Day 16 – Just Get It!

Proverbs 4:5a [NKJV] Get wisdom! Get understanding!

Can I be honest? To me, the words of Proverbs 4:1-19 read like a lecture from my father or mother. As I read through it, I get the image of myself saying these words to my own children while my kids are doing dramatic eye rolls behind my back.

And when it comes to verse 5, I raise my voice for emphasis and shout “Get wisdom! Get understanding” – “Just get it” – in the same tone that I would use if a wet dog was sprinting out of the bath and heading out the door to the mud puddle in the back yard. “Get it! Don’t let it escape.”

It seems like Solomon, who received great wisdom as a gift from God, understood that the rest of us weren’t quite so lucky. We must work toward getting wisdom. Further, Solomon knows that understanding should be the companion of wisdom. We can know a lot without truly understanding it, but just knowing things is not enough.

I go to a primarily bi-lingual church these days and can now sing a couple of songs completely in Spanish. I don’t understand most of what I am saying – only a few key words. So, mostly I am just parroting the rest of the congregation.

However, I am gradually actually learning some conversational Spanish because the brethren are teaching me by pronouncing words and giving me the English equivalent. Understanding the words is very helpful to retaining them and being able to use them appropriately.

The Bible is full of wisdom. To get it, we must immerse ourselves in the Word on a regular basis. But really understanding God’s word comes from the Holy Spirit. To get understanding through the Holy Spirit we must be open to the Spirit, listening to its workings in our hearts and minds. 

Solomon rightly implies that we have to be active participants in the process of gaining both wisdom and understanding. We must seek it. Go after it. Spend time where we will find it. Run after it and chase it down if necessary.

So, sweet sisters: Get wisdom! Get understanding! Lecture over.

Prayer — Father God, all wisdom and understanding comes from You – from Your Holy Spirit and from Your Word, the Bible. As Your child, I want to grow in Your wisdom and in understanding of Your Word. Today, I ask You to dwell in me, to lead me and to help me to grow in the wisdom and understanding that can only come from You. Help me to be guided by it and to direct my life according to it. In Jesus’ name I ask. Amen.

Your thoughts —  

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