Reflections From The Proverbs: Wisdom 101

 Wisdom 101

Proverbs Chapter 11. The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel:
2. For attaining wisdom and discipline; for understanding words of insight;
3. For acquiring a disciplined and prudent life, doing what is right and just and fair;
4. For giving prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the young–
5. Let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance–
6. For understanding proverbs and parables, the sayings and riddles of the wise.
7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.
If there was a "Hall Of Fame" for the wise, King Solomon, who authored a book to be used for gaining wisdom and self-discipline, would certainly be among the inductees. The wisdom Solomon writes about in the book of Proverbs, can lead the reader to a life adorned with righteousness. A book written for the old and wise as well as the young and unlearned. After stating the purpose of the book and telling who it is for, Solomon announces the first step to this wonderful life of wisdom. "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline."
Solomon demonstrated that he had a reverent fear of God. When God came to him in a dream and said, "Ask for whatever you want me to give you."
Solomon answered with respect in his words that showed he understood the servant/master role. He said, "You have shown great kindness to your servant, my father David, because he was faithful to you and righteous and upright in heart. You have continued this great kindness to him and have given him a son to sit on his throne this very day. Now O Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David. But I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties. Your servant is here among the people you have chosen, a great people, too numerous to count or number. So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong."

He understood who he was and who God was. He did not refer to himself as "me or I" he referred to himself as "your servant". He was king over many people but he understood that God was King over all. He also knew that it mattered how well he did his job.
God was pleased with Solomon’s request for a discerning heart. He didn’t ask God for intellect, he ask for God to work in his heart. The job at hand, leading a people too numerous to count, was overwhelming to him. Solomon understood that he could only get a discerning heart from a discerning heart. It pleases God when we want our hearts to be like His.
Sometimes we too can feel overwhelmed by the job at hand, by the needs of our little kingdoms, or the responsibilities of our callings. Marvelous change would come if leaders, and parents, and teachers, and pastors, and neighbors would pray for discerning hearts filled with compassion and fairness.

I pray for an outpouring of a hunger and thirst for the wisdom of God in this new year.