Wisdom is Purposely Withheld When You Ignore These 2 Simple Truths (Psalm 146 – Proverbs 2)
Have you ever listened to a speaker, thinking to yourself how wise they were? Wisdom is a Biblical concept that the world doesn’t actually understand. The world sees wisdom as knowledge, but for Christians, wisdom holds vastly more. Not to mention, wisdom is not had until you understand it’s basis.
Finishing up with the last of the Psalms reminds us that we are to always praise the Lord! His goodness and care for us is never-ending and full of all we should ever need. Not only that, but all of creation boasts His name and sings His praises… a great daily example for us should we choose to see God through His creation.
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Creation and Wisdom…
Creation is our first glimpse into the ultimate wisdom that God embodies. It is through the intricacies of flowers, or the mass of clouds, or the effect that water has on the earth, that we can see God’s handiwork bringing everything together to create the world we live in.
Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?
Matthew 6:26,28-30
Take a moment to consider the truth of these verses. God so carefully designed everything down to the most minute detail. Some flowers emanate radiance in their design and color. Or perhaps we should look through all the different types of fish and the patterns they have: some have neon displays, lights, iridescent shimmer, etc.
Step 1…
The placement of the Psalms in the Bible offers a great job of stressing the importance of understanding God’s sovereignty over all of Creation and that He is always worthy of praise, no matter our circumstances!
When we start to consider the first part of Proverbs, the purpose for them is much clearer to understand… it’s the starting mindset to gain in order to obtain wisdom.
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Proverbs 1:7
Fear is a positive moral quality and refers to reverence. This fear makes a person receptive to wisdom and knowledge.
The purpose of Proverbs…
You may be wondering the overarching purpose of these quips and instructions. The answer is provided for within different proverbs.
…Proverbs was written to give “prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the young” (1:4), and to make wise men wiser (1:5). The frequent references to “my son” (1:8,10; 2:1; 3:1, 4:1, 5:1) emphasize instructing the young and guiding them into a happy and prosperous life. Acquiring wisdom and knowing how to avoid the pitfalls of folly will lead to health and success. Although Proverbs is a practical book dealing with the art of living, it bases wisdom solidly on the fear of the Lord (1:7). Throughout the book this reverence for God is set forth as the path to life and security (cf. 3:5; 9:10; 22:4). People must trust in the Lord (3:5) and not in themselves (28:26).
NIV Study Bible
The value of all people…
Throughout the Bible, we see the value God shows to all lives. From the infant still in it’s Mother’s tummy to the oldest Christ-follower. This trickles down into church relationships and how we are to see each other.
It also translates on a deeper level to our own spiritual disciplines and education. Here in the Old Testament we see the advice for the wise (elders) to become wiser, and the those seeking God (young) to learn discretion and prudence. The New Testament ties these together. They have a different level
[T]o give prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the youth—Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance….
Proverbs 1:4-5
Older men are to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness. Likewise, urge the younger men to be self-controlled. 7 Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, 8 and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us.
Titus 2:2,6-8
The people of the church are meant to come together and learn by example. Our examples ought to be steeped with discipline and discretion.
Step 2…
Wisdom cries aloud in the street, in the markets she raises her voice[:]
If you turn at my reproof, behold, I will pour out my spirit to you; I will make my words known to you. Because I have called you and you refused to listen, have stretched out my hand and no one has heeded, because you have ignored all my counsel and would have none of my reproof, also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when terror strikes you, when terror strikes you like a storm and your calamity comes like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come upon you.
Then they will call upon me, but I will not answer; they will seek me diligently but will not find me. Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the Lord, would have none of my counsel and despised all my reproof, therefore they shall eat the fruit of their way, and have their fill of their own devices. For the simple are killed by their turning away, and the complacency of fools destroys them; but whoever listens to me will dwell secure and will be at ease, without dread of disaster.”
Proverbs 20:20,23-33
How do you respond to Godly rebuke? Are you moldable?
In these short verses, the word ‘reproof’ is used 3 times, so let’s take note of what the author wanted us to take note of.
A reproof is a “rebuke, a correction, or an argument. The primary thrust of this word is that of correcting some wrong.” (Strong’s Concordance)
A motto that should hold fast to every area in our lives… why not grab a daily reminder to boast of Our King!
Correcting a wrong…
The word means to correct a wrong. When God brings about a reproof in your life it serves as a wakeup call. Are you responding in a way that you turn away from the wrong committed or are you turning away from true wisdom (and, likewise, the author of that wisdom, God). It is His wisdom that leads Christians.
And it is through His guidance in our lives that we travel through it. If we aren’t hearing His guidance AND obeying, then there are consequences.
Are you listening to God? Are His reproofs in your life adhered to or ignored? Take some time today to consider whether you are following God’s leading in the way He tells us we should.
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-L