Biblical wisdom is not how you think and having sage advice and answers, Biblical wisdom is much about living righteously. That’s why it begins with a fear of the LORD.
In these opening proverbs Solomon is dealing with a timeless issue. In one’s older age a man or woman can look back over the span of their lives and see those who have lived righteously, and those who haven’t. Those who have lived wisely, and those who have lived like fools. It’s not hard to see that there are great rewards in righteousness.
Yet there is the young and certainly believe they have a better way of doing things. That times have “progressed” and the older ways are “outdated.” There’s a confusion and lack of discernment between those truths that are timeless–righteousness, and the tools of the times, the methods of how things are done in particular that don’t pertain to righteousness.
If a young person with their energy and zeal can gain wisdom, they are unstoppable. But the newness of the times is always a battle for the youth in every generation.
Solomon begins this part of his proverbs by admonishing once again that his son pursue wisdom and righteousness, the things his father was teaching him. There are many proverbs
– Never let loyalty and faithfulness leave you (v. 3)
– Trust in the LORD with all your heart (v. 5)
– Fear the LORD and turn away from evil (v. 7)
– Honor the LORD with your first fruits (v. 9)
Solomon says this.
“Happy is a man who finds wisdom and who acquires understanding, for she is more profitable than silver and her revenue is better than gold” (v. 13-14). And it’s true. Wisdom will pay dividends all the days of our lives while silver and gold come and go, sifting through our fingers.
Solomon continues to give advice to his son.
“Maintain your competence and discretion. My son, don’t lose sight of them” (v. 21).
In this fuzzy world, it’s easy to lose sight of such things. Especially for those whose hearts are not fully turned to the LORD.
Then Solomon continues to speak about being a good neighbor. A good neighbor was an important virtue in Scripture. Because being a neighbor is an act of trust in the person living next door.
The advice is more.
“When it is in your power, don’t withhold good from the one it belongs to.” Don’t say to your neighbor. “Go away! Come back later. I’ll give it tomorrow”–when it is there with you” (v. 27-28). Good words.
The words of wisdom continue about not envying a violent man, or bringing accusation against someone without cause.
And then mockery.
“He mocks those who mock, but gives grace to the humble” (v. 34).
Honestly it’s only been in recent years that I’ve come to greater understanding of the power and the evil of mockery. It’s so rampant in culture and night television series/comedy. The reality is if you can get someone to mock another person, another group, or anything, then they solidify deeply and quickly into the values and beliefs of the mocker. Regardless of truth.
I’ve also seen that mockery and murder go hand in hand. Look at those who commit murder and oftentimes you will find they were mocked in their background. And if you’ve ever been mocked, you think thoughts that aren’t righteous. Not necessarily physical murder but rather murder of their reputation, murder of their success and more.
I also think of this in the context of political news. A person takes one event half way out of context, labels them as a derogatory term (there are many in the news cycle today), and then that opens the door for the pathway to murder. Murder of their business and reputation (cancel culture), murder of their jobs and their lives (jail), and sometimes, actual murder. Slap a label on them, get people to mock them, and literally everything is possible.
Mockery is dangerous territory. Be careful you don’t “sit in the seat of mockers” (Ps 1).