Whence Cometh Wisdom
One of my favorite passages of Scripture, and seemingly often quoted by others is Proverbs 3:5, 6.
5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
These two verses share with us some great truths, about trusting and acknowledging the things of the LORD over our own thoughts. Have you ever continued to the next two verses?
7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil. 8 It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.
Here the Scriptures tell us that we are not to be wise in our own eyes. In fact, it goes on to declare that if we fear the LORD and depart from evil, it will bring us health to our physical bodies.
If we are honest, most of us believe we have it all figured out, and seldom wish to adhere to the wisdom of others (of those proven to be wise). This can be seen in our children, as they develop from kids into teenagers and into adulthood, but seldom ceases to exist even as we grow older knowing better than to think we are a “know it all.” It usually isn’t until failure or disaster comes that we may momentarily come to realize that we don’t quite know all there is to know. Sometimes even then we fail to admit it, but simply cast blame elsewhere or reason away why it appears we don’t know as much as we claim to.
In and of ourselves we do not know how to trust in the LORD and not in ourselves, nor do we desire to depart from evil and to allow the LORD to direct our paths.
Whence Cometh Wisdom? From one greater than ourselves!
Maybe David said it best in Psalm 51:
He comes before God in humility, acknowledging his sin, and asking God to show him mercy he knows he does not deserve. He pleads with God to cleanse him of sin, to make him righteous before His eyes; for he knows he is unable to do this himself. He knows God desires truth to dwell within us, and acknowledges that it is God alone who causes us to know wisdom. It is God who gives man a clean heart, and quickens the spirit of fallen man to make it right.
Scripture declares multiple times, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever.”
“Be not wise in thine own eyes,” but seek it from the LORD. Take a moment to read Proverbs 2. Here is just a taste:
1 My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee; 2 So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding; 3 Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; 4 If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; 5 Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God.
As a Christian, knowing we could do nothing to save ourselves from the depravity which bound us to sin, being freed only through trusting in the wisdom of God by putting faith in Jesus Christ, how is it then that we so proudly claim we can be wise by any means other than obeying and fellowshipping with God in prayer and through His Word? Then, and only then, shall we be granted His wisdom, if we shall repent and trust in Him over ourselves.
5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
These two verses share with us some great truths, about trusting and acknowledging the things of the LORD over our own thoughts. Have you ever continued to the next two verses?
7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil. 8 It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.
Here the Scriptures tell us that we are not to be wise in our own eyes. In fact, it goes on to declare that if we fear the LORD and depart from evil, it will bring us health to our physical bodies.
If we are honest, most of us believe we have it all figured out, and seldom wish to adhere to the wisdom of others (of those proven to be wise). This can be seen in our children, as they develop from kids into teenagers and into adulthood, but seldom ceases to exist even as we grow older knowing better than to think we are a “know it all.” It usually isn’t until failure or disaster comes that we may momentarily come to realize that we don’t quite know all there is to know. Sometimes even then we fail to admit it, but simply cast blame elsewhere or reason away why it appears we don’t know as much as we claim to.
In and of ourselves we do not know how to trust in the LORD and not in ourselves, nor do we desire to depart from evil and to allow the LORD to direct our paths.
Whence Cometh Wisdom? From one greater than ourselves!
Maybe David said it best in Psalm 51:
He comes before God in humility, acknowledging his sin, and asking God to show him mercy he knows he does not deserve. He pleads with God to cleanse him of sin, to make him righteous before His eyes; for he knows he is unable to do this himself. He knows God desires truth to dwell within us, and acknowledges that it is God alone who causes us to know wisdom. It is God who gives man a clean heart, and quickens the spirit of fallen man to make it right.
Scripture declares multiple times, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever.”
“Be not wise in thine own eyes,” but seek it from the LORD. Take a moment to read Proverbs 2. Here is just a taste:
1 My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee; 2 So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding; 3 Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; 4 If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; 5 Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God.
As a Christian, knowing we could do nothing to save ourselves from the depravity which bound us to sin, being freed only through trusting in the wisdom of God by putting faith in Jesus Christ, how is it then that we so proudly claim we can be wise by any means other than obeying and fellowshipping with God in prayer and through His Word? Then, and only then, shall we be granted His wisdom, if we shall repent and trust in Him over ourselves.
2 comments:
“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever.”
I often have an issue with this verse, and for good reason.
Fear is not the beginning of wisdom: It is the beginning of subjugation, slavish obedience and mindless subservience.
Again, just one out of a myriad of verses to prove that once again, the bible is morally bankrupt. The sooner we dump the bible into the trash can, the better for all of humanity.
Beast
"Question with boldness even the existence of God; because, if there be one, he must more approve of the homage of reason than that of blindfolded fear."
-Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826), in 1787 letter to his nephew
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