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Wisdom Speaks

Wisdom speaks….

No matter your particular gender you more than likely have experienced hearing the alluring speech of a beautiful woman…one that knows she is beautiful, knows her demeanor is charming & attractive…& you knew it too! Her aura screamed ‘come hither’ & you @ least gave pause out of pure curiosity. Yet somehow, her beauty & smooth, soothing words belied the hunch in your spirit that something just wasn’t right with her. Israel’s King Solomon, the wisest man (other than Christ) that ever lived described this woman in the 5th chapter of the book of Proverbs, vs 3-5 specifically. “For the lips of a strange woman drop as an honeycomb, and her mouth is smoother than oil: 4. But her end is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a two-edged sword. 5. Her feet go down to death; her steps take hold on hell.”

In contrast, Proverbs chapter 8 reads as wisdom’s self declaration of her purity! The chapter opens up with ‘wisdom’ showing she is not to proud to beg….for the attention of the ignorant that is….she cries out to the simple…”1. Doth not wisdom cry? and understanding put forth her voice?….. 4. Unto you, O men, I call; and my voice is to the sons of man. 5. O ye simple, understand wisdom: and, ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart. “She describes herself as a woman who operates in direct contrast to the winking jezebel that Solomon pulls back the covers on in chapter 5. If the woman in 5 is coined as ‘strange’, then the innocent, yet righteously boastful one of 8 lauds herself as the ‘ultimate’ woman. She states that she IS understanding…& that she possesses ‘strength’..vs.14.

After a recent 3 hour long bible study of chapter 8 with 3 other humble yet strong men of God, I was taken aback to say the least at ‘wisdom’s assertions of herself. Verses 7 & 8 read as follows….”For my mouth shall speak truth; and wickedness is an abomination to my lips. 8. All the words of ‘my’ mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing froward or perverse in them.” WOW! That is a pretty hefty boast! She is basically saying that EVERYTHING coming forth from her mouth is pure truth. She is reassuring her audience that she can be more than trusted! Sounds a lot like a modern day empty campaign promise I know….but she claims to be different. After all, she is the very ‘character’ of Jehova…God almighty! Through the rest of the chapter she rattles off her ancient resume. She says the most High used her to create all things good. She brags about her whereabouts when time began…..”I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was. 24. When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water. 25. Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth:”…(vs.23-25).

In a day & age where lies are about as abundant as oxygen & heartache, this chapter of the bible is seriously uplifting for me. I believe God allowed me to attend that bible study with fellow brothers that I respected immensely to remind me that wisdom is still alive! We need only to apply it. Sometimes it comes in the form of an attractive package & other times it shows up in the form of a very difficult & against the grain choice. Either way….according to Proverbs 8, wisdom indeed is to be desired, to be coveted, to even be chased.

At the onset of our bible study the ‘facilitator’ asked us a question…..”What is wisdom to you?” My answer, though a bit long & drawn out could be summed up in this statement, “God’s way of doing things.” The most desirable woman in history shed lots of light on her own ways in chapter 8 of Proverbs. Read the words of the self professed ‘Ms. Universe’ for yourself, you will be blessed. Patch out for now…1love.

By: Carlton McDuffie