in the house of Lady Wisdom

I, wisdom, dwell with prudence,

and I find knowledge and discretion.

Proverbs 8:12

There are four roommates in the home of wisdom that Proverbs invites us to get to know.

WISDOM. It literally means “good sense”. Wisdom is the skill of living. It is a word used to describe skill that is combined with being smart, shrewd, and ethical. And it is wisdom, personified as an attractive woman, that calls out particularly to the young person to come listen to her and be her friend and companion. Wisdom is the theme of the book of Proverbs. Each individual proverb is meant to show one fact of all that wisdom is, does, and provides for those who seek her and live with her.

PRUDENCE. Alongside Lady Wisdom dwells prudence.  And this antique-sounding word is in short supply in a lewd and selfish world that just says whatever it wants, whenever it wants, today. Prudence is the quality that makes wisdom so attractive. It is not loud… it is subtle and quiet. It is laid back and coy. You might say prudence appeals with the truth from the corners. You get yourself away from the noise and clamor, and there she is, a quiet and vital truth ready to calm and lead your soul. Prudence is the opposite of “click bait”. Prudence is thoughtful yet necessary truth.

KNOWLEDGE. Knowledge also lives in the home of wisdom. More than mere encyclopedic facts, this knowledge has personal impact. It is not trivial. It is more than information. It is a kind of knowledge that creates an in-depth understanding of what is true. These facts sink deep, impacting and changing the soul. It is the stuff we REALLY need to know. It is the content of the scriptures meant to go far with us in life and beyond.

DISCRETION. This word is a little harder to translate. The idea of discretion is that it is a plan. And wisdom creates direction with discrete plans. These plans promote what is good and lead us in a righteous way. We see purpose and direction begin to form in our lives when committed to God’s wisdom. And discretion leads us to choose the right course of action.

Ultimately these four companions (wisdom, prudence, knowledge, and discretion) don’t just inform us. They remake us and lead us to live in a way that pleases God. In Christ are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge (Colossians 2:3). By His Spirit we can learn and be led as we dwell in the house of wisdom.