The House that Wisdom Built: the 7 Pillars in Proverbs 8 & 9

Wisdom is calling you to understand ‘wisdom’ and be of an ‘understanding’ heart [Proverbs 8:4-5].

The fear of YHVH is the beginning of Wisdom: a good understanding have all those who do His commandments: His praise endures forever.~ Psalms 111:10

Wisdom speaks of excellent things, all righteous as spoken with the ‘opening of My lips’, from the very breath of Yehovah through His Spirit [v.6].

All the words of My mouth shall speak truth [emet, in Hebrew]; and wickedness is an abomination to My lips [v.7]

All the words of My mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing perverted, or perverse in them [v.8].

Wisdom’s words are “plain” to him who understands, and right to them that find knowledge [v.9]. So one must first understand or have their eyes and ears and hearts open only by the very Ruach HaKodesh, the Holy Spirit of Yehovah. There is no true understanding nor knowledge without first receiving the “discipline and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold [v.10]”.

I, Wisdom, dwell with insight, and find out knowledge and foresight [v.12].

“The fear of YHVH” with reverence, worship, and awe is central; the things Yehovah loves, we love; the things He hates become things we object to also: evil, pride, arrogance, the evil way, and the perverted mouth, “that do I hate” [v.13].

Counsel is Mine, and sound wisdom: I AM understanding; I have strength [v.14].

By Wisdom, kings reign, and rulers decree righteousness. By wisdom rulers, nobles and judges rule [v.15 & 16].
WISDOM in Hebrew = “chokmah” skillful, wisely, with wit in a good sense ; from “chaw-kam“, to be wise, in mind, work or action.
“Chochmah” is feminine in the Hebrew. Wisdom, in the plural, is “chochmot”. Wisdom is referred to as “she” as in “her house”. Men should love “wisdom” as “she” reigns!

I love them that love Me; and those that seek Me early shall find Me [v.17].

Why seek Wisdom? Wisdom says, “Riches and honor are with Me, durable and righteous My fruit is better than fine gold and choice silver. I lead in the paths of righteousness and justice. I cause those that love Me to inherit substance and fill their treasures. [v.18-21]

As the Son of Yehovah who descends into humanity to sanctify the world, Wisdom was with Yehovah from before the Beginning or Beresheet [see John 1:1] and dwells in us as “she” builds the house.

Yehovah possessed Me in the beginning of His way, before His works of old. I [Wisdom] was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, before the earth was. When there were no depths [abyss, see Genesis 1:2], I [Wisdom] was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with waters [prior to the downfall of man and his need for “wells of Salvation (Yeshua)”, Isaiah 12:3]. ~ Proverbs 8:22-24]

And if it seems evil to you to serve YHVH, chose this day whom you will serve…but as for me and my house, we will serve YHVH.~ Joshua 24:15

>Wisdom was brought forth before the mountains, the hills, the earth, and the fields , “the highest part of the dust of the world “[v.25 & 26].

When He prepared the heavens, I was there; when He set the compass [for direction, “magnetic” North, East to the right] upon the face of the depth: When He established the clouds above: When He strengthened the fountains of the deep: When He gave to the sea His decree, that the waters should not pass His commandment: When He appointed the foundations of the earth: Then I was by Him, as one brought up with Him: and I was daily His delight, having gladness always before Him…and My delights were with the sons of men [v.27-31].

Wisdom says , “Listen to Me…[v.32”]! “How happy are they who guard My ways. Hear discipline, and be wise, and refuse it not [v.33]!

Happy is the man who listens to Me, watching daily at My gates, waiting at the posts of My doors [v.34]

For whoever finds Me finds life [chayim], and shall obtain favor from YHVH [v.35]

WARNING:

“But he that sins against Me wrongs his own being: all they that hate Me love death [v.36]”!

Yeshua the Messiah says, “I AM the Resurrection and the Life: he that believes in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live [John 11:25]”.

Woe to those seeing themselves as wise, esteeming themselves as clever~ Isaiah 5:21

Woe to those who think they are wise and regard themselves as clever? Is there “good” wisdom , “better and best”?

James 3:17 But the WISDOM that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial, and sincere.

But the “chochmah” that is from above is 1st perfect, then full of shalom [peace, blessing, health, wellness, wholeness], gentle, and ready to obey, full of rachamim [mercies], and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.~ Ya’akov-James 3:17 [RSTNE]

WISDOM: PURE—> PEACE-LOVING—>CONSIDERATE—>SUBMISSIVE—>MERCIFULL—>GOOD FRUIT—>SINCERITY

I, WISDOM, dwell together with prudence, I possess knowledge and discretion;

To fear the LORD is to hate evil;

I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech,

Counsel and sound judgment are mine; I have insight, I have power. [Proverbs 8:12-14]

PRUDENCE in Hebrew is “‘ormah“, discretion, guile [in a good sense], subtlety, wilily and wisdom.
PILLAR in Hebrew is “‘ammuwd“, a column, stand, platform , from the verb “‘aw-mad”, to stand, abide behind, appoint, ordain, arise, dwell or raise up.

WISDOM abides with [PRUDENCE] —> [KNOWLEDGE] and [DISCRETION];
[FEAR OF YHVH] = hate evil pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech! =
[HUMILITY] and [ETHICS] –> [COUNSEL] and [SOUND JUDGEMENT] —> [INSIGHT] and [POWER]

This “pure” WISDOM dwells with PRUDENCE leading us to KNOWLEDGE and DISCRETION; however, FEAR OR REVERANCE OF YHVH in us arises to actually “hate” the sin, but of course, love the “sinner”! Pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech will become “a bad taste” which we will want to spit out! ETHICS with HUMILITY allows COUNSEL and STRONG JUDGEMENT to guide our behavior. We then have great INSIGHT and POWER in His Holy Spirit [RUACH HAKODESH] as we are led by Him.

Proverbs 9:1 WISDOM hath built her house, and carved out her 7 pillars.

Does not Wisdom call? and understanding lift her voice? ~ Proverbs 8:1
Wisdom has built her house; she has cut out it 7 pillars ~ Proverbs 9:1

WISDOM builds ‘herself’ places to abide. Her foundation includes 7 pillars: these 7 [ the # of perfection] : [INSTRUCTION] [KNOWLEDGE] [HUMILITY] [FEAR OF YHVH] [INSIGHT] [SOUND JUDGEMENT] [COUNSEL]. This is where she will abide.

And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars forever.~ Daniel 12:3

Many shall be purified, and made white through Tribulation; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the WISE shall understand.~ Daniel 12:10

Be wise and get “Wisdom”; let “her” build her house in you; be happy! Shalom in Yeshua who is Wisdom! known also as “the Word” or “the Living Torah” and also ” Memra”.
My prayer is that all read, contemplate, chew, meditate on this word. His [INSTRUCTION]–> [KNOWLEDGE]–> [HUMILITY]–> [FEAR OF YHVH]–> [INSIGHT]–> [SOUND JUDGEMENT]–> [COUNSEL]. This is where POWER and GLORY abide .

Asher, Happiness & the Number 8

Are you “happy”? Are you supposed to be “happy”? What is “happiness”?

“Happy” as 1st seen in the Holy Scriptures is in Genesis 30: 12-13:

 Zilpah Leah’s slave-girl bore Jacob a 2nd son, and Leah said, ‘How happy [in Hebrew, ‘asher] I am! Women will say I am happy!’ and called him Asher.

Asher derives from the primitive Hebrew root ‘asher: to be straight, be level, right, or happy , to go forward, be honest, prosper, as also in Job 29:11, Psalms 72:17, Proverbs 31:28, and Malachi 3:12, 15.

 So, Asher is pronounce ‘ happy’ or call blessed, one who is honest and prosperous in right level way of living! If so, you are happy!

“Asher” or happy is son #8, after Reuben #1 [see, a son]; Simeon #2 [Shi’mon, hearing]; Levi #3 [joining, attaching]; Judah #4 [Y’hudah, praise]; Dan #5 [He judged]; Naphtali #6 [my wrestling]; and Gad #7 [good fortune].

• Message in the  8 sons of Jacob:

See [that God is good]  +Hear [His Word ] +Join or Marry [to God] +Praise [His Name] +Reason [Together with God, Isaiah 1:16] +Contend [fight the good fight of faith]—> Good Fortune and Happiness!                       

•  In Hebrew the number eight is (Sh’moneh), from the root (Shah’meyn), “to make fat,” “cover with fat,” “to super-abound.” “Fatness” symbolizes the blessing of abundance and oils and fats become poured out &  sacrificed by Jacob in chapter 28 and by the Levites later on.
• Of Asher Moses says in Deuteronomy 33:24-25:

May Asher be most blessed of sons [out of Reuben, Judah, Levi, Benjamin, Joseph, Zebulon, Gad, Dan, Naphtali; Simeon (hearing)  and Issachar (reward) not mentioned; ] , May he be the favorite among his brothers and bathe his feet in oil. May your bolts be of iron and bronze and your strength last as long as you live.

• Moses continues to teach “Yeshurun” the beloved one that there is “no one like God, riding through the heavens to help you [v.26]! “

The God of old is a dwelling-place, with everlasting arms beneath. He expelled the enemy before you and He said, “Destroy!” So Israel lives in security…Happy [‘asher, O thy happiness] are you, Israel! Who is like you, a people saved by Yehovah, your defender helping you and your sword of triumph. Your enemies will cringe before you, but you will trample down their high places [Dt. 33:27-29].

 

The queen of Sheba was breathless when she saw the wisdom and prosperity of Solomon in 1 Kings 10. In verse 8 she states how “happy your people must be, how happy these servants of yours who are always here attending  you and get to hear your wisdom! 9 Blessed be Yehovah your God, who took pleasure in you to put you on the throne of Israel.” She gave him 4 tons of gold!

How happy [‘asher] are we when we receive the Father’s spirit, the 7 as in Isaiah 11: 1-2: the same spirit  of Yehovah which rested on Yeshua Jesus the Messiah rests on and in us if we believe: with  His Spirit of wisdom, understanding,  counsel, power, knowledge, and fearing [revering] Yehovah!

David sang in a song [Psalms 144:15] :  “How happy the people who live in such conditions [the blessings]! How happy the people whose God is Yehovah!”

Happy is he whose help is Jacob’s God, whose hope is in Yehovah his God [Psalms 146:5]

Happy the person who finds wisdom, the person who acquires understanding, for her [wisdom’s] profit exceeds that of silver, gaining her [wisdom] is better than gold, she is more precious than pearls–nothing you want can compare with her [wisdom] [Proverbs 3:13-15].

How happy is everyone who fears Yehovah, who lives by His ways. You will eat what your hands have produced, you will be happy and prosperous [Psalms 128:1-2].

There was also a prophet named Anna [Hannah] daughter of Penuel of the tribe of Asher [happy] . She was a very old woman [84= 10 x 8  , complete abundance +4 corners of earth]…She never left the Temple grounds but worshipped there night and day, fasting and praying. She came by at that moment [Mary & Joseph brought baby Jesus] and began thanking God and speaking about the child to everyone  who was waiting for Jerusalem to be liberated [Luke 2:36-38].

“Now if I , the Lord and Rabbi, have washed your feet, you also should wash each other’s feet. For I have set an example, so you may do as I have done to you…If you know these things, you will be blessed [happy] if you do them [John 13:14-17]”.

• This ‘happy‘ is in Greek : “makarios“, supremely blest, fortunate, well off, blessed! Blessed is he who obeys and follows as taught.

Look, we regard those who persevered as blessed [happy]. You have heard of the perseverance of Job, and you know what the purpose of Yehovah was, that Yehovah is very compassionate and merciful [James 5:11].

How happy [asher] the person whom God corrects! So don’t despise Shaddai’s   [the Almighty’s] discipline. For He wounds, but he bandages the sore; His hands may strike, but they also heal [Job 5:17-18].

There is power in contentment, to choose to be happy over sad, to “count your blessings one by one and see what God has done” in your life. Look not to others. Choose not to be discontent. We are created to worship Yehovah [Psalm 150]. This journey is “not about us but about Him”. We are here to glorify God:

Romans 11:36″ For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever! Amen”.

Once we submit our lives to Him, He fills us with the abundant life, the fatness, the #8, the ‘asher, happiness. Shalom