February 8

Feb 8 - Today from Proverbs 8 we look at verses 12 & 22
"I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence; I possess knowledge and discretion. The Lord brought me forth as the first of His works, before His deeds of old."

Here we see wisdom personified and speaking in the first person. It is a literary form, which allows one to better understand an inanimate object or idea. Wisdom was the first of God's works of creation. What an awesome thought! God made all of the 'rules' before He ever began creating. He didn't make up the rules as He went, and He didn't change the rules after He began. He is the perfect and ultimate 'anticipator'. Wisdom is the sum total of all of the rules of life and creation. Not just the knowledge, but how that knowledge applies to God's purposes. It includes natural law, moral law and spiritual law. Wisdom is awesome in the scope of its benefits to those who acquire it. No wonder the first nine chapters of Proverbs spurs the reader on to understand, to seek out, and to embrace wisdom as one of the best and most valuable possessions that can be had. Only God has perfect wisdom, but He is both willing and desirous to give us wisdom for the tasks He has set before us. But as we learned in chapter two, it's not just laying on the surface. Growing in wisdom requires focus and determination, and it is mostly learned as we process life. We do not really know how to deal with a tough situation until we are in it. We will not gain the needed wisdom unless we stay in it and call upon God, seek His counsel and obey His commands. We must trust in the Lord with all our heart, and not lean on our own understanding (3:5). His wisdom is perfect. Our own understanding is so terribly limited.