My fruit is better than gold, even fine gold, and my yield than choice silver. (Proverbs 8:19)

Yesterday we talked about the preeminence of wisdom and we saw that the word “preeminence” means superiority. We looked at the qualities of Wisdom that define her preeminence.

Today we are going to discuss the presence of Wisdom, or more accurately, the absence of Wisdom.

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The passages we are considering today are particularly relevant to the times in which we are currently living. Throughout our nation and around the world there is uncertainty, fear, and violence – all resulting in great suffering. We are witnessing, in real time, what life looks like when man rules without Wisdom, without God. As we watch and experience what is going on all around us, one can only wonder if Wisdom is present at all; and if she is, why doesn’t she show herself?

¹⁵ By me kings reign, and rulers decree what is just; ¹⁶ by me princes rule, and nobles, all who govern justly. ¹⁷ I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently find me. ¹⁸ Riches and honor are with me, enduring wealth and righteousness. ¹⁹ My fruit is better than gold, even fine gold, and my yield than choice silver. ²⁰ I walk in the way of righteousness, in the paths of justice, ²¹ granting an inheritance to those who love me, and filling their treasuries. (Proverbs 8:15-21)

Let’s look at the above passage to see if we can find some answers.

• Wisdom rules in those who are just. 
• Wisdom comes to those who seek after her. 
• Wisdom resides with those who love her. 
• Wisdom inhabits the hearts and minds of the righteous. 
• Wisdom takes authority over those who accept her.

So, the question becomes, does man truly want wisdom? How many of those characteristics can we put a check mark by? Let’s honestly ask ourselves if we want to be governed by the justice and righteousness of Godly Wisdom, or do we really want things to be according to what we think is right? Previously we talked about co-existence; that applies here. We can not have it both ways. We can’t have it our way and God’s way. Why not you ask? God tells us:

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. (Isaiah 55:8-9) 

“The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick; Who can understand it? (Jeremiah 17:9)

It is clear to see from scripture that man is wicked and therefore is not able to do what is right. Until and unless we surrender our will to God’s will, the uncertainty, fear, and violence we say we detest will continue.

Is there any hope for us? Of course there is! The word of God affirms it – our hope is in the Lord.

We must remember that no matter what our eyes see or our ears hear, no matter what our minds tell us – God is always sovereign, He is always on His throne, and He is forever faithful to His word. The things of this world don’t make sense most of the time, but if we will bend our ears to the voice of God rather than the voice of the world, we will find that the world’s noise will become more and more dim. And if we are steadfast, eventually the noise will fade completely away.