Context No. 2915 of 4322 · Wisdom

Wisdom 6:17-25: in context

17For her true beginning is desire for instruction; and desire for instruction is love. 18And love is observance of her laws. To give heed to her laws confirms immortality. 19Immortality brings closeness to God. 20So then desire for wisdom promotes to a kingdom. 21If therefore you delight in thrones and sceptres, you princes of peoples, honor wisdom, that you may reign forever. 22But what wisdom is, and how she came into being, I will declare. I won’t hide mysteries from you; but I will explore from her first beginning, bring the knowledge of her into clear light, and I will not pass by the truth. 23Indeed, I won’t travel with consuming envy, because envy will have no fellowship with wisdom. 24But a multitude of wise men is salvation to the world, and an understanding king is stability for his people. 25Therefore be instructed by my words, and you will profit.

The Wisdom of Solomon lays out a chain, one link leading to the next. The true beginning of wisdom is the desire for instruction; and desire for instruction is love; and love is keeping her laws; and keeping her laws leads to immortality; and immortality brings nearness to God. So the simple desire for wisdom leads, in the end, all the way to a kingdom.

The passage traces how a small beginning grows into something vast. It starts with something as ordinary as wanting to learn, and that desire, actually followed, leads step by step to nearness with God. And notice the writer's generosity: he refuses to hoard wisdom or teach it with envy, because a world with many wise people is a steadier, safer world. Wisdom is not a private treasure to guard but a good to hand on, and the whole community is made more stable when it spreads.

Does my desire to learn actually move me step by step toward God, and do I share what wisdom I gain freely, or hoard it for myself?

Sources

Wisdom 6:24: "But a multitude of wise men is salvation to the world, and an understanding king is stability for his people."
Proverbs 4:7: "Wisdom is supreme. Get wisdom. Yes, though it costs all your possessions, get understanding."
James 3:17: "But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceful, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits."