the Oracle at Delphi with a friend who asked the Oracle who the wisest person was.  The Oracle said Socrates was the wisest.  But Socrates was puzzled by this answer, not because he believed he was unwise, but because he believed there must be others wiser than him.  His humility was, perhaps, the very thing that made him wisest.

“I, wisdom, dwell with prudence, and I find knowledge and discretion.  The fear of the LORD is hatred of evil.  Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate.  I have counsel and sound wisdom; I have insight; I have strength.  By me kings reign, and rulers decree what is just; by me princes rule, and nobles, all who govern justly.  I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently find me.

Riches and honor are with me, enduring wealth and righteousness.  My fruit is better than gold, even fine gold, and my yield than choice silver.  I walk in the way of righteousness, in the paths of justice, granting an inheritance to those who love me, and filling their treasuries. (Proverbs 8:12-21, ESV)

If you love her you must hate evil.  You must see the pride and arrogance of people as detestable and destructive, even the pride and arrogance inside you.  And though pride and arrogance moves us to seek power and uses the power we achieve for perverse, selfish purposes, real strength comes from her.

Do you see that ruler whose ways are just, such a seeming rarity?  It is wisdom’s strength that brought about that ability to use power fairly.  Do you see that person of wealth who does not spend it on herself but on making the lives of hurting people better?  It is wisdom’s strength that put it in that wealthy person’s heart to find her real treasure in righteousness.

Wisdom will love you, too, in these ways, if you love her.  And if you love her you will diligently seek her.  And if you diligently seek her you will find her.  And if you find her she will fill your “treasuries” and walk with you in the paths of justice.