The Wisdom of God

Proverbs 2:6-15

6 For the Lord gives wisdom, and from His mouth come knowledge and understanding.

God is our source for all we need. And has there ever been a time in which we have had a greater need for wisdom? The knowledge and understanding that science gives is useful, and our lives are made easier by the things which come from that research.

Knowing the chemistry of toothpaste is not of particular use in daily life for most of us, and understanding the physics of wireless charging of an electric toothbrush will not be of direct benefit to what we will face today.

However, the knowledge in God's Word and the understanding it brings as we read it and live it will meet today's needs, wherever we are, and prepare us for future needs.

7-9 He holds victory in store for the upright, He is a shield to those whose walk is blameless, for He guards the course of the just and protects the way of His faithful ones. Then you will understand what is right and just and fair -- every good path.

Upright? Blameless? Just? Faithful? Who - me? Let's make it clear. In and of ourselves, there is nothing good. And that is what we hear day in and day out, whispering in our ear, running through our minds, coming out of our lips.

However, the story did not stop there. Let's give equal time to the other half of the story. Jesus is all those things, and He was obedient to God's plan which enabled Him to assign them to us so we can grow into them.

Just as the bank holds the title to what we buy but lets us drive the car and live in the house, so we get to wear those labels as we are changed, day by day, into the image of Christ, who is each of those things. Are we there yet? No.

But if we are hungry for God and desiring to know more of the Word and are praying to do God's will, then we are being changed by the Spirit, a little each day, and are allowed to be called "upright," "blameless," "just," "faithful," "beloved," and much, much more.

Just as we can use the car and the house as long as we keep up the regular payments to the bank, so we are accepted in God as we keep pressing in to know Him better.

And when we do, look at the benefits. God holds victory in store for us. He is our shield and He guards our course. He protects the way from ambushes and has His special forces on call and patrolling if we need road-side service.

10-11 For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul. Discretion will protect you, and understanding will guard you.

God's promise is to give us new hearts, ones that have His covenant and His laws embedded in them, hearts of tender flesh, not of unresponsive stone.

We can accept the wisdom that comes down from God and act on it without the pride of self-seeking getting in the way, blocking the flow of the Spirit who leads us into all truth. Reading the Scriptures to gain knowledge of God becomes a pleasant way to spend time rather than a tiresome chore or a frustrating exercise in obedience.

Discretion and understanding take up positions around us, keeping us in check when we start to dash off on whatever thought jumps into our minds. We learn to weigh things, evaluate needs, find and recall scriptures to judge whether or not something is of God. We learn to slow down, wait on God, and not lean to our own understanding.

12-15 Wisdom will save you from the ways of wicked men, from men whose words are perverse, who leave the straight paths to walk in dark ways, who delight in doing wrong and rejoice in the perverseness of evil, whose paths are crooked and who are devious in their ways.

In Proverbs 8 the majority of the chapter talks about wisdom as a person and describes aspects and accomplishments of Wisdom. It becomes clear through reading it that Jesus, the Son of God, is the person who best fits that passage. Even so, this statement shows that Jesus saves us from wicked ways and keeps us on straight paths, preserving our lives and bringing us to the Father. We can accept Him as our gift, our "get out of jail" card, but why stop there when there is so much more? Simply read the Word, and ask God for understanding. He will open your eyes.

Dear Father, Thank You for the courage to turn every aspect of our lives over to you. As we meditate on the truth in Your Word, help us to find the "dead zones" that hinder our communication with You, that stop our receiving the fellowship of the Spirit with You and with other believers. As we prayerfully turn these parts of our lives over to Your healing power, You are faithful to cleanse and renew us. Thank You for giving us ears to hear Your wisdom and guidance. Thank You for sharpening our hearing in the Spirit so we know  how to use our gifts today, where the needs are, who will be blessed by Your love. Lord, we know that our lives will not be without difficulties, but we thank You that we have peace through the problems and that faithful, trusting acceptance of Your will allows our strength to be tested and increased, not drained and broken, and permits our character to be built, not torn down, that we might exalt You and see Your kingdom increase.

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