Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered outside the gate. Therefore, let us go forth to him outside the camp, bearing his reproach. For we have no continuing city here, but we seek one to come.
Select a thought to read by choosing a collection, the month, and then the day:
"The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel. To know
wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding . . ."
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Proverbs 1:1-2
In the beginning of his book of proverbs, King Solomon lists several reasons for making the book. The first in this list of reasons is found in the verse above. Solomon wanted his children, to whom he first spoke these wise sayings, to be able to judge the words they would hear men say during their lifetimes and to be able to recognize wisdom when they heard it. This is the way God feels toward us. He loves us and wants us to be happy. He wants us to know His voice. That way, we will be safe.
God's Wisdom (Christ Jesus) is speaking to us every day. Every day, He is lovingly, earnestly reaching out to all of us, offering to share with us His wisdom and to make us wise and joyful, as He is.
"Doth not Wisdom cry [out], and Understanding put forth her voice? . . . She crieth at the gates, at the entry of the city, at the coming in at the doors, 'Unto you, O men, do I call, and my voice is to the sons of men. O, ye simple[-minded], understand wisdom! And, ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart! Hear! For I will speak of excellent things, and the opening of my lips shall be right things'" (Prov. 8:1-6).
How many times has God spoke to us, but we failed to recognize His voice! And how many times have people with wisdom from God spoken to us, but we failed to recognize their wisdom, too! Solomon wanted his children to be able to recognize wisdom when it was spoken, so that they would be blessed instead of being confused and harmed. Those who reject godly instruction and guidance when it is offered to them are foolish; they are missing the blessings and promises that God so very much wants them to have. They do things that make themselves and others unhappy, and they cannot understand what is wrong.
"Hearken unto me, O ye children, for blessed are they that keep my ways. Hear instruction and be wise, and refuse it not. Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors. For whoso findeth me findeth life and shall obtain favor of the LORD. But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul. All they that hate me love death" (Prov. 8:32-36).
I have seen people reject the wisdom of God, thinking it was foolishness. These are carnally-minded people who are on their way to an eternal death. Paul described them in 1Corinthians 2:14: "The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness unto him. Neither is he able to know them, for they are spiritually discerned." This is how we all were, once. The thing that rescued us, the only thing that could, was the precious voice of the Spirit of God. God opened our ears, and we heard what the Spirit was saying to us. We heard wisdom and recognized it!
I have also seen people embrace foolishness, thinking it was wisdom. These are the ones who, "thinking themselves to be wise, became fools" (Rom. 1:22). In our time, we see this constantly. How proud men are now of their sophistication and knowledge! And how destitute they are of the wisdom and knowledge of God, "calling good, evil and evil, good." The most foolish of all men are they who are foolish but think they are wise.
To be able to recognize wisdom when we hear it and to take it into our hearts is a blessing from God that is more valuable than any earthly riches. And to be able to recognize what is foolishness when we hear it is the way of eternal life and peace. Paul rejoiced that "God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give [us] the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ" (2Cor. 4:6).
To enable young people to do these things was Solomon's chief purpose for writing his book of Proverbs, anyone, young or old, who humbly studies Solomon's wise sayings will be more likely to recognize God's voice when He speaks than those who do not.