riddlemasters
A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels:To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings.
(Proverbs 1:5-6)
Long ago riddlemasters were praised: men who could see the connections between things that others couldn't, men who saw harmony in apparent confusion. He who understands a proverb or parable is wise.
We over-spiritualize wisdom in our churches. We think it a spiritual quality when really, it is just a matter of hearing and seeing and correctly understanding a thing. Scientists are modern riddlemasters; historians may increase learning if they hear the lessons of history and apply them.But one needn't be a scholar to seek after wisdom. One only needs eyes and ears; the humility to learn and the curiosity to seek.
Labels: Proverbs
posted by Rachel Starr Thomson at
3:33 PM
1 Comments:
Rachel, Your point is well taken, I think. Wisemen were all over the ancient near east and I see that as a gift from God which continues to this day.
I do think the Hebrew contribution brought the fear of Yahweh into the picture, though often in the case of nontheocratic wisemen, surely there was a sense of a fear of God, even though they may not have known this god, the true god well.
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