SEVEN PILLARS OF WISDOM

Pro 9:1  "Wisdom hath built her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars"

 I've always wondered what the seven pillars of wisdom were, having studied the seven spirits of God, realizing the symbolism of the number seven. After a meeting today, this hunger was reawakened that resulted to some meditations and study, more light was received, gleaning and understanding by books. I strongly believe that this points to the personality of JESUS and the completeness of His person in divine light for us. It also relates closely with the Seven Spirit of God in Isaiah.

Quickly you should have seen that Wisdom was described here as a woman who built her house with seven pillars in Proverbs 9:1, not forgetting that Wisdom was also seen in the previous chapter as a lodger who had stayed with others. 

Meanwhile, it is interesting to note here that the

Seven Pillars here speaks of permanency, a crucial and vital structure that was not built in a hurry, as it was intended to last. It is also obvious that the building here was not a tent that can be dismantled and moved anyhow within few days just by anyone. This is therefore speaking of the IMPORTANCE and PERMANENCY of Wisdom

It is also interesting to see here that the house built by Wisdom had seven pillars, that speaks a lot! According to Strong: Seven is referred to as שׁבעה    שׁבע [sheba‛  shib‛âh] which was a sacred term that meant full or satisfied. It therefore spoke of spiritual completion or perfection, this is illustrated in divers symbolisms of scriptures e.g seven days of creation etc. Again this speaks of the COMPLETENESS of it. Wisdom has built a permanent house and it is supported by 7 Pillars. Take note that this house had already been built and the pillars are in place before this was mentioned, let's therefore take a little journey back into time, one chapter backward to see the architectural works, where these seven pillars came from, the sources of these Seven Pillars.

Proverbs 8:12-14 gives us the description of these 7 PILLARS

"Wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of witty inventions.[discretion] 

The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogance, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate. Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom [sound judgement]: am understanding; I have strength [power]. "

These Seven Pillars of Wisdom therefore speaks of Seven strong support of Wisdom, strongholds and reinforcements of Wisdom. 

Pillar #1 PRUDENCE

'Prudence (Lat. prudentia, contracted from providentia, seeing ahead) is the ability to govern and discipline oneself by the use of reason. It is careful good judgment that allows someone to avoid danger or risks'. It is concerned with discretion, foresight, forethought, circumspection.

PRUDENCE is therefore a pillar of Wisdom, as it helps us to go through life identifying and avoiding pitfalls on the path of life, helping us to judge truth and error, helping us to judiciously, maximise every resource God has given us. We cannot afford to be naive, no wonder Jesus said that we should be as wise as serpents and harmless as doves.

Pillar #2. Knowledge of Witty Inventions

We see here the place of Knowledge of witty inventions as Strong puts this "מזמּה"

mezimmâh which refers to a plan, usually evil (machination), sometimes good (sagacity): - (wicked) device, discretion, intent, witty invention, lewdness, mischievous (device), thought, wickedly.

So, wisdom finds knowledge and discretion. Now the Hebrew word for discretion is mezimmah (mez-im-maw). This word mezimmah means the power of forming plans. In other words, it is using wiseness to devise, imagine, plot or think up something. Sometimes this word is used to talk about people with evil purposes as seen above. However, here we speak in the light of the ability to show keen perception, sound judgement, and plan effectively...

Another support or pillar of wisdom is therefore the ability to plan, decide rightly, think ahead, invent, finding solutions to existence to existing or anticipated challenges, perfect planning, right choices and informed decisions.

This was seen in the examples of men like Paul who knew when to hid himself from threatened disasters Acts 9:23-25, 17:14, 23:17

Pillar #3. The Fear of the Lord

What does fear mean ? It means reverence - but it means more than that. It has to do with worshipping, loving and obeying the Lord.

When the devil tempted Jesus to worship him in the wilderness, Jesus answered, "...it is written, 'You shall worship the Lord your God...'" (Matthew 4:10)
Jesus was actually quoting from the Old Testament in the book of Deuteronomy, where it says, "You shall fear the Lord your God and serve Him..." (Deuteronomy 6:13) In other words,there is a connection: Jesus was saying the fear of the Lord is the worship of God. So when Pro 1.7 say the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge that means when you worship God, wisdom begins. Do you see the divine connection between worshipping the Lord and wisdom?
Worship ushers us into the manifest presence of Jesus.
It is so important to understand this connection—as we worship the Lord, wisdom comes to us for every situation.
Take note its another show of LOVE! Under the New Covenant, we respond to God based on LOVE-as in Worship, being the highest show or demonstration of LOVE, reverence!
Our Love is automated as we receive His Love for us,we love Him because He first Loved us!
Now here is a chain reaction that follows Worship ushers the Manifest Presence which triggers Strange Wisdom for our Situations making us a Wonder indeed! Isa 8.18
Worship-Wisdom-Wonders!

This may appear to chronologically be Pillar #3 but it is the beginning of godly Wisdom.

Pillar #4. Counsel

Counsel means to give good advice, to give wise guidance. It also means to listen to counsel. To depend on one’s own judgment, even in private matters, is the height of foolishness.

David and Solomon were both specially endowed with wisdom. Yet despite having their own wisdom they still seeked the advice of wise counselors when it came to governing the kingdom. In David’s case, Ahithophel and Hushai were his counselors. For Solomon, 1 Kings chapter 12 speaks of the "old men that stood before Solomon"

So we should have no fear going to others for advice and counsel. Of course the Word is  for guidance and edification, and every counsel should be in agreement with the written word and the inner witness of the Spirit.

[To be continued...]