Thursday, May 26, 2005

Wisdom 24/7

Wisdom is too lofty for a fool;
He does not open his mouth in the gate.
(Proverbs 24:7)
Yes, I’m making a play on words with the address of this Scripture (Proverbs 24:7) and the popular numeric expression for doing something around the clock, that is 24/7 (24 hours a day, seven days a week).

Wisdom is a 24/7 affair. That is, wisdom is not something you dabble in, it is a way of life. Dabblers are like the blind hog who runs across an acorn every now and then. Sure, you may occasionally find a few cheap morsels that way, but it is wildly undependable — and who wants to be a blind hog, anyway?

“Wisdom is too lofty for a fool.” That is, a fool cannot rise up to that level, he is in over his head. The Hebrew word eviyl is one of the commonest translated as “fool:”
the idea conveyed by which is that of one who is hasty, impatient, self-sufficient, despising advice and instruction, ready to speak and act without thinking, quick to get angry, quarrel and cause strife, unrestrained in his anger, silly, stupid even with brute stupidity. He is associated with “transgression,” with “sin,” with the “scoffer.” [International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, s.v. “fool.” I’ve left out the Scripture references.]
A fool may be a person who has simply failed to lay hold of moral direction. Or he may be a person who has actively resisted such direction and is living in open rebellion to the way of God. Wisdom is freely available, but the fool either does not seek or does not accept it. He is unwilling to learn and walk in wisdom.

“He does not open his mouth in the gate.” The “gate” signifies the place of decision, authority and responsibility — a place that cries out for wisdom. The fool has absolutely nothing to offer in that venue. His life is a waste and he is headed for destruction.

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom (Psalm 111:10; Proverbs 1:7 and 9:10). If you want to be a world-changer, ask God and get the wisdom that comes from walking in the fear of the LORD.

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