Sabbath: The Call of Wisdom
Read for This Week’s Study: Proverbs 1–3, Gen. 1:1, Exod. 19:16, Exod. 20:20, Prov. 11:30, Prov. 13:12, Prov. 15:4.
Memory Text: The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction
(Proverbs 1:7, NKJV).
From Eden onward, the root of human tragedy lies in wrong choices. Man lost all because he chose to listen to the deceiver rather than to Him who is Truth, who alone has understanding. By the mingling of evil with good, his mind had become confused.
— Ellen G. White, Education, p. 25.
The book of Proverbs is all about helping us to make right choices, to choose the way of God and not that of the deceiver. The father or the mother, speaking to their son, not only warns him against wrong choices but encourages him to make the right ones. This is so important because the choices we make are literally matters of life and death.
The first three chapters of Proverbs illustrate this method of education. After having explained the purpose of the book: to know wisdom
(Prov. 1:2), and having laid down the motto of the book: the fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge
(Prov. 1:7, compare Prov. 9:10), the author moves back and forth from warning us against listening to foolishness, to urging us to respond to the call of heavenly wisdom.
*Study this week’s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, January 3.
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So important when teaching youth: to give alternatives. It isn't enough to say don't do this or that. We must encourage and point towards what is positive in making wise desicions especially when the wise choice isn't the popular one. I like Proverbs because it spells out the different choices and it says everything beautifully. Like "a merry heart doth good like a medicine but a broken spirit drieth the bones" so beautiful and makes a lot of sense.
Honestly, I've never really been able to think about Proverbs as a whole. I appreciate this overview.
I also like the idea of teaching by pattern--to help with choosing right from wrong.
And what you said about alternatives is great for teens.
Not just teens but also adults as well.
What is wisdom?
Acknowledging the LORD as the Ruler and the One who determines truth.
It is the getting and applying knowledge based on truth as defined by the LORD.
Without wisdom we will get caught up in the snares of the devil.
We will acquire wisdom with the help of the holy spirit it is essential
that we begin with deeper Bible Study and constant earnest prayer for
guidance so that we will not be overcome by evil.
Wisdom is a quality of God that is not learned, but a Divine nature that can only be attained through Christ; "My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge." (Colossians 2: 2,3).
To receive wisdom, we need to have the fullness of the Life of Jesus Christ, who longs to give us full understanding of His purposes in us; "If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you." (James 1:5).
When we live the fullness of the Life of Christ; His nature cultivates all His character in us, which opens His full purposes in us; "What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us." (! Corinthians 1: 12).
The counsel of wisdom comes only through Wisdom; "Blessed are those who find wisdom, those who gain understanding." (Proverbs 3:13).
Proverbs is warning us that it is so important to know right from wrong, not knowing can be fatal!
It is possibly useful to step outside of the realm of theology for a moment to consider a model of information commonly used in the Information Management Discipline.
There are four levels of information as follows:
Data: simple facts like numbers, dates, characters. For example; 5/7/1950 is a date. "David Sommerton" is a string of text.
Information: information takes raw data and includes relationships between them. For example; David Sommerton's birthday is on the 5/7/1950.
Knowledge: includes the work practices that surround the information: For example; Since it is David Sommerton's birthday on 5/7/1950 it might be nice to send him some sort of greeting on that day.
Wisdom: this is the highest information level an includes philospical implications like best practice and choice of work practice and the use of information. To continue the example David Summerton's birthday is on 5/7/1950 and that means he is 65 this coming year. Since in our culture 65 is a bit of a milestone and he is thinking of retiring it might be nice to make his birthday a bit of a special event.
In the spiritual realm we can consider the same 4 levels:
Data: the texts that are found in the Bible.
Information: the relationships between the texts and the stakeholders - that is God and us.
Knowledge: the consideration of how we can use that data and information to put our spirituality into practice.
Wisdom: understanding that if we rely on our own wisdom we have the potential to do the wrong thing with our knowledge, information and data. Here is where it is best to be guided by the advice, "Seek first the Kingdom of God ..."
I hope that my little excursion into Information Managment provides a useful framework as we consider Proverbs this coming quarter
Thank you for that clear explanation. I think it will help me as I study Proverbs, and all the Bible.
Thank you. It's it okay to share this? If so, how do I share?
Mr Ashton, superb analogy!! Well done. Thanks for sharing!
Brilliant analogy, Maurice. Thank you.