A) MANY TEXTS REFERENCE WISDOM.

B) THE BOOK OF JOB.

C) THE BOOK OF PROVERBS.

D) WHO HAS WISDOM?

E) HOW TO RECEIVE WISDOM.

F) THE BOTTOM LINE.

 

 

A) MANY TEXTS REFERENCE WISDOM

 

 

There are a little over 300 occurrences in the Old Testament of the word “wisdom,” of which more than half are in the Books of Job, Proverbs, and Ecclesiastes.

 

There is no one English definition that can best describe the meaning of “wisdom,” but the Hebrew definition of “wisdom” is:  “the art of reaching one’s end by the use of the right means.”  Predominantly though, the “wisdom” thought expressed in the Bible, and accepted in all societies, is that which comes through experience.  Also, according to Job 12:12; 15:10; and Proverbs 16:31, the “wise man” is at his best in his old age.

 

When discussing the religious idea of “wisdom,” the “wise man” is he who gives to the things of God the same acuteness that other men give to worldly affairs (see Luke 16:8).  Intellectual power, without moral control or conduct, leads to an ineffective use of ones “wisdom,” and ultimately to one’s own loss of a meaningful life.  And it must be remembered that Paul, one of the most acute “man of wisdom” for the cause of Christ, taught, that the “wisdom of the cross,” by the world’s standards, was considered to be as a person who was not entirely in their right mind:  “For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.”  Colossians 1:18.

 

According to the “Wisdom of Solomon,” Proverbs 7:7; 8:21, when man trusts simply to his own attainments, he is bound to go wrong (see Pro. 3:5-7; 19:21; 21:30; 28:11).  True wisdom must center on God (Pro. 15:33; 19:20), initiating, or starting from God Himself (Pro. 1:7; 9:10; Psa. 111:10; Job 28:28) and ending with God (Pro. 2:5).  Continual attention must be given to every department of life, and man is never finished with the learning process (Pro. 9:9; Ecc. 4:13).

 

The fact that the outlook on life beyond the grave is notably absent in the “Wisdom Literature,” meaning the Bible, is also helpful in determining what happens to one after his earthly death (see Ecc. 9:5-6).

 

 

B) THE BOOK OF JOB

 

 

Let’s read Job, Chapter 28:12-28:

 

12.  But where shall wisdom be found? and where is the place of understanding?

13.  Man knoweth not the price thereof; neither is it found in the land of the living.

14.  The depth saith, It is not in me:  and the sea saith, It is not with me.

15.  It cannot be gotten for gold, neither shall silver be weighed for the price thereof.

16.  It cannot be valued with the gold of Ophir, with the precious onyx, or the sapphire.

17.  The gold and the crystal cannot equal it:  and the exchange of it shall not be for jewels of fine gold.

18.  No mention shall be made of coral, or of pearls:  for the price of wisdom is above rubies.

19.  The topaz of Ethiopia shall not equal it, neither shall it be valued with pure gold.

20.  Whence then cometh wisdom? and where is the place of understanding?

21.  Seeing it is hid from the eyes of all living, and kept close from the fowls of the air.

22.  Destruction and death say, We have heard the fame thereof with our ears.

23.  God understandeth the way thereof, and He knoweth the place thereof.

24.  For He looketh to the ends of the earth, and seeth under the whole Heaven;

25.  To make the weight for the winds; and He weigheth the waters by measure.

26.  When He made a decree for the rain, and a way for the lightning of the thunder:

27.  Then did He see it, and declare it; He prepared it, yea, and searched it out.

28.  And unto man He said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.

 

 

C) THE BOOK OF PROVERBS

 

 

And Here Is One Way To Attain To True Wisdom:  Proverbs, Chapter 2:1-12:

 

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.

6.  For the Lord giveth wisdom:  out of His mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.

7.  He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous:  He is a buckler to them that walk uprightly.

8.  He keepeth the paths of judgment, and preserveth the way of His saints.

9.  Then shalt thou understand righteousness, and judgment, and equity; yea, every good path.

10.  When wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul;

11.  Discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee:

12.  To deliver thee from the way of the evil man, from the man that speaketh froward things:

 

 

And Proverbs, Chapter 4:4-7:

 

4.  He taught me also, and said unto me, Let thine heart retain My Words:  keep My Commandments, and live.

5.  Get wisdom, get understanding:  forget it not; neither decline from the Words of My mouth.

6.  Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee:  love her, and she shall keep thee.

7.  Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom:  and with all thy getting get understanding.

 

 

D) WHO HAS WISDOM

 

 

According to God’s Word, our Lord put into some men wisdom (Exo. 28:3; 31:3 & 6; 35:31 & 35; 36:1 & 2; 1Ki. 3:28; 4:29; 5:12; 10:24; 1Ch. 22:12; 2Ch. 1:10 & 12; Ezra 7:25; Isa. 11:2; Dan. 1:17; 2:21 & 23; 5:14; Mark 6:2; Luke 2:40; 21:15; Acts 7:10; 1Co. 12:8; Eph. 1:17; Col. 1:9); to be used for the glory of God.

 

 

E) HOW TO RECEIVE WISDOM

 

 

By Asking For It:  “Give me now wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people:  for who can judge this Thy people, that is so great?”  Second Chronicles 1:10.  “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.”  James 1:5.

 

By allowing God to intervene:  “Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts:  and in the hidden part Thou shalt make me to know wisdom.”  Psalm 51:6.  “So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.”  Psalm 90:12.

 

Another way to receive wisdom is the way of all the earth, i.e., through experiences of life, age, and longevity:  “With the ancient is wisdom; and in length of days understanding.”  Job 12:12.  “I said, Days should speak, and multitude of years should teach wisdom.  But there is a spirit in man:  and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding.”  Job 32:7-8.  “. . . but with the well advised is wisdom.”  Proverbs 13:10.  “The rod and reproof give wisdom:  but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame.”  Proverbs 29:15.

 

 

F) THE BOTTOM LINE

 

 

So Here Is The Bottom Line:

 

Psalm 111:10:  “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.”

Proverbs 9:10:  “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom:  and the knowledge of The Holy is understanding.”

Proverbs 11:2:  “When pride cometh, then cometh shame:  but with the lowly is wisdom.”

Proverbs 15:33:  “The fear of the Lord is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility.”

Isaiah 33:6:  “And wisdom and knowledge shall be the stability of thy times, and strength of salvation:  the fear of the Lord is his treasure.”

Colossians 3:16:  “Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.”