Wisdom’s Help

Prayer

Reading: Prov 1:23.

Meditation.

Have you ever needed help? Have you ever felt yourself to be helpless? I sometimes feel that the Christian life is nothing but a growing sense of my own helplessness. But, as we sometimes sing, our God is mighty to save. In Proverbs 1:23, God offers us four particular kinds of help through these words of Lady Wisdom.

First, wisdom offers correction: “If you turn at my reproof.” As we begin our quest to gain wisdom here at the beginning of the Book of Proverbs, one thing is sure: at times, it’s not going to be pleasant. The reason for that is because we need reproof so that we may repent and turn from our sinful conduct. Every Christian needs correction, and even discipline. As we continue through the Book of Proverbs, we should expect a spiritual workout. We don’t enter this world born with wisdom, but rather foolishness is our natural estate. We need correction, and wisdom offers it to us.

Second, wisdom calls for repentance: “If you turn at my reproof...” It’s one thing to listen to what wisdom is saying, and hear her words of correction, and that is certainly essential. The next step, however, will be that we must also respond to what wisdom is saying. We must turn at her reproof. We must stop going in the direction we’re heading, and head in a new direction. Consider Proverbs 19:9 as an example: “A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who breathes out lies will perish.” As we consider that proverb, the reproof is clear: stop bearing false witness, stop lying, otherwise we will perish. We could open that up more, but the simple point is there: wisdom calls for an actual change in the way we’re living.

But a mere call to change is not enough, because our own hearts are often inclined to follow in foolish ways. We actually need a heart transformation, and wisdom does not fail to deliver, because the third thing she offers is divine empowerment. “If you turn at my reproof, behold, I will pour out my spirit to you; I will make my words known to you.” Now at this point, it’s helpful to remember the basic unity between the Old and New Covenants. The Old Covenant looked forward to Christ through shadows and symbols, the New Covenant comes with the full revelation of Christ. It still remains, however, that across both covenants God remained the same. Whether under the old or the new covenants, spiritual transformation has always been a work of his Spirit. Wisdom thus offers nothing less than a divine promise of help from the Holy Spirit.

As we hear the voice of wisdom calling and turn, God gives us his Holy Spirit, and then comes the fourth offer of help: wisdom opens our heart to the word. “If you turn at my reproof, behold, I will pour out my spirit to you; I will make my words known to you.” At all times, scripture reveals that it is his word that transforms us as we listen to him speaking through it, and see his glorious excellence revealed to us. In 2 Tim 3:16-17 we read: “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” We receive wisdom, not by anything we possess, but by God’s enabling power. He pours out his Spirit upon us, and he opens up his word to us.

Be ye doers of the word...

In a practical sense, what this boils down to is that: (1) we need to listen to wisdom; (2) we need to turn from our sin as wisdom warns us of our sin; (3) we need to prayerfully look to God for the provision of his Holy Spirit; and (4) we need to prayerfully study the word of God – and particularly the Book of Proverbs. Listen, repent, pray, study. Repeat. Listen, repent, pray, study. Repeat. As we begin to live out these things in our lives, God has promised that he will go to work to put wisdom in our hearts. So then, wisdom is calling. Wisdom offers help to us. Listen to her voice, turn at her reproof – change your life as you become aware of changes that are needed. Pray for God’s enabling help, and give yourself to the diligent study of his word, and especially to the Book of Proverbs. We might feel helpless at times, but help is close at hand. SDG.

Prayer of Confession & Consecration.

Heavenly Father, I thank you for the help that you provide in time of need. I thank you for your word, for your Spirit’s powerful work in the hearts of your people, for rebukes and correction, and for clear directions for our repentance. I pray that you would help me to heed your corrections in my life, and to turn away from sin. Please help me, Lord, pour out your Spirit upon me. Without your Spirit’s help, my will and affections would be utterly set against you and all your wise corrections. I am a simpleton and a fool, but you are able to work wisdom into me. Please give me wisdom, and please pour out your Spirit on me. I pray too, may you pour out your Spirit upon all the saints, and upon your people in my local church – that they too may hear the voice of wisdom, and turn at your reproof. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

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