Wisdom Personified - Week 1
Most of us can recall the heroics of Captain “Sully” Sullenberger and crew when they smoothly landed their damaged aircraft in the Hudson River a couple of years ago. The incident that made international headlines happened when both engines of their plane shut down after colliding with birds two minutes after taking off. All 155 passengers survived the incident. One month later, Captain Sully and four crew members received the keys of New York city from Mayor Michael Bloomberg.
But what does it mean to receive the keys of a city? In ancient times when major cities were fortified by walls and gates to protect their inhabitants, heroes or dignitaries were often presented with a real key of the city gate. It was a way for the city to honour someone who has done something significant to improve everyone’s life, whether through business or entertainment. The key gave recipients the freedom to enter and leave the city at their own convenience as trusted friends of all its residents.
Within the context of our 2023 Grace Challenge, the key that unlocks the entire book of Proverbs and gives us free access to Wisdom so to speak is found in chapter 1 and verse 7: the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge! The Amplified calls such a healthy regard for God the starting point and essence of knowledge.
The term “fear”, one commentator explains, includes both a correct relationship with God and a correct thinking of God. Now, to think correctly about God, we need to be in the right position before God, for it speaks of a desire to revere Him, an eagerness to please Him, a humility to listen to Him and a swiftness to obey Him.
In regard to the correct relationship with God, we can turn to the apostle Paul, who repeatedly writes about this in almost every one of his letters, sometimes stating and other times warning, that the first step towards wisdom is faith in Jesus.
- To the Corinthians he calls Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. (1 Corinthians 1:24)
- To the Colossians he writes, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. (Col. 2:3)
- In his letter to Timothy, he reminds him how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. (2 Timothy 3:15 – 17)
This key verse that begins with the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, ends with the reminder butfools despise wisdom and instruction. As we work through Proverbs, we will spend much time in the New Testament, for Jesus Christ is the key to this treasure-trove we read about in Proverbs. And unless we can display his character in the practical affairs of our everyday lives – when the traffic is bad, when our health fails, when there is tension at work – we will not convince a world hungry and thirsty for biblical reality that it starts with Jesus.
OUR GRACE CHALLENGE FOR THE WEEK: Itt is my prayer that our love for Christ and his word may abound more and more in real knowledge and practical insight, not sentimental gush as we afresh dedicate our lives to make Jesus Christ attractive this year.
