"To know wisdom and instruction, to discern words for understanding, to receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, judgment, and equity."1
A wise man knows, perceives, receives, and gives understanding to the young. A wise man will hear, and increase learning, he is a man of understanding and will attain wise counsel so as to understand a proverb, an enigma, the words of wise and their riddles. The Bible states wisdom cries out in the streets, a fool despises wisdom and understanding, but a wise man listens to her calling.
"A righteous man knows the rights of the poor; a wicked man does not understand such knowledge."2
To know wisdom... A wise man knows wisdom, this word for know has much meaning in Hebrew as it does in Greek, it speaks of experiential knowledge, not just head knowledge. It is the principle of sowing that requires not just hearing but understanding. It means to know, learn to know, good and evil. We know that in the end times men will call good evil and evil good, they will not understand the difference. Wise men can discern the difference as they train for godliness, understanding. This know means to perceive, to find out and discern, discriminate, distinguish. It is to know by experience; to recognize, admit, acknowledge, confess.
"But he was pierced for our transgressions, bruised for our inquiries, the chastisement of our peace on him, with his stripes we are healed."
To know instruction... A wise man knows instruction, this word is derived from a Hebrew word meaning chastise. Chastise was literally (with blows) or figuratively (with words); hence, to instruct -- bind, chasten, chastise, correct, instruct, punish, reform, reprove, sore, teach. Chastisement was key to the Law in producing obedience in the children of God. The Law had power through the fear of punishment, "spare the rod, spoil the child" applies to this type of instruction. Such was a guardian until Christ who brought in a new covenant, he took the "blow for us" our chastisement was upon Him, the rod that should have punished us, He took for us. To know instruction is to know the words of truth.
"the goal of our instruction is love out of a pure heart, and a good conscience, and a faith sincere."6
A wise man knows and gives understanding to the young. This word for know means acquainted with. You have heard the expression, that to understand or know a person you must walk a mile in their shoes. Knowing speaks of experiential knowledge, not book learned nor something I think or conceive to be. Can we speak truth to someone we do not know and say it is love? Knowing a person is knowing the heart, not "judging the book by its cover." The scriptures speak of God measuring man this way, by the heart not the external. His wisdom exceeds that of man so we must trust in his guidance for true justice, judgment, and equity.
"Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding..."7
Wisdom is not trusting in rules and regulations but in God. Pharisaical leaders put focus on authority, command upon command, rule upon rule... Such authority places emphasis on obedience to such rules and will "conform" men to the thinking, traditions, and doctrines of men. Its focus is on performance not growth. But such focus creates slaves to organizations and governments, not free men. True leadership seeks to transform men not conform them. It seeks the welfare of the individual, not over powering men with authority and calling such justice. Peace is the effect of justice and righteousness dwelling in the land.
"I was a father to the needy, And I investigated the case which I did not know."8
A wise man discerns words for understanding. This Hebrew word for discern has a root word which means to separate mentally (or distinguish), i.e.(generally) understand -- attend, consider. Understanding is a principle of sowing, the good seed are those who hear the truth and understand it. The nature of truth is that it is placed on a lamp stand for all to see, it allows for understanding, for people to question its genuineness, to test that the deeds of men who proclaim such are good. Wise men seek to discern words for understanding, and they will listen to you, help your understanding.
"A wise man will hear and increase in learning. And a man of understanding attains wise counsel,"9
A wise man attains counsel. Wise counsel is attained so as to understand a proverb, an enigma, the words of wise and their riddles.10 Wise men seek to understand enigmas. The story of Job is an enigma to those who would think God only punishes the evil and rewards the good. Hosea is an riddle to those who would say God wouldn't tell you to marry a harlot. The letters of Paul are words of a wise man to be sought and his life confounds men who would put emphasis on earthly blessings above spiritual ones. Jesus would confound, be a stumbling stone to many. When we think we are wise, watch out, we will be confounded by such weak things.
A wise man seeks understanding. As Paul writes I claim not to have attained the wisdom of God but to be a man of understanding. To be around men who seek such spiritual food of wisdom and understanding. I have learned that these do not think highly of themselves, they allow for understanding. Since they seek your growth, developing trust is important to them, they are like protective fathers over you. They receive understanding themselves, they do not think they know it all, and will not use their authority to "lord" over you. They don't act like they have all the truth and that truth is kept in secret rooms by men, no, it is displayed for all to see.
"not as exercising authority over those in your charge but by being examples to your people."10
A wise man leads by example. This word for "exercising authority" means "I exercise authority over, overpower, master."11 I am not to do this, when I use my authority to lord over others I try to master them by over powering them. Such places man in a position of master, and such authority was given to Christ, Lord and Master. If I lord over man and Christ is Lord then I take authority from Christ. We attempt to master sin through earthly power, rules, and regulations but such fails. Paul writes we will not have mastery over sin under the law but under grace.
A wise man seeks growth. Wise leaders are men of understanding, growing themselves, therefore they do not focus on performance of the organization but on individual growth. They seek not disciples of themselves, nor servants of the organization, nor conformation to their beliefs. They seek transformation, "disciples of Christ," not conformation. They do not use their position of authority to convince men, nor do they use it for personal gain, but willingly they set examples of leadership, of humility, of seeking wisdom and understanding, of attaining wisdom when she cries out.
"Out in the open wisdom calls aloud, she raises her voice in the public square; on top of the wall she cries out, at the city gate she makes her speech:"8
A wise man receives the instruction of wisdom, justice, judgment, and equity. She calls out, wisdom and understanding. "Does not wisdom call, And understanding lift up her voice?"9 It is something we should attain, we must only ask God for it, but we must transform to its understanding. We must pay attention, receive her instruction when she calls to us, we must seek her justice, judgment, and equity. If we forsake wisdom when she calls, such comes with a warning, when dread comes she will laugh at our calamity.
A wise man knows, perceives, receives, and gives understanding to the young. A wise man will hear, and increase learning, he is a man of understanding and will attain wise counsel so as to understand a proverb, an enigma, the words of wise and their riddles. The Bible states wisdom cries out in the streets, a fool despises wisdom and understanding, but a wise man listens to her calling.
"A righteous man knows the rights of the poor; a wicked man does not understand such knowledge."2
To know wisdom... A wise man knows wisdom, this word for know has much meaning in Hebrew as it does in Greek, it speaks of experiential knowledge, not just head knowledge. It is the principle of sowing that requires not just hearing but understanding. It means to know, learn to know, good and evil. We know that in the end times men will call good evil and evil good, they will not understand the difference. Wise men can discern the difference as they train for godliness, understanding. This know means to perceive, to find out and discern, discriminate, distinguish. It is to know by experience; to recognize, admit, acknowledge, confess.
"But he was pierced for our transgressions, bruised for our inquiries, the chastisement of our peace on him, with his stripes we are healed."
To know instruction... A wise man knows instruction, this word is derived from a Hebrew word meaning chastise. Chastise was literally (with blows) or figuratively (with words); hence, to instruct -- bind, chasten, chastise, correct, instruct, punish, reform, reprove, sore, teach. Chastisement was key to the Law in producing obedience in the children of God. The Law had power through the fear of punishment, "spare the rod, spoil the child" applies to this type of instruction. Such was a guardian until Christ who brought in a new covenant, he took the "blow for us" our chastisement was upon Him, the rod that should have punished us, He took for us. To know instruction is to know the words of truth.
"the goal of our instruction is love out of a pure heart, and a good conscience, and a faith sincere."6
A wise man knows and gives understanding to the young. This word for know means acquainted with. You have heard the expression, that to understand or know a person you must walk a mile in their shoes. Knowing speaks of experiential knowledge, not book learned nor something I think or conceive to be. Can we speak truth to someone we do not know and say it is love? Knowing a person is knowing the heart, not "judging the book by its cover." The scriptures speak of God measuring man this way, by the heart not the external. His wisdom exceeds that of man so we must trust in his guidance for true justice, judgment, and equity.
"Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding..."7
Wisdom is not trusting in rules and regulations but in God. Pharisaical leaders put focus on authority, command upon command, rule upon rule... Such authority places emphasis on obedience to such rules and will "conform" men to the thinking, traditions, and doctrines of men. Its focus is on performance not growth. But such focus creates slaves to organizations and governments, not free men. True leadership seeks to transform men not conform them. It seeks the welfare of the individual, not over powering men with authority and calling such justice. Peace is the effect of justice and righteousness dwelling in the land.
"I was a father to the needy, And I investigated the case which I did not know."8
A wise man discerns words for understanding. This Hebrew word for discern has a root word which means to separate mentally (or distinguish), i.e.(generally) understand -- attend, consider. Understanding is a principle of sowing, the good seed are those who hear the truth and understand it. The nature of truth is that it is placed on a lamp stand for all to see, it allows for understanding, for people to question its genuineness, to test that the deeds of men who proclaim such are good. Wise men seek to discern words for understanding, and they will listen to you, help your understanding.
"A wise man will hear and increase in learning. And a man of understanding attains wise counsel,"9
A wise man attains counsel. Wise counsel is attained so as to understand a proverb, an enigma, the words of wise and their riddles.10 Wise men seek to understand enigmas. The story of Job is an enigma to those who would think God only punishes the evil and rewards the good. Hosea is an riddle to those who would say God wouldn't tell you to marry a harlot. The letters of Paul are words of a wise man to be sought and his life confounds men who would put emphasis on earthly blessings above spiritual ones. Jesus would confound, be a stumbling stone to many. When we think we are wise, watch out, we will be confounded by such weak things.
A wise man seeks understanding. As Paul writes I claim not to have attained the wisdom of God but to be a man of understanding. To be around men who seek such spiritual food of wisdom and understanding. I have learned that these do not think highly of themselves, they allow for understanding. Since they seek your growth, developing trust is important to them, they are like protective fathers over you. They receive understanding themselves, they do not think they know it all, and will not use their authority to "lord" over you. They don't act like they have all the truth and that truth is kept in secret rooms by men, no, it is displayed for all to see.
"not as exercising authority over those in your charge but by being examples to your people."10
A wise man leads by example. This word for "exercising authority" means "I exercise authority over, overpower, master."11 I am not to do this, when I use my authority to lord over others I try to master them by over powering them. Such places man in a position of master, and such authority was given to Christ, Lord and Master. If I lord over man and Christ is Lord then I take authority from Christ. We attempt to master sin through earthly power, rules, and regulations but such fails. Paul writes we will not have mastery over sin under the law but under grace.
A wise man seeks growth. Wise leaders are men of understanding, growing themselves, therefore they do not focus on performance of the organization but on individual growth. They seek not disciples of themselves, nor servants of the organization, nor conformation to their beliefs. They seek transformation, "disciples of Christ," not conformation. They do not use their position of authority to convince men, nor do they use it for personal gain, but willingly they set examples of leadership, of humility, of seeking wisdom and understanding, of attaining wisdom when she cries out.
"Out in the open wisdom calls aloud, she raises her voice in the public square; on top of the wall she cries out, at the city gate she makes her speech:"8
A wise man receives the instruction of wisdom, justice, judgment, and equity. She calls out, wisdom and understanding. "Does not wisdom call, And understanding lift up her voice?"9 It is something we should attain, we must only ask God for it, but we must transform to its understanding. We must pay attention, receive her instruction when she calls to us, we must seek her justice, judgment, and equity. If we forsake wisdom when she calls, such comes with a warning, when dread comes she will laugh at our calamity.