Proverbs 4:8-9
“Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her. She shall give to thine head an ornament of grace: a crown of glory shall she deliver to thee.”
Building Wisdom
The defense of many iron-age villages in the UK relied on huge mounds of soil being piled up to encircle a settlement and create a primitive fort. There is one of these ancient earthworks close to where I live. It is situated on the highest point for several miles and must have taken a herculean effort to build. The scale of the earthworks is not immediately evident when walking on its remains, and much is left to the imagination. What is not in doubt is that the earthworks were essential to the safety of those who lived inside. Why else would a group of Ancient Britons have invested so much in the construction of such a formidable barrier?
The word ‘exalt’ at the beginning of verse eight could be applied to the construction of an iron-age fort. Wisdom needs to be built up, and constructed into a formidable barrier to defend against everything that life and Satan have to throw at us. It is useful to remember that iron age forts were not built overnight. Solomon may have been blessed with a gift of wisdom by God, but the process of building wisdom began with the early example and teaching of his parents (Proverbial Thought – Proverbs 4:1-2 and Proverbs 4 3-4).
Embracing Wisdom
It is not enough to embark on a building project alone. The builders of the earthworks could not spend their entire lives inside never facing the dangers outside. And how good a defense would the earthworks have been if lookouts were never posted to provide warning of possible intruders?
The reason that Solomon tells us we need to embrace wisdom is because he knew that there would be times when however good and strong the earthworks of wisdom around us may be, we still have to venture out, sometimes into the unknown. Solomon is also reminding us in these verses that we need to remain alert. Why? Because danger is all around. Stand on top of the earthworks and take a good look outside:
Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. (1 Peter 5:8 NASB)
The journey is not over yet, but look out from the ramparts and you will see that the reward for exercising wisdom is in view.
Caitlin Klem
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David
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Proverbial Thought 
May 11th, 2012 at 5:10 am
David, God truly blessed me when He gave me the gift of your acquaintance. As we would say hear in the American south, “That’ll preach!”
Here is a wonderful example of why bringing believers from different parts of the world, and from different walks of life together add so much to the understanding of a text. I would have never even dreamed of the illustration of an iron-age fort. Not many of those around here.
May 11th, 2012 at 5:24 am
Thank you Anthony. It was the definition of ‘exalt’ in Strongs as ‘to mound up’ that triggered the thought of building up wisdom like an ancient earthworks. Croft Ambrey is one of my favourite places but I never thought it would help me understand Scripture!
May 14th, 2012 at 5:39 pm
Thanks David, I needed that today. Everyday we must face the enemy in order to go forth and win those to Christ whom God has placed near to us, and it takes much wisdom to do this.
June 10th, 2012 at 10:41 am
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