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
As the summer term comes to an end, so does this blog in the study of Proverbs. But the study of Proverbs itself, in the matters of wisdom and its attainment, are not. Learning wisdom is not something that is merely finished - certainly not for 20-somethings. This is only the beginning of the journey.
"Does not wisdom call?" Wisdom is almost begging to be found. She cries everywhere, asking the simple ones to learn prudence, and the fools to learn sense. I don't usually think of myself as foolish, but that's the
"Take my instruction instead of silver, and knowledge rather than choice gold." The value of wisdom goes far beyond conventional monetary systems. Beyond our sense of value. Few things are more valuable than the attainment of wisdom. God would fit into that category, but He's the one who bestows wisdom, anyway, so it almost seems like a moot point.
If there's any encouragement I can leave you as I end this blog, it would be this: Don't give up. The pursuit of wisdom is a long and sometimes arduous journey, but it's worthwhile. It's a path that leads to righteousness and to a life pleasing to the Lord. And what could be better than that?
