| OCTOBER 1, 2024 -- Wisdom has built her house. She has carved out her seven pillars. Proverbs 9:1
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom,
and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight. – Proverbs 9:10
But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.
– James 3:17 Last month’s column was a discussion of the difference between Heavenly Wisdom and the Wisdom of the World. This month I want to look at the concept of Wisdom as described in the Book of Proverbs. While stating that there are seven pillars of Wisdom, Proverbs does not explicitly list what they are, and for over two thousand years various scholars have tried to identify and name them, based on other parts of the book. One common list is:
- Counsel
- Knowledge
- Understanding
- Might or Strength
- Power or Authority
- Riches
- Honor
But if we look at the Letter of James, we come up with a somewhat different list: Purity, Peacefulness, Gentleness, Open to Reason, Mercy and good fruits, Impartiality, Sincerity.
Continuing on last month’s theme of the difference between earthly and heavenly wisdom, I find the second list more in accord with heavenly wisdom. However, there is no reason other than tradition to limit us to only seven. I would add from the first list the ability to give counsel and the seeking after knowledge and understanding. And let us not forget that all pillars need a base to support them. In this case Proverbs tells us that “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” “Fear” should be interpreted as “profound reverence”. If we have profound reverence in the Lord, then we have the first step in understanding God’s instruction as to how we should lead our lives as a foundation of true wisdom. As we read in Matthew’s Gospel “Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.” Remember Solomon, who in his youth prayed to God for understanding, and God gave him “a wise and discerning mind”, wiser than all others. Let us also pray for wisdom and understanding.
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