The Grammar Of Wisdom - Wisdom is a Gift Worth Pursuing

Now that the school holidays are here for our youths, does it mean that they can put they learning on "pause"? Can we?

Solomon wrote in Proverbs 2:1-7…

1 My son, if you receive my words, And treasure my commands within you, 2 So that you incline your ear to wisdom, And apply your heart to understanding; 3 Yes, if you cry out for discernment, And lift up your voice for understanding, 4 If you seek her as silver, And search for her as for hidden treasures; 5 Then you will understand the fear of the LORD, And find the knowledge of God. 6 For the LORD gives wisdom; From His mouth come knowledge and understanding; 7 He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk uprightly.

In grammar, verbs are very special words. They indicate action and, in one of their forms, call for urgent activity on the part of the one doing the action.

When Solomon piles up the verbs in verses 1 to 4, he emphasizes the fact that acquiring wisdom requires responsible action. In order to "understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God" one must, first, receive His word. Secondly, one must treasure those words because they are precious. These two verbs imply special sensitivity and receptivity toward God’s words. Thirdly, one must make the ear attentive to wisdom, paying close attention to what is said. Fourthly, the heart—the seat of one’s affections—must be inclined toward wisdom, moving in its direction. Wisdom is to be sought, fifthly, with utmost urgency, calling out for it, and, sixthly, even raising one’s voice plaintively for it. Seventhly, wisdom is to be sought through hard work, and eighthly, mined as if it were precious metals, like silver and gold.

While wisdom is to be pursued passionately, it is also, paradoxically, a gift. The Lord alone gives wisdom; He is the source of knowledge and understanding (v.6). This reality does not excuse laziness. On the contrary, God’s sovereign gift should motivate the "son" to pursue wisdom with all his might.

Like the pursuit of knowledge, acquiring wisdom has a clear educational component. Yet, getting wisdom does not simply refer to the accumulation of facts. Wisdom does not require a high IQ or earned degrees, as helpful as those might be, for the Lord "stores up sound wisdom for the upright." He shields "those who walk uprightly (v.7). Seeking wisdom in a way that shows a genuine desire for it is a moral virtue. Wisdom is the way to righteousness, justice, and discretion. It contrasts with perverted speech, ways of darkness, and evil that eventually leads to death.

Many seem to think that hearing God’s word being taught or preached is a passive experience, like watching television. But wise Solomon’s grammar reminds us that getting the wisdom of God is a verb.

In Him,
Rev. Robert Chew