WISDOM’S CALL

Proverbs chapter 8




Today we are walking in: Wisdom’s Call




Exodus 3:18




And they shall hearken to thy voice: and thou shalt come, thou and the elders of Israel, unto the king of Egypt, and ye shall say unto him, The LORD God of the Hebrews hath met with us: and now let us go, we beseech thee, three days' journey into the wilderness, H4057 that we may sacrifice to the LORD our God.






Today we look to the word-WILDERNESS- H4057 midbar --wilderness, pasture, uninhabited land






The Torah testifies.......................................






Genesis 16:7




And the angel of the LORD found her by a fountain of water in the wilderness, H4057 by the fountain in the way to Shur.






Exodus 4:27




And the LORD said to Aaron, Go into the wilderness H4057 to meet Moses. And he went, and met him in the mount of God, and kissed him.





Numbers 14:33




And your children shall wander in the wilderness H4057 forty years, and bear your whoredoms, until your carcases be wasted in the wilderness. H4057






Deuteronomy 1:31




And in the wilderness, H4057 where thou hast seen how that the LORD thy God bare thee, as a man doth bear his son, in all the way that ye went, until ye came into this place.







The prophets proclaim..................








Isaiah 42:11




Let the wilderness H4057 and the cities thereof lift up their voice, the villages that Kedar doth inhabit: let the inhabitants of the rock sing, let them shout from the top of the mountains.





Isaiah 43:19




Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, H4057 and rivers in the desert.





Jeremiah 9:12




Who is the wise man, that may understand this? and who is he to whom the mouth of the LORD hath spoken, that he may declare it, for what the land perisheth and is burned up like a wilderness, H4057 that none passeth through?





Ezekiel 20:13




But the house of Israel rebelled against me in the wilderness: H4057 they walked not in my statutes, and they despised my judgments, which if a man do, he shall even live in them; and my sabbaths they greatly polluted: then I said, I would pour out my fury upon them in the wilderness, H4057 to consume them.








The Writings bear witness.............










Joshua 1:4




From the wilderness H4057 and this Lebanon even unto the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and unto the great sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your coast.






2Chronicles 1:3




So Solomon, and all the congregation with him, went to the high place that was at Gibeon; for there was the tabernacle of the congregation of God, which Moses the servant of the LORD had made in the wilderness. H4057






Nehemiah 9:19




Yet thou in thy manifold mercies forsookest them not in the wilderness: H4057 the pillar of the cloud departed not from them by day, to lead them in the way; neither the pillar of fire by night, to shew them light, and the way wherein they should go.





Psalm 65:12




They drop upon the pastures of the wilderness: H4057 and the little hills rejoice on every side.





Psalm 78:15




He clave the rocks in the wilderness, H4057 and gave them drink as out of the great depths.








Wisdom’s Call




Wisdom calls out to everyone. She lifts up her voice, calling out loudly, to give instructions and warnings.




The Scriptures teach us that those who are wise, will heed Wisdom’s Call.




But those who are foolish, will refuse her Call.




In the Bible, in the book of Proverbs, we see this Call of Wisdom given in multiple places.




Wisdom’s Call




To see Wisdom’s Call, let’s look in the book of Proverbs:




“Unto you, I am calling. I am calling out to all of you. My voice is to everyone! Hear; for I will speak of excellent things. My mouth shall speak truth. Hearken unto me, all of you, for happy are they that keep my ways!” (Proverbs 8:4; 8:6-7; 8:32 )




“Receive my instruction, and not silver; for wisdom is better than rubies. My reward is better than fine gold. I am a tree of life to them that lay hold upon me. I lead in the way of righteousness. Those who keep sound wisdom and discretion, shall walk safely, and shall not stumble.” (Proverbs 8:10-11; 8:19-20; Proverbs 3:18; 3:21-23 )




“How long, simple, foolish ones, will you love foolishness? How long will you delight in scoffing? Turn at my reproof, and see, I will pour out my spirit unto you and make my words known unto you!” (Proverbs 1:22-23)




As we see in the above passages, Wisdom’s Call offers treasures that are far better than any worldly treasures! Wisdom’s treasures are truth, blessings, life, and the spirit of wisdom!




Wise and Discerning




All of us are drawn to wisdom. There is something profound about wisdom. Everyone seems to know instinctively that by wisdom, they will gain direction and proper solutions. And, they know that by wisdom, they will avoid problems and sorrows. That indeed is a treasure!




Some people think the way to gain wisdom is by acquiring knowledge. Knowledge is a good thing, but having knowledge is no guarantee we will have wisdom! Knowledge is not the same as wisdom. There are many well-educated, knowledgeable people who do not have wisdom!




Some people think a person is born with wisdom. We tend to think a person is wise if they seem to be clever, or have a measure of ‘common sense.’ But this is not the case. Wisdom goes deeper than any mental abilities. True wisdom is a gift that comes from Yah, and it must be sought after, and cultivated (Proverbs 2:6; James 1:5).




If we could describe wisdom, we might say that wisdom is loving and gracious. It is discerning, and has good understanding. It is also humble, and is long-suffering. It is pure and permanent. Wisdom is having spiritual discernment and an understanding heart.




Such qualities are rare, and are not due to greater intelligence or knowledge! Wisdom is a quality far beyond man’s own abilities.




So how can we obtain the Treasure of Wisdom? How can we have a wise, discerning heart, and be of good understanding? How can we “Get Wisdom“?




The Book of Proverbs




The book of Proverbs urges us many times, and in various ways, to “Get Wisdom!”




Why should we Get Wisdom? Because Wisdom is the principal thing! Wisdom is the first thing needed in order to grow up, and mature into a responsible person (see Proverbs chapter 4).




The book of Proverbs offers much in the way of insight and understanding. It tells us how to live according to the blessings of Wisdom. For me personally, it was the book of Proverbs that led to my own awareness of my sinful ways, and the realization of my need for a Saviour. The Proverbs revealed to me the true, ever-lasting Path that leads to Life and well-being (see Proverbs 5 and Psalms 16).




When I first began to read the book of Proverbs, I was thirsting for genuine direction. I was hungering for true and righteous counsel. Unknown to me at the time, I was thirsting for the Fountain of Living Waters. And as I began reading the Proverbs, the excellency of the words touched the deepest part of my being — my spirit.




I had already tasted of what the world offers for satisfying my search for truth. The Enemy of my soul offered only worldly, corrupt knowledge and temptations. I had tasted the world’s offers of direction and satisfaction. Instead of satisfying and answering my needs, the world’s offers were bitter and destructive! (Jeremiah 2:13; 17:13; John 4:10; Revelation 7:17).




My point here is for us to begin heeding Wisdom’s Call.




Able to Make You Wise




First and foremost, as the Scriptures admonish us over and over, the written Word of Yah [the Bible] is the only true source of wisdom! It is the only guide that will help us learn how to obtain a wise and understanding heart. Only the written Word of Yah Elohim [the Most High Yah] will lead us into knowing how to possess true, Biblical wisdom:




From a child you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise unto salvation through faith which is in Messiah Yahusha [Christ Jesus]. (2 Timothy 3:15)




The entrance of Your Words gives light [direction, enlightenment]; it [Yah’s Word] gives understanding unto the simple. (Psalms 119:130)




Your Word is a lamp [guidance] unto my feet, and a light unto my path. (Psalms 119:105)




For the commandment is a lamp; and the law [Torah] is light; and reproofs (corrections, chastisement) of instruction are the way of life. (Proverbs 6:23)




Let the Word of Messiah dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom,… (Colossians 3:16a)




As these verses tell us, if we desire to be wise, it is the holy Scriptures, the written Word of Yah [the Bible], that we need to learn and obey. Yah’s Word, when obeyed, will give us true wisdom and understanding! It is the written Word of Yah Elohim [the Hebrew name for the Most High Yah, the Yah of Israel], that is able to make us wise!




The above verse in 2 Timothy also shows us the GOAL of true, genuine wisdom: salvation, through faith in Messiah Yahusha.




Any other ‘wisdom’ that does not have this fundamental goal is not true wisdom. Any other ‘wisdom’ may seem to be attractive or beneficial, but if the ‘wisdom’ we embrace lacks this goal of salvation, then we are in dangerous territory. Furthermore, any ‘wisdom’ that is contrary to the written Word of Yah — or that ‘takes away from‘ or ‘adds to‘ the written Scriptures — is not wisdom at all, but is a false and foolish notion (Deuteronomy 4:1-2; 12:32; Proverbs 30:6; 1 Corinthians 3:19; Isaiah 30:1).




All the Treasures of Wisdom




After we take the first step of wisdom through faith in Messiah Yahusha, we can then go on to grow in the wisdom that is in Messiah.




As a loving Father, Yah begins to gently correct us and chastise us, so that we may grow in our obedience to Messiah’s Words. Our obedience becomes our wisdom, and is visible to all (Deuteronomy 4:5-6).




Many want to have wisdom, but – they by-pass wisdom’s requirement of obedience to Messiah’s commandments (“If you love me, keep MY commandments.”), including those commandments He gave to Moses. The WORD of Yah – who is Messiah Yahusha, “the WORD made flesh” – He is the ONE who gave the commandments to Moses.




The “Wise Virgins” know Messiah’s identity as the WORD of Yah, [“the WORD made flesh“]. The “Wise Virgins” have wisdom because they obey His commandments, including those He gave to Moses.




The “Foolish Virgins” do not know Messiah’s identity as the WORD of Yah. As a result, they do not have wisdom — because they fail to obey “His” commandments, including those He gave to Moses (Matthew 7:23).




The Scriptures tell us in many passages, that wisdom and understanding comes from our obedience to Messiah’s Words. If we by-pass obedience to His Words, then we by-pass HIM! If we by-pass HIM, then we miss out on “ALL the treasures of wisdom and knowledge!“ (John 1:1, 14; John 15:10; Colossians 2:2-3; 1 John 5:3)




How very grievous and tragic it will be on the Day of Judgment for those who reject the treasures of wisdom that are to be found in obedience to Messiah Yahusha’s Words!




Yah’s Wisdom Gives Life




Let us therefore remember that Yah [the Most High] gave us His written Word for our good and for our profit (2 Timothy 3:16-17). He gave us His Word, not to harm us, but to help us!




The wisdom of obedience to Yah’s Word gives us the abundant LIFE that Yahusha promised to those who follow Him:




The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I [Yahusha] am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. (John 10:10)




For wisdom is a defense, and money is a defense: but the excellency of knowledge is, that wisdom giveth life to them that have it. (Ecclesiastes 7:12)




As these verses teach us, it is the thief [Satan] who ultimately destroys. But Yah’s Son gives us abundant LIFE.




As we saw in Let Us Follow On to Know Yah, when we learn and apply the wisdom that comes from Yah, through our obedience to the written Scriptures, then we will avoid the foolishness of…




“ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth” (2 Timothy 3:7).




We will also avoid the deception that comes to those who hear and know what the Scriptures say, but they do not do [obey] what it says (James 1:22).




If we are firm and unshakeable in our conviction that the written Scriptures show us the way to true wisdom, understanding, and truth, then we can begin to look at the next step that will help us in our journey to obtaining the Treasure of Wisdom.




There are many Bible verses that reveal The Way to obtain a wise and discerning heart. For now however, we will focus on one Scripture passage which is so important that it bears repeating.




The Beginning of Wisdom




If we desire true wisdom, then we must begin at the place where true wisdom begins! Only Yah knows the place of wisdom’s beginnings. He has told us this place:




The fear of Yah [the Most High] is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do His commandments: His praise endureth for ever. (Psalms 111:10)




This verse in Psalms reveals to us where the very beginning of wisdom is: the Fear of Yah [the Most High].




No one really comes close to having true wisdom unless they have a measure of the Fear of Yah. So this Fear of Yah is foundational to gaining wisdom. It is the first step — the beginning of wisdom.




We looked in-depth at the Fear of Yah so I will only give a brief summary here.




In summary, we learned that the Fear of Yah means to have great fear, along with great reverence, toward Yah, our Creator, our heavenly Father. We learned that when we truly reverence someone, we are on the edge of fearing that person.




Here are two verses that give us practical insights into the Fear of Yah:




Praise ye Yah. Blessed is the man that feareth Yah, that delighteth greatly in His commandments. (Psalms 112:1)




Blessed is every one that feareth Yah; that walketh in His ways. (Psalms 128:1)




As these two verses tell us, the very practical indicator that we are learning the Fear of Yah, is that we have great delight in obeying and keeping His commandments, and we walk in His ways. Those who genuinely desire to obtain true, Biblical wisdom will choose these steps to begin their journey for heeding Wisdom’s Call.




The Treasure of Wisdom




Thirsty Souls thirst and hunger for true, Biblical wisdom. They will choose to obey Yah’s commandments and instructions in His written Word, the Bible. They begin to heed Wisdom’s Call, by adjusting their every-day lifestyle to be obedient to Yah’s Word. And truly, Wisdom’s Call is essentially Yah’s Call! (See Psalms 27:8)




Yah [the Most High] is always calling unto us to receieve His guidance and instruction, so that we may live a meaningful life – a life full of purpose, and walking in His protection. Wisdom from Yah is His gift to us. When we heed Father’s wisdom, then our understanding of His ways is enlightened, making our pathway with Him more sure, bright, and evident!




It is an honor to begin walking according to Wisdom’s Call because it means that Yah has imparted to us spiritual insight and discernment. Biblical wisdom offers us the things that only the Ruach HaQaesh teaches! Yah’s wisdom is only for the spiritually-minded because “the natural man receives not the things of the Spirit of Yah: for they are foolishness unto him… ” (see 1 Corinthians 2).




Having the Fear of Yah by obeying His written Word, this is the only pathway to obtaining true, Biblical wisdom! There is no alternate pathway for obtaining the Treasure of Wisdom!




Yah’s Wisdom will lead us into the Way of Truth, and give us the abundant Life. This abundant life may be difficult and lonely at times. Sometimes this way will have pressures and struggles. But to be able to walk WITH Yah — that in itself is worth any difficulty!




If we desire the true, everlasting wisdom from Yah, then our search must begin at the place where true wisdom begins. We must begin to be teachable and tender-hearted toward learning the Scriptures, so that we can walk in the Fear of Yah.




Listening to Wisdom’s Call, and heeding her Call [as seen throughout the Proverbs], requires a sensitive and humble heart. It requires a strong desire to be found faithful and pleasing to Yah (Isaiah 56:4; Hebrews 11:6). It takes time, effort, and self-discipline, to learn Yah’s Word for ourselves, and begin to obey it.




But do not lose heart, Fiveamprayer! Father rewards those who diligently seek Him! He rewards every single one of our efforts of faith toward Him, no matter how small!




Walk Worthy of His Calling




Let us therefore learn, by His abundant grace, to have a willingness to discipline ourselves to follow the guidance revealed in the written Scriptures [the Bible]. Let us look carefully into Father’s Word, learning for ourselves, His instructions and His warnings.




Father has done so much for us! He loves us so intensely! He sent His beloved Son to us for our salvation! He loved us first (1 John 4:19) — can we not love Him in return?




If we will trust in Yah Elohim [the Most High Yah], trust in His Son’s sacrificial death on our behalf, and then obey His Words, we will then begin to find the true, enduring Wisdom of Yah.




[A good place to begin learning Yah’so Wisdom is the book of Proverbs.]




Let us walk in a manner worthy of His Calling, with all humility, gentleness, and patience.




And let us be thankful to Father, for any understanding and wisdom that Father imparts to us!