The Wise Man of Proverbs 24:5-6 ESV (Chappy's Free Chicken Nugget)
Proverbs 24:5-6 ESV
“5 A wise man is full of strength, and a man of knowledge
enhances his might, 6 for by wise guidance you can
wage your war, and in abundance of counselors there is victory.”
As we consider this verse, I think we first need to understand
the definition of a “wise man.” From a contemporary perspective, we could say a
man is wise if he is “a man of unusual learning, judgement, or insight.”[1] Historically speaking, and in the context of the Bible, a
wise man was “a man versed in esoteric lore (as of magic or astrology).”[2] These are very simplistic definitions but they provide us a
platform from which we can gauge our understanding of what it means to be a wise
man.
In the context of the Book of Proverbs, these statements were
intertwined among a collection of sayings which were given as advice on how a
person should and could approach life. It would be the same today if a Private sought
knowledge to increase his effectiveness and efficiency in the performance of
his duties. An NCO, who has grown through the ranks and learned, firsthand,
what works and what doesn’t is able to instruct or advise the young trooper. If
the Private aspires to do well, he will absorb the knowledge and advice
provided to him along his career path.
Fast forward through years of daily duties, field
exercises, deployments, Soldier care, etc. and the Private moves through the
ranks of the NCO to the Senior Leader role. Now, as a Command Sergeant Major,
this Soldier is considered the subject matter expert of the military
profession. His position comes with the assumption (and hope) he is a wise man
full of strength. He has enhanced his might through experience and gaining
knowledge through every means at his disposal. And, as any good leader, he takes
what is good and leaves behind what is bad.
Now imagine, if you will, ten or one hundred such wise
men and women advising a Commander. In a perfect world, their insight, wisdom,
and collaboration “should be” the very key to success for any challenge … overcoming
any obstacle … waging any war. My hope is all of us who aspire to leadership,
aspire to gain wholistic knowledge and wisdom in the pursuit of those
leadership roles.
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