The Wisdom Literature: A Foundation for Discernment

We often speak of the Restoration as a retrieval of lost covenants and ordinances, a re-establishment of priesthood authority, and a renewed witness of the divine. But what undergirds the ability to *apply* such restoration? What allows us to discern the voice of the Lord amidst the clamor of the world?

The answer, it seems, is found in cultivating wisdom. And the Wisdom Literature—Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Job—offers a profound, age-old pathway.

The Bible Project’s recent video (linked below) provides a compelling introduction to this collection of books, highlighting their distinct approach to answering fundamental questions: Why is there suffering in the world? How ought we to live? What constitutes a good life?

What strikes me most is the distinct posture of these writings. Unlike much of the narrative in the Hebrew Bible—the grand sweep of Israel’s history, the covenants with Abraham and Moses, the prophecies of redemption—the Wisdom Literature steps back from the overarching story. It doesn’t delve into the intricacies of the Law of Moses, the sacrificial system, or the lineage of kings. Instead, it addresses the individual, the family, the artisan, the ruler—those striving to live righteously within the framework of God’s plan.

As the video rightly points out, this isn’t to suggest a detachment from God’s covenant. The authors of Proverbs and Ecclesiastes, traditionally attributed to Solomon, were steeped in the understanding of Israel’s history and divine purpose. Yet, they chose to speak in a different register—a register of observation, of practical counsel, of discerning the patterns of cause and effect in human experience. Job, of course, grapples with the most profound of questions, a lament born of unimaginable suffering, yet still searching for understanding within the context of divine justice.

Consider Proverbs 26:17: “Like snow in summer or rain upon the desert, so honor is not fitting for a fool.” This isn’t a pronouncement from on high, but a simple observation, a lesson learned through experience. It resonates across millennia, applicable to the young man seeking recognition or the elder yearning for respect. The wisdom isn’t a new revelation, but a distillation of age-old truths, refined by countless generations.

This echoes the principles taught in our own scriptures. President Spencer W. Kimball taught, “Wisdom is the ability to apply knowledge to everyday living.” (Ensign, May 1981, 64). How vital it is, then, that we actively engage with the Wisdom Literature, not merely as historical artifacts, but as living guides for navigating the trials and triumphs of our own lives.

The Spirit bears witness of these truths. As we pore over Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Job, seeking to understand their nuances and applying their principles, we invite the Spirit to illuminate our understanding and direct our actions. Let us cultivate this spirit of discernment, this wisdom, so that we may be better prepared to receive and act upon the covenants we hold dear.

Let us reflect on how the principles of the Wisdom Literature inform our callings, strengthen our families, and prepare us to build Zion.