I have been doing some thinking about wisdom before I began this blog break. I want to share some notes with you over the next few days that I made that basically do a whistlestop tour of what the Bible has to say on this subject.
1. Wisdom in the Bible Seems to Get off to A Bad Start
Gen 3:6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate.
She could have got wisdom from her husband and from the Lord
The husband was foolishly silent, which should not be confused with the silence of wisdom
So-called “wisdom” tells us we can be independent. Godly wisdom is dependent on others and especially God.
2. The Mark of God’s Favour: Joseph
Gen 41, Pharaoh’s dream interpreted,
Gen 41:39 “Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has shown you all this, there is none so discerning and wise as you are.”
Another example of this is found in Daniel, especially chapter 1.
3. There Are Clear Capacities of Wisdom
Deut 1: 15 So I took the heads of your tribes, wise and experienced men, and set them as heads over you, commanders of thousands, commanders of hundreds, commanders of fifties, commanders of tens, and officers, throughout your tribes
They were to judge, but cases they found too hard to go to Moses.
God gives wisdom in unequal packages deliberately to make us depend on each other!
4. Leadership Wisdom is a Gift From God
Deut 34:9 And Joshua the son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom, for Moses had laid his hands on him. So the people of Israel obeyed him and did as the Lord had commanded Moses.
Wisdom was imparted through laying on of hands, and because it was there they followed him. Like them, we would do well to follow wisdom when we see it in others!
5. A Wise Person Can Sometimes Even Negate the Actions of a Fool
Abigail and Nabal 1 Samuel 25
6. Wisdom should be desired more than wealth or power
Solomon asked God for the best gift of all and God blessed him.
1 Kings 4:29 God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding beyond measure, and breadth of mind like the sand on the seashore, . . he was wiser than all other men
Prov 8:11 “for wisdom is better than jewels, and all that you may desire cannot compare with her.”
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