We have already considered passages discussing the appeal of wisdom, calling us to gain the instruction and insight necessary to acquire wisdom. But why should we answer this call? There are many invitations that may be offered that are disregarded by those who are invited. Why should we listen to the appeal of wisdom? It is because of the great value of wisdom, the rewards that come from following wisdom, and the perils that we face when we reject wisdom.
All of these are pointed out to us in the book of Proverbs. When God offers His wisdom which was with Him from the beginning (8:22), He does not expect us to accept it without explaining why we should accept it. So let us consider the reasons why we should appreciate wisdom so we will heed the appeal of wisdom.
The Value of Wisdom
The first reason why we should appreciate wisdom is the inherent value of wisdom. But before we can consider the value of wisdom, we must begin with the starting point for pursuing wisdom – truth.
“Buy truth, and do not sell it, get wisdom and instruction and understanding” (23:23).
We must first recognize that truth is more valuable than anything of a material nature which we could buy or sell. We should not understand truth to mean something subjective that will change from one person, time, region, or circumstance to another. Truth is the objective standard that has been revealed from God. It is the word of God (cf. Psalm 119:160; John 17:17).
Truth – the revealed word of God – is the starting point that leads to wisdom. The wise man also mentions instruction and understanding as coming from truth. This tells us three things about truth (the word of God):
- It leads to divine wisdom.
- It is the basis for all instruction in matters that pertain to God.
- It can be understood.
Those who look for wisdom apart from the truth of God’s word are seeking the wrong kind of wisdom. Those who use a standard of authority other than the truth of God’s word for their religious practices and doctrines are in error. Those who believe that the truth of God’s word cannot be understood are mistaken.
Truth leads to instruction. Instruction leads to understanding. Then understanding leads to wisdom. When man produces a product to be sold, the fair market value of it is always worth more than the sum total of the raw materials used to make it. Truth – God’s word – is valuable. The psalmist described the words of God as being “more desirable than gold, yes, than much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb” (Psalm 19:10). How much more valuable is the wisdom that comes from a proper understanding and practice of the truth. The following passages help us to understand just how valuable the wisdom that comes from above is.
“Take my instruction and not silver, and knowledge rather than choicest gold. For wisdom is better than jewels; and all desirable things cannot compare with her” (8:10-11).
“Riches and honor are with me, enduring wealth and righteousness. My fruit is better than gold, even pure gold, and my yield better than choicest silver” (8:18-19).
“How much better it is to get wisdom than gold! And to get understanding is to be chosen above silver” (16:16).
The first two passages have Wisdom speaking, and the third contains a statement from the wise man about wisdom. The point is clear: wisdom is far more valuable than any riches of this world. Throughout history, gold, silver, and jewels have had a great value associated with them. It is natural, then, to see these as having great worth. But no matter how valuable these are, they “cannot compare” with divine wisdom. If we are to gain wisdom, we must value it so highly that we will not let even gold, silver, or jewels distract us from its pursuit.
The Rewards of Wisdom
Wisdom is not valuable simply because it has been arbitrarily declared to be valuable. It is valuable because of the rewards that come for following after it.
“How blessed is the man who finds wisdom and the man who gains understanding. For her profit is better than the profit of silver and her gain better than fine gold. She is more precious than jewels; and nothing you desire compares with her. Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor. Her ways are pleasant ways and all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her, and happy are all who hold her fast. The Lord by wisdom founded the earth, by understanding He established the heavens. By His knowledge the deeps were broken up and the skies drip with dew.
“My son, let them not vanish from your sight; keep sound wisdom and discretion, so they will be life to your soul and adornment to your neck. Then you will walk in your way securely and your foot will not stumble. When you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet. Do not be afraid of sudden fear nor of the onslaught of the wicked when it comes; for the Lord will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being caught” (3:13-26).
The one who finds wisdom and gains understanding is blessed (3:13). But how so? The wise man explains how wisdom causes one to be blessed.
“For her profit is better than the profit of silver and her gain better than fine gold. She is more precious than jewels; and nothing you desire compares with her” (3:14-15). As we have already noticed, wisdom is of far greater value than the material things of this life. Of all the things we might desire, wisdom will prove to be far more valuable as a long-term investment. Elsewhere, in contrasting the wise and the foolish, the wise man writes, “A man will be satisfied with good by the fruit of his words, and the deeds of a man’s hands will return to him” (12:14). We will be satisfied when we apply ourselves to acquiring wisdom and reap its fruits. Therefore, we should pursue it.
“Long life is in her right hand; in her left hand are riches and honor” (3:16). One of the benefits of wisdom, generally, is long life, as our lives are not cut short through foolish choices and activities. When we pursue the things that lead to wisdom – righteousness, humility, and the fear of the Lord – we find “riches, honor and life” (22:4; cf. 21:21). A few chapters later, Wisdom says, “For by me your days will be multiplied, and years of life will be added to you” (9:11). Riches and honor are also often byproducts of one’s acquisition and application of wisdom. Wisdom says she will “endow those who love me with wealth, that I may fill their treasuries” (8:21; cf. 24:3-4).
“Her ways are pleasant ways and all her paths are peace” (3:17). Following after wisdom leads to pleasant and peaceful paths for life. Later, Solomon writes, “The path of life leads upward for the wise that he may keep away from Sheol below” (15:24). Upward is in the direction of heaven and the dwelling place of God. Therefore, the wisdom that comes from above shows us the way to reach God in heaven.
“She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her, and happy are all who hold her fast” (3:18). In the beginning, man’s access to the tree of life was lost because of sin (Genesis 3:22-24). Wisdom is now “a tree of life” for those who follow after her because, as we noticed in the previous verse, divine wisdom leads us back to heaven where the tree of life (eternal life) can be found (cf. Revelation 22:2). Elsewhere, the wise man writes, “The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life” (11:30). That which is produced by a life of righteousness, guided by the wisdom that comes from above, is eternal life.
“The Lord by wisdom founded the earth, by understanding He established the heavens. By His knowledge the deeps were broken up and the skies drip with dew” (3:19-20). This echoes the point that was made in the section titled, The Timeless Nature of Wisdom. Wisdom existed with God from before the Creation and was used by Him in creating the heavens and earth (8:22-29).
“My son, let them not vanish from your sight; keep sound wisdom and discretion” (3:21). The father appeals to his son to keep hold of godly wisdom and understanding. It is not enough for his son to just listen and learn, he also needs to retain what he learned.
“So they will be life to your soul and adornment to your neck” (3:22). The father is encouraging his son to be clothed with wisdom and discretion. These teachings are to be “a graceful wreath to [his] head and ornaments about [his] neck” (1:9). In speaking of wisdom, the father tells his son: “Prize her, and she will exalt you; she will honor you if you embrace her. She will place on your head a garland of grace; she will present you with a crown of beauty” (4:8-9). As one is clothed with wisdom and discretion, he obtains life for his soul (cf. 12:28).
“Then you will walk in your way securely and your foot will not stumble” (3:23). One of the benefits of wisdom is the security and stability that one enjoys in life, as opposed to the volatile and uncertain life of one who rejects divine wisdom. “He who walks in integrity walks securely, but he who perverts his ways will be found out” (10:9).
“When you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet” (3:24). This verse mentions two benefits of wisdom. First, wisdom offers security [see previous verse]. Second, following after divine wisdom allows one to have a good conscience, thus making his sleep sweet.
“Do not be afraid of sudden fear nor of the onslaught of the wicked when it comes; for the Lord will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being caught” (3:25-26). Even though one may be walking according to God’s wisdom, there will be enemies that will rise up. However, if we follow after wisdom, we should take courage. There is strength in wisdom. “A wise man is strong, and a man of knowledge increases power” (24:5). “A wise man scales the city of the mighty and brings down the stronghold in which they trust” (21:22). Why is there such strength in wisdom? It is because this wisdom comes from the Lord. He is our confidence. As long as we stand with Him, we can be assured of triumph.
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“For wisdom will enter your heart and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul; discretion will guard you, understanding will watch over you, to deliver you from the way of evil, from the man who speaks perverse things; from those who leave the paths of uprightness to walk in the ways of darkness; who delight in doing evil and rejoice in the perversity of evil; whose paths are crooked, and who are devious in their ways; to deliver you from the strange woman, from the adulteress who flatters with her words; that leaves the companion of her youth and forgets the covenant of her God; for her house sinks down to death and her tracks lead to the dead; none who go to her return again, nor do they reach the paths of life.
“So you will walk in the way of good men and keep to the paths of the righteous. For the upright will live in the land and the blameless will remain in it; but the wicked will be cut off from the land and the treacherous will be uprooted from it” (2:10-22).
Wisdom not only provides us with blessings for following it, but it also delivers us from evil. This is, of course, if we store up wisdom. Just before the passage above, the wise man says, “He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk in integrity” (2:7). The protection that comes with wisdom can only be realized if we pursue it. So these verses that talk about wisdom delivering us from evil assume that we have first acquired it. We will discuss the acquisition of wisdom later in the study. But understanding these benefits of wisdom shows us why we should work to acquire it.
“For wisdom will enter your heart and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul; discretion will guard you, understanding will watch over you” (2:10-11). A superficial knowledge of the instructions of the wise will not deliver us from anything. Wisdom must enter our hearts and souls if we want it to guard and watch over us. Therefore, we must be “attentive to wisdom” (2:2) and retain it in our innermost being. Only then can be expect wisdom to deliver us from evil and prevent us from doing things we will later regret.
“To deliver you from the way of evil, from the man who speaks perverse things; from those who leave the paths of uprightness to walk in the ways of darkness; who delight in doing evil and rejoice in the perversity of evil; whose paths are crooked, and who are devious in their ways” (2:12-15). In delivering us “from the way of evil,” wisdom is designed to protect us from the influence of those who would lead us in the “way of evil.” The first of these that the wise man mentions is “the man who speaks perverse things.” This is the man who tried to lead us into sin by false teaching, lies, or verbal attacks. Second, we are warned about “those who leave the paths of uprightness.” They take pleasure in doing evil and will deviously try to lead others to follow after them. We are not to follow them or fall prey to them.
“To deliver you from the strange woman, from the adulteress who flatters with her words; that leaves the companion of her youth and forgets the covenant of her God; for her house sinks down to death and her tracks lead to the dead; none who go to her return again, nor do they reach the paths of life” (2:16-19). Wisdom also helps to deliver us from the dangers of the “strange woman,” or the “adulteress.” Much more attention is given to her later in the book of Proverbs (5:1-14; 6:24-35; 7:1-27; 9:13-18); and we will consider her more in a different part of our study. But we are told here that by following wisdom, we can avoid the ruin and damnation that comes from following the adulteress.
“So you will walk in the way of good men and keep to the paths of the righteous” (2:20). If we avoid the “way of evil” (2:12) and those who would lead us down that path, naturally we should expect to “walk in the way of good men.” We are going to keep company with one group of people – either the righteous or the wicked. Wisdom and righteousness are inseparable from one another. As wisdom delivers us from evil, it leads us in “the paths of the righteous.”
“For the upright will live in the land and the blameless will remain in it; but the wicked will be cut off from the land and the treacherous will be uprooted from it” (2:21-22). The wise man reminds us at the end of this section of God’s blessings and punishment. Those who through the instructions of wisdom live uprightly will be blessed. Those who reject wisdom and pursue wickedness will be rooted up.
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“Where there is no vision, the people are unrestrained, but happy is he who keeps the law” (29:18).
The vision to which the wise man refers is the revelation (NKJV) that comes down from above, instructing us in godly wisdom. Without God’s instructions, man is “unrestrained.” Without His standard, there is no real standard for man to follow. While many foolishly believe that the absence of a divine standard is desirable, following the “way which seems right to a man” only leads to “death” (14:12; 16:25). One is happy, or blessed, if he “keeps the law” that has been delivered by divine revelation. Pursuing God’s wisdom is for our benefit. Therefore, we must trust God and not ourselves and follow Him in all things.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your body and refreshment to your bones” (3:5-8).
