It’s unfair to claim that Western culture doesn’t value wisdom. Our problem is that we’re convinced that we already have it. That would be one reason we try to figure out our problems on our own, avoiding the opinions and insights of friends, peers, family, etc.
We’re not asking questions about how to make our marriages better, or our careers, our finances, relationships -we’ve got it all figured out.
Much of the trouble we face – our divorce rates, our debt, our anger – are a symptom of a deeply-seeded, cultural avoidance of the kind of wisdom that can change lives, cultures – entire planets.
It’s real. It exists. And it seems to be that the people who’ll give anything for it usually find it.
But because I’m trying to slog through my own problems, and can’t claim to have much to say about this kind of wisdom, I’m going to refer to an ancient source, one that seeks to bring change to our lives, and doesn’t seem to care whether or not we get our feelings hurt.
These are three ancient Jewish books, commonly referred to as the “Wisdom Literature” of the Bible. I know that some of my readers get nervous when the “B” word is mentioned, but hang with me on this one, you won’t be disappointed.
These books, as is the case with the rest of the Old Testament, are written in an ancient language, and a literary style that frequently doesn’t translate well into English. They go deep – much deeper than we typically give them credit, and are fascinating when understood in a not-so-Western context.
Below is a video from the Bible Project, a group of uber-savvy scholars who’ve found a creative and highly compelling way to articulate the scriptures. This is part 1 of a three part series on the wisdom books of the Bible.
Again, I promise that you won’t be disappointed.
Enjoy.
