Happy is the One who Finds Wisdom
3: 13-18
A proverb is a short and memorable saying designed to be our blueprint for living in the world that ADONAI has created. It is important to note that proverbs are not promises; they are generally true principles, all other things being equal.
The father’s fourth teaching (to see link click Aj – Proverbs for the Youth) Proverbs Chapter 3 explains why wisdom matters and what wisdom creates. Wisdom matters, according to verses 13 to 26, because wisdom is the open secret of the universe. It is not a private opinion, take it or leave it. Wisdom is how life works! We can disregard that for a while and get away with it, because ADONAI built it so well. But we want the last chapter of our stories to be the best, don’t we? So wisdom matters. Wisdom also creates something, according to verses 27 to 35. Wisdom creates a culture of life amid this culture of death called the world (First John 2:15-16). Wisdom is a community experience. It is a shared experience of life in its fullness (John 10:10). Let’s go there together.
The proverb’s identity is revealed by the first word: happy . . . happy is everyone who finds it. My son, happy the one who finds Lady Wisdom, and the one who gains understanding (3:13 Hebrew). We see the word happy at the beginning of verse 13 and at the end of verse 18, marking these verses off as a paragraph. This key word, the one (Hebrew ‘adam, meaning, generic man, a human being), in this paragraph is easy to overlook because wisdom is available to everyone.86 The word “blessed: is from the Hebrew root esher, which is not strictly synonymous with another Hebrew root also often translated bless (brk). The word used here is closer to the English word happy, whereas brk speaks more of being empowered or favored as the recipient of blessing from ADONAI. Thus the proverb proclaims that those who find wisdom, who gain competence, are truly happy.
However, what does it mean to find wisdom? The text doesn’t specifically say, but from a wider context we might think of wisdom as a journey like sanctification. Over time one grows in wisdom. But in a more fundamental sense, wisdom is not a content that is accumulated; it is an attitude, a state of mind, which is most pointedly captured by the phrase the fear of ADONAI (see Ai – The Fear of ADONAI is the Beginning of Wisdom). Those who fear YHVH are those who have found wisdom because, as we learn as we proceed through Proverbs, but most dramatically in Chapters 8 and 9, God is the source of all wisdom.87
Wisdom is worth whatever it takes, no price is too high. For wisdom is more profitable than silver, and her wages are better than gold, the standard measure of trade in those days. She is more precious than rubies, nothing you desire compares with her (3:14-15 NLT). Because money can put food on the table, but not fellowship around it, a house but not a home; and can give a woman jewelry but not the love she really works for. By contrast, wisdom gives both physical and spiritual benefits.88 The profit or value of wisdom surpasses them all. Solomon recognized this when he chose wisdom over wealth (see the Life of Solomon As – Solomon’s Wish). This type of comparison is used frequently in Proverbs (8:10, 19, and 16) and elsewhere, but nowhere is it as fully developed as in Job 28. The text develops the idea that gold and silver are immensely valuable precisely because they are difficult to extract from the earth. Though hard, humans can do it. But, finding wisdom is not just difficult, it is impossible for men and women. They cannot exert their strength or intelligence to find it. Obviously, only God has it, and thus the fear of God is necessary to obtain it.
Even your strongest desires or most fervent longing cannot surpass wisdom. As personified, Lady Wisdom (see Am – Lady Wisdom’s Rebuke of the Foolish) is said to hold gifts in her hands. She offers you long life in her right hand, and riches and honor on her left (3:16 NLT). Long life, honor, and riches are greatly desired by all humans, and here, we see that these are Lady Wisdom’s gifts to distribute to those with whom she has a relationship. Again, this provides great motivation for the pursuit of Lady Wisdom. She is the insight to life and the way the world works, so that the people avoid the pitfalls that might lead to an early death or a damaged reputation. Wisdom also allows one to have the insight that will gain material wealth (see At – Honor ADONAI from Your Wealth). Other passages will grapple with the fact that some wise people are not wealthy, healthy, and powerful, while some wicked people prosper (Psalms 37 and 73; Job, Ecclesiastes 7:15).89 All her ways are pleasant, and all her paths are peaceful (3:17 BSB). The plural word “ways,” continues to represent the many individual proverbs connected with one’s behavior in taking steps along the path of wisdom (2:8). Shalom and prosperity (3:2) are nouns, not adjectives.
Lady Wisdom is personified as a tree of life for those who take hold of her. Those who hold her fast will be happy (Proverbs 3:18 NIV, also see 11:30, 13:12, 15:4 and Revelation 2:7). At this point, we must remember that the primary audience of this text is young men to whom such a metaphor speaks volumes. The concept of a tree of life is part of the ancient Near Eastern culture in which Isra’el took part. It is mentioned in Genesis 2:2, 3:22, 24; Proverbs 3:18, 11:30, 13:12 and 15:4, in later Jewish eschatological literature (Esdras 4; Revelation 2:4). The image outside of Proverbs figuratively represents immortality and in Revelation 22:2 it also signifies healing (Ezeki’el 47:12). The Genesis narrative represents ‘adam seeking wisdom independent of YHVH by reaching for the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (see the commentary on Genesis Ba – The Woman Saw the Fruit of the Tree and Ate It). His rebellion led to the exclusion from the tree of life (see the commentary on Romans Bm – The Consequences of Adam). We regain that tree by humbling ourselves and receiving the words of eternal life by faith (see the commentary on The Life of Christ Ms – The Eternal Security of the Believer).90
Thus, Proverbs functions symbolically as the tree of life that was lost in Genesis 2:22-24. Yeshua Himself said: He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit of God says to the churches then and now. It is a spiritual principle that only those who desire to know God’s will can know Him (John 7:17). Only those who have spiritual ears can hear what the Ruach says. This is His promise. To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life (Gen 3:22-24), which is in the paradise of God (Rev 2:7). Believers are overcomers. For everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only those who believe that Yeshua is the Son of God (1 John 5:4-5). Until we reach the tree of life, meaning paradise, we take hold of life-giving wisdom of the book of Proverbs and, more importantly, to Yeshua Messiah, who supersedes Solomon’s wisdom.91
We can wreck our lives by settling for the path of worldly wisdom that makes us wealthy when YHVH is offering us godly wisdom that takes us to the tree of life. Do not accept counterfeit wisdom. Do not settle for wealth. If you like silver and gold and rubies (3:14-15), remember that they are mere metaphors for the life-giving grace of Messiah Himself. As you think of your life as a journey, what kind of path would you say you’ve spent most of your life traveling on? If you need to make some changes, what are your first steps? Take out a sheet of paper and write down the ways you walk differently when you walk in wisdom?
Dear heavenly Father, praise You for Your steadfast love and almighty power. Having faith in You is the only way to find true happiness! You embody all true wisdom. In Messian all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden (Colossians 2:2c-3). Guide me in Your truth and teach me, for You are God my Savior, and my hope is in You all day long (Psalm 25:5).
HOPE anchors the soul! Trusting in You brings sure hope!
HOPE in Salvation: You give your children access to your Heavenly Home thru Messiah’s blood. But whoever did receive Him, those trusting in His name, to these He gave the right to become children of God. (John 1:12).
HOPE in Messiah’s righteousness, not in one’s own good deeds: He made the One who knew no sin to become a sin offering on our behalf, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God (Second Corinthians 5:21).
HOPE in eternal joy of heaven: He shall wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more. Nor shall there be mourning or crying or pain any longer, for the former things have passed away (Revelation 21:1-4).
HOPE in never being separated from God’s love: But in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Messiah Yeshua our Lord (Romans 8:37-39).
HOPE in the LORD planning and guiding my life: For I know the plans that I have in mind for you,” declares ADONAI, “plans for shalom and not calamity – to give you a future and a hope. (Jeremiah 29:11).
HOPE in ADONAI listening to and answering my prayers: Then you will call on Me, and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you (Jeremiah 29:12). Now this is the confidence we have before Him – that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us – whatever we ask – we know that we have the requests we have asked from Him (First John 5:14-15).
HOPE in ADONAI’s abiding presence in me: Yeshua answered and said to him: If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word. My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our dwelling with him (John 14:23). For God Himself has said: I will never leave you or forsake you (Hebrews 13:5c).
Thank You for being such a wonderful heavenly Father and for giving me a sure hope in You! In Messiah Yeshua’s holy Name and power of His resurrection. Amen
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