“Incline your ear, and hear the words of the wise, and
apply your heart to my knowledge, for it will be pleasant if you keep them
within you, if all of them are ready on your lips. That your trust may be in
the Lord, I have made them known
to you today, even to you. Have I not written for you thirty sayings of
counsel and knowledge, to make you know what is right and true, that
you may give a true answer to those who sent you?” (Proverbs 22:17–21, ESV)
(Emphasis mine).
After a long hiatus I want to pick up where I left off. Today’s passage is found in Proverbs 24:13–14
(ESV),
13 My son, eat honey, for it is good,
and the drippings of the honeycomb are sweet to your taste. 14 Know that wisdom is such to your soul; if
you find it, there will be a future, and your hope will not be cut off.
Here the author is comparing the enjoyment of eating good
honey as wisdom is to the soul. The health-giving properties of honey are analogous
to godly wisdom. The Mayo Clinic writes,
“Honey contains mostly sugar, as well as a mix of amino
acids, vitamins, minerals, iron, zinc and antioxidants. In addition to its use
as a natural sweetener, honey is used as an anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and
antibacterial agent. People commonly use honey orally to treat coughs and
topically to treat burns and promote wound healing.”[1]
Of course, the imperative “eat honey” is not the point. The point is “know wisdom” because it is
health-giving. More specifically the absorption of wisdom and application of
wisdom provides a future and a hope. “The motivation is that wisdom will have a
long future to it ("hope"—'aharit and tiqwah).”[2] The consistent picture of wisdom is the
result of not daring to choose any path that God would disapprove of. Or even more precise, pleasing God in all our
ways. The “father” behind this proverb
reminds his son that such wisdom leads to hope and a future.
Again, the reader needs to be reminded that the longevity of life promised in the Old Testament is clarified in the New Testament. Long life and hope is described by Jesus as “eternal life”. “It is a mistake, however, to view eternal life as simply an unending progression of years. A common New Testament word for “eternal” is aiónios, which carries the idea of quality as well as quantity. In fact, eternal life is not really associated with “years” at all, as it is independent of time. Eternal life can function outside of and beyond time, as well as within time.”[3] Eternal life can be experienced now. It is linked, as Christ affirmed, with “knowing God”. “And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.” (John 17:3, ESV). God in Christ is wisdom personified. This is the Wisdom that proverbial literature points to. Jesus Christ is the Wisdom of God incarnate. It is knowing Him that grants eternal life. “Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.”[4]
To those who are “in Christ”; those who have
placed their trust in Him as Savior and Lord, we read, “And because of him
you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and
sanctification and redemption,” (1 Corinthians 1:30, ESV). Herein is the reality of life: “And this is
the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.
Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not
have life.” (1 John 5:11–12, ESV)
[1] https://cutt.ly/hAeQVeQ
[2] Expositor's Bible Commentary, The, Pradis
CD-ROM:Proverbs/Exposition of Proverbs/IV. The Sayings of the Wise
(22:17-24:34)/A. Thirty Precepts of the Sages (22:17-24:22), Book Version:
4.0.2
[3] https://www.gotquestions.org/what-is-eternal-life.html
[4] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Col
2:2–3). (2016). Crossway Bibles.
