2. Get Wisdom
If you have ever used a map to help you get somewhere, you know that you need to spend a little time determining exactly where your destination is and looking for the best road or route to get you where you want to go. In a similar way, the first thing we must do to find wisdom is to learn exactly what it is and how we arrive at it. What Wisdom Is We have already seen how the book of Proverbs speaks of two ways of life – wisdom and foolishness – and how strongly it contrasts them. It is interesting that Proverbs does not characterize the two ways it describes as being the way of "right" and "wrong," or "good" and "evil." The two ways certainly do amount to those things, and some proverbs do use that kind of terminology. But in the great majority of cases, Proverbs does not speak to us directly from the perspective of ethics or morality; rather it uses the framework of wisdom and foolishness (or "folly" in some Bible translations).
To understand why Proverbs looks at life from this wisdom/foolishness perspective, we need to take a quick look at the words involved. The Hebrew word from which "wisdom" is most often translated in Proverbs is khokmah, which does have a moral aspect but also has other meanings and can signify the application of beneficial knowledge from all areas of life. Khokmah can thus include knowledge of such things as nature (1 Kings 4:33), as well as understanding human affairs and even the skill to do things such as foretell the future and interpret dreams (Exodus 7:11; Daniel 5:11-12). Another Hebrew word translated wisdom in Proverbs is tushiya (Proverbs 2:7; 3:21; 8:14; 18:1; etc.), which some Bible versions translate as "sound wisdom" and which means general success or wellbeing as well as the application of knowledge and understanding.
In the same way, the words foolish or foolishness that appear so many times in Proverbs also have a range of meaning that can include failing to behave successfully in various aspects of life as well as turning from or not listening to wisdom or to God's instruction. The proverbs do not always state this in theological terms, however. Usually, they just contrast the way of the wise with the fool's self-destructive rejection of the right path.
These facts explain why Proverbs uses the terms foolishness and wisdom with their broad ranges of meaning – so that its teachings can be seen to affect physical success as well as ethical or spiritual morality. In that sense, the wisdom that Proverbs offers has a wider "job description" than right and wrong or good and evil might seem to have. It has secular as well as religious appeal, and while the former is only of temporary value, the latter is, of course, of lasting worth. Nevertheless, Proverbs is written with both audiences in mind, and we can profit from the physical as well as the spiritual applications of its teachings. That is the dual goal of wisdom. How We Get Wisdom So now we know where we are going – what the goal is – how does the Bible advise us to achieve that destination? How do we begin the journey to wisdom? What are the routes that will get us there? Proverbs itself gives us six clear and ultimately simple answers to these questions, and we will briefly look at each of them. 1. Wisdom is rooted in the fear of God. The very first thing Proverbs tells us regarding how to acquire wisdom is simply this: "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom" (Proverbs 9:10). If we need to know what the "fear of the LORD" is, Proverbs makes it clear for us: "To fear the LORD is to hate evil" (Proverbs 8:13A). And Proverbs gives us examples of the kind of evil things we must hate: "pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech" (Proverbs 8:13B). Notice that the examples of evil Proverbs gives encompass wrong thoughts (pride and arrogance), words (perverse speech), and actions (evil behavior). We must respect God enough to want to reject evil of any kind if we are to truly grow in wisdom. 2. Wisdom must be sought diligently. Even when we choose the right path, we will never reach the goal with half-hearted efforts. We must pursue wisdom seriously and with real effort – just as if we were looking for a physical treasure:
My son, if you accept my words … turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding— indeed, if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God. (Proverbs 2:1-5) 3. Wisdom requires listening. The next thing Proverbs tells us in regard to gaining wisdom is the need to actively listen to its teachings: "Let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance" (Proverbs 1:5). That is why, from the beginning of the book to its last chapter, Proverbs repeatedly urges us to listen to the wisdom it offers. For example: "Listen, my son, to your father's instruction, do not forsake your mother's teaching" (Proverbs 1:8). "Listen, my son, and be wise, and set your heart on the right path" (Proverbs 23:19). "Listen, my son!" (Proverbs 31:2). We do not learn wisdom simply by reading books on the subject or through "osmosis" by being around wise people – wisdom can only be learned by focused listening: "turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding" (Proverbs 2:2). 4. Wisdom must be deeply learned. If we go back to the very beginning of Proverbs to its "statement of purpose" – why the proverbs are being given – we find: "The proverbs of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel: To know wisdom …" (Proverbs 1:1 KJV and many other translations). To "know" wisdom may seem a somewhat strange expression to us, but the Hebrew word yada "to know" often means to be the master of a skill. Genesis tells us, for example, that Esau "knew" hunting (Genesis 25:27) – in the same sense that today we might say of a skilled worker, "he really knows his stuff," or of a doctor, "she really knows medicine." The idea is not just that these people have learned some facts, but that they have become skilled in utilizing them. We need to "know" wisdom deeply to gain its maximum benefits. 5. Wisdom requires meditation. Proverbs stresses that a large part of truly learning wisdom involves thinking about and meditating on its principles and how they apply in our lives. Here are two examples of this: "The wisdom of the prudent is to give thought to their ways, but the folly of fools is deception" (Proverbs 14:8), "The simple believe anything, but the prudent give thought to their steps" (Proverbs 14:15). Notice how Proverbs stresses the alternative to thinking about wisdom is essentially self-deception that leads to our believing anything that is convenient and psychologically comfortable! 6. Wisdom requires application. The final thing Proverbs tells us regarding the procurement of wisdom is that we must apply what we learn in order to continue to grow toward our goal – we cannot "cherry pick" the wisdom we want to apply and that which we do not. This involves a willingness to realize when we are wrong, and a desire to change course if necessary. Failure to do this in any area means that we do not receive wisdom at all. As Lady Wisdom calls out: "If you had repented at my rebuke, then surely I would have poured out my spirit on you; I would have made my words known to you" (Proverbs 1:23 BSB). But, she urges us: "Leave your simple ways and you will live; walk in the way of insight" (Proverbs 9:6). In the language of Proverbs, "leaving" our own ways and "walking" in the way of wisdom simply means to apply what we learn.
In the following chapters we will look closely at some of the specific areas in which we can learn and apply the wisdom of Proverbs.