Mensa Otabil - Where Is Wisdom

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We’re continuing our lesson on wisdom in our devotion for this week as we think of how to make our lives bear practical fruits. We’ve talked about the dimensions of wisdom, and today we’re going to look at where to find wisdom. Where do we go looking for wisdom? Proverbs 8, verse 3, and 2: She takes her stand on the top of the hill beside the way, where the paths meet. She cries out by the gates at the entry of the city, at the entrance of the doors. We’re always trying to get wisdom, and people say, «Oh, I want to be wise. I want to be a very wise person.» Where do we get wisdom from? Well, this passage tells us where wisdom is found, and interestingly, in Proverbs chapter 8, wisdom is described as a she, as a female. That is to say, we must prize wisdom as a man seeks for a woman.

So, it talks about where to find wisdom. First, it says that wisdom is found on the top of the hill. That means that wisdom is exposed; it is not hidden. Wisdom is high and lifted up; it’s exalted. It’s not in a valley; it’s not in a secret place; it’s not hidden in a remote part of the earth requiring an adventure into a deep, dark, mystical place. So when you want to be wise, you don’t need to travel a long distance to find it. The passage says wisdom is right there on the mountaintop. It is exposed; it is available.

Secondly, it says wisdom is beside the way. That means wisdom is commonplace; it is not for a selected elite who need a mysterious initiation into processes that are so unique that ordinary people do not get it. Biblical wisdom is not a secret. Biblical wisdom does not require a special initiation. Biblical wisdom is on top of the hill; it’s out there; it’s exposed, and it is by the wayside; it is commonplace. God teaches wisdom by telling us to look at the ant and telling us to study even animals; they all teach us wisdom. The plants teach us wisdom; wisdom is commonplace.

Thirdly, wisdom is at the place where the paths meet, according to Proverbs chapter 8, and that tells us that wisdom is accessible. It’s at the junctions of life. A junction is a place where everybody is able to get to; everybody can access it. So the picture you get is God has not hidden wisdom in a secret place that people have to do something extraordinary to get it. God has placed wisdom right where we are. It’s right in our face; it’s on top of the hill; it’s by the wayside; it’s at the junction of life. You would not miss it.

And then wisdom is by the gates; it’s inescapable. If you missed wisdom on the hill because you’re looking down, or you missed wisdom by the roadside because you are not paying attention, or you missed wisdom at the junction because something distracted you, how are you going to miss wisdom at the gate? It’s right there in front of you, in your face. So the passage tells us that wisdom is clear before you. With all of that mystery gone, wisdom is at the door of your house. So when you’re getting home and you open your door, it’s inescapable; wisdom is right there in front of you.

Why does the Bible present wisdom in such a way? In other words, the Bible is telling us it takes extraordinary effort to be unwise. You have to actually deliberately choose to be foolish, because the most common thing God has made available to us is to behave wisely. If we follow God’s path, wisdom comes naturally, comes easily. It’s there, and He teaches us wisdom daily. But if we choose our own way and avoid what is obvious in front of us, then we’re going to live a life that is far lower than wisdom, and that is not beneficial to us.

So wisdom is in the public square, and in all these places, wisdom is crying out and saying, «Here I am; learn from me.» God has made it easy for you and me to be wise, and if we don’t complicate life and just trust the Lord, He will bring us to wisdom, and we’ll make the greatest, wisest choices of our lives.

Let’s pray. Say with me, «Heavenly Father, help me to identify all the signs of wisdom that you have placed in my way. In Jesus' name, amen and amen.»