An Idea Borrowed

Years ago on a radio program someone shared that they read a chapter in Proverbs every day. Since there are 31 chapters and the longest month has 31 days it allows you to read through Proverbs on a regular basis. I use it as the launch pad for my personal worship time and branch out from there. On this blog I will try to share some of the insights I have in the Word. I will try to organize them in the archive by reference.

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

Embrace the Prize

(Proverbs 4:8 KJV)  Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her.

Proverbs spends a lot of time personifying Wisdom.  This is one of the ways that people deal with the influences in their lives.  We talk to animals as if they are people.  For some they are.  We talk to our cars.  On the occasions I get to play golf I am amused at how people sweet talk their clubs and the ball as it flies.  Since we don’t really believe that little spirits inhabit those objects, we do it for our own amusement.  Here it is a little more serious.  As I continue to work through Proverbs I often get the feel that Wisdom is sometimes a type for the Holy Spirit.

Think of the many roles of the Holy Spirit.  One that is especially applicable here is the role of teacher.  Remember the words of Jesus:
(John 14:26 KJV)  But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
In some mysterious way this was personified in Wisdom in the OT.

We have a choice in what we “prize” (5549).  This word has the meaning of building up.  We make decisions about what gets our time and attention.  If we are listening to the Holy Spirit and seeking to be obedient to His leading we will see the results in our lives.

We are also to “embrace” (2263) wisdom.  This means to give it a hug.  I think of hugging my children.  There is a special joy and affection that applies to no other object in the world.  We need to be close to wisdom and want to be there.

So, do you find yourself wanting to be close to God’s wisdom or is it more comfortable to claim we do not know?  I know there have been times when I had to force myself to go back and see what the word said.  Only you can know.  Embrace the prize.

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