May 29 - Proverbs 8:1-10:32

Good morning everyone,

Today we get to meet another Proverb’s woman, Wisdom. Now Wisdom, we’re told, and look at this in your mind’s eye, it’s totally amazing, was brought forth even before the world came to be. Before the world came to be?! When there was nothing. Can you even see what nothing looks like? How big it is? And, there is Wisdom, brought forth as the first of God’s works, watching as the heavens were put into place, as the clouds were established, as the horizon was marked out and while the waters received their boundaries. Verses 30-31 say, “Then I was constantly at his side. I was filled with delight day after day, rejoicing always in his presence, rejoicing in his whole world and delighting in mankind.” May I just say, I can hardly wait to be constantly at His side! But the point here is, Wisdom is so important to God, it was the very first thing He did and there she stands, calling out to all mankind, can you hear her? “Hello … hello. Take a listen, I have trust worthy things to say.” Makes me smile.

So what is wisdom exactly? Merriam-Webster tells us that it is knowledge that is gained by having many experiences in life: the natural ability to understand things that most other people cannot understand: knowledge of what is proper or reasonable: good sense or judgment. The Bible tells us that wisdom is a skill that enables us to live obediently before God in the midst of trials. The result will be a truly beautiful life that glorifies God. Job 12:13 says, “With God are wisdom and might; he has counsel and understanding.” 1Corinthians 1:30 says,  “God alone made it possible for you to be in Christ Jesus. For our benefit God made Christ to be wisdom itself. He is the one who made us acceptable to God. He made us pure and holy, and he gave himself to purchase our freedom.” That is so beautiful!

Where do we get wisdom? Well that’s easy. James 1:5 says, “If you need wisdom -- if you want to know what God wants you to do -- ask him, and he will gladly tell you. He will not resent your asking.” We simply drop to our knees and humble ourselves before our God, confess to Him that we do not know what we need to know in order to live joyfully, especially in the face of trials and He will eagerly, with pleasure, supply us with the wisdom we require. James 3:17 tells us, “The wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and good deeds. It shows no partiality and is always sincere.” 2 Timothy 2:7 tells us, “Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.”

God’s wisdom typically does not come as a sudden revelation or impression that hits us out of nowhere. Remember those cartoons you use to see on TV where the person got a brilliant (questionable) idea and a light bulb appeared above their head? Yea … No. It’s not like that. No, God’s wisdom is more of a learning process, made known to us over time, in increments we can comprehend, it comes directly from God and is revealed in His Word through the Holy Spirit allowing us to apply biblical truth to every situation that we face. Make sense? Clearly, you need to be in God’s Word to know God’s Word if you expect to glean God’s wisdom. I speak from experience when I say, the more you are reading your Bible, the more you learn about God and Christ Jesus, the clearer understanding you will have of His love for you and His will for your life. Everything from forever ago to today is so much more coherent. It all has a perfect order. Ecclesiastes 2:13-14 says, I thought, “Wisdom is better than foolishness, just as light is better than darkness. For the wise can see where they are going, but fools walk in the dark.” Let us be a people who walk in the light. Amen?

Have a great day and to God be the glory.

God bless you all …