Wisdom: Watch and Wait for Life

“Now, therefore, O sons, listen to  me, for blessed are they who keep my ways.  Heed instruction and be wise, and do not neglect it.  Blessed is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at my doorposts.  For he who finds me finds life and obtains favor from the LORD.  But he who sins against me injuries himself; all those who hate me love death.”


‘Wisdom’ is speaking this to all who will listen.  It is required that one WATCH and WAIT, to the end that one would find life and favor from the LORD.  Watching and waiting daily implies a relationship—walking with a person.  To contrast, there is a warning to those who do not do this—they are on the path to injury and death.

The picture above was helping me to understand the spirit of these verses.  One man has crossed a bridge to the castle of the king, has knocked at the door, and is waiting for the door to open.  This is a picture of wisdom: watching and waiting for the LORD to show the way of life.  The other man is trying to force his way into the castle—to get wisdom on his own, despising God’s wisdom.  This person thinks he actually has power to obtain life on his own, stealing from the source of life, but this is actually the way of death!  He won’t actually make it over the “wall” but will plummet to his own demise.  WATCH AND WAIT FOR LIFE.

In John 14, Jesus says He is the “way, the truth, and the life.”  Read verses 1-7 for some context, and we see that Jesus is comforting His disciples by reminding them of the dwelling place in His Father’s house which He is going to prepare for them.  What is required of them is that they would keep their eyes on Jesus, obeying His word, while they watch and wait for His return (John 14:15-17).  Remember that Jesus “became to us wisdom from God” (1 Cor. 1:30-31).  While we wait for our redemption, we hold onto His righteousness and participate in His sanctification.  It may not look like we are doing much as we entrust ourselves to Him.

In John 10:7-10, Jesus says, “I am the door of the sheep.”  Sheep just entrust themselves to the shepherd.  For those who are to take care of God’s flock, the only way to do so is by Christ.  Watch and wait for His guidance and provision.  If I force anything, I risk injury or demise to myself or others.
John 10:22-30.  Jesus is speaking these things during the Feast of the Dedication.  That was when the temple was rededicated in Jerusalem between the time of the OT and the NT. Macabees took it back from the Greek oppressors. He is saying that He is the only way to fully experience God’s presence and worship Him accordingly.  Some WAITING but not WATCHING.

David wrote Psalm 30 to commemorate the first dedication of the Temple.  David is waiting on the LORD, praising Him for deliverance. Jesus, the Davidic Messiah, fulfilled this once for all.
Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 6:19-20 that we are the temple of the Holy Spirit, accomplished through Jesus’ work on the cross.  We have died to our efforts to obtain life on our own strength or wisdom.  We don’t belong to ourselves.  We would be wise to meditate on this, watching and waiting for Jesus’ instruction on how to glorify God in our bodies.

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