Critical South Africa Debates by Bryan Britton - HTML preview

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THE SEVEN PILLARS OF WISDOM

The Seven Pillars of Wisdom is the autobiographical account of the experiences of the British soldier T. E. Lawrence, aka Lawrence of Arabia, while serving as a liaison officer with rebel forces during the Arab Revolt against the Ottoman Turks of 1916 to 1918. The title comes from the Book of Proverbs, 9:1: "Wisdom hath builded her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars."

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In summary therefor:

The Seven Pillars of Wisdom

Prudence

Knowledge

Discretion

Fear of God

Counsel

Sound Wisdom

Understanding

The foundation of the house of wisdom is "the fear of the Lord . . . the beginning of wisdom" Proverbs 9:10. One does not finally reach the Lord through much study and the acquisition of much wisdom. The fear of the Lord is the very "beginning of wisdom." Without a reverent trust in the God of creation and redemption, there can be no true wisdom. "For other foundation can no man lay than . . . Jesus Christ.” 1 Corinthians 3:11.

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Thus a life of genuine wisdom is a life founded upon the fear of the Lord and supported by genuine purity, peaceableness, gentleness, reasonableness, helpfulness, humility, and sincerity.

Such a house will never fall.