Instruction to Wisdom – Listen!

J.J. Stark

May 8-9, 2016

Field Time: Browning, MT

IGNITE CLASS 10

Inductive Bible Study (IBS)

Instruction to Wisdom – Listen!

“Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not.” – Proverbs 8:33 (*All in KJV)

In meditating on Proverbs 8:33, the Lord has led me on an incredible discovery path of wisdom through the Psalms and Proverbs, bringing to my attention many new and familiar verses from Kings David and Solomon, the men whom He bestowed to one His heart, and the other heavenly wisdom.  Throughout this journey, Proverbs 8:33 becomes as a living prayer, as well as a command to my life.  Let this be a written testimony of our undeniable, living, Omnipotent, Omnipresent Master, the Lord Jesus Christ, whose Holy Spirit continually ministers to us.

It can’t be more plainly stated – Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not.  This cultivates in me a desire to glimpse this instruction manifested wisely in a man’s life; my ponderings parallel similarly Proverbs 1:2-7.  “²To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding; ³To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity…” 

Great and Heavenly Father above, I ask in humble reverence for this “⁴…young man knowledge and discretion.”  Grow me into “⁵a wise man ‘who’ will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding, ‘that’ shall attain unto wise counsels.”  God Almighty, ingrain in my soul how “⁷The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge.”  Keep them from me, “… fools ‘who’ despise wisdom and instruction.”

If I may be so bold, let me question the significance of wisdom, that the powerful Creator of the universe would speak so loftily of it to man?

In the passages surrounding the verse of topic, wisdom herself answers:

“²²The Lord possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old.

²³I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was…

³⁰Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight rejoicing always before him; ³¹Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth; and my delights were the sons of men.

 ³²Now therefore hearken unto me, O ye children, for blessed are they that keep my ways.

³³Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not.

 ³⁴Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.

³⁵For whoso findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the Lord.”

– Proverbs 8:22-23, 30-35

I find myself asking Psalm 119:9 – “Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way?”  According to fleshly wisdom, it would remain to this day un-answerable.  Yet thru the wonderful grace of the loving Father above, He gives the man truly seeking Him the understanding, repeating Christ’s statement in Matthew 19:26 – “...With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.”  Because David’s heart was in pure worship, God granted him understanding to his own question, answering, “By taking heed thereto according to thy word.”

What, then, does thy word say, O Lord, that I must taketh heed of? What is the instruction on the path to wisdom??

-         Proverbs 3:5-7, “⁵Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.  ⁶In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.  ⁷Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil.”

-         Proverbs 3:11-12, “¹¹My son, despise not the chastening of the Lord; neither be weary of his correction: ¹²For whom the Lord loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.”

-         Proverbs 4:5-7, “⁵Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth.  ⁶Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee.  ⁷Wisdom is the principle thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.”

Let this be my application, O God, that I listen, immerse, and be cleansed in these holy and perfect words given me, so that I can come before Your awesome, majestic throne and say:

“¹⁰With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments.  ¹¹Thy word have I hidden in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.  ¹²Blessed art thou, O Lord: teach me thy statutes.  ¹³With my lips have I declared all the judgements of thy mouth.  ¹⁴I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies, as much as in all riches.  ¹⁵I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways.  ¹⁶I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word.” – Psalm 119:10-16