Learn Prudence – Proverbs 8:1-11

Maybe one of the biggest issues we have dealt with in this covid-19 pandemic is being discerning.  So many voices are shouting at us with the “true” story of things, and they contradict one another.  How do we know wisdom?  Well remember that wisdom is first of all godliness.  Is the “true” story promoting love or hate, compassion or anger, consideration of others or selfishness?

Does not wisdom call?  Does not understanding raise her voice?  On the heights beside the way, at the crossroads she takes her stand; beside the gates in front of the town, at the entrance of the portals she cries aloud: 

“To you, O men, I call, and my cry is to the children of man.  O simple ones, learn prudence; O fools, learn sense.  Hear, for I will speak noble things, and from my lips will come what is right, for my mouth will utter truth; wickedness is an abomination to my lips.  All the words of my mouth are righteous; there is nothing twisted or crooked in them.  They are all straight to him who understands, and right to those who find knowledge.  Take my instruction instead of silver, and knowledge rather than choice gold, for wisdom is better than jewels, and all that you may desire cannot compare with her. (Proverbs 8:1-11, ESV)

If you were to suppose that God’s offer of wisdom, say, for example, in James 1:5 (“If any of you lacks wisdom let him ask of God”), is not genuine or not really for you, that you are some kind of exception, then you must listen carefully.  She is calling out and raising her voice at every juncture of our lives.  She is not whispering.  Her target is “the children of man” and that includes everyone.  If you will you may hear her.

But because there is nothing crooked in her words only those whose hearts are tuned to understanding and knowledge will see what she says as straight.  The fear of Yahweh is the beginning of knowledge.  You must choose to hear.  You must choose to value her more than wealth and you may indeed need to make a choice at times between the two of them.

Can you hear her?