How hard is it to find wisdom? Solomon says it’s not hard at all because wisdom is everywhere.

“Does not wisdom call out? Does not understanding raise her voice? At the highest point along the way, where the paths meet, she takes her stand; beside the gate leading into the city, at the entrance, she cries aloud.” Proverbs 8:1-3

Tim Mackie and Jon Collins of The Bible Project, say that wisdom is woven into the fabric of the universe. “Wherever you see people making wise decisions, they are relying on wisdom. When you see someone being generous, or having sexual integrity, or upholding justice, they are drawing on wisdom.”

Wisdom is available to anyone who wants it, but it sure would help if we had a good model of wisdom to look at and follow; someone who always got it right.

Wisdom Speaks

Wisdom speaks in Proverbs 8:4-36 and if you read the passage from the point of view of Jesus as the speaker, it really makes sense. The Bible tells us that the wisdom and power of God are fully expressed in Jesus.

The Apostle Paul wanted people to know Christ “so that they may know the mystery of God – Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” Colossians 2:2-3

In 1 Corinthians 1:23-24 Paul added: “But we preach Christ crucified . . . Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.”

Wisdom is embodied in Jesus Christ. The words of wisdom are the words of Christ; the character of wisdom is the character of Jesus; the work of wisdom is the work of Jesus Christ.

As N. T. Wright says, “All the lines of wisdom from the rich treasure-house of the Old Testament come forward and meet in the one of whom all scripture speaks . . . It is in him, as the true Solomon if you like, that we discover, as Paul says elsewhere, that all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden. It is when we stand at the foot of the cross that we discover the true identity of Lady Wisdom, calling to the simple to turn aside and enter, to eat her bread and drink her wine. The Messiah is the ultimate interpreter, of God to the world and the world to God, of God to ourselves and ourselves to God, indeed of ourselves to ourselves.”

The First of God’s Works

Just as wisdom was with God in the beginning (Proverbs 8:22-31) so Jesus was with God in the beginning.

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made and without him nothing was made that has been made.” John 1:1-3

It may be confusing to read, “The Lord brought me forth as the first of his works, before his deeds of old; I was formed long ages ago, at the very beginning, when the world came to be.” (Proverbs 8:22-23) – because it may sound like Jesus, as wisdom, was created by God.

But God didn’t create Jesus; Jesus is God. Jesus himself is the Creator of all things. “Through him all things were made and without him nothing was made that has been made.”

It wasn’t Jesus, but his mission as Savior of the world that was formed at creation. The wisdom of God foresaw the fall of man even as he created the world, so the plan of redemption emerged “at the very beginning, when the world came to be.” Proverbs 8:23

The wisdom of God, found in the plan of salvation, was given birth as God created the universe. God loved what he made, he saw that it would fall away from him, and he rejoiced when he devised the plan to redeem it.

“Then I was constantly at his side. I was filled with delight day after day, rejoicing always in his presence, rejoicing in his whole world and delighting in mankind.” Proverbs 8:30-31

The House that Jesus Built

“Wisdom has built her house; she has set up its seven pillars. She has prepared her meat and mixed her wine; she has also set her table. She has sent out her servants, and she calls from the highest point of the city, ‘Let all who are simple come to my house!’ To those who have no sense she says, ‘Come, eat my food and drink the wine I have mixed. Leave your simple ways and you will live; walk in the way of insight.’” Proverbs 9:1-6

Jesus came to establish God’s kingdom on earth and he often referred to it as a place of feasting. He talked about inviting everyone to come to his house. In parables he portrayed himself as the master of the feast who sent his servants to bring people in from everywhere to join him.

In God’s kingdom, the food and drink are Jesus’ body that was crucified for us, and his blood that was shed for us. We are wise when we accept the salvation he offers.

“Jesus said to them, ‘I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man, and drink his blood, you have no life in you.’” John 6:53

The Fear of the Lord is the Beginning of Wisdom

The Bible is so clear about the fact that there is only one God and we have no option but to relate to him. People can refuse him, but they can’t erase him. He made them and he decides their destiny. Here is the final word from Lady Wisdom:

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. For through wisdom your days will be many, and years will be added to your life. If you are wise, your wisdom will reward you; if you are a mocker, you alone will suffer.” Proverbs 9:10-12

A mocker is someone who is contemptuous or scornful, and a person who is scornful of Jesus and the wisdom of God will suffer.

Topical Wisdom

In Proverbs 10:1 to 22:16 Solomon recorded 375 individual proverbs. Each verse presents a practical choice one must make between wisdom and foolishness. An interesting study would be to list the topics Solomon addresses and note the verses where they are found.

When I was a teenager a friend gave me a list of verses from Proverbs titled “How to Recognize a Wise Young Man.” She thought it would be useful in my dating life and she was right. It helped me avoid getting into relationships with some foolish guys on my way to recognizing and marrying a truly good, wise man.

James 1:5 says, “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who give generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.”

God was very generous when he moved Solomon to write Proverbs. It’s a treasure trove of wisdom. It’s hard to take it all in at once, but it’s a great book to come back to again and again. Use it like a handbook for life and it will make you wise.

To read more of N.T. Wright has to say about Jesus as the wisdom of God check out this link:

https://ntwrightpage.com/2016/03/29/christ-the-power-of-god-and-the-wisdom-of-god/