Mensa Otabil - Wisdom Cries Out
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Welcome to a brand new week, and we start a new series today. I begin with verse one of Proverbs, Chapter 8: «Does not wisdom cry out, and understanding lift up her voice?» We start by trying to understand what we mean by wisdom because wisdom has different dimensions and expresses itself in different ways. There are about five main expressions of wisdom that I want to discuss, and then we' ll develop the concept throughout the days as we proceed.
Wisdom is first and foremost spiritual. When we say wisdom is spiritual, we mean that it has a spiritual foundation, and that foundation is the fear of the Lord, which is the beginning of wisdom. When the Bible talks about the fear of the Lord, it means having reverence for God or a deep appreciation for Him. It’s not being scared of God or running away from Him, but knowing God and respecting Him. Wisdom starts when we respect God’s laws and God’s rules. As we observe God’s principles, we become wiser. For example, consider God’s principle of sowing and reaping. When we respect it and reverence that principle, it works well for us. So the foundation of wisdom is spiritual. It begins with the fear or respect for God and His law.
Secondly, wisdom is mental, which involves understanding how life works. We reverence God, but we also need to comprehend how life functions. What principles did God establish in the universe and on our earth that work to our advantage? Wisdom, in this sense, is not just having a high IQ or being able to perform vast calculations. We all know people who excel in calculations yet struggle to manage their lives effectively. Therefore, wisdom goes beyond mere knowledge of facts and theories of life; it encompasses the ability to properly interpret those theories into our day-to-day living. There is a mental understanding of how God’s rules work for us.
So, wisdom is spiritual, wisdom is mental, and wisdom is moral. This means it pertains to conduct. When you read the book of Proverbs, there is often a discussion about wise and foolish people. This relates to a person whose morality or moral foundation is so weak that anything influences them, leading to very poor choices. When we operate in wisdom, we fear God or reverence the laws of God. We possess a mental appreciation for the principles of life, and we remain morally sound so that we do not misconduct ourselves.
Number four, wisdom is practical, which involves problem- solving. When a person is wise, they do not just know things; they solve problems. Wisdom thus helps us adopt a practical approach to problem- solving. This is integral to wisdom, and we must learn how to do that. Lastly, wisdom is governmental; it includes ruling with fairness, doing things equitably, and being just.
So when we speak of wisdom, we are referring to a spiritual relationship with God and honoring His laws. We discuss mentally understanding how things work, being morally of good conduct, practically solving problems, and making sound judgments and decisions at all times. These are the five parameters within which we engage with wisdom, and we will use this as the basis for all that we discuss over the next two weeks as we explore the concept of wisdom. I trust that it will aid all of us in being wise, leading our lives better, and making the best choices that please God while benefiting others.
Are you ready to embark on this journey with wisdom? Then let' s begin. Let’s pray. Say with me, «Heavenly Father, You are the all-wise God. Bless me with Your wisdom so I will see life as You see it. In Jesus' name, Amen.» And amen.