Pro 8:6-11
Wisdom, having put out her call to any who will hear, now begins to make her case as to why she is worthy of our attention.
What she says is trustworthy:
(6) Hear; for I will speak of excellent things; and the opening of my lips shall be right things.
(7) For my mouth shall speak truth; and wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
(8) All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing froward or perverse in them.
“Hear” comes from a word that means to listen intelligently. We’ll get nothing from God’s Word if we’re just “reading it.” We need to read it with intent.
But why should we hear? Because wisdom speaks of excellent things and right things. “Excellent” means “princely” and is often used to describe people of rank and authority. It is a word that speaks to the character and authority of God’s Word. They are not common or mundane. They are words are words worthy to be heeded.
At the same time this word “excellent” also means “plain,” or “manifest.” The beauty of God’s truth is in its simplicity. God has some very powerful truths to tell us and He finds equally powerful ways to make it plain to us.
When she says she speaks of “right things,” she doesn’t just mean her words are correct; she means they are upright, decent, good. We don’t have to be afraid to take God at His Word, or to fear that somehow what He says will lead us astray. God’s Word is always the right word.
What she says is relevant:
Because God’s word is excellent and right, we can also argue that they are timeless. The Bible says that His truth “endures to all generations” (Psalm 100:5). So, no matter what the next big thing is, or what the world tells us is now “in,” or “cool,” God’s Word is always relevant.
What she says discerns us:
(9) They are all plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that find knowledge.
We don’t just read God’s Word; it reads us. It reveals our true character.
The plain truth of the Bible is only visible to those who seek it. If you have a heart of humility when you come to God’s book and a prayerful desire to know more of Him, His truth reveals itself to you. But if you’re someone determined only to scoff at God’s Word, or to treat it lightly, you’ll get nothing from it.
To put it another way, if you’re reading God’s Word and you’re “getting nothing out of it,” that says more about you than it does about your Bible.
Proverbs 14:6 “A scorner seeketh wisdom, and findeth it not: but knowledge is easy unto him that understandeth.”
(10) Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold.
(11) For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it.
If you really want to get a handle on God’s truth, you need to remove the distractions of life from your way and put your focus squarely on Him.
This is what having a devotional time with God is all about. We need to make a daily appointment with God and keep it. And we need to be jealous about it, too. Because without our time with God, everything else will be off.
So, the question today is this: Wisdom is calling. Are you listening?
Grace in Waves 