Proverbs (Part 090) - Pro 8:14

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14. Pro 8:14 - "Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom: I am understanding; I have strength." A. Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom: i. Wisdom is speaking in this passage (Pro 8:1, 12). ii. Counsel belongs to wisdom. a. Counsel n. - I. 1. a. Interchange of opinions on a matter of procedure; consultation, deliberation. to take counsel: to consult, deliberate. 2. a. Opinion as to what ought to be done given as the result of consultation; aid or instruction for directing the judgement; advice, direction. 3. The faculty of counselling or advising; judgement; prudence; sagacity in the devising of plans. 1611 Bible Job xii. 13 With him is wisedome & strength, he hath counsell and vnderstanding. b. God possesses counsel, wisdom, understanding, and strength (Job 12:13). (i) Being God, He possesses these qualities in limitless amounts. (ii) No man can be God's counselor (Rom 11:33-34). (iii) There is no counsel against the LORD (Pro 21:30). (iv) God makes worldly counselors fools (Job 12:17; Isa 44:25; 1Co 1:19-20). c. God wisely devises plans to accomplish His purposes (Eph 1:11). d. God and His word are the best counselors possible (Psa 73:24; Psa 119:24). e. Therefore, if you ever need to see a counselor, make sure his counsel is Biblically based. iii. Sound wisdom belongs to wisdom. a. Sound adj. - II. 8. a. In full accordance with fact, reason, or good sense; founded on true or well-established grounds; free from error, fallacy, or logical defect; good, strong, valid. 9. Of judgement, sense, etc.: Based on or characterized by well-grounded principles or good practical knowledge. b. Wisdom n. - 1. a. Capacity of judging rightly in matters relating to life and conduct; soundness of judgement in the choice of means and ends; sometimes, less strictly, sound sense, esp. in practical affairs: opp. to folly. c. God's wisdom in His word is in full accordance with fact, reason, and good sense and is free from error, fallacy, or logical defect. d. If we want to make the best judgments and decisions possible, it will be by tapping into God's perfect wisdom found in the holy scriptures which He has laid up for the righteous (Pro 2:6-7). iv. Counsel and understanding go hand-in-hand (Deut 32:28) as the rest of the verse goes on to say. B. I am understanding; I have strength. i. Wisdom personified in Proverbs 8 is understanding; therefore she is intelligence. a. Understanding n. - 1. a. (Without article.) Power or ability to understand; intellect, intelligence. b. God's understanding is infinite (Psa 147:5). (i) Infinite adj. - 1. a. Having no limit or end (real or assignable); boundless, unlimited, endless; immeasurably great in extent, duration, or other respect. Chiefly of God or His attributes; also of space, time, etc., in which it passes into the mathematical use (4b). (ii) This is why wisdom says she is understanding. ii. Wisdom has strength. a. Strength n. - 1. The quality or condition of being strong. a. Power of action in body or limbs; ability to exert muscular force. c. Power in general, whether physical, mental, or due to the possession of resources; ability for effective action; efficiency, vigour (of mental faculties, etc.). d. Capacity for moral effort or endurance; firmness (of mind, character, will, purpose); power to resist temptation or fulfil a difficult duty; fortitude as one of the cardinal virtues. Freq. in phr. strength of character. b. God has infinite power and understanding (Psa 147:5; Isa 40:28). (i) Therefore, God is the source of the power that we possess (Isa 40:29-31; 2Ti 1:7). (ii) The LORD is also the source of our understanding (Pro 2:6). iii. Understanding and strength go hand-in-hand. a. A wise man is strong mentally and in character (Pro 24:5; Ecc 7:19). (i) Bodily exercise profits little, but godliness is profitable unto all things (1Ti 4:8). (ii) Wisdom is better than physical strength (Ecc 9:16) and weapons of war (Ecc 9:18). (iii) A wise man who has understanding will seek counsel in the word of God and from wise men in order to prevail in the battles of life (Pro 24:6 c/w Pro 20:18 c/w 2Co 10:4-5 c/w Eph 6:10-18). b. A foolish man is not strong, not matter how big his muscles are.