Experience without wisdom is dangerous. It teaches, but does not guide.
If you were to ask anyone who or what was the first thing they think of when talking about wisdom in the Bible, their answer would most likely be King Solomon. But how and in what way was his wisdom manifested?
1King.3:11 Then YHWH said to him: “Because you have asked this thing, and have not asked long life for yourself, nor have asked riches for yourself, nor have asked the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern justice, behold, I have done according to your words; see, I have given you a wise and understanding heart, so that there has not been anyone like you before you, nor shall any like you arise after you. And I have also given you what you have not asked: both riches and honor, so that there shall not be anyone like you among the kings all your days. So if you walk in My ways, to keep My statutes and My commandments, as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your days”.
Solomon showed himself to already be a wise man because he lived a life in direct obedience of YHWH’s commandments. That obedience produced a level of wisdom in Solomon that allowed him to be such a wise king, it was because he listened and obeyed the commandments of the Most High.
1King.10:4 And when the queen of Sheba had seen all the wisdom of Solomon, the house that he had built, the food on his table, the seating of his servants, the service of his waiters and their apparel, his cupbearers, and his entryway by which he went up to the house of YHWH, there was no more spirit in her. Then she said to the king: “It was a true report which I heard in my own land about your words and your wisdom. However, I did not believe the words until I came and saw with my own eyes; and indeed the half was not told me. Your wisdom and prosperity exceed the fame of which I heard. Happy are your men and happy are these your servants, who stand continually before you and hear your wisdom!
You see, the reason why Israel flourished and prospered as well as they did during the ‘gold era’ under the reign of King Solomon was possible only because of the wisdom that Elohim had blessed and gifted Solomon that was amplified through his obedience to YHWH’s word and commandments.
Deut.4:6 Therefore, observe them (statutes, ordinances, judgments – Torah) and follow them. For then all peoples will see you as having wisdom and understanding. When they hear of all these laws, they will say, “This great nation is surely a wise and understanding people. For what great nation is there that has YHWH as close to them as YHWH our Elohim is, whenever we call on him? What great nation is there that has laws and rulings as just as this entire Torah which I am setting before you today?”
Jer.5:1 Run to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem; See now and know; And seek in her open places if you can find a man, if there is anyone who executes judgment, who seeks the truth, and I will pardon her. Though they say, “As YHWH lives,” Surely they swear falsely. O YHWH, are not Your eyes on the truth? You have stricken them, but they have not grieved; You have consumed them, But they have refused to receive correction. They have made their faces harder than rock; They have refused to return. Therefore I said, “Surely these are poor. They are foolish; For they do not know the way of YHWH, the judgment of their Elohim.
Jer.5:21 Hear this now, O foolish people, without understanding, who have eyes and see not, and who have ears and hear not: Do you not fear Me? says YHWH. Will you not tremble at My presence, who have placed the sand as the bound of the sea, by a perpetual decree, that it cannot pass beyond it? And though its waves toss to and fro, yet they cannot prevail; Though they roar, yet they cannot pass over it. But this people has a defiant and rebellious heart; They have revolted and departed. They do not say in their heart, “Let us now fear YHWH, Who gives rain, both the former and the latter, in its season. He reserves for us the appointed weeks of the harvest.” Your iniquities (lawlessness) have turned these things away, and your sins have withheld good from you.
Jer.8:4 Moreover you shall say to them, ‘Thus says YHWH: “Will they fall and not rise? Will one turn away and not return? Why has this people slidden back, Jerusalem, in a perpetual backsliding? They hold fast to deceit, they refuse to return. I listened and heard, but they do not speak aright. No man repented of his wickedness, Saying, “What have I done?” Everyone turned to his own course, as the horse rushes into the battle. Even the stork in the heavens knows her appointed times; And the turtledove, the swift, and the swallow observe the time of their coming. But My people do not know the judgment of YHWH. How can you say, “We are wise, and the Law (Torah) of YHWH is with us”? Look, the false pen of the scribe certainly works falsehood. The wise men are ashamed, they are dismayed and taken. Behold, they have rejected the Word of YHWH; So what wisdom do they have?
Job.28:28 But to man He said, Behold, the reverential and worshipful fear of YHWH – that is Wisdom; and to depart from evil (following commandments) is understanding (mind).
Ps.93:8 Understand, you brutish (you senseless) among the people: and you fools, when will you be wise? (all those who do iniquity)?
Deut.32:1 O heavens, and I will speak; and let the earth hear the words of my mouth. My Teaching (Torah) shall drop as the rain, my speech shall distil as the dew, as the light rain upon the tender grass, and as the showers upon the herb. For I will proclaim the name and presence of YHWH. Concede and ascribe greatness to our Elohim. He is the Rock, His work is perfect, for all His ways are Law and justice. Elohim of faithfulness without breach or deviation, just and right is He. They have spoiled themselves. They are not sons to Him, and that is their blemish – a perverse and crooked generation! Do you thus repay YHWH, you foolish and senseless people? Is not He your Father Who acquired you for His own, Who made and established you as a nation? Remember the days of old; (ancient days)* consider the years of many generations. Ask your father and he will show you, your elders, and they will tell you.
* When it says “the days of old” in Deuteronomy, it does not mean a return to the times of degradation when they continually went after pagan idols, but rather the author meant a return to the first days of authenticity and humble wisdom when the people that YHWH chose to be his own and they followed wholeheartedly!
Hos.7:11 Ephraim also is like a silly dove without heart or understanding; they call to Mizraim; they go to Assyria.
Prov.10:8 The wise in heart will receive commands, but a prating fool will fall (but the foolish of lips will fall headlong).
2Тim.3:15 And that from childhood you have known the Holly Writings (Scriptures – Torah), which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Yeshua the Messiah.
Mtt.7:24 So everyone who hears these Words of Mine and acts upon them (obeying them) will be like a sensible (prudent, practical, wise) man who built his house upon the rock. But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.
Hos.4:6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being priest for Me; Because you have forgotten the Law (Torah) of your Elohim, I also will forget your children.
Ps.119:97 Oh, how I love Your Law (Torah)! It is my meditation all the day. You, through Your commandments, make me wiser than my enemies; For they are ever with me. I have more understanding than all my teachers, for Your testimonies are my meditation. I understand more than the ancients, because I keep Your precepts. I have restrained my feet from every evil way, that I may keep Your Word.
Ps.111:10 The fear of YHWH is the beginning of wisdom; A good understanding have all those who do His commandments.
Ps.19:8 The commandment of YHWH is pure and bright, enlightening the eyes (makes wise simple).
Also, wisdom is not found on the surface level of things where everyone can easily obtain it, however, it is not hidden where people can’t ever find it either. Wisdom is something that is always right before your eyes. Wisdom is not the gray hair of old age, nor is it years of education or the culmination of life experiences. Wisdom is knowing the Law of YHWH and following it.
Job.28:20 From where then does wisdom come? And where is the place of understanding? It is hidden from the eyes of all living, and concealed from the birds of the air.
Deut.30:10 If you obey the voice of the YHWH your Elohim, to keep His commandments and His statutes which are written in this Book of the Law, and if you turn to YHWH your Elohim with all your heart and with all your soul. For this commandment which I command you today is not too mysterious for you, nor is it far off. It is not in heaven, that you should say, “Who will ascend into heaven for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?” Nor is it beyond the sea, that you should say, “Who will go over the sea for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?” But the Word (Commandments) is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may do it.
Prov.9:1 Wisdom has built her house, she has hewn out her seven pillars; She has slaughtered her meat, she has mixed her wine, she has also furnished her table. She has sent out her maidens, she cries out from the highest places of the city, “Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!” As for him who lacks understanding, she says to him, “Come, eat of my bread and drink of the wine I have mixed. Forsake foolishness and live, and go in the way of understanding.
Ex.18:20 And you shall teach them the statutes and the Law (Torah) of YHWH and show them the Way in which they must walk and the work (deeds) they must do.
Prov.14:8 The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his Way, but the folly of fools is deceit.