What Is Wisdom Literature?
In the Bible, there is a set of writings called “Wisdom Literature.” These books include Proverbs, Psalms, Job, Ecclesiastes and the Song of Solomon.
The purpose of wisdom literature is to preserve wise sayings of a righteous parent or leader to a young and growing child. The righteous and wise parent delivers instructions to the child on how to live a happy, prosperous life by putting God first and keeping the commandments.
We see this in Proverbs 7:1-3, “My son, keep my words, and lay up my commandments with thee. Keep my commandments, and live; and my law as the apple of thine eye. Bind them upon thy fingers, write them upon the table of thine heart.”
As we’ve seen elsewhere, keeping the commandments shows covenantal love and faithfulness to God. A wise person is one who is loyal to God and demonstrates that loyalty by keeping the commandments.
Who Wrote Wisdom Literature?
Few people in ancient Israel were literate. Scribes were those who primarily preserved the written word. And learning to read and write is an intensive, long-term commitment. What texts were used to teach the developing scribe? Wisdom literature. Young scribes practiced learning to write by using cherished passages from the Book of Proverbs or other wisdom writings. In this way, they learned both to write and they learned crucial life lessons they could pass down through the ages for the benefit of generations of people.
Why Wisdom Literature matters for the Book of Mormon
The fact that Nephi knew how to read and write is strong evidence that he was trained in the ancient Israelite scribal tradition centered on wisdom literature. I believe that Nephi perpetuated his scribal training for those who followed in his footsteps as a prophet-scribe, such as Alma the Younger and Mormon.
Indeed, the Book of Mormon can fruitfully and meaningfully be read as a wisdom text. That is, the Book of Mormon preserves the wise words of righteous parents or leaders for children who are growing into maturity. Throughout the Book of Mormon, wise words invite us to remember and trust God, to be loyal to our covenants, and to reap the joyful blessings of faithfulness to God.
May we think deeply and often about this key question: “How do you hear Him?” He then promised, “When we seek to hear—truly hear—His Son, we will be guided to know what to do in any circumstance.” The scriptures preserve the precious words of God to His children. In the past His faithful saints heard Him and recorded His truths. Now in our day we can hear Him again as we read and ponder the scriptures, listen to and follow modern day prophets and keep our spirits open to regular inspiration from heaven so we may have the Wisdom to learn what the Lord has in store for each one of us.
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