יָדַע
“To KNOW wisdom and instruction…” Proverbs 1:2
To know, to know, to know…We Westerners think we know stuff when we can regurgitate answers on a standardized test or spout our opinion on how to solve the problems of the world or quote Scripture verses that judge someone else’s actions. We often consider people smart who a earn college degree or make it big in business. We think we are smart when we give clever answers, outsmart some loophole of a tax law, or come out on top of a business deal. But there is a huge difference between being smart and being wise. To “KNOW” in the book of Proverbs has a much deeper meaning than we typically mean when someone says, “Oh, I know that.”
For several years I was involved in a ladies’ prayer group that was known as the Yada Prayer group. We were a group of twelve ladies who met regularly for prayer for each other and our families. There were many sweet times of prayer and fellowship through the years and close friendships were developed, as we began to get to know each other on a more intimate, personal level. The idea for this group came about as several ladies in our church were reading the Christian fiction series by Neta Jackson, The Yada Yada Prayer Group. The story is about a group of twelve Christian women that forms out of regional women’s retreat in Chicago. Over a period of several years the women meet on a regular basis to pray for one another, and as they do they develop deep and meaningful friendships, in spite of their diverse backgrounds. They truly learn to know and love one another. So you may ask, why the name “Yada Yada”?
The term, yada, is the transliteration of a Hebrew term that means “to know.” The term is found throughout the Old Covenant Scriptures and “has a wide range of meanings depending upon the context…” (Hegg, Tim.Torah Source, no date). According to Strong’s Concordance, the definition of the term יָדַע (transliterated “yada”), begins with simple acknowledgement of a truth or concept and expands to include acquaintance with, discovery, comprehension, assurance, declaration, intimacy, and even includes sexual intimacy, as in Genesis “when Adam ‘KNEW’ Eve, his wife.”.
As an educator, I learned that students will achieve varying levels of understanding when I teach. Often as teachers, we assume that the students really come to KNOW what we want them to as we teach– we assume that they “get it” – but the truth is that most often a group of students usually “get it” at different levels of understanding. If we are to be certain that students comprehend what we expect them “to KNOW”, we must develop our lesson plan based on specific objectives. Our objectives need to be clearly stated and measurable. It isn’t enough to say that we want our students to learn to read. Our objectives need to describe specifically what we expect in ways that we can observe and measure. The measurement is often referred to in education as “testing,” but in reality it can and should include many other evaluations along the way so that we, as educators, can be certain the student is learning what we want them to learn. So we write objective statements such as this, “The student will be able to…” followed by terms typically found on Bloom’s Taxonomy of Learning to classify the level of learning required for the student to know what they need to know.
An example would be teaching a Bible verse to students in a Sunday School class. If we want the students to “learn” a Bible verse, we need to distinguish what we mean by the term “learn”. Do we want the student to be able to recite the verse? OR do we want the student to be able to explain the meaning of the verse? OR do we expect the student to demonstrate application of the verse through practical application? Until the student actually takes the Scripture, recognizing the truth of it, and applies it in their own life, have they truly “learned” the verse? So as the student moves from early childhood to adulthood, increasing in cognitive, emotional, and spiritual development, the teaching objectives move from simplicity to complexity in understanding and application. The same goes for the follower of Jesus. The expectations for a new believer are far less than for one who has walked with Jesus for many years.
The book of Proverbs progresses in instruction from the young child to the young man to the mature adult and concludes with a section for those who are in leadership. The book begins with five purpose statements. “To KNOW wisdom” is the first of these five foundational objectives. According to the NET Bible translator note, this term, “to know” “refers to experiential knowledge, not just cognitive knowledge; it includes the intellectual assimilation and practical use of what is acquired.” (p. 1074) Solomon’s expectation was that the reader would not only be able to “quote” the Proverbs, but that his sons and the young ones in Israel would apply what they learned, thus acquiring wisdom. He further develops what it means “to know wisdom” in the following four objectives, progressing from the basics to the mature leader, using the phrases, “to discern”, “to receive”, and “to impart”.
How would Solomon “know” that his sons learned wisdom? He would know by observing their lives, by whether or not they exercised discernment in making decisions (Proverbs 1:2b). Did they “receive” the instruction? It would be evident when Solomon saw his sons living skillfully, practicing righteousness, justice, and equity, in their royal positions? (Proverbs 1:3) Was it obvious that prudence had been imparted? He would be assured that they reached the point of “KNOWING” wisdom by the choices and decisions they made. (Proverbs 1:4) As the student matured, Solomon would further evaluate learning when his sons in turn began to teach others the wisdom that they themselves had learned. (Proverbs 1:5). Solomon’s objectives would be achieved when the student recognized and consistently applied the teaching of the parables and wise sayings, practically using knowledge and wisdom in specific life situations and passing on their knowledge to another generation. (Proverbs 1:6)
My grandson, Erik, starts kindergarten in just a few weeks. My expectations are not only that he will be able to read the words on a page or memorize math facts or identify the parts of a plant or the primary organs in human body. The main objective of his education is and should be that he will “KNOW” wisdom. Robert Fulghum, in his book, All I Ever Needed to Know I Learned in Kindergarten, writes, “ALL I REALLY NEED TO KNOW about how to live and what to do and how to be I learned in kindergarten. Wisdom was not at the top of the graduate-school mountain, but there in the sandpile at Sunday School.” My prayer is that Erik, and all of my seven grandchildren, will be able to apply what they learn in school and in church this year to their own life situations. My desire is that they become mature, faithful followers of Jesus, that they will choose wisdom over folly, self-sacrifice over selfishness, loyalty instead of deceit, and love instead of apathy. I pray they will choose honesty and integrity, and show kindness to everyone. I pray that they will learn to use money wisely, but never love it. I pray that they will promote justice and live uprightly.
Who really cares if Erik learns to read the The Cat in the Hat? Don’t get me wrong. That will be fun and I look forward to hearing him read a Dr. Seuss story very soon! Better yet, I look forward to hearing him read Psalm 1 or Psalm 23 or Psalm 100…or quote John 3:16. Most of all I want to hear him tell how Jesus loves him and how he has given his life to Jesus. I want to watch when he sees others in need and generously gives out of a heart of love and compassion-and when he tells someone else that Jesus loves them. What difference does it make if Erik memorizes and even understands someday how an atom works, if he never recognizes the Creator of the atom? I want to hear Erik say, “Look at what God created!” I want Erik “to KNOW” wisdom!
The kindergarten of Proverbs is יָדַע – “to KNOW” wisdom. YADA, YADA, YADA…This month as the kids head back to school, let’s go with them back to the beginning, to kindergarten, if you will, and make sure we truly know what it means “to KNOW” wisdom. Remember “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” (Proverbs 1:7) This is where we begin, as discover what it means “to KNOW” wisdom. Each day during the month of August, the Proverb of the Day will contain this Hebrew word, יָדַע and provide further understanding of what it means “to KNOW” wisdom from God’s perspective. I do hope you will join us on this journey, and as we go, I hope you will share what you have learned this month as you seek “to KNOW wisdom and instruction.” (Proverbs 1:2a)