The Welcome of Wisdom

I’ve heard it said that art is something that requires contemplation. Whether it’s the visual arts or musical arts or even the literary/poetic arts, there are things that are quickly available on the surface, but, when given time for reflection, concentration, and contemplation - more depth, color, sounds, and beauty emerge.

For example, consider this painting: A Sunday on La Grande Jatte - by Georges Seurat.

There are certainly things that you can see immediately:

the first impressions - the story it tells, the colors it uses, the overall scope of the work - you can get a general sense of the time of day, the era of history

the depth - But then, as you take time to gaze more deeply, more intently at a painting, you begin to see it for all of it’s intricacies and details. You begin to notice more closely that it’s made up of little dots - which lead me to consider the painstaking patience and effort poured in to the work by the artist.

The mockery - then as you zoom in even more closely, you begin to realize that you’re almost being mocked

The man blowing the trumpet - is he just an illusion? Where will the sound go?

What is the expression the little girl’s face?

Is that really a steam powered boat on the lake? Is it out of proportion?

Who is fishing on the lake - is it a man or a woman?

These things only begin to take shape and prompt questions as we dive deeper - or as we begin to scoff at what the art is saying.

But, then, as you zoom out and rest in the knowledge of all that you’ve gained,

The Reward: you find a sense of appreciation, of acceptance, of blessing - because you’re accepting the painting for what it is - for what the artist is communicating.

I think we will find today that wisdom is a bit like a fine work of art. There are first impressions - in other words the things that wisdom clearly communicates. Then we are called to dive more deeply in order comprehend the “why” behind the what of wisdom’s counsel. There is, unfortunately a sense of mockery that can be had from wisdom. When wisdom is truly accepted, there is a reward - an appreciation.

As we continue our brief pursuit of Wisdom in a Wacky World, we will begin to appreciate the beauty and complexity of wisdom.

Last week, we began by noting that wisdom, which is knowledge that results in skillful living, ultimately finds it’s origin in God. So as we consider the welcome of wisdom, we must recognize that it is ultimately God’s welcome - an invitation into the beauty of His world and His ways.

Today, we get to consider the Welcome of Wisdom as we are invited to heed wisdom’s call and decide whether or not to heed wisdom’s advice.

As we did with the painting, let’s begin with...

First Impressions: Wisdom calls (1:20-23)

We could even say that wisdom welcomes plainly. There are clearly situations that prompt us to recognize that there is a truth, a reality that needs to be appreciated, adhered to. Solomon, the writer of this part of Proverbs, personifies wisdom as a woman who is plainly making her presence known. In some ways, revealing her as a town crier who makes proclamations...

Proverbs 1:20–23 NET

Wisdom calls out in the street, she shouts loudly in the plazas; at the head of the noisy streets she calls, in the entrances of the gates in the city she utters her words: “How long will you simpletons love naiveté? How long will mockers delight in mockery and fools hate knowledge? If only you will respond to my rebuke, then I will pour out my thoughts to you and I will make my words known to you.

In the times of the ancient near east, when Solomon served as King, the gates of the city were the places where many business transactions would take place. Remember in the story of Ruth and Boaz - Boaz met the elders of the city in the gate in order to have witnesses and to codify his transaction with the next of kin.

Like the shopping centers of many major cities today, the plaza or the market were central locations for commerce and communication.

Wisdom, as Solomon describes her, is out and about, calling out like a town crier, proclaiming the value of heeding her counsel. She is not hiding. She is inviting.

How does wisdom do this? Well, I think there are a couple of ways.

First of all, wisdom makes her call plain through observation. There are things that all of us come by in the course of growing up. These are things that we learn or inherit from other family members. Wisdom allows us to see the outcome of situations in other peoples lives. We get to observe how it feels to be talked to or treated the way that some people act. We get to see the frustration of someone who gets taken advantage of - and we get to learn how to respond in our own lives.

Example: In my own family background, I can observe how

debt leads to bankruptcy or broken relationships;

work-a-holism - can lead to imbalance;

silence leads to resentment;

secrecy and mistrust leads to divorce

giving generously is an obligation and a pleasure

there is value in time with family and friends, but there are also clearly flaws and idiosyncrasies - which means we get to accept the good and the bad in our interactions - or isolate ourselves from both the joy and the pain.

Wisdom plainly welcomes me to observe those outcomes and choose to repeat past mistakes or choose to learn from them. I have been able to see some of the mostly godly men and women who live lives of flourishing and holiness - in spite of their upbringing. Whether it’s the grace of God or their own wisdom gained from observation - wisdom’s welcome had bountiful results.

Secondly, wisdom makes her welcome plain through revelation. Whether it’s the Proverbs or other books of the Bible, God’s revealed Word gives us so much insight. One of the beauties of Scripture is that we get to see flawed personalities, insecurities, and actions all over the place. We get to learn from their outcomes. We also get to read plainly from direct teachings - whether it’s the words of Jesus, the commandments of the Torah, the lessons of the Epistles or the cute statements of the Wisdom Literature - God has has revealed His wisdom through His Word.

While wisdom presents clear first impressions, there is a sense in which wisdom, like a work of art, displays...

Depth: Wisdom also beckons pursuit (2:1-9)

If we were to expand our study and be able to take more time to contemplate more of the first several chapters of Proverbs, we would get a chance to see wisdom from a variety of perspectives and descriptions. David Atkinson notes in his commentary that Wisdom’s welcome prompts pursuit - she entices us to linger, to reflect, to value her benefits like we might value treasures.

Proverbs 2:1–9 NLT

1 My child,* listen to what I say, and treasure my commands. 2 Tune your ears to wisdom, and concentrate on understanding. 3 Cry out for insight, and ask for understanding. 4 Search for them as you would for silver; seek them like hidden treasures. 5 Then you will understand what it means to fear the Lord, and you will gain knowledge of God. 6 For the Lord grants wisdom! From his mouth come knowledge and understanding. 7 He grants a treasure of common sense to the honest. He is a shield to those who walk with integrity. 8 He guards the paths of the just and protects those who are faithful to him. 9 Then you will understand what is right, just, and fair, and you will find the right way to go.

There is an attentiveness that Wisdom requires. Much like having the right WiFi network and password, wisdom calls for us to “tune in” or “make [our] ear[s] attentive.”

Sure, there are things that are plain from wisdom, but there is understanding beneath the surface that we should value.

Atkinson notes (p. 32-33) -

“Now she is portrayed not only as one of the disclosures of God’s presence in the world, but as someone who sometimes hides, and her treasures need to be searched for. … She needs to be sought after and looked for, like a treasure as rare as silver. The summons to hear wisdom is really a summons to hear God.”

Wisdom in this way reveals her divine origin. God reveals himself plainly in (observation) creation (Rom. 1) and in His word (specific revelation), but there are mysterious things about God the prompt pursuit - we get to wait, wonder, meditate, reflect, pray, plead, lament, etc.

At face value, Job did everything right. He lived a godly life. He prayed for his children - even in their folly. He dealt well with others and sought to do business equitably. But when tragedy came - he was forced to dive deeper. He was forced to mourn and seemed to take on a quest for understanding. The miserable advice of his counselors didn’t add up. He searched and searched. When God finally responded - Job was faced with the reality that yes - generally speaking - the paths of the just are guarded (Prov. 2:8) and right actions result in good outcomes. Suffering is not always a result of poor decisions - but there is more at stake - there are spiritual forces at play. God is still in control. Job was vindicated, God was glorified - even through the suffering. Job’s pursuit of wisdom rewarded him with peace.

I think there are places in our lives where we can learn things once, but then find deeper understanding and comprehension about why.

Frankly, I find this to be one of my weaknesses. I do often accept things at face value, but then don’t take time to really dig in and plumb the depths of wisdom’s/God’s storehouse.

In order to grow in our understanding of God’s ways, of His wisdom, we have to linger. We have to dig, and search, and pursue and stay connected to Him. This also involves humility - a recognition that we still have much to learn.

Wisdom plainly calls and invites us to dive deeper in understanding, but there is also a sense in which the main passage we’re considering today reveals some...

Mockery: Wisdom corrects, but does not compromise (1:24-31)

Have you ever been in one of those conversations where you and the other party are simply in disagreement? (i.e. 2+2=4 vs. 2+2=1) You both think you know what is right. You both are standing your ground - confident that the other person in wrong. It’s not a place for compromise or giving in. When it turns out that you are correct - how do you respond? Do you quietly accept being right and move on? Do you brag and boast about being correct?

Solomon here contends that Wisdom does the latter. By nature her advice and the rejection of that advice - wisdom mocks foolishness. She’s not doing it viciously, it’s simply a by-product of ignoring her. In some ways she is being quite factual. She spoke, we refused, she laughs.

Its sort of like Dr. Phil’s famous response to his counselees- “how’s that working out for you?”

She begins by providing a bit of correction:

Proverbs 1:24–25 NLT

“I called you so often, but you wouldn’t come. I reached out to you, but you paid no attention. You ignored my advice and rejected the correction I offered.

When we’ve ignored her advice enough, we’re left with nothing except to learn from the school of hard knocks - by personal experience.

As a result, the wisdom of God’s ways will not compromise. The mockery sets in. Our own wisdom gets revealed for what it is - foolishness.

Proverbs 1:26–31 NLT

So I will laugh when you are in trouble! I will mock you when disaster overtakes you— when calamity overtakes you like a storm, when disaster engulfs you like a cyclone, and anguish and distress overwhelm you. “When they cry for help, I will not answer. Though they anxiously search for me, they will not find me. For they hated knowledge and chose not to fear the Lord. They rejected my advice and paid no attention when I corrected them. Therefore, they must eat the bitter fruit of living their own way, choking on their own schemes.

(story/illustration?)

Wisdom gives off first impressions and prompts deeper pursuit. She calls but does not compromise her standards. Finally, this passage reveals the...

Reward: Wisdom’s blessing (1:32-33)

When we heed the advice that wisdom gives, we get rewarded with blessing. Solomon notes...

Proverbs 1:32–33 NLT

For simpletons turn away from me—to death. Fools are destroyed by their own complacency. But all who listen to me will live in peace, untroubled by fear of harm.”

Wisdom seems to reward with peace and security.

Now, as we can see in the life of Job, this security may not be without suffering. Job could be at peace because he lived with integrity. He could cry out to God because he knew that the troubles he encountered were not of his own making.

Conclusion

The wisdom of God is practical. It’s something that we can appreciate and pursue in order live well.

The wisdom of God is most beautifully displayed in the gospel:

First impressions - Jesus died for our sins - many people know that at a surface level. They know that Easter is the celebration of the death and resurrection of Jesus.

Depth - prompts pursuit - internal and personal comprehension. Grasp the beauty, wonder, and grace of God for you. we get to see the gospel on display in our marriages, lived out sacrificially in society, we see the brilliance of God’s upside down ways.

Mockery- Now those who reject Jesus’ free gift are not mocked or laughed at the way that wisdom laughs at a fool, instead they are pitied, mourned. just as wisdom will not compromise her standard, so too God will not compromise his holiness and justice. For those who reject Gods salvation, God gives them exactly what they asked for - an eternity away from Him, an eternity separated from his goodness and love. An eternity in hell.

Reward - Creation, Fall, Redemption, Consummation - when we get to look at the overall scope of the story, the narrative of His-story, we get to see the beauty, tragedy, grace, and fulfillment of all that God is accomplishing in the world. When we appreciate our salvation for what it truly is - unmerited favor, when we look forward to the outworking of His plan - we get rewarded in the present with abundant life (John 10:10) and in the future with eternal life (John 3:16)

Benediction:

Numbers 6:24–26 ESV

The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.

Sources:

Atkinson, David. The Message of Proverbs, J.A. Moyter Series editor. Downers Grove, IL: Intervarsity Press, 1996

Buzzell, Sid S. “Proverbs.” In The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, edited by J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985.

Crossway Bibles. The ESV Study Bible. Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008.

Henry, Matthew, and Thomas Scott. Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary. Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, 1997.

Newheiser, Jim. Opening up Proverbs. Opening Up Commentary. Leominster: Day One Publications, 2008.

Ortlund, Raymond C., Jr. Preaching the Word: Proverbs—Wisdom That Works. Edited by R. Kent Hughes. Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2012.

Wiersbe, Warren W. Be Skillful. “Be” Commentary Series. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996.