Day 143, Year 1

Delighting in Wisdom

“It is like sport to a fool to do wrong, but wise conduct is pleasure to a man of understanding.” (Proverbs 10:23 RSV)

We will acquire wisdom as we heed the rebuke of life. While accepting rebuke is somehow unpleasant, there could be joy when we follow the words of wisdom and gain valuable insights. Just as those who have learned from their mistakes and found a way to correct them will no longer be wrong, this certainly brings joy. The outcomes of walking in wisdom are salvation and ascension. The occurrence of these positive outcomes naturally makes us joyful. Similarly, you can reflect on whether meditating on and putting the biblical teaching into practice has brought you spiritual fulfillment. If so, you are likely a “man of understanding” who seeks and discerns the truth.

Today’s verse encourages us to pursue wisdom and make it our habit. Of course, the “fools” have their habits. “Fool,” kesil in Hebrew, can be translated as “stupid, simpleton, or arrogant.” Contrary to those with wisdom and understanding, the simple-minded often focus on the superficiality, immediate rewards, or even pursue wicked tricks. “Sport” in Hebrew, sechoq, can also mean “laugh to scorn, or derision,” that is, “to derive satisfaction from an activity.” In other words, fools find satisfaction in wicked activities or wrongdoings. They always do wrong or commit evil, not necessarily through murder or arson, but perhaps by finding amusement in petty, evil entertainment.On the contrary, the “man of understanding” finds satisfaction in learning or practicing wisdom. The word “understanding” here is the Hebrew word, tebunah, the same as that mentioned yesterday in Proverbs 14:29, which could also mean “insight, acts of understanding, knowledge, reasonings, discernment, or skill.” Thus, the satisfaction that wisdom brings us is a deeper and soulful delight, unlike that of petty tricks or entertainment. As the example in the first paragraph demonstrates, accepting life’s rebuke and following it brings us soulful joy, for wisdom has been developed. On top of that, God’s people of understanding are willing to share the wisdom we pursue. This highlights the stark contrast between the habits of the people of understanding and the fools.

Reflection questions:

1) Do you long to delight in God’s wisdom? If yes, could you give an example?

2) If the fools were to believe in Jesus, where could they start?