In Part 5, we learned that interpretation is the application of the proverb.
In this section, we will learn how true ancient wisdom is the principal thing.
Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.
~ Proverbs 4:7 ~
Wisdom hath builded her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars:
~ Proverbs 9:1 ~
This principal thing is not like a corporation’s core value system as when creating a firms’ guiding principles. This principal, the wisdom of God, is as a teacher and a guide which gives sequential insights; one insight opens first before another insight opens and works in the Spirit of Truth.
We will also look closer of the importance of receiving interpretation with wisdom and understanding. The “principal” thing; wisdom from above (heaven), is what gives the mind a right order, the pattern of thought that will set up and establish a pure state of mind. Wisdom, in the proverb, is in the female gender. Recall that Jesus is birthed through a virtuous woman; a mother named Mary, a virgin representing the wisdom of God.
Introduction of Wisdom
In the book of Proverbs, it speaks of wisdom as the application of truth.
This section found in chapter four of Proverbs and is providing instruction as a father advising his son letting him know the importance of embracing and loving her, the wisdom of heaven. She claims that she provides the doctrine (the parable, for the son of man to speak).
Proverbs chapter 4: verses 1 – 9
1. Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding.
2. For I give you good doctrine, forsake ye not my law.
3. For I was my father’s son, tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother.
4. He taught me also, and said unto me, Let thine heart retain my words: keep my commandments, and live.
5. Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth.
6. Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee.
7. Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.
8. Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her.
9. She shall give to thine head an ornament of grace: a crown of glory shall she deliver to thee.
Here in chapter eight of Proverbs, wisdom is the one speaking the message. Wisdom is a she, for the first verse states ‘her’ voice is doing the speaking. Her message is to the son of man and her mouth speaks the truth and her words are a message from the Lord.
Proverbs 8: verses 1 – 36
1. Doth not wisdom cry? And understanding put forth her voice?
2. She standeth in the top of high places, by the way in the places of the paths.
3. She crieth at the gates, at the entry of the city, at the coming in at the doors.
[Wisdom speaks in the first person and says she is counsel and understanding. She gives strength; she provides and gives the message to the son of man.]
4. Unto you, O men, I call; and my voice is to the sons of man.
5. O ye simple understand wisdom: and, ye fools be ye of an understanding heart.
6. Hear; for I will speak of excellent things; and the opening of my lips shall be right things.
7. For my mouth shall speak truth; and wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
8. All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing froward or perverse in them.
9. They are all plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that find knowledge.
10. Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold.
11. For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it.
12. I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of witty inventions.
13. The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.
14. Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom: I am understanding; I have strength.
15. By me kings’ reign, and princes decree justice.
16. By me princes rule, and nobles, even all the judges of the earth.
17. I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.
18. Riches and honour are with me; yea, durable riches and righteousness.
19. My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold; and my revenue than choice silver.
20. I lead in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment:
21. That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures.
[Wisdom proclaims she was manifested from the beginning and before there was an earth. She was with the LORD when he prepared the heavens and established the clouds.]
22. The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old.
23. I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was.
24. When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water.
25. Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth:
26. While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world.
27. When he prepared the heavens, I was there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth:
28. When he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep:
29. When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth:
30. Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him;
31. Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth; and my delights were with the sons of men.
[She warns that if the son of man does not take heed to her voice he would be sinning against her and would be slandering his own soul. However, if the son of man hears her instructions, he will be wise, blessed, possess life, and will obtain favor of the LORD.]
32. Now therefore hearken unto me, O ye children: for blessed are they that keep my ways.
33. Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not.
34. Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.
35. For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the LORD.
36. But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death.
Those who possess wisdom their faces (understanding) will shine.
Who is as the wise man? And who knoweth the interpretation of a thing? A man’s wisdom maketh his face to shine, and the boldness of his face shall be changed.
~ Ecclesiastes 8:1 ~
…and because the preacher is wise, he can interpret and set in order the scriptures and proverbs either by the scriptures or prophesy dreams or visions.
Ecclesiastes 12: verses 9 -11
9. And moreover, because the preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge; yea, he gave good heed, and sought out, and set in order many proverbs.
10. The preacher sought to find out acceptable words: and that which was written was upright, even words of truth.
11. The words of the wise are as goads, and as nails fastened by the masters of assemblies, which are given from one shepherd.
Daniel, one who works in the Wisdom of God
In the story of Daniel, we find that because in him dwelt the spirit of wisdom, he was able to interpret the Kings’ open vision. In the King’s open vision he saw a man’s hand write on his palace wall. The King didn’t know what was actually written for it was hidden from him, so he sought out wise men to give him the interpretation. We will pick up the story starting in verse five. The complete story can be reviewed in chapter five of Daniel.
Daniel 5: verses 5 – 12
5. In the same hour came forth fingers of a man’s hand, and wrote over against the candlestick upon the plaster of the wall of the king’s palace: and the king saw the part of the hand that wrote.
6. Then the king’s countenance was changed, and his thoughts troubled him, so that the joints of his loins were loosed, and his knees smote one against another.
7. The king cried aloud to bring in the astrologers, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers. And the king spake, and said to the wise men of Babylon, Whosoever shall read this writing, and shew me the interpretation thereof, shall be clothed with scarlet, and have a chain of gold about his neck, and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom.
8. Then came in all the king’s wise men: but they could not read the writing, nor make known to the king the interpretation thereof.
9. Then was king Belshazzar greatly troubled, and his countenance was changed in him, and his lords were astounded.
10. Now the queen, by reason of the words of the king and his lords, came into the banquet house: and the queen spake and said, O king, live for ever: let not thy thoughts trouble thee, nor let thy countenance be changed:
11. There is a man in thy kingdom, in whom is the spirit of the holy gods; and in the days of thy father light and understanding and wisdom, like the wisdom of the gods, was found in him; whom the king Nebuchadnezzar thy father, the king, I say, thy father, made master of the magicians, astrologers, Chaldeans, and soothsayers;
12. Forasmuch as an excellent spirit, and knowledge, and understanding interpreting of dreams, and shewing of hard sentences, and dissolving of doubts, were found in the same Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar: now let Daniel be called, and he will shew the interpretation.
Wisdom from above is first pure.
According to Apostle James, the wisdom of God carries these characteristics:
But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.
~ James 3:17 ~