Christ in the Old Testament

Proverbs 8:11

Wisdom is more precious than rubies,
    and nothing you desire can compare with her. (NIV)

Today’s Reading: Proverbs 8

Since Jesus is wisdom, then if you want to be wise, you have to know Jesus. This is essentially the entire book of Proverbs wrapped up into one sentence. Jesus is wisdom and you must know him to be wise.

“I have not learned wisdom,
    nor have I attained to the knowledge of the Holy One.
Who has gone up to heaven and come down?
    Whose hands have gathered up the wind?
Who has wrapped up the waters in a cloak?
    Who has established all the ends of the earth?
What is his name, and what is the name of his son?
    Surely you know!” (Prov 30:4).

What is the name of wisdom? Surely you know! On this side of the cross we do know his name – his name is Jesus.

We want to be wise. Why do we want to be wise? Well for one we don’t want to be a fool. Fools are people who have no wisdom and no desire for wisdom. Proverbs tells us the character traits of a fool:

• Fools despise wisdom (Prov 1:7)
• A fool hates God (Prov 19:3)
• Fools bring grief to their family (Prov 10:1, 17:21, 25)
• Fools die from having no sense (Prov 10:21)
• A fool will be servant to the wise (Prov 11:29)
• A fool finds pleasure in wicked schemes (Prov 10:23)
• Fools are quick to quarrel (Prov 20:3)
• Fools lack honor (Prov 26:1)
• Fools don’t learn from their mistakes (Prov 26:11)
• Fools trust in themselves (Prov 28:26)

Instead, we want to be wise. Proverbs tells us the character traits of the wise:

• The wise fear the Lord (Prov 14:16)
• The wise are good listeners (Prov 1:5)
• The wise inherit honor (Prov 3:35)
• The wise bring joy to their family (Prov 10:1, 15:20)
• The wise are knowledgeable (Prov 10:14)
• The wise bring healing to people (Prov 12:18)
• The wise give good advice (Prov 16:21, 23)
• The wise accept good advice (Prov 19:20)
• The wise plan for the future (Prov 21:20)
• The wise bring peace (Prov 29:8, 11)

“Wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire can compare with her” (Prov 8:11). This verse takes on new meaning when you understand that Jesus is wisdom in the flesh: “Jesus is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire can compare with him.”

There is nothing we can desire that will compare to Jesus. Proverbs chapter 8 has so many nuggets of wisdom that it’s worth reading over and over to collect them all and store them up. But the bottom line is this: the more we know Jesus the wiser we will become. If you feel that you lack wisdom, James says, “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you” (Jam 1:5).

Yes we should pray that God gives us more wisdom. But it’s more practical than just asking God for wisdom. We are to ask God for more of Jesus and spend more time getting to know Jesus. That is how we will become more wise – spend more time with our Savior. Because he is wisdom. And if we know him, we know wisdom. To know Jesus is to know wisdom.

Today’s Prayer: Lord Jesus, give me the desire to know you more and more today and everyday.