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Wisdom IS the Principle Thing

I have been reading - since May 1st - the Psalms and Proverbs.  I've gotten to Psalm 111, and have read through Proverbs 3 times now, working on the fourth.  I love the Wisdom literature.

Now, I don't want to assume anything, so let me point out that the Wisdom literature is that part of the Old Testament that contains the books Job, Psalm, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes and Song of Songs (Solomon).  It's known as the Wisdom literature even though it could be appropriately called the Poetry literature.  Most of the writings in this part of the Old Testament is written in Poetic styles.  It's beautiful literature and contrasts life in a nitty gritty way.  I've recently finished a summer series in Ecclesiastes.  If you're interested you can catch some of that nitty gritty aspect of life - "Life Under the Sun" - on our church's web site -  http://www.nlfellowship.org/.  Just check under the section under the heading "Teaching" to listen.

Here's a sample of the beauty of the wisdom literature.
Proverbs 4:5-8 (NIV)
5  Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or swerve from them.
6  Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you.
7  Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding.
8  Esteem her, and she will exalt you; embrace her, and she will honor you.

Look at the words and read them slowly...  
Get Wisdom - it's there for us to receive and our duty to go after
get Understanding - it's not a matter of just reading the words, it's applying them to our lives 
do not forget...do not forsake wisdom

Now, this is where the beauty comes in.

SHE will protect you, love HER, SHE will watch over you... (later on) esteem HER, SHE will exalt you, embrace HER, and SHE will honor you.

I love the symbolism of what this man is writing.  He sees wisdom as personified by the images of a Woman, His Mother, His Wife, His Sister.  Wisdom is pictured as a woman who prepares the house with order and beauty.

The end of the matter is vs 7,  "Wisdom is supreme; therefore get IT...though it cost you all you have, get understanding".

How many times have we thought, "Oh, I wished I had thought about that first?";  or, "I wished I had known that before I went ahead and did/said/watched, etc... that?"

Peace

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