Wisdom, Sanity, Knowledge, and Discretion
The scriptures speak of many things that are hard to believe. Jonah survives in the belly of a whale. One family manages to live on a boat filled with animals in pairs without killing each other during a flood for the ages. God keeps picking weird and weak and unlikely characters to carry his message of hope to hurting people. The most righteous among his people loses his shirt, his health, his family, his reputation and his side-hustles in some strange social experiment testing the motivations of a man who loves God with all his heart, mind, soul and strength. And then we find a passage like this one:
“I am Lady Wisdom, and I live next to Sanity; Knowledge and Discretion live just down the street. The Fear-of-God means hating Evil, whose ways I hate with a passion — pride and arrogance and crooked talk. Good counsel and common sense are my characteristics; I am both Insight and the Virtue to live it out. With my help, leaders rule, and lawmakers legislate fairly; With my help, governors govern, along with all in legitimate authority. I love those who love me; those who look for me find me. Wealth and Glory accompany me — also substantial Honor and a Good Name. My benefits are worth more than a big salary, even a very big salary; the returns on me exceed any imaginable bonus. You can find me on Righteous Road—that’s where I walk — at the intersection of Justice Avenue, Handing out life to those who love me, filling their arms with life—armloads of life!”
Proverbs 8:17 The Message
If Paulette Meier has correctly captured a slice of the 17th century - how would these verses have been received? How do we hear them today? Do we believe that history has taught us that rulers and lawmakers lead wisely and rule fairly? Sometimes? Always? Never? I suppose the answer depends. Do we believe, as some do, that the benefits of loving God include wealth and glory and honor and a good name? I am really not sure about that one! But this I can buy. I’ve seen it with my own eyes in the lives of others, and therefore, I have hope. These characteristics like to hang out and pal around. Wisdom, sanity, knowledge, discretion, humility, straight talk, wise counsel, common sense, insight and virtue go together like peanut butter and jelly on my friend Anne’s homemade sourdough bread. Fox suggested we find these things in the silence. He noticed that awareness was heightened as Quakers sat together in it. Although inspiration might be found in an email, good book or daily devotional - the work of experiencing the Lord consciously and near to us comes as we become suspicious of cheap talk and committed to a good sit among those who seek unity, walking, and awareness of His presence.
