
Wisdom is Pleasure
Wisdom is Pleasure
Pastoral Fellow, Josh Duemler, is currently serving in East Lansing, MI, and is pursuing pastoral ministry in the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA). He visited with us on Sunday evening to preach on Proverbs 10:23: “Doing wrong is like a joke to a fool, but wisdom is pleasure to a man of understanding.” Duemler noted that God himself is a God who recognizes the goodness of pleasure. In fact, God eternally enjoys the fullness of his divine goodness – the persons of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit perpetually delighting in each other.
Duemler went on to explain how, at the root of foolishness, is a love for doing wrong for the sake of the wrongdoing itself. The heart that takes pleasure in stepping on the well-manicured lawn simply because there is a sign that says ‘Don’t step on the grass,” is a foolish heart. Conversely, the man who delights in wisdom is a man of understanding. Delighting in wisdom is one and the same with delighting in the fear of the Lord and with delighting in the person of Christ, who is God’s wisdom (cf. 1 Corinthians 1).
From this Proverb, then, it’s implied that we need to consider what it is that delights our hearts. Are we attracted to doing things that are scandalous and “off-limits?” If so, we need to recognize with godly grief that we’re on the path of foolishness. Alternatively, do we delight in serving others, and giving generously, worshiping God, and involving our hearts in whatever things are upright and prudent? If this characterizes our hearts, we have reason to thank God, and to seek his continued mercy to help our hearts delight in what’s good.
This Proverb gives us guidance on how we can walk in repentance and faith, with our hearts set on the glory of Christ.