Proverbs 14:33-35 RA Wisdom Is Humble

What this episode covers

Proverbs in 365 Devotions For more go to braggingonjesus.com Proverbs 14:33 Wisdom rests in the heart of a man of understanding, but it makes itself known even in the midst of fools. 34 Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people. 35 A servant who deals wisely has the king’s favor, but his wrath falls on one who acts shamefully. Solomon gives us three situations to examine. Let’s take a look at them briefly and then consider their similarities and application. In the first Solomon says Wisdom rests in the heart of a man of understanding… that makes sense right? But the question that comes to my mind is how did it get there in the first place? At some point this person was not a man of understanding... So then... wisdom must have been somewhere close enough for him to have found her. Wisdom has a way of getting her point across even in the midst of fools. I think we see over and over when we act foolishly and don’t listen to her words… and our foolish choices causes much misery to us and those around us. You may remember back in Proverbs chapter 1... Proverbs 1:20 Wisdom cries aloud in the street, in the markets she raises her voice; 21 at the head of the noisy streets she cries out; at the entrance of the city gates she speaks: 22 “How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple? How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing and fools hate knowledge? In fact, that was each one of us... when we were entangled in our own sin Wisdom was close by calling out to us. We heard and responded in repentance with faith. That's how we come to be people of understanding. Next Solomon says: Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people. So righteousness is wisdom in the previous verse right? And sin is for the foolish. So as we considered... the wise person at one time was foolish... he had to humble himself and admit his folly in order to respond to wisdom's call and turn to righteousness. Solomon says how righteousness exalts a nation, and so we can see how humbling ones self to wisdom exalts a person as well as a nation. Proverbs 18:12 Before destruction a man’s heart is haughty, but humility comes before honor. Proverbs 29:23 One’s pride will bring him low, but he who is lowly in spirit will obtain honor. Finally in verse 35 Solomon says: 35 A servant who deals wisely has the king’s favor, but his wrath falls on one who acts shamefully. As the wisest of kings Solomon was likely speaking from experience. He favored those in his kingdom who dealt wisely and those who dealt with others with evil intent received his wrath. All of these observations that Solomon made as he looked into the world and received wisdom… He did not exclude looking into his own heart and ways… and observing. That seems to be what is going on in this verse. And as all of his other observations in life… so it is with this one… This pointed to the one who is the truth. Jesus… the way, truth and life. All these verses in fact point to Jesus. As wisdom called out to the foolish, so Jesus calls to us. If we humble ourselves and turn to him he gives us understanding and righteousness like verses 33 and 34 in todays passage speak of… and he gives us the power to live righteous lives in this broken world as we walk with him. And then in verse 34 we see how he gives us his favor instead of his wrath which we all deserve. Father God, thank you for sending your only Son Jesus, who lived a perfect life, died a sinners death and gives his righteousness to all who delight in him. Thank you for raising him from the dead and giving us that same power to live righteous lives practically as we walk in your Holy Spirit. Thank You for raising us up one day no longer subject to sin with all its lusts of the flesh… no more plagued by disease and death. Thank you for this great gift for all who joyfully turn away from sin and find their only hope in the promised Messiah Jesus Christ. In his name amen.

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