Proverbs Devotion - Day 1

Wisdom is a consistent theme that is found in the book of Proverbs. This is established early with Proverbs 1 declaring that all true wisdom begins with the fear of the Lord—a reverent submission to the Creator. The immediate implication from this truth is that we cannot manufacture our own wisdom because it is a gift of God's grace. True wisdom anchors our souls against the deceptive allure of the world.

Our fallen pride tells us we can find happiness by doing things our own way. We look at the schemes of the ungodly, and the world’s promises of quick wealth, popularity, and independence and these things are deeply appealing. In Proverbs 1, Solomon warns his son—and us—against the enticements of the world. He exposes the reality that those who chase unjust gain are ultimately setting an ambush for their own lives.

But the chapter does not leave us with just a warning. As is often the case, especially in the first 9 chapters of Proverbs, wisdom herself is personified, crying out in the streets and public squares. She calls out to the "simple" and the "scoffers" who hate knowledge. This public pronouncement along with the protection against the allure of the world should ultimately point to one thing: it should point us to Jesus Christ, who in the New Testament is revealed as the very wisdom of God (1 Corinthians 1:30). When Lady Wisdom declares, "If you turn at my reproof, behold, I will pour out my spirit to you," we see the divine offer of the gospel. Unlike the foolish who despise correction and face the natural calamity of their rebellion, those who are given ears to hear are kept in peace and security.

This chapter is a call to examine your heart. True, saving wisdom doesn’t just make you a clever person; it transforms your desires and brings you into joyful submission to the Lord. The question to ask yourself today is whose wisdom are you trusting? Are you trusting in the wisdom of the Lord which is right and good and true or are you trusting in the wisdom of yourself, the wisdom of the world? The answer is found in whether you are living in the fear of the Lord.