Wisdom

Let's read the book of Proverbs chapter 1. Proverbs chapter 1, read from verse 1. The Proverbs of Solomon, the son of David, king of Israel, to know wisdom and instruction, to perceive the words of understanding, to receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity. They give subtly to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion. A wise man will hear and will increase learning, and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels.

Now to verse 20. Wisdom crieth without, she uttereth her voice in the streets. She crieth in the chief place of concourse and the openings of the gates.

In the city she uttereth her words, saying, how long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? And the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge. Turn ye with my reproof. Behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you.

I will make known my words unto you, because I have called and ye have refused. I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded. He says in verse 26, I also will laugh at your calamity.

Read with me in chapter 8. Verse 1, doth not wisdom cry and understanding put forth her voice. She standeth at the top of high places by the way in the paths of the places of the paths. Verse 4, unto you, O men, I call, and my voice is to the sons of men.

O ye simple understand wisdom, and ye fools be ye of an understanding heart. Herein I will speak of excellent things, and the opening of my lips shall be the right things. Verse 12, I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of witty inventions.

The fear of the Lord is the hate evil. Pride and arrogancy in the evil way, and the forward mouth, though I hate. Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom.

I am understanding. I have strength. Back to chapter 5. Chapter 5 and verse 1, my son attend unto my wisdom, and bow thine ear to my understanding, that thou mayest regard discretion, and that thy lips may keep knowledge.

For the lips of a strange woman drop as a honeycomb, and her mouth is smoother than oil, but her end is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a two-edged sword. Her feet go down to death, her steps take hold on hell, lest thou shouldst ponder the path of life. Her ways are movable, that thou canst not know them.

Last of all, we'll read in chapter 9, read in chapter 9, verse 1, wisdom hath builded her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars, she hath killed her beasts, she hath mingled her wine, she hath also furnished her table, she has set forth her maidens, she crieth upon the high places of the city, and so on. I'll just stop reading at that point. We know very well that the subject of wisdom is one of the primary themes in the book of Proverbs.

It's a book of wisdom. In fact, you find the word wisdom mentioned in this book at least 54 times. And speaking about those that are wise, at least 65 times.

And so if we want to identify books in our Bible that would directly address the subject of wisdom, we'd first of all likely turn to Proverbs. The practical instruction that is given to us in it, and how often it has been proved to be valuable, invaluable for the preservation of God's people in their personal lives and their testimony, in the direction that they would take and the decisions they would make. Remember that this is a book that begins by being addressed to my son.

Different ideas have come from that. And I would like to think with you not that it's not really Solomon instructing his son, although it could have been that. But could we possibly consider that it's the Lord giving instruction to my son Solomon in the days of his youth.

Solomon in his tender heart, one who knew the reality of the presence of God as we've been being reminded of. A man that was very, could be said very clearly of him, that he loved the Lord. And the Lord is seeking to give him admonishment, give him guidance, give him help that would preserve him in his life.

And of course, when we look at it that way, we recognize that's exactly what the Lord wants to do for each one of us. We have a God in heaven that desires to guide his people, to preserve their steps, and to enable us to walk faithfully to him, and to maintain a testimony that is positive and attractive as we express the person of Christ and live for his honor and glory. In the New Testament if we're reading about wisdom, we turn to the book of James.

There we learn about the personification of wisdom again. We find in the end of chapter 3 described in all of its beauty, it contrasts with that which is the wisdom that pertains to the earth. And he says it's sensual, it's demonical.

And so he says it is the most important thing what kind of wisdom we listen to. And you find of course in our life there are those who would appeal to us from the world around and tell us what they think is the wise course of action perhaps. Well true wisdom is that which takes the things of God and the knowledge of the truth of God and applies it in every practical aspect of our life.

To mold our character and to enable us to fulfill the purpose for which God has saved us. I take it the wisdom would put things in a proper perspective. Wisdom would concentrate our desires and attention on the things that are eternal and the things that have great value.

Wisdom would enable us to make right decisions as the people of God are faced with different issues in life and oftentimes wondering which way to go. Wisdom is the application of genuine knowledge, I take it, to the practical events of our life that would not only control that which is inward in our thoughts but also direct us in our actions in an outward way. Interesting to be that when you look at the word wisdom and the word wise in our Bible the first time you find it mentioned is a Genesis chapter 3. There the introduction of sin in the world was accompanied by the fact that when the woman saw the tree that the serpent was directed her attention to, she saw that it was good for food, it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise.

That was the introduction of a kind of a wisdom that is based upon the lie of the devil. There are many today who are following that evidently as we've already been hearing, thinking that that is a course I should take and that is a plan of action which I should be guided by. There's a wisdom of course that is demonic.

It's a wisdom that ruins lives. It's a wisdom that tramples on others. It's a wisdom that doesn't display the character of the wisdom that is from above in James chapter 3. He says first of all it's pure, peaceable, everything so gentle, he says, and a sevenfold description that I believe is epitomized and expressed in the person of the Lord Jesus.

That is certainly what God wants to see replicated and expressed in the life of each one of us as people, how far short we fall. But nevertheless that is a standard. We have the introduction of that kind of wisdom that dominates the world's thinking, that is really controlled by man's reasoning that shuts out God, rejects any counsel or anything that has to do with God's power, God's authority in the life of the individual.

The next time you read about wisdom in our Bible I believe is in Exodus chapter 29. There is God's command to Moses to choose out wise men, men of wisdom, as involved in the construction of the house. Those were men that would be guided by God showing them how things would be done and to construct it and do it exactly as he had given the pattern to Moses in the mount.

And I think anyone that reads the description of the tabernacle and tries to construct any kind of a model of it would appreciate I would need divine wisdom to be able to ever construct a tabernacle like that. And so we have the wisdom that is from above and we have the wisdom that is of the earth. I believe we have a contrast with those two wisdoms when you come to the first epistle of Paul to the Corinthian assembly.

It begins by reminding them the kind of wisdom that was incapable of knowing the truth of God, incapable of appreciating the work of Christ, incapable of comprehending the things that could only be revealed by the Spirit of God. But then it goes on to develop to them that which is so essential in relation to their own personal lives and the continuation of maintenance of that testimony in a way that would be honored to the Lord Jesus. And so we have that necessity for wisdom.

Again turning back to James just briefly you'll notice with me that the first verses of that practical epistle would remind us that not one needs wisdom in the time of trial. Faith combined with wisdom is so essential he says what a man has tried. He says that is the only way that you'll endure and that's the only way you'll understand the reason for it.

You come down the chapter and you'll notice that he reminds him there that it's wisdom properly understood that will preserve a person from sin. He says there's temptation. There's difficulties in a person's life and they'll doubt about it.

But he says it's wisdom that comes from above that is so essential. Chapter 3 it's the wisdom that controls the tongue and causes the person to say that which is consistent with what they are and what they ought to be before God. But coming back to Proverbs, I want to take these verses that we've read at least in some nature and I want to speak about four things that wisdom does.

Now the first thing is that wisdom calls in the gospel. It's wisdom that moves in the gospel and makes a person aware of their need and awakens them to the danger. You know there are things that are preached in the gospel we are well aware of the fact that for the natural man they seem very strange, very foolish, almost unknowable.

I mean after all we're speaking about things that are not visible, not tangible, perhaps not even understandable to the natural mind. But we find that wisdom is calling and it's wisdom that makes a sinner awaken to the reality of their condition before God, isn't it? It's wisdom that puts into perspective their life in relation to what God's requirements are. It's wisdom that causes that individual to come under the conviction of their need of salvation.

It's God moving in a wise, powerful way to cause that individual to recognize their danger that lies ahead, to bring eternal realities into their experience and cause them to be concerned. And a wise person, the Word of God says, a prudent man perceiveth the evil and hideth himself. For the simple pass on and are punished.

So it's really a work of God that creates the sense of that urgency, that impertinence, that realization that I need God's salvation more than anything else. It's wisdom that puts that ahead of everything else. It's wisdom that causes that individual to recognize that without God's salvation I'm in danger of eternal loss, ruin, condemnation.

It's wisdom as well that reveals a person of Christ. And so what Paul writes to the Corinthian believers of chapter 1, he reminds them that the preaching of the cross is foolishness for them that perish. But unto us who are saved it is a power of God.

And he's reminded them there that that wisdom would seem to be continually dominating their thinking and coming in the wisdom of the Greek philosophers and the wisdom of the Greek world. The wisdom of the environment in which they live. He says it has absolutely no profit when it comes to God's salvation.

It has no profit when it comes to the proclamation of the Word of God. Because he says it really divides people. It brings a division between those that are saved and those that are perishing.

It has when you come to that portion of the Word of God he says it's Christ who has made unto us wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption. In other words true wisdom for the lost and perishing is found in the person of Christ. Now the message of the gospel that is proclaimed and has been proclaimed from the beginning brethren it still has its power to say today.

We don't need as E.M. Bowne said we don't need new methods we need new men. And the power of the gospel is still effective. We're praying for the meetings in Marion.

Thankfully you're praying for the meetings that are going to start up the river as well. And every other aspect of the work of God where the gospel is preached. We do so with a realization that when the gospel is preached it's the call of wisdom to the lost and perishing and to waken them to their danger and to turn them.

You notice in chapter 1 he says the sad thing is that the majority pass on. They scored. He says he would have not said it not my counsel and would none of my recruit.

Wisdom appealing. I take it the wisdom in this case of Proverbs is the personification that is really centered upon Christ. Isn't the appeal of Christ in Matthew chapter 10 the last the last public call to the nation.

I take it in Matthew's gospel come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden. And the Lord could say that wisdom is justified over children. And there are those who respond to the truth that he is proclaiming.

Now they came with a realization of that need under the recognition of that danger and they returned and brought to Christ. It was really a work of God of wisdom that ever brought you and me to the Lord Jesus. It wasn't our, it wasn't our reasoning.

It's not our natural intelligence. In fact he says God has not chosen the wise men of this world but he's chosen the things that are foolish and base and lowly. And in the eyes of men they had no value whatsoever.

In fact in chapter 2 of 1st Corinthians he reminds them that had the men of this world the princes of this world known it. They would not have crucified the Lord of glory. It's a call of the gospel that goes forth.

It is the call of wisdom in the gospel that has reminded us of the great need that we continue to rely upon the work of God by his spirit to awaken souls to the need. Not only does wisdom call in the gospel that we notice in chapter 8 that wisdom counsels through the teaching. I take it that in wisdom chapter, in chapter, in Proverbs chapter 8 we have the call of wisdom accompanied with prudence.

The counsel that would guide a believer is how I want to apply that. Having been saved and coming to realization of the wisdom of God that is expressed in the gospel of his grace we see the need for divine counsel, guidance. We've been hearing about the pitfalls and the conditions that exist in the world around us whether it be in schools or in the public area or in any other aspect the media as well as in the office and in the factory no matter where we're found we're bombarded by wrong influences.

I'm thinking of men that would promote the self-centered pattern of living that is so characteristic of the world around us. Here wisdom is speaking and again calling to those that pass by. I would take it that child of God you and I need wisdom to guide our lives aright.

There are a lot of things in our life and it's oftentimes a decision that has to be made. Is this all right or is there something better? Is this acceptable or does the Lord have something better for me that I should be occupied with? Sometimes it's a matter of qualitative decisions. Will this really promote my life spiritually? Well if I engage in this activity will it really be beneficial to me in my spiritual growth? Will it perhaps diminish my exercise for God? Will it have the effect perhaps of robbing me of my time that I need to experience the Lord's presence and to hear his voice? Sometimes we feel to ask ourselves not really the question what's wrong with it.

I don't think that's a good question. Perhaps if we ask the question of what's wrong with it we're off on the wrong foot. We've already started bad.

Perhaps we should ask the question what's right about it? What would be beneficial about it? Paul reminds the believers in Philippi that they should they need to not just seek for the good things but for the better things. So it's not a matter of just simply can I do this? Will it be acceptable? Will it pass the assessment of the brethren? Or really will it be beneficial and will it be the will of God for me? I think that Paul began his Christian life perhaps before he actually knew the Savior in a genuine way and he said Lord what will thou have me to do? The simple question that should regulate our lives is that question what does the Lord really want me to do? Let me give one example that's been on my mind and I'm not trying to pick any bones or trying to call attention to any particular just an example. Well we live in an area of course where there an abundance, maybe too many in my estimation, abundance of casinos, riverboat, all different places.

You go by I go through Dubuque on the way home there's one here and one over there and you know some believers they think about that place I wouldn't go there to gamble no way I wouldn't do that at all but they sure spread a good food, a good buffet and you know the food's cheap and what's wrong with it? Why shouldn't I go there to eat and enjoy a good meal? I'll tell you what's wrong with it. It may ruin your testimony because there are other believers that might see you going there and there might be unsaved people that see you going there too. It could ruin your testimony because when you go there they don't know what you're going for.

It could also expose you to temptation that might ruin your life even though you don't intend to be involved in that it's association with it and I'm only suggesting that as a illustration of many of the things that we have to ask ourselves really is it wise for me to go there? Does anyone here that need some money for a good meal just ask me I'll give you some. But really there's there are so many things that we're faced with in life aren't we? And sometimes they're almost like they're in a gray area. Would I really be would that be permissible or can I get away with it? Wisdom simply asks the question is this going to be beneficial for my testimony? Is it going to draw me near to the Lord Jesus or hinder my enjoyment of a relationship with him? Will it possibly, will it possibly have a bad effect or will it have a positive effect on my experience of seeking to walk with the Lord? So wisdom would give guidance.

Notice what this expression is in chapter 8. He says this wisdom says in this case he says be, verse 5, be of an understanding heart here for I will speak of excellent things. Not just good things, excellent things. And on that opening to my lips shall be right things from a mouth shall speak peace, truth rather.

And wickedness is an abomination to my lips. But I'm coming down to verse 12 and thinking of this expression in relation to the counsel that wisdom would give to us. It's from God's Word and it's been reminded, we've been reminded already about the importance of it but he says I wisdom dwell with prudence.

Prudence is that which makes a person cautious and gives him a sense of carefulness. And so we find that he says I find out knowledge of witty inventions. Mr. Darby translates that I find I find out knowledge which cometh from reflection.

Careful thought and meditation. That's so important when it comes to discerning the mind of God of being guided in a wise way. Find out knowledge that comes from reflection.

Notice what follows. The fear of the Lord is the hate evil. Pride and arrogancy in the evil way and the proverbial mouth though I hate.

Counsel is mine and sound wisdom. Verse 17, I love them that love me and those that seek me early shall find me and so on. We find the counsel that wisdom gives.

As you and I live in this world child of God we need divine guidance. That guidance comes to us as we've been reminded by Brother Christopherson. It comes to us through reading and meditating upon the Word of God.

It says we saturate our mind and allow that to permeate our thinking that our decisions are made in a right way and so that they're not those that would possibly result in a diminution of our exercise but rather an augmentation of it, an increase. We might have greater desires for God as a result. Wisdom gives counsel.

I can link that with 1st Corinthians chapter 2 where Paul reminds the believers there that the things of God are not known to the natural mind. It's not eye that has seen, it's not ear that has heard. Not by the natural means it enters the heart of man but God has revealed them to us by his spirit.

He reminds them that we have the mind of Christ. So if that would dominate our thinking we'd have guidance in the things of our daily life and we'd make progress and be preserved in our spiritual character. Oh wisdom calls in the gospel.

Wisdom counsels in the teaching. The third thing is that wisdom cancels. I gotta have a C here so I don't know if it's a correct one or not but wisdom cancels the moral deception through its warnings.

That's chapter 5. It's also chapter 7. He reminds him of the fact that there is a possibility of moral fall. Of those situations it can arise when there's a temptation to do something that deep in your heart and mind you know it's not right. He speaks about the deception, deception of the strange woman.

It reminds him of course of the one who was a strange woman in verse 7, chapter 7 rather. And looking at our daily life and recognizing the increase of sexual attraction. Using that for selling.

Using that for the promotion of different events. Very difficult even to look at anything in our world anymore without having some innuendo connected with it. And there's so many things that are all interwoven with the ingredients that would cause a moral fall.

We're living in a world in which of course there's a possibility of shall I say casual interactions. If you know what I mean. I don't want to go into details.

But there's the element in which those things are sacredly separated under marriage or simply considered to be something of a casual interaction. Everybody does it don't they? Don't they? No problem, no repercussions. But the warning to the wisdom in chapter 5 and chapter 7 would cause a believer to be very careful.

It's wisdom that of course puts the Word of God first and foremost in our lives and it really examines every issue of that nature. To ask myself is that consistent with what the Word of God teaches? There's so many things that shall I say they simply come by way of without even desiring them and the influences of our life that having it the effect of embedding themselves in our mind. Sometimes the ones you would be very surprised about find themselves in a moral situation that causes a fall.

Moral, moral problems. So we find whether it's in that relation of sexual activities or whether it has to do with other moral unrighteousness shall we say in other practices of the world. It's wisdom that applies the Word of God and all that it's for all of its full teaching.

Applies it to the different events of life and we examine those things through the filter shall we say of what the Word of God says. And it's not the standard of the world that we want, it's a standard that God has given us so clearly in His Word. A compromise in any element of this nature will ultimately have a ruinous effect upon a believer's spiritual life.

Many have proven that. They've proven it to their sadness. There are those of course that we know of who at one time had promise.

Promise for God, promise for the assembly. We look for them to be effective and helpful. Sadly today finds them far far away.

You know sometimes we think that a Christian can't fall in a moral way but the reality sometimes it's easier because of the fact that a child of God truly saved knows it cannot be lost. So the counsel comes from wisdom that would cancel, if I can use that word it cancels moral dissension. It recognizes that when that comes your way it has to be refused, it has to be rejected.

We find that sadly the most powerful, the most that the judge with the most potential in the book of Judges, Samson, the man who fell morally and accomplished the least of any one of them. So we're living in days like that. Those days of Samson are very indicative of the day in which you and I live.

I can only say the younger people will hear a brother speaking to younger people but some of us have been, I shouldn't say some of us, we've all been there, haven't we? We've all been down that pathway. A pathway that sometimes tends toward accommodation. A pathway that almost could be influenced by the fact that while everybody's doing it, whether it's drugs or anything else, it's a counsel of wisdom that applies the truths of the Word of God to our lives to carefully guide us, control us, and to preserve us.

So we have wisdom that cancels and I find that in 1st Corinthians chapter 5 and verse chapter 10 where the Apostle Paul reminds him of the dangers of that kind of thing and the need for discipline in the assembly. But I'll leave that. Chapter, of course, chapter 6 and 9 he reminds him that those people do not inherit the kingdom of God but such were some of them.

The last thing I want you to notice in chapter 9 in this section on wisdom is that wisdom is involved in constructing the house. I'm applying this in relation to the assembly. Taking us back as well to what we read about the wise men in building the tabernacle and certainly when we come to the principles of the local assembly, it's so essential that it be guided in its activities and guided in its work, guided in the building up and the reception and all the activities that are so essential for the preservation of local assemblies.

Certainly we need wise men. Those wise men, of course, are those that are guided again by the Word of God. They are those that seek to study the Word of God and understand just what does God give us as a pattern for His place.

It's not a Some brethren would say, well we like to do it this way. That's not the question. Some might say, well it seems to work over there, but that's not the question either.

Some might say, well, let's try it and see if it works at all. That may not be the right question either. The only question really is coming back to what the Word of God gives us by the inspired Spirit of God.

What do we have taught in God's Word? I think in 1 Corinthians chapter 7, Paul again is reminding those who are responsible for building in the assembly the material that would either edify and be of lasting character and all the preciousness of the different things he typifies in relation to the gold, silver, and precious stones. He's reminded of the fact that that is going to determine the character of that assembly, its duration, its value, its ability to continue on in faithfulness for the Lord Jesus. We read here in chapter 9 the wisdom of the building or house.

The first thing that's mentioned in regard to that building is the seven pillars. Some have associated the seven pillars with basic truths that are connected with the assembly, but certainly the seven pillars would involve the completeness of the stability that would maintain and uphold a testimony that is clear and plain before the world around us. Seven pillars and then he says there's an abundance that is spread.

Kilder animals, the beasts, mingler wine, the joy and the communion that is enjoyed in the things of God. We have that necessity that Paul reminds us of going back to 1 Corinthians chapter 3. Another foundation could no man lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. So he says there's a necessity having had that foundation to build things into it that are consistent with it.

And that of course reminds us of the need for wisdom. We have wise men that seek to guide assemblies. We thank God for them.

May God grant them the grace and the wisdom to deal with issues. Problems that come up from time to time and the difficulties that they face. I pray for our brethren and we need to pray for them because so much depends on them having the wisdom that comes from above to guide and to be a blessing to God's people.

We know something of the wisdom. We know something of being wise people. People that are not controlled and guided and influenced extremely by the world in which we live.

The wisdom of man. May God by his grace grant us that we might go on in the wisdom that's from above.