Listening and Wisdom

I am finding that the theme of hearing and listening is very prevalent in the Scriptures, far more so that what I would have first imagined. I have started a sermon series in Proverbs, and there it is again. In the introduction to the book, Solomon writes that the whole key to wisdom, to understanding the words of the wise is to listen. The wise man will hear, and he will increase in learning; and the man of understanding will also listen (meaning implied) and he will attain unto wise counsel. Listening is a key to growth in sound judgment, in the skill of living, which is what the word wisdom means in Proverbs; wisdom ultimately comes from God, God possessed it in Himself at the time that He created the world.

Therefore, what does Solomon advise his children to do? He tells them to hear, to listen. "My son, listen to the instruction of your father, and to not forsake the law of your mother, for they are an ornament of grace unto your head, and they are the chains (of luxurious jewelry) about your neck." Solomon was the king of Israel, the son of the mighty David. He was crowned king. He wore the royal chains. But he tells his son that the real crown, the real symbols of royalty, were the teachings of royalty, were the instructions of royalty, were the input of father and mother, as they taught the son (perhaps the king to be!) to be wise, to be prudent, to be discerning, to have discretion, so that he would keep his feet from evil, so that he would be able to exercise sound judgment, and so that he would be able to properly govern the kingdom.

At the very head of his instruction to his son, Solomon states that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Fools despise wisdom and instruction. Fools do not listen. Fools will not hear. Fools will not allow instruction and wisdom to guide them. They are full of their own thoughts, they are full of their own ideas; they are so open-minded that their brains leak out. They are easily deceived; they are susceptible to smooth words, or to the words of the con artist, or those who are greedy for gain and who will take advantage of the innocent in order to gain a profit.

This is the antithesis in Proverbs 1. Wisdom cries aloud in the streets. She cries from above, "How long, O you open-minded simpletons, how long will you love your open-minded simplicity?" The sinners cry out as well, the deceivers, the vultures, "Come with us, let us lie in wait for dishonest gain. Throw in your lot with us; we will all have one purse. We will suck out the life of the innocent." To whom will you listen? To whom will you give ear? Wisdom's assessment is that "I cried, but you would not listen; I stretched out my hand, but nobody paid attention to me."

The assessment of Proverbs is that foolishness is bound up in the heart of the children of humanity. How often we prove ourselves to be fools by our inability and unwillingness to listen. We trot off in foolish paths, listening only to our own mind, and we end up destroying ourselves; or, worse yet, we destroy the innocent  with our stupidity. We set at naught the counsels of wisdom, and we do not turn at her reproof. And she laughs at us and mocks when our destruction comes as a whirlwind.

O Lord God, teach us Your fear. Teach us to be wise, help us to hear; unstop our ears and help us to listen. Cure us of our idolatry, and teach us the walk in Your ways. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.