Now the man Moses was very meek, more than all people who were on the face of the earth.

 Numbers 12:1-16

Now the man Moses was very meek, more than all people who were on the face of the earth. Numbers 12:3

I continue my study of Numbers, and in the text today - Numbers 12:1-16 - we see Miriam and Aaron complain and oppose Moses, angering God.  Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method.

• What do we learn from the text about God?: The Lord is all knowing - this was true in the beginning from the garden where Adam and Eve sinned (The Fall) and attempted to hide from the Lord but could not.  The Lord heard it when Aaron and Moses spoke ill of Moses (v2).  See also this post and similar posts. The Lord does not like when we gossip or slander others - see the 9th commandment from Exodus 20:16.   In the text today, God is particularly angered (v9) because Moses is favored and pleased by God (vv7-8).  God is both merciful and just.  Miriam is punished as God gives her leprosy.  Aaron is not punished but God responds to Moses intercession that Miriam be healed and after seven days of exile from the camp she is restored.   
• What do we learn from the text about people?: We see a contrast between Miriam and Aaron who envy Moses and think more highly of themselves than they ought.  Moses on the other hand - v3 - is very humble.  For God to work through us, we must decrease and He must increase - humility.  
• Is there anything from the text God wants us to obey (SPEC: Sins to avoid, Promises to claim, Examples to follow, Commands to obey?): We must avoid envy and arrogance.  Claim the promise that the last shall become first.  Follow Moses' humble example.  Surrender to God and allow Him to work through you. 

Comment and discuss this post

My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who loves and saves.  You are both merciful and just and Your mercies are new every morning and never cease.  Thank You for my salvation and the mercies that continue to pour out daily.  I am not deserving.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

But when Jesus heard it he said, “This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.”

 John 11:1-4

But when Jesus heard it he said, “This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.” John 11:4

I continue my study of John and today I focus on  John 11:1-4, where we see the beginning of the story of Lazarus, whom we know from the larger story arc is ill and dies, and that Jesus raises him from the dead.  Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method. 

• What do we learn from the text about God?: In response to Mary and Martha seeking His help to heal - their brother - Lazarus who is ill (v3), Jesus shares that "[t]his illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it" (v4)[.]  Jesus is all knowing and His ways are perfect.  He knows that Lazarus will die but that He will raise Lazarus from the dead.  Since the Fall, when sin entered the world, as a result, we experience brokenness in many forms including sickness, pain, suffering, death, etc.  God is in control (Colossians 1:15-17) and this is all part of God's plan and He uses all of this for His purpose and glory (2 Corinthians 12:9-10).  God wants us to bring our cares and concerns to Him - to cast our worries and cares at His feet (1 Peter 5:7).              
• What do we learn from the text about people?: We learn in v2 that Mary loves Jesus because she anointed Jesus' feet with expensive ointment (see also Matthew 26:6–13; Mark 14:3–9; Luke 7:36–50; John 12:1–8).  None of us want to experience sickness, pain, suffering, death, etc., nor do we want any of our loved ones to experience these things.  So of course Mary and Martha naturally seek the help of Jesus because they have seen Him heal others and now they seek His help for their brother.        
• Is there anything from the text God wants us to obey (SPEC: Sins to avoid, Promises to claim, Examples to follow, Commands to obey?): Claim the promise that Jesus knows everything about us, loves us, heals us (now or for eternity), and saves us.  Also claim the promise that God is in control, perfect and that all that we experience serves to bring Him glory - even brokenness.  Follow Mary and Martha's initial example to lay our cares and concerns at Jesus' feet. 

Comment and discuss this post

My Prayer: Father God, You are an amazing God, Creator of all, in all, perfect in all ways, and You love us and want to save as many as possible.  Thank You Jesus for listening to our cries and for saving us.  I am not deserving of how You love and save.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.  

Now when he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many believed in his name when they saw the signs that he was doing. But Jesus on his part did not entrust himself to them, because he knew all people and needed no one to bear witness about man, for he himself knew what was in man.

John 2:23-25

Now when he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many believed in his name when they saw the signs that he was doing. But Jesus on his part did not entrust himself to them, because he knew all people and needed no one to bear witness about man, for he himself knew what was in man. John 2:23-25

I continue my study of John, and today, I unpack John 2:23-25 using the Sword Bible Study Method, and tomorrow I will take another pass at the text and summarize my thoughts from both today and tomorrow by providing an outline/divisions and main point for the text.  

• What do we learn from the passage about God?: Jesus is in Jerusalem during the Passover Feast and performing signs.  He did not entrust Himself to those believing in His name because He did not need them.  Jesus, while fully man, is also fully God, so He does not need anything from anyone - including anyone to bear witness to Him.  He is omniscient, omnipotent, omnipresent, and in control of all matters in the universe (see also Colossians 1:15-20).  Jesus knows what is in people's hearts and He alone reveals Himself to people.   
• What do we learn from the passage about people?: The text implies that the people believing in His name were more interested in the signs He was performing than they were about who Jesus really is - the Promised Messiah and the Son of God.  Note the contrast here to chapter one where  Andrew, Peter, Philip and Nathanael's respond to Jesus based on a more true understanding of Jesus' identity.  
• Is there anything from the passage God wants us to obey (SPEC: Sins to avoid,Promises to claim, Examples to follow, Commands to obey?): Know God and believe in His name based on who He actually is.  Understand that God alone hardens and softens hearts, we should share the gospel with others, and pray to Him to soften the hearts of those to whom we do share.  We should support and disciple those who do believe in Jesus based on a right understanding of Him.   

Comment and discuss this post

My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who loves and saves!  I am not deserving of my salvation nor my faith as I know that is from You alone not of anything I have done.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength. Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Truly, I say to you, I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.

Mark 14:12-25

Truly, I say to you, I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God. Mark 14:25

I continue my study of Mark, leaning on the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for Mark.  Today, my focus is per the commentary, the third division of the text from Mark 14:12-25 - vv22-25.  

• Using the Sword Bible Study Method focusing just on the text for today - vv17-21: (1) God in the text: Jesus is once again alluding to his imminent crucifixion and sharing how this is done very purposely as the once for all final atonement for all the sins of humanity for all of redemptive history - see Hebrews 10:11-18. This was God's plan since the beginning and Jesus fulfills all the law and prophecies.  The disciples do not know it yet but the practice of using bread and wine to represent Christ's body and blood has not yet been instituted as Communion or the Lord's Supper - this is the first time. Jesus is also alluding to his coming resurrection and ascension to Heaven to be seated at the right hand of the Father in v25.  (2) people in the text: The disciples are unwitting participants in this first instance of Communion or the Lord's Supper.  (3) Sins to avoid, promises to claim, examples to follow, and commands to obey: We of course know that Jesus's words pointing to his death and resurrection do come to pass as Jesus is Truth and all of His promises come true - see 2 Corinthians 1:20.  We can trust Him and rest in His promises.  

 Excerpts from the commentary for the third (of three) division: 

• The title of the third division per the commentary is "Jesus Prepared a Last Supper That Was Actually a First Supper." 
• See also the others gospels account of the Last Supper and 1 Corinthians 10:14-22 and 11:17:34. 
• The Passover meal per Tim Keller (see King's Cross) was the "proper occasion for the Lord's Supper to be instituted": "It included four points at which the presider, holding a glass of wine, got up and explained the Feast’s meaning. The four cups of wine represented the four promises made by God in Exodus 6:6-7. These promises were for rescue from Egypt, for freedom from slavery, for redemption by God’s power, and for a renewed relationship [based on New Covenant] with God. The third cup came at a point when the meal was almost completely eaten." 
• We are referred to Sam Storm's thoughts (start at 5:55 mark) on how with this ritual from the Last Supper "[w]hat Jesus requested, indeed commanded, His followers and friends to do subsequent to His death is nothing short of shocking! It’s one thing to desire that your memory be preserved by your loved ones and that they continue to honor and esteem you throughout the remainder of their lives. . . . But it is altogether something else to command that your friends, family, and followers gather together regularly at a meal not only in your name but with you as the sole and exclusive focus. . . . Jesus commanded His followers, every time they broke bread together, to make Him the central point of their celebration and to recall and re-tell His life and death. Were anyone to make this request of me prior to their death, I would probably conclude that the proximity of their demise had afflicted them with delusions of grandeur and megalomania. Yet, this is precisely what Jesus commanded that each of His followers do in memory of Him!"
• "Jesus brings things to a close by refusing to drink the fourth and final cup. It is the cup of consummation and life in the promised land of God. For that cup He will wait. First, He must drink to the last drop the cup of God’s wrath and justice. Apart from it, no cup of blessing would be possible."

Indeed Jesus knew everything that was to happen, orchestrated all of it, and he did it so that we could have life to the full now and for eternity (John 3:16). We must also understand the role of communion.  Another good resource worth checking out is Sam Storms' thoughts on the Lord's Supper and Communion/The Eucharist where he uses 1 Corinthians 11:23-34 as the basis for his commentary.

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who loves and saves...thank You for saving me and giving me the opportunity to fellowship with You now in Spirit and for eternity in Heaven.  I am not deserving of such a gift - the greatest gift of all time.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day. 

They began to be sorrowful and to say to him one after another, “Is it I?”

Mark 14:12-25

They began to be sorrowful and to say to him one after another, “Is it I?” Mark 14:19

I continue my study of Mark, leaning on the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for Mark.  Today, my focus is per the commentary, the second division of the text from Mark 14:12-25 - vv17-21.  

• Using the Sword Bible Study Method focusing just on the text for today - vv17-21: (1) God in the text: Just as Jesus did in vv12-16, Jesus matter of factly states what is going to happen as (a) He and the disciples prepare for the Passover celebration, (b) Jesus prepares for betrayal by Judas, His arrest and crucifixion.  Jesus also warns Judas that his fate in eternal damnation will not be a pleasant one and by implication, Jesus warns us to remain in Him, Him in us (see John 15:1-11), so that we don't fall away and fall prey to the world and to Satan's influences.  (2) people in the text: the disciples are seen reclining and at ease with Jesus; as Jesus predicts His betrayal - the disciples turn sorrowful - reflecting sorrow that someone they love and follow will face harm (although they don't know what harm He will face); the disciples also seek to understand their own sin - they want to know if what betrayal they have done to Jesus.  (3) Sins to avoid, promises to claim, examples to follow, and commands to obey: We should not betray Jesus but instead be obedient to Him - He entrusts us with time and talents to use for His glory.  We should follow God's will for our lives just as Jesus followed the will of His Father.  We should also understand the reality of falling away - eternal condemnation.  

Excerpts from the commentary's second (of three) division (vv17-21): 

• The title of the second division per the commentary is "Jesus Was Not Caught by Surprise by His Betrayal." 
• See Psalm 41:9 where scripture shares a prophecy of how Jesus was betrayed - He knew. 
• V21 is "one of the most profound and theologically significant statements in the whole Bible. He says, 'For the Son of Man will go just as it is written about Him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed!'"  
• We are encouraged to see how God forgives and how Judas could have had forgiveness.  The disciples asked the right question of themselves to understand if they betrayed Jesus - to understand their own sin: "Each one of us is a Judas because every sin against Jesus is a personal act of betrayal. Yet this is where the grace of the gospel shines so bright: even those who betray this great King and glorious Savior can experience immediate and complete forgiveness through simple repentance and confession of sin (1 John 1:9). Godly repentance will grieve over the terrible thing it has done, but then it flees to Jesus who took that sin on Himself at the cross. In grace God forgives, and He provides the strength to move forward in the “family of the forgiven.” What a great family that is! If only Judas had repented of his sin."

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who loves and who is full of incredible grace - forgiving sin not just once but when asked - day after day!  Amazing grace indeed!  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of Your grace and my salvation.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day. 

And the disciples set out and went to the city and found it just as he had told them, and they prepared the Passover.

Mark 14:12-25

And the disciples set out and went to the city and found it just as he had told them, and they prepared the Passover. Mark 14:16

I continue my study of Mark, leaning on the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for Mark.  Today, my focus is per the commentary, the first division of the text from Mark 14:12-25 - vv12-16.  

• Using the Sword Bible Study Method focusing just on the text for today - vv12-16: (1) God in the text: we see Jesus moving forward willingly with the Father's plan to become the sacrifice needed to atone for all of the sin for all of humanity throughout redemptive history.  Annual animal sacrifices were not ultimately what God desired as He seeks our heart and our obedience - see Hebrews 10:1-18 and Psalm 40:6–8, Isaiah 1:11–15, and Jeremiah 7:21–23. This was a plan Jesus both knew about in advance and orchestrated as He is in control - of course He could have stopped His own death but He did not; (2) people in the text: We see the disciples being obedient in following Jesus' instructions for preparation for the Passover.  We also see the disciples claiming not to betray Jesus.  While it is true that only Judas betrayed Jesus to the extent that got Jesus arrested, the disciples all scattered and sought anonymity and protection upon Jesus' arrest.  (3) Sins to avoid, promises to claim, examples to follow, and commands to obey: we should stand our ground allowing Jesus to steel and strengthen us during times of persecution - we should not hide our faith.  If we understand God's will for our lives we should follow it - regardless of the cost.  

 Excerpts from the commentary's introduction and the first (of three) division (vv12-16): 

• The title of this chapter of the commentary covering this text is "The King Prepares for His Passion," and the main idea for the entirety of the text (vv1-11) is "Jesus is both the Suffering Servant of the Lord and the Sacrificial Lamb of God, who would die for the sins of the world according to the will of God."
• The title of the first division per the commentary is "Jesus Was in Control of the Events Leading to His Death." 
• "Little did [the disciples] know that an even greater Passover was unfolding as Jesus prepared Himself to be sacrificed as our Passover Lamb (1 Corinthians 5:7)."
• "The cross did not catch Him off guard. No, it was a divine appointment scheduled, as Peter would write, “before the foundation of the world” (1 Peter 1:20)."

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who loves and who saves - You willingly laid down Your life such that I could life now to the full and life for eternity in Heaven where You are saving a place for me. Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such a gift - the greatest gift of all time.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day. 

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Genesis 25, 27, 30, and 32

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8

I continue with my study of - Ten Men of the Bible: How God Used Imperfect People to Change the World - eBook by Max Lucado (for purchase). This afternoon, I start with the story of "Jacob: Wrestling with the Past*".

*Title of lesson three from the Max Lucado study.

The commentary* of day one starts with Max Lucado pointing to how Jacob was a "conniver" and had on three occasions, deceived others to get what he wanted:

• Esau (Genesis 25:27-34)
• Issac (Genesis 27:14-29)
• Laban (Genesis 30:29-43) 
  

Yet Jacob had to start dealing with his past deeds upon a reunion with Esau where he thought Esau would be vengeful.  Previously Jacob would run from his past but this time he could not. Although I will focus in more detail how Jacob wrestles with God and deals with his past, today's reading encourages me to see how God sees everything and He orchestrates ways for us to come to grips with our past sins - all of this to see how much God loves us.  God knows everything about us - yet He still pursues us and loves us.  He wants a relationship with us despite our sin - amazing!

Comment and discuss this post here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God indeed - You know everything about me, including my sin, yet You still pursued me, died for me, and You STILL love me!  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such love.  I worry, and I have other sins.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me. Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Psalm 139, 145, 148, and 150 

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8

Day 123 of my chronological study of the Bible with The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®) (available by purchase through Amazon - author F. LaGard Smith) continues my focus on 112 of David's psalms which my study has not already covered or will not cover through other daily devotions as part of a broader study within their historical context. This study of these 112 psalms groups the psalms into five major topical areas, and I continue today with the group: "Psalms of Joy and Praise".

Today's psalms focus on praise over the wonder of God's total familiarity with each life, praise to a faithful, loving and righteous God, that all creatures praise the God of creation, and a call for all things to praise the Lord.

The core of today's reading encourages us to fully appreciate how God knows everything about us, the ugliness of our sin over the entirety of our lives, and how despite this knowledge, exercises grace and compassion - despite what we deserve. Psalm 139 more than anything from today's reading, captures God omniscience:

You have searched me, Lord, and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord, know it completely. You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain....For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. Psalm 139:1-6, 13-16

We know that the "wages of sin is death" (Romans 6:23), and this is what we deserve because we all sin.  Yet Jesus saves....and He does so despite knowing everything about us including our sin - nothing is hidden.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You indeed know everything about me and You hold not just my life but all life and the entire universe rests in Your hands - You are in control.  Despite knowing everything about me and being in co.ntrol - You love me anyway...and You came to earth as a baby to die on the cross so that I could have life here on earth and forever with You in Heaven!  Unbelievable.  I am not deserving of such a gift - the greatest gift of all time.  I sin...gossip, worry, etc. daily.  Thank You for Your grace and compassion but I need this also daily!  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul and mind and love others as You love me. Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

But he said, “Yes, you did laugh.”

Genesis 18-19

But he said, “Yes, you did laugh.” Genesis 18:15

Day 7 of my chronological study of the Bible with The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®) (available by purchase through Amazon - author F. LaGard Smith) focuses on angels who visit Abraham and Sarah and deliver once again the message of their coming child and as well the story of the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah (including Lot's escape).

Today was admittedly a difficult day of my own doing and so I am going to keep this post short given my inability to focus.

When Sarah laughs after hearing the angel's message (Genesis 18:10-12), she denies it (Genesis 18:15) - yet Sarah's heart condition is known because "this heavenly Visitor has correctly perceived her disbelief".

*Smith, F. LaGard. The Daily Bible® - In Chronological Order (NIV®) . Harvest House Publishers. Kindle Edition. 

God knows everything about us, including what we think and all of our sin.  Yet He loves us - that is grace, grace indeed.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is full of grace - I am NOT deserving!  I rage with anger and impatience and so much more sin - please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo. Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

“Who has known the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?”[d] But we have the mind of Christ.

1 Corinthians 2

“Who has known the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?” But we have the mind of Christ. v16

Building on chapter 1 (see post yesterday), Paul continues to remind us of the source and purpose of wisdom.  He tells us that he has no wisdom apart from the Holy Spirit in him (v2-5) and that God reveals to believers this wisdom (v9-10, 12, 13).  This is of course very humbling and exciting at the same time - that we don't possess wisdom from and for ourselves but from and for God.  If we consider that God is all knowing isn't it amazing that God would even disclose a sliver of this wisdom to us?

See also posts here. 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who loves me and who has shown my great wisdom and this has helped me through great difficulties and helped me grow closer to You - thank You Jesus!  I am grateful!  Yet I am humbled and undeserving.  I worry and my sin is great.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.