What The Wise Surmise
No. 14: A New Compendium for our Journey with Jesus
Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither–whatever they do prospers. -Psalm 1:1-3
Randy’s Introduction
The wise surmise they need help to makegoodhappen in their lives, relationships, and community. Rather than reaching for any advice at hand, the wise have been searching for thousands of years, using thousands of languages, through the experience of innumerable cultures, for the very best advice they can find.
They have observed the choices of millions of people who have gone before them. They have observed which people were able to enjoy the fruit of their labors and which were forced to suffer the consequences of their decisions. Then they distilled what they had learned into principles. Those principles were then compared with the lessons learned by other cultures and peoples, with the very best advice collected and remembered.
But that wasn’t the end of the process of wisdom. The wise longed for this advice to be a rich inheritance for their children that would enable them to avoid the habits and decisions that would destroy their lives. They shaped the lessons into memorable stories and fables that could be passed on from parents to children. But they also condensed the principles into vivid words and memorable contrasts they could easily recall in the day-to-day situations that confront them. Today we call them proverbs.
The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel: for gaining wisdom and instruction; for understanding words of insight; for receiving instruction in prudent behavior, doing what is right and just and fair; for giving prudence to those who are simple, knowledge and discretion to the young – let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance – for understanding proverbs and parables, the sayings and riddles of the wise. -Proverbs 1:1-6
We often think of money as the most valuable inheritance. But the book of Proverbs claims that wisdom is far more valuable. The wise take heed.
Blessed are those who find wisdom, those who gain understanding, for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold. She is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her. -Proverbs 3:13-15
Definitions
WISE. adj.
ˈwīz
Merriam-Webster, Contemporary
1a: characterized by wisdom: marked by deep understanding, keen discernment, and a capacity for sound judgment b: exercising or showing sound judgment: prudent (a wise investor)
2a: evidencing or hinting at the possession of inside information: knowing b: possessing inside information (the police got wise to his whereabouts) c: crafty, shrewd d: aware of or informed about a particular matter —usually used in the comparative in negative constructions with “the.” (was none the wiser about their plans)
3: insolent, smart-alecky, fresh (a tough kid with a wise mouth)
Samuel Johnson Dictionary, 1773
1. Sapient; judging rightly; having much knowledge.
2. Judicious; prudent; practically knowing.
3. Skillful; dexterous.
4. Skilled in hidden arts: a sense somewhat ironical.
5. Grave; becoming a wise man.
The Book of Proverbs, Ancient Hebrew, 10th century B.C.
The wise know they are more foolish than they should be.1
The wise person knows they will suffer the fate of the fool without God and God’s ways.2
They build relationships with the wise.3
The wise are ready to listen.4
They understand that rebukes are an opportunity to grow and that following God’s commands is the path to the good life for themselves and others.5
The wise seek out and store up knowledge.6
They can discern the difference between good and evil, between lies and the truth.7
The wise take time to prepare a response when they are challenged.8
They are impartial in their judgements about other people.9
They pass proven knowledge to others.10
Their presence brings healing and calm.11
How it Makes Good Happen
We are awash in words and knowledge that produce fear, cynicism, and despair rather than healing or calm. We have more information about the world available to us than our ancestors could have imagined. We esteem as wise those who use this “knowledge” to support their anger at injustice, their fear of apocalypse, and their hatred of others. Their views are untested and are not held liable for being wrong.
By conflating knowledge, charisma, and verbal ability with wisdom, we become foolish. We cling to echo chambers that reinforce personal biases. But the wise among the ancients are those whom we can trust to correct our unfounded prejudices (25:12). Some relevant advice for our time tells us:
The Foolish venerate people for their success. The Wise honor people with the proven ability to create a stable home life that makes good happen. (14:1)
The Foolish give attention to people who critique corruption from the sidelines. The Wise walk with the wise. (13:20)
The Foolish build relationships with those who love to fan the flames of anger, cynicism, and distrust. The Wise focus their energy on healing anger and bringing calm. (29:8)
As a result, the lives of the wise of days gone by did not bring division and extremism as our “wise” do today. Their wisdom saved lives (11:30), they stored up choice food and wine in their homes (21:20), and their wealth was a testament to their wise living (14:24).
Jesus told his followers that they could discern who they should trust by the fruits of their lives.
‘Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognise them. Do people pick grapes from thorn-bushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognise them. -Matthew 7:15-20
These “fruitful trees” are the wise. They are the people whom we should trust, honor, and emulate if we want to makegoodhappen.
As we said in the introduction to the previous post, Foolproof, the wise are willing to look at themselves honestly, acknowledge their foolish faults, and learn how to be wiser still. They also look for the wise practices that already exist in their daily lives and work to strengthen them. One way to do this is by answering the following questions:
Which of the Biblical definitions of the wise (above) do you see in the way you live your life?
Where did you learn to act this way?
How can you strengthen your wisdom? (Consider other people who are stronger than you in this area. How can you emulate them?)
In writing, describe to God the next steps in wisdom you desire to take. Pray for the strength to deepen your wisdom. Set a plan to revisit this prayer regularly over the next few months.
Journal your steps forward in your walk with Jesus as you continue to pray your prayer and reflect on its results.
Etymology
WISE. adj. [wis, Old Saxon12; wiis, Old Norse13 viss, Dutch wijs, German weise "wise."
William Temple (1628 – 1699) wrote, “All the writings of the ancient Goths were composed in verse, which were called runes, or viises, and from thence the term of wise came.”
In Old English14 wis means "learned, sagacious, cunning; sane; prudent, discreet; experienced, practically knowing;” a person of good discernment. The word is also related to the Old English word witan "to know, be aware of"
In Middle English15 the word was also used in reference to a trade, craft or excellent ability, not only in humans but in animals. For example, an animal good at tracking by scent was wise of nese.
As a noun, "persons endowed with reason or prudence," by c. 1200.
The use in phrases such as none or never the wiser appeared by late 14c.
The modern slang meaning "aware, cunning" is attested by 1896. wise guy is also attested from 1896, American English16, ironic, "know-it-all; maker of wisecracks."
Wise-ass (n.) is by 1966, American English
For example: Proverbs 26:5, 12:15, 28:11.
For example: 1:17, 14:16, 23:19.
For example: 13:20, 21:11, 22:17.
For example: 1:5, 12:15, 22:17.
For example: 9:8 10:8 19:20.
For example: 8:10, 10:14, 18:15.
For example: 1:5, 14:6, 16:21.
For example: 8:14, 14:29, 24:5.
For example: 24:23, 25:12, 31:19.
For example: 1:4, 13:14, 15:7.
For example: 12:18, 29:8, 29:11.
Saxon tribes in northwestern Germany and the eastern Netherlands from the 8th to the 12th centuries.
The language of the Vikings, primarily spoken from the 8th to the 14th centuries.
Old English, also known as Anglo-Saxon, is the earliest recorded form of the English language, spoken and written in England from the mid-5th century to the mid-11th century.
Middle English, from roughly 1066 to 1500, bridged the gap between Old English and Early Modern English. This period is characterized by significant linguistic changes, including the influence of Norman French after the Norman Conquest and a shift in pronunciation, particularly of long vowels.
American English began evolving around the early 17th century with the arrival of English settlers in North America, though its distinct characteristics became more apparent and noted by observers by the late 17th century. The separation wasn't a formal "start date" but a gradual divergence driven by factors like the need to name new flora and fauna, the influence of other languages, and the "freezing" of some linguistic features, making it more like earlier forms of English than modern British English.