What is wisdom?

Proverbs 4:1-9

Romans 1:18-23

1 Cor 1:18-29.

What is the difference between knowledge and wisdom or understanding?

In the last blog we saw that wisdom is not simply a matter of obeying a set of rules. The application of wisdom has a spiritual element to it, a supernatural element if you like. So wisdom has the potential to give you “LIFE” and life in abundance, whereas trying to obey a set of rules just gives us a sense of burden because we, in all probability can’t keep them perfectly.

So wisdom is not knowledge it can involve knowledge but wisdom is the application of knowledge.to the best effect.

So how do we obtain wisdom (understanding)? Pr 4:1. Who is The Father? Does that not fit the theme of our blog?

How important is understanding for the reader? vv 4-9?

What is the ultimate test of wisdom? Romans 1:22

So, looking at the reference in 1 Cor we can see that wisdom is ultimately personified in Jesus. So if we are to have wisdom, we will be most wise if we abide in Christ and He abides in us. This involves truly listening to Jesus. Hearing His heartbeat through His word and applying it fresh to your mind and Spirit every day. And then our lives will reflect their true purpose which is bringing God the glory in all our thoughts and endevours.

So what have these passages said to you today, which is fresh and you can apply to your life?

Lady Wisdom.

Proverbs 1:20-23

Psalm 112:1-10

Ecclesiastes 2:24-26.

The bible is extremely rich in word pictures which help us, unwittingly in understanding its message. Here in Proverbs the imagery is used of two Ladies: Wisdom and Folly who will help us understand these concepts better.

This week Koos Kombuis , wrote in his weekly article some ideas about how to cope with the lock-down situation. Amongst others he spoke of spending time in communion with an imaginary lady who is inside him whom he called Sophy. This is really quite interesting because Sophy is the name for wisdom. As far as I know he is not a Christian.

There is much written about the wisdom literature in the bible and I don’t want this to become an in depth study on wisdom but we need to understand some basics. So while the book of proverbs is intensely practical, it is nevertheless not simply a list of rules to obey.

So what is the difference between all the activities of life, whether good or bad (like making a living) and how to live life? cf Eccl 2:24-26.

How can we live in safety and not fear harm? Psa 112 and Prov 1:33. (What is the connection between one who is under God’s blessing and one who listens?)

How do we gain wisdom?

Since we are now living under the Gospel, how does wisdom relate to the ministry and person of Jesus?

Just some thoughts for the evening. Think through them and listen to Jesus.

Comments

So this is how you open the comments box: You simply tap or click on the title of the post you wish to comment on and the comment box will open below the post. Write your comment and don’t forget to to click or tap on post comment.

To make it easier for us to comment, I am going to give the references of the passage(s) that I have read and am making my observations on. To encourage you to read the passages and listen to what Jesus is saying to you, I will leave a couple of open-ended questions. Please remember this is very much still a learning curve, however I believe once we start relaxing and getting into the swing we can become more interactive. Any suggestions from you will always be welcome.

Wisdom.

On Wednesday I finished my pilgrimage through Psalms which has taken about 6 months, including a month in Psalm 119. It has been a delightful and challenging journey and fittingly ends in the 5 praise Psalms from 145-150. Yesterday on my birthday as I paused before my next journey the Lord seemed to be giving Psalm 23 as the Psalm for me for this coming year.

I share one startling picture from it, since I believe you have all read this Psalm many times. Reading a book by Joni Eareckson-Tada, recently, she was speaking about getting a new perspective in the midst of suffering. She called it “Don’t look at the Wall”. Speaking to a friend who is an F1 racing driver she asked him if he was never scared while driving at these high speeds, especially since one of their members had been killed, crashing into the boundary wall. His reply was that they are trained that when they are spinning out of control directly towards the wall, they should not focus on the wall but rather look at the track. The thinking is that they are trained to act spontaneously to drive their cars out of the worst spins etc. However if they focus on the wall rushing towards them their bodies freeze and they lose control.

So taking from that story she is suggesting that in the midst of suffering, not to focus on the wall of pain (let your present dilemma freeze you), but to see past it the larger picture of of the open space, the opportunities the Lord is giving you (steer for the open space).

Reading Psalm 23 I was meditating on the dark valley that David speaks of and one which lies in the center of the Psalm. The comfort God gives through His presence. Then it suddenly hit me. Whenever I think of this vs I am focussing on this dark valley, that is the wall, I must steer for the open space , the light at the end of the valley. The light of hope and the promise of our eternal home and of course the pathway of whatever opportunities God is still giving me. What a thought for the coming year.

So today I started on a slow, in depth walk through Proverbs. Two things struck me immediately, which link into the theme of my blog. Ch 1:3 “Let the wise LISTEN and add to their learning. So how do we know when we are listening to the teaching of God? It shows in our actions and attitudes vs 3. Doing what is right and just and fair. Cf Matthew 7:24 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a WHAT? a WISE man who built his house on the rock.

Of course there is much more . Vs 5 and 6 (Prov) tell us that wisdom gives us discernment and the ability to understand proverbs, parables and the sayings of the wise.If you look at Mark 4:9-12 you see that Jesus specifically spoke in parables so that only those who have the ability to listen will understand them. Whew.

Then there is that well-known vs Prov 1:7, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge”. I was asking myself “Do I really know what it means to fear the Lord, I mean know in my heart? and I was led to Psalm 1 which has much in common with this passage up to vs 19,, there the blessed one, walks in the ways of the Lord and meditates on His law day and night.

So we come back to “how do we know when we are really listening?” Well we will be distinguished by our hearing God speak and putting it into practice, by our attitudes and delight in God’s Word and will be called blessed and wise.

Lots to chew on. I am still struggling to get the comments activated but please stay with us and be patient.

Psalm 148

So as I become quiet with only the early morning mist hanging lazily over the low-lying areas, as look out towards Cape Town, to accompany me, I am listening. The quiet settles around me and my thoughts slowly slide away as I wait expectantly.

“Lay down” I hear. “Lay down what Lord”?

“Lay down your resistance to me and my guidance and love, where you are going your way…

Lay down, in fact, lay down your life and trust in me completely”.

“Truly get out of the boat and stop trusting in it, and only then will you be able to walk on the water and even then you will not only walk I will make you will fly (Isaiah 40:31)I will take you up on the wings of an eagle.”

In my minds eye I see myself flying but now I am in a plane like a WW2 fighter pilot and what’s that? It’s flack bursting around me cannons and machine guns, puffs of smoke, I am in the midst of a great air battle. Then I remember “I am your shield – you are in the battle but I will protect you”.

“I will take refuge under your wings till this disaster has passed”.

Now the question I ask is, “If I trust only in the Lord, how do I live in this world where I must use the help of other people?”

“You can use their help – but keep trusting in Me – trust me to bring the right help”.

Psalm 148 A beautiful psalm of praise, bracketed again by the words praise the Lord! He is totally unique “from the heavens”. The word all is used 10 times but alone only once vs 13. He is the only one who deserves praise. So all the heavenly beings and all of creation is praising Him.

But here’s the thing – how does that happen, how do all these parts of creation praise Him? Think a bit on that one.

But there is a difference between His creation, inanimately praising Him and human praise.

What do you think that is?

The name for God here is His covenant name “Yahweh” and the people are to praise that name and Who that represents (vs13) and the people are described as the “saints of Israel” This speaks of a personal relationship, thoughtful praise and comes at the end of the description of all the rest of creation’s praise, which seems to remind me again of how central God is in all of the universe.

And then in vs 14 “He has raised up for His people a horn”. This speaks of power,a king., intimately bound to His people. Who could that be? David in the first place, but in the distant future, the very One who will make it possible for us to praise God from a new perspective.

So I am moved again afresh to want to praise God from the very core of my being.