The wise-at-heart start with, “What would Jesus do?”. Sure, it’s a cliche, but it’s a cliche because it’s true. Sure, it’s unoriginal, but we’re not looking for original. We’re not looking for hip or woke. What we are after here is wisdom, and Jesus is the Wisdom of God.
It’s not like wisdom is hidden under a rock. This lady can be found on every street corner, in the market place and at the entrance of the city gates (Proverbs 1:20). She can be heard on the mountains, in the babbling brook and among the lilies of the field.
No, the problem is not that Lady Wisdom is hidden or far away. The problem lies much nearer the heart.
How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple? How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing and fools hate knowledge? (Proverbs 1:22)
Picture the scene. In the hustle and bustle of the marketplace and down by the city gates, Wisdom raises her voice to those passing by.
First the simple. For them ignorance is bliss and they love to have it that way. They’re not looking for wisdom and they’re not listening. The voice of Wisdom barely reaches the ossicles.
They respond to wisdom with a blank look. They are largely indifferent. Each to his own, they argue.
Next comes the scoffer. The scoffer sees and hears well enough but he is not interested in arguing with Lady Wisdom. His delight is not in the law of the law but in mocking it. The scoffer laughs at Lady Wisdom. He has come down to the marketplace for this purpose.
Third comes those who hate knowledge. Lady Wisdom represents a serious enemy. He is not interested in arguing, nor can he ignore her. Essentially, the hater wants wisdom dead.
There are those, like Pilate, who are stupid. He doesn’t know the truth and doesn’t really care. He will go with the crowd.
There are those who come down to see wisdom for themselves so they can openly mock, “He saved others but He cannot save Himself.”
And there are those filled with blood lust. They tear their garments and like Stalin, shake their fist at an empty sky and cry out, “crucify, crucify. Let His blood be on our own heads”.
The instruction of Lady Wisdom is simple. Turn at her reproof. Do not be so proud. Listen to her and you will dwell securely and live without fear or dread. Choose the fear of the Lord, which is to say, reverence Him by starting with Him in all your thinking and doing.
“What does God require?” That is the beginning of wisdom.
Thus says the Lord: “Stand by the roads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls”. (Jeremiah 6:16)
More than whipping up a prayer at either end of our doings and more than pooling our collective ignorance in an attempt to be innovative and cutting edge, wisdom is found, and starts with, God. And God can be found in Jesus.
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