Wisdom

Scripture Lessons

1 Kings 3:4-15                       Solomon asks the Lord for wisdom.

Psalm 119:97-104                The law of the Lord gives understanding and wisdom.

Ephesians 1:3-14                 We are blessed through Christ.

Luke 2:40-52                         The boy Jesus in the temple

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

It is astounding to observe what is considered “wisdom” in our present age. When I say that, you’re probably thinking of the celebrity nitwits that opine about various subjects, none of which they have the background, education, or experience with which to speak knowledgeably. Or perhaps you’re thinking about the “experts” who have the education (education out the wazoo in some instances), but can’t seem to answer a simple question like, “what is a woman?” I know you’re not thinking of politicians because nobody attributes wisdom to a politician…unless there is wisdom in expediency.

Are you wise? It is unwise to defy the living God, the only one in the world who absolutely will not let you down, and yet we each confessed this morning our sins and begged His forgiveness.

Solomon asked for wisdom and was commended by God for his request. Think about that for a minute. Solomon was commended by God! “You have asked wisely and will receive that which you asked for and much more.”

Psalm 119 declares praise and thanksgiving for the wisdom that comes from God’s word. “Oh how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day. Your commandment makes me wiser than my enemies, for it is ever with me…Through your precepts I get understanding;” And so forth. True wisdom comes through the word of God. The wise person is the one who hears the word of God and receives it. “The fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God.’ Psalm 14:1a. Therefore, the fool closes his ears to the word of God. But the wise opens his ears and the wise person hears beautiful words like this which you heard from Ephesians 1: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places.” You are blessed in Christ Jesus with “every spiritual blessing.”

Job was blessed with spiritual and material blessings. And in an instant, his material blessings were brought to naught. Satan challenged God. He said that Job was “faithful” to God because of his earthly possessions, but if God would remove those material blessings than Job would curse him. You know the history: Job would not curse God. “Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.” Job 1:21. What is it that Satan didn’t understand about Job? What is it that he doesn’t understand about faith? To know God is to know His disposition toward you. Job knew that God loved him. Job knew that God provides and takes away for good reason. Job knew that God’s ways are above our ways. “Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!” Romans 11:33.

This is why we must talk often of God’s all-surpassing love for you in Christ Jesus. The world apart from God’s word lacks true wisdom. To such a world, our claims of God’s love for all people appear foolish. “If God loves, why do people suffer? Floods? Devastation? Terrorist attacks? Alcoholism? Cancer? Abuse?” The world sees all of these consequences of sin and attributes them to God because the world does not see God’s true disposition toward mankind. I confess that we cannot understand all of God’s ways. That’s the point that Paul makes in Romans 11. His ways are far above ours. Blessed be our omniscient God who knows all things and works all things together for your good. “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28.

Wisdom begins with the true and right understanding of law and gospel. The mirror of the law reveals to you your sin. God’s law shows you what ought to be and you know that you fall short. The Gospel reveals God’s disposition toward you, that is a disposition of love and forgiveness.

When Jesus, the twelve-year-old young man, came to the temple, he went about His Father’s business. “After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions.” The expression, “asking them questions,” could also be understood as interrogating them, or accosting them with questions and demanding answers. Wisdom demands, not just a proper answer, but a proper understanding. Think of the time when Jesus demanded understanding from the Pharisees.

“⁴¹ Now while the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them a question, ⁴² saying, “What do you think about the Christ? Whose son is he?” They said to him, “The son of David.” ⁴³ He said to them, “How is it then that David, in the Spirit, calls him Lord, saying, ⁴⁴ “‘The Lord said to my Lord,“Sit at my right hand, until I put your enemies under your feet”’? ⁴⁵ If then David calls him Lord, how is he his son?” ⁴⁶ And no one was able to answer him a word, nor from that day did anyone dare to ask him any more questions.

There is knowledge and there is understanding, and wisdom requires both. “You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder!” James 2:19. It is not enough to know about God. Certainly, confessing that there is a God is a start. But wisdom means to confess that there is a God and that He loves you, and all people, that He desires all people to be redeemed. That is to understand God’s gracious disposition toward you.

Your salvation required more than a good man to show you the way. It required a God-man to live the perfect, sinless life that you cannot, and to take upon Himself your sins and the sin of the whole world. God in Christ has done this for you. “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” Psalm 111:10, Proverbs 1:7, Proverbs 9:10. Yes, a right understanding of the Holy and Righteous God is the beginning of wisdom. The fulness of wisdom comes in receiving the good news that in Christ Jesus, God has forgiven your sins. The fulness of wisdom comes in receiving the very body and blood of Christ at this table. The world can mock and ridicule. The world can treat God’s word as though it lacks power to accomplish what He says. But wisdom receives God’s word and confesses, “I believe, help my unbelief.” Mark 9:24.

The peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.