For the protection of wisdom is like the protection of money, and the advantage of knowledge is that wisdom preserves the life of him who has it....A wise man's heart inclines him to the right, but a fool's heart to the left.

Ecclesiastes 7-11

For the protection of wisdom is like the protection of money, and the advantage of knowledge is that wisdom preserves the life of him who has it....A wise man's heart inclines him to the right, but a fool's heart to the left. Ecclesiastes 7:12, 10:2

I continue my study of Ecclesiastes using the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for this book. My focus this morning is a commentary assisted review of Ecclesiastes chapters 7-11 and the commentary's first division for these chapters - God Has a Design for Everything. 

Before jumping into how the commentary discusses its first division, I'm starting with the main idea and the introduction for the commentary chapter.

Title of this chapter of the commentary (which looks at Ecclesiastes chapters 7-11): Wisdom in a Meaningless World.

Main idea: Wisdom does not always work out immediately in this cursed world, but because of the gospel, wisdom does work out ultimately.

Excerpts from the introduction to this chapter of the commentary:

• "Solomon...is teetering on the edge of unbelief because of the mess he sees in the world. He observes that living by God’s wisdom does not always work out. The faithful often suffer and the wicked often prosper. This situation is futile! Therefore, Solomon takes on the role of a skeptic in order to observe the world and ask the question, Is there meaning in this cursed world? His experiment causes him to conclude that everything is meaningless."
• "In Ecclesiastes 7–11 [Solomon] observes the unjust nature of things, and he concludes again that everything is absurd. However, instead of this driving him away from God, it actually drives him to God in faith."

Excerpts from the commentary's first division God Has a Design for Everything:

• "God has a design for everything in creation, and the wisdom literature calls living according to that design “wisdom.”  God made the world to work a certain way, and you should live your life in that way—you should walk in wisdom (i.e., walk in the right way; Eccl 10:2)—because it will preserve your life. Ecclesiastes 7:12 states that “wisdom is protection . . . and the advantage of knowledge is that wisdom preserves the life of its owner.” Living against God’s design is foolishness because it threatens your life, whereas living according to it is wisdom because it leads to an abundant life."
• "[W]hile Solomon observes these wise principles, he also talks much about the limit of man’s knowledge. Ecclesiastes 11:5 says, “Just as you don’t know the path of the wind, or how bones develop in the womb of a pregnant woman, so you don’t know the work of God who makes everything.” Man’s observations are limited to life lived “under the sun” in this cursed world, and even that is too much because we do not know the path the wind will take (11:5; cf. 8:17). Since our observation is limited, we cannot figure everything out. One of the main reasons we cannot figure everything out in this cursed world is because things do not always work out the way they are supposed to work out (8:14-17). Living by wisdom does not always make life go smoothly. Why? What is going on? Why is there suffering? Why do these wisdom principles not work? The problem is that humanity has departed from God’s design. The Bible calls this departure “sin,” and sin leads to brokenness and meaninglessness."
  

God's design and wisdom is perfect! Lean into and surrender your life to Jesus and follow Him!

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is full of grace and compassion for me - saving me while still a sinner.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such love and grace.  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.

The Lord brought me [wisdom] forth as the first of his works, before his deeds of old; I was formed long ages ago, at the very beginning, when the world came to be....For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.

Proverbs 8-9, 1-4

The Lord brought me [wisdom] forth as the first of his works, before his deeds of old; I was formed long ages ago, at the very beginning, when the world came to be....For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. Proverbs 8:22-23, 2:6

Day 134 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 with a study of the Proverbs - primarily of Solomon, but including the Proverbs of other authors as well. My commentary* indicates that "[t]he proverbs are short poems, usually in the form of couplets, which set high ethical standards and give practical advice for daily living through the use of comparative, or perhaps antithetical, imagery....[they] place high value on wisdom and sharply contrast good and evil, righteousness and wickedness, justice and injustice."  My commentary* also indicates that although other cultures may have influenced each other with regards to how similar writings/poetry appear during this time in history when Proverbs was written, "...the Hebrew proverbs are distinct in that all wisdom is seen as flowing from the true God, rather than being a mere accumulation of human observation and experience."  

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

Similar to my study of the Psalms, individual Proverbs are categorized into topic areas and this morning my focus includes an introduction to wisdom, the benefits of wisdom, the dangers of rejecting wisdom, and Solomon's personal plea to his sons to seek wisdom.

Similar to my post yesterday, I am highlighting how wisdom comes from God alone.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God and You alone produce wisdom - worthy of my study and reflection, and my obedience.  Your wisdom has indeed produced blessings in my life and I am not deserving of such blessings.  I worry, and I have other sins.  I am grateful for Your forgiveness and mercy and I need it once again today...this morning.  Please forgive me for my sin 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.

...for true wisdom has two sides. Know this: God has even forgotten some of your sin

Job Chp 11

As Job reflects on his situation in chapter 10, there is certainly alot of "whoa is me".  His musings also indicated that he feels God has forsaken him. 

In chapter 11, his friend Zophar responds.  And Zophar offers many great words of comfort, some of which will ultimately speak to Job, although Job is not really listening right now (I can appreciate this).

Oh, how I wish that God would speak,
   that he would open his lips against you
⁶ and disclose to you the secrets of wisdom,
   for true wisdom has two sides.
   Know this: God has even forgotten some of your sin. 

Indeed!  As I reflect on this, I think to myself that when I feel I have wisdom (which is something I feel quite bit and I pray that God can rid me of my pride and self-righteousness), I fail to recognize that:

• whatever wisdom I do have is God given
• God is all knowing of all wisdom
• I can of course never know more than God
• I can never hide anything from God, even sin

This said, it is clear to me that yes wisdom does have two sides - there is the vessel through which wisdom is delivered, and then there is God where all wisdom exists.  I am merely a vessel through which wisdom is delivered and whoa is me I far too often fail to recognize that the OTHER side of wisdom.  I feel deeply humbled by this passage and in particular by Zophar words that God has even forgotten some of your sin.  Yes He has and I am no one compared to God!  Who am I to be above others when just as sinful as any other?

My Prayer: God, Your ARE TRUTH!  Your wisdom abounds and knows no end.  You know me top to bottom and I am SO thankful that you HAVE forgotten some of my sin!  Forgive me for my self righteousness and forgive me for feeling that I am above others.  While I don't desire to be struck down, I know that I am deserving of your wrath for feeling as if I am better than others.  Please purify me of these feelings and help me be a vessel through which your light, your love, and your wisdom flows.

Praise be to the Lord God, the God of Israel, who alone does marvelous deeds. Praise be to his glorious name forever; may the whole earth be filled with his glory.

1 Kings 4, 7, 9-10; 2 Chronicles 1, 7-9, and Psalm 72 

Praise be to the Lord God, the God of Israel, who alone does marvelous deeds. Praise be to his glorious name forever; may the whole earth be filled with his glory. Psalm 72:18-19

Day 133 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 with the construction of Solomon's palace, a palace for Solomon's wife, and with the construction of cities within Solomon's kingdom.  God appears to Solomon, reassures him that his family will remain on the throne forever, that He will hear Israel's cries for help in their time of need, yet also warns Solomon that Israel must be obedient otherwise they will face destruction (1 Kings 9:1-9).

My reading this morning also describes the extent of Solomon's wisdom and wealth:

God gave Solomon wisdom and very great insight, and a breadth of understanding as measureless as the sand on the seashore. Solomon’s wisdom was greater than the wisdom of all the people of the East, and greater than all the wisdom of Egypt. He was wiser than anyone else, including Ethan the Ezrahite—wiser than Heman, Kalkol and Darda, the sons of Mahol. And his fame spread to all the surrounding nations. He spoke three thousand proverbs and his songs numbered a thousand and five. He spoke about plant life, from the cedar of Lebanon to the hyssop that grows out of walls. He also spoke about animals and birds, reptiles and fish. From all nations people came to listen to Solomon’s wisdom, sent by all the kings of the world, who had heard of his wisdom. 1 Kings 4:29-34 

King Solomon was greater in riches and wisdom than all the other kings of the earth. 1 Kings 10:23

The extent of Solomon's wisdom and wealth not only brought prosperity and peace to Israel, but it attracted others.

The whole world sought audience with Solomon to hear the wisdom God had put in his heart. 1 Kings 10:24

The queen of Sheba sought an audience with Solomon and traveled over a 1000 miles to see Solomon (1 Kings 10:1).

She was duly impressed and even praised God:

"Praise be to the Lord your God, who has delighted in you and placed you on the throne of Israel. Because of the Lord’s eternal love for Israel, he has made you king to maintain justice and righteousness.” 1 Kings 10:9

Solomon understands the source of his wisdom and wealth AND its purpose - by God and for God.

Praise be to the Lord God, the God of Israel, who alone does marvelous deeds. Praise be to his glorious name forever; may the whole earth be filled with his glory. Psalm 72:18-19

My Prayer: Lord Your wisdom is great and You provide both abundantly and for all of my needs - I am not deserving of such blessings. I sin daily.  I worry and I have other sins. I am grateful for Your many mercies and compassion and of course for Your death on the cross as it provides forgiveness of sin and everlasting life...again both of which I am not deserving.  Yet I am thankful.  Please do forgive my for my sins of worry, etc.  Help me overome 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.

I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.

1 Corinthians 2

I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God. 1 Corinthians 2:3-5

I continue my study of 1 Corinthians.  I am assisted in my study by the Christ-Centered Exposition Series commentary for this book.  Today my focus is a review - aided by the commentary - of 1 Corinthians 2:1-9.  In the introduction to the text the commentary* describes how Paul was previously in Athens (Acts 17-18) and how "[f]ew there had believed the gospel of Jesus Christ" and the commentary speculates that perhaps Paul felt some doubt his tactics and that it might be better to change the message or its delivery - but he did not and the text for today makes it clear that Paul believes that "[t]he gospel of Jesus Christ and him crucified is both the power of God and the wisdom of God." Paul did not change a thing as the Good News stands alone and is sufficient - it is also a sin to modify the inerrant Word of God! Looking more closely at the text, the commentary* provides two (2) divisions: 

1. The Cross Reveals the Power of God (2:1-5): Paul emphasizes how his teaching and preaching did not use "lofty speech or wisdom" (v1) but he relied on God alone and the basics of the Good News.  The commentary* shares how Paul sought to keep the message clear and simple.  The commentary further shares how the "message is simple and must always be presented clearly, repeatedly. It needs no addition, and we must never subtract from it. That Jesus died in our place (substitution) and paid in full the penalty of our sin (penal) is a nonnegotiable biblical truth. This message needs no adjustment. Share it in unvarnished clarity and trust God’s Spirit to do his work."  Digging further into the text (v3-4), the commentary describes how Paul sought to deliver his message as "fully dependent on God." It writes: "[t]oday a man might claim an intimidating assignment is “beyond me,” “over my head,” or “above my pay grade.” But dependence suggests we are exactly where God wants us. This is where God can use us greatly."  We are referred to 2 Corinthians 12:10. The commentary wraps for this division by looking at v5 and emphasizing how we are to have sincere and pure motives when sharing the gospel - not seeking to manipulate or to inject worldly motives. 
   
2. The Cross Imparts the Wisdom of God (2:6-9): Here the commentary* shares how Paul is writing to believers in Corinth and that Paul is concerned that the believers there were in danger of losing the power and wisdom of the cross by falling prey to sinful temptations, including worldly wisdom that does not last (v6).  The commentary continues and shares how the "secret and hidden wisdom of God" (v7) "draws from" language in Daniel (and other text) and how this wisdom was once hidden but now revealed in the New Testament and Jesus Christ. "God’s hidden wisdom has a paradoxical nature to it. God had promised a deliverer, a Savior, throughout the Old Testament. There were prophecies, shadows, and types. However, because of human sinfulness, those promises were misunderstood and misinterpreted." All of this was planned and decreed from the beginning - yet again not fully understood.  Incredibly Christ's death not only brought glory to Himself, but also to believers who are chosen, justified, sanctified, and glorified!  The wonderful encouragement of v9 (quoting Isaiah 64:4) is discussed by the commentary as talking about what "belongs to believers right now."
   

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an incredible God and the cross and the Good News stands alone it is ability to delivery both wisdom and power!  Thank You Jesus for this gift, the Holy Spirit, etc.  I am not deserving of these blessings.  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.

*Akin, Dr. Daniel L.; Merritt, James. Exalting Jesus in 1 Corinthians (Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary). B&H Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

1 Corinthians 1

For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 1 Corinthians 1:18

I continue my study of 1 Corinthians.  I am assisted in my study by the Christ-Centered Exposition Series commentary for this book.  Today my focus is a review - unaided by the commentary - of 1 Corinthians 1:18-25. Here the emphasis is the contrast in how God's wisdom (the Word) saves and has power - even as God uses ordinary and weak people as vessels through which He delivers the Word - in contrast to worldly wisdom and power which God manifests in kingdoms that are brought low and humbled at His will.  The text starts today by describing how God's Word is "folly" to those who spurn its teachings but the Word is God Himself and it is power for believers (John 1:1). The text then rhetorically challenges us to look elsewhere in the text where we may identify wisdom in the world, but are challenged us to see how God is the source of wisdom and how God both raises up those in power and also tears them down - all at His whim.  The text continues to state how God is not known through worldly wisdom, but instead through humans to whom God reveals Himself - ordinary and weak people such as Peter - and how God uses ordinary and weak people to save.  The world often seeks "signs" and "wisdom" just as the Jews and Greeks did (v22), but Christ - who died and rose again - and His Word is all that is need by those who are called and believed through faith.  This is of course very hard to understand by those who don't believe and that is the point - belief and faith is through God alone who chooses to reveal Himself to whom He chooses - not through any wisdom that is gained through human effort - it is divine!  We should be thankful that God chose us not through our own effort but through grace and election at God's will alone.  I am drawn to Isaiah 55:8 where it is written how God's ways and thoughts are not easily understood by the weak human mind - however sharp it may be by earthly standards. 

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who IS wisdom, gives wisdom, and who saves - all by grace.  Thank You for my salvation and for the wisdom You provide to guide me as a lamp for my feet and life. I am not deserving of my salvation and for the wisdom You alone provide.  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.  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.

Clarity for Job: “The fear of the Lord—that is wisdom, and to shun evil is understanding.”

Job Chp 28

Although there is much "thinking out loud" and exasperation by Job, from time to time, there are moments of great clarity, even in the eye of the storm.

Here is one such moments of clarity:

¹² But where can wisdom be found?
   Where does understanding dwell?
¹³ No mortal comprehends its worth;
   it cannot be found in the land of the living.
¹⁴ The deep says, “It is not in me”;
   the sea says, “It is not with me.”
¹⁵ It cannot be bought with the finest gold,
   nor can its price be weighed out in silver.
¹⁶ It cannot be bought with the gold of Ophir,
   with precious onyx or lapis lazuli.
¹⁷ Neither gold nor crystal can compare with it,
   nor can it be had for jewels of gold.
¹⁸ Coral and jasper are not worthy of mention;
   the price of wisdom is beyond rubies.
¹⁹ The topaz of Cush cannot compare with it;
   it cannot be bought with pure gold.  

For sure wisdom is not an earthly matter.  This is distinct from knowledge...knowledge of "things" which are of earthly matters.  Wisdom exists I believe to glorify God....and wisdom can only come from God.

²⁰ Where then does wisdom come from?
   Where does understanding dwell?
²¹ It is hidden from the eyes of every living thing,
   concealed even from the birds in the sky.
²² Destruction^[b] and Death say,
   “Only a rumor of it has reached our ears.”
²³ God understands the way to it
   and he alone knows where it dwells,
²⁴ for he views the ends of the earth
   and sees everything under the heavens.
²⁵ When he established the force of the wind
   and measured out the waters,
²⁶ when he made a decree for the rain
   and a path for the thunderstorm,
²⁷ then he looked at wisdom and appraised it;
   he confirmed it and tested it.
 

²⁸ And he said to the human race,
   “The fear of the Lord—that is wisdom,
   and to shun evil is understanding.”

The key to this chapter is of course verse 28 which says it all..."[t]he fear of the Lord-that is wisdom, and to shun evil is understanding."

My Prayer: Lord, You are Truth and You are Wisdom.  I have no wisdom except from You.  Forgive me for making decisions in my life based on my own discernment and based on my own earthly knowledge.  Through all things I know I should seek Your will and Your glory.  Please forgive me Lord.  Help me seek You out for all things big and small.

The Lord possessed me at the beginning of his work, the first of his acts of old....when he marked out the foundations of the earth, then I was beside him, like a master workman. Ages ago I was set up, at the first, before the beginning of the earth....The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.

Proverbs 8-9

The Lord possessed me at the beginning of his work, the first of his acts of old. Ages ago I was set up, at the first, before the beginning of the earth....when he marked out the foundations of the earth, then I was beside him, like a master workman....The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight. Proverbs 8:22-23, 8:29-30, 9:10

This week I start a deep-dive of Proverbs based on the Crossway Knowing the Bible series volume for this book.  Week 1 of this study starts with a few broad questions, including a look at Proverbs 8-9, and it asks "how should we understand the personification of wisdom" in these chapters? Proverbs 8:22-23 indicates that God possessed wisdom and it existed both before creation (as part of Himself) and at the start of creation, before He created anything else.  The implication is that He brought it forth, distributing it as part of creation, manifesting in creation a part of Himself.  Colossians 1 helps further unpack how perhaps Jesus Christ is wisdom when Paul writes:  

[Jesus Christ] is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. Colossians 1:15-16

Proverbs 8:29-30 and 9:10 continue to explain how we should understand the personification of wisdom by pointing out that wisdom was "beside" God during creation and how fear of the Lord initiates wisdom - we must see God first and foremost and He reveals and creates wisdom in our hearts and minds.

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are the source of all creation, and You both possess and distribute wisdom - to those who submit and follow You.  Thank You Jesus for giving me wisdom as a means to navigate life - and my prayer is that I use it to please and glorify You as I know that is why exist.  I am not deserving of how You bless me.  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.

God gave Solomon wisdom and very great insight, and a breadth of understanding as measureless as the sand on the seashore. Solomon’s wisdom was greater than the wisdom of all the people of the East, and greater than all the wisdom of Egypt.

1 Kings 4

God gave Solomon wisdom and very great insight, and a breadth of understanding as measureless as the sand on the seashore. Solomon’s wisdom was greater than the wisdom of all the people of the East, and greater than all the wisdom of Egypt. v29-30

Solomon was not just wise in terms of his ability to synthesize inputs and to solve problems (see the Wise Rulings 1 Kings 3:16-28), but also in his knowledge of worldly matters.

He spoke three thousand proverbs and his songs numbered a thousand and five. He spoke about plant life, from the cedar of Lebanon to the hyssop that grows out of walls. He also spoke about animals and birds, reptiles and fish.  v32-33

What is interesting here is that Solomon was not born with such wisdom - Solomon ASKED for it (to be equipped as king) and God GAVE it to him.

This is really critical for all of us to understand because all of us struggle from time to time with weighty decisions, and with whether we are equipped to serve in areas where God calls us.

We should understand that if we ask for wisdom and to be equipped He will answer our call.  

There are many examples of how God equips people in the Bible - Moses, Gideon, Jonah, etc. - and how he takes ordinary people who love Him and submit to Him, and He accomplishes amazing and miraculous things through these people.

Praise God!

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who is able to accomplish all things - You are all powerful and yet You came to rescue me.  thank You Jesus.  I am not worth such love.  I worry.  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 do.  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 for 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.  

For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom...

1 Corinthians 1

I often believe I am right...and I rest my righteousness often on my own powers of reason.  This is fool hearty as indicated by the prophet Jeremiah:

This is what the LORD says:  “Let not the wise boast of their wisdom (Jeremiah 9:23)

Paul admonishes the church of Corinth for such boasting:

8 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. ¹⁹ For it is written:

   “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise;
   the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.”

 ²⁰ Where is the wise person? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? ²¹ For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. ²² Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, ²³ but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, ²⁴ but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. ²⁵ For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.

I need to throw myself at Christ's feet for my sinfulness, which very much includes my own boasting in my powers of reason and my pride believing I know when I DON'T...more so if I DO know it is only through the grace of God for His great purpose.

My Prayer: Lord, Your wisdom is great and it abounds - through Your word and Your spirit.  I KNOW I don't know but I act many times as if I do and I am deeply sorry for this boastful nature.  Please forgive me Lord and rid me of this arrogance.  Purify and refine me Lord.

The disciples did not understand any of this. Its meaning was hidden from them, and they did not know what he was talking about.

Luke 18

The disciples did not understand any of this. Its meaning was hidden from them, and they did not know what he was talking about. v34

On the heels of my recent post on arrogance comes a post on wisdom, where wisdom comes from, how to achieve wisdom, and the blessings of possessing wisdom. Here in Luke 18 Jesus predicts His death for a third time yet "[t]he disciples did not understand any of this", as the "meaning was hidden from them".  The MacArthur commentary suggests that perhaps the disciples were too focused "with other ideas about the Messiah".  I can't tell for sure why the disciples did not understand Jesus, but one thing about which I am certain is that wisdom comes from God, and that you cannot possess wisdom outside of God.

See this awesome post from John Piper on wisdom and my other posts on wisdom. 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are Truth, Wisdom, Light, Love, etc.  I seek You and all of who You are - You are an awesome God who is so full of love and grace for me - thank You Jesus.  Yet I am undeserving of such love and grace.  I worry.  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.

For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

1 Corinthians 1

For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. 1 Corinthians 1:25

I continue my study of 1 Corinthians.  I am assisted in my study by the Christ-Centered Exposition Series commentary for this book.  Today my focus is a review - aided by the commentary - of 1 Corinthians 1:18-25.  The commentary* provide three (3) divisions for the text:

1. The Word of the Cross Separates the Lost and Saved (1:18): the commentary* describes how Paul "sets the table" in v18 by dividing "all of humanity into two camps: the perishing and the saved." The "word of the cross" is explained as core to the gospel as "unimaginable" according earthly standards of wisdom.  "The perishing simply cannot believe the cross is the way of salvation: that seems absurd."  Of course for believers, the cross is not only understood but it is - as the commentary* describes -    "the cross of Christ is the power of God that saves us in three tenses! It delivered us in the past from the penalty of sin (justification). It delivers us in the present from the power of sin (sanctification). It will deliver us in the future from the presence of sin (glorification). Nothing other than Jesus’s death on the cross could save us."
   
2. The Wisdom of the Cross Highlights the Foolishness of Worldly Wisdom (1:19-21): Here the commentary refers us to Isaiah 55:8 and 29:14 as the basis for v19-21 where God's wisdom is described as superior and contrasted to the inferiority of worldly wisdom that is incapable of matching God's wisdom - worldly wisdom in the face of God's wisdom is rendered as foolishness.  The commentary* shares "[n]o matter how smart you think you are, God says, you are a fool to do life without Christ and his cross." It goes on the share: "[p]eople do not save themselves. God does! Humans are not saved by what they know (by a philosophy) but by the one they believe in (a person brutally executed on a cross for the forgiveness of sins). The message of a crucified Savior strips prideful humans of all their genius and intellectual achievements. It drives us to our knees at the foot of a horrible instrument of execution [(Christ's death on the cross)]."
   
3. The Witness to the Cross Is a Hindrance to Some but the Power of God to Others (1:22-25). Here the commentary describes how the text shows how for some - (a) Paul's intended audience: the Jews and Greeks of the day, (b) those who today seek worldly knowledge above God (as an idol) - the cross and the gospel is not accepted.  At the same, those to whom God reveals Himself see the cross and the gospel as divine and offering salvation. The commentary* shares "the cross God outsmarted the wise and overpowered the strong. God’s seemingly foolish and weak thing is wiser and more powerful than anything mere mortals can come up with."
   

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves and who went to the cross to save those whom You love and call - thank You Jesus for making me one of Your elect and for the salvation You provide.  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 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.

*Akin, Dr. Daniel L.; Merritt, James. Exalting Jesus in 1 Corinthians (Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary). B&H Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul. Discretion will protect you,and understanding will guard you.

Proverbs 2

There are several passages here where I hear God speaking to me:

My son, if you accept my words
    and store up my commands within you,
² turning your ear to wisdom
    and applying your heart to understanding —
³ indeed, if you call out for insight
    and cry aloud for understanding,
⁴ and if you look for it as for silver
    and search for it as for hidden treasure,
⁵ then you will understand the fear of the Lord
    and find the knowledge of God.
⁶ For the Lord gives wisdom;
    from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.
⁷ He holds success in store for the upright,
    he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless,
⁸ for he guards the course of the just
    and protects the way of his faithful ones. 

...

⁹ Then you will understand what is right and just
    and fair—every good path.

¹⁰ For wisdom will enter your heart,

    and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul.

¹¹ Discretion will protect you,

    and understanding will guard you. 

...

¹² Wisdom will save you from the ways of wicked men,
    from men whose words are perverse,

...

¹⁶ Wisdom will save you also from the adulterous woman,
    from the wayward woman with her seductive words,

,,, 

²⁰ Thus you will walk in the ways of the good
    and keep to the paths of the righteous.

Of course I seek all of this, including protection for wickedness and sin - my own sin and the sin of others that can draw me into my own sin.  Verse 10-11 in particular speak to me in that I desire God's wisdom on many fronts: so that I can understand His will for my life and also for his protection from sinful and bad choices.


My Prayer: Lord, Your wisdom is infinite.  You now the answers to all questions and I can come to You with any difficult question or problem - this is amazing.  That you provide all of this for me however is humbling because I don't deserve this.  I am weak and sinful.  I lust after other women from time to time and this is wrong and sinful.   I am thankful that You love me anyway but I desperately need Your forgiveness Lord.  And I need Your protection from such sin.  Help me build up my faith and my trust in You so that I can become more like You and wisdom will enter my heart and knowledge will be pleasant to my soul.

She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.

Proverbs 31:10-31

She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue. Proverbs 31:26

I continue my study of Proverbs with week 11 from my study workbook, which focuses on Proverbs 31:10-31.  My focus for today includes the introduction to this weeks lesson from the workbook, which points how the text describes "an alphabet of womanly excellence," and that "the woman's marital status is not the primary emphasis[,]" but instead that the woman in this chapter "is a portrait of feminine wisdom.  She embodies in all areas of life the full character of wisdom commended in Proverbs."  We are encouraged as well to see the "the big picture" from my workbook, which states that "true wisdom is not just for men but for all God's people." As I have struggled with anger and harsh words for much of my life, I am blessed to have a wife Lisa who, like the woman from the extent is the epitome of wisdom and kindness. Thank You God for the blessing of Lisa!

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who blessed me with a wife who loves the Lord, and is full of wisdom and kindness.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of how You bless me.  I am often angry and harsh - 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.

Why should fools have money in hand to buy wisdom, when they are not able to understand it?

Proverbs 17

Why should fools have money in hand to buy wisdom, when they are not able to understand it? v16

One of the key themes of Solomon in Proverbs is the importance of wisdom and most importantly wisdom that comes from God.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction. Proverbs 1:7

Proverbs 1 is filled with many wise sayings as received from God.  In 2 Chronicles 1, God grants Solomon whatever he wishes for and God is pleased that Solomon chooses wisdom (as ordained by God) above earthly possessions.  God wants us to love Him first and He promises that for those that hunger and thirst for righteousness they will be filled (Matthew 5:6). 

The subject of wisdom and God as a priority is an important consideration right now as Zach grows into his high school years.  I don't want to fret about his career success but instead want to focus on his relationship with Jesus as I believe his career success - as do all things during our time here - hinge on making God a priority, just as David and Solomon did (at least for part of their lives).

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, what a great God You are!  You are truth, wisdom, and life...and life to the full!  You have blessed me beyond what I deserve...thank You Jesus.  I am not worth such love and blessing Jesus.  I am impatient and harsh with my words and actions.  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.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Help me lead Zach and Dustin to You and have them choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Help me lead and and serve my family and serve You and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding.

Proverbs 1

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding. Psalm 111:10

As part of my D-Group's study of Proverbs using the Knowing the Bible study series for this book, I continue with an examination of Proverbs 1:1-7 for week 2. My study looks at the text of Proverbs 1:7 and where this text appears elsewhere in the Bible and how knowledge and wisdom are closely tied together in Proverbs, stating that "[k]nowledge has to do with developing a correct understanding of the world, while wisdom is the acquired skill of applying that knowledge rightly."  Endeavors to seek either knowledge or wisdom without fear of the Lord is a destructive path - and we should avoid such efforts. 

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an incredible and amazing God and all knowledge and wisdom comes from You - thank You for how You have provided both in my life - I know this is a journey where I lack knowledge and wisdom in many areas in life but You provide!  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of the blessings of how You provide.  My sin is great and it continues.  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.

“What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, that God has prepared for those who love him”[.]

1 Corinthians 2

“What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, that God has prepared for those who love him”[.] 1 Corinthians 2:9, Isaiah 64:4

I continue my study of 1 Corinthians.  I am assisted in my study by the Christ-Centered Exposition Series commentary for this book.  Today my focus is a review - unaided by the commentary - of 1 Corinthians 2:1-9. Here Paul builds on the discussion in chapter 1 where he contrasted God's wisdom vs worldly wisdom.  From the get-go, Paul shares how he came to Corinth a humble vessel seeking to be used by God to deliver the Good News (gospel). While Paul is known to be a gifted (by God) writer, he claims here to be less gifted in speaking (v1).  He sought to empty himself so that he could be filled with the Holy Spirit and its power.  Like any of us serving God, we seek to bring glory to Him and not to ourselves and we seek to make this abundantly clear (v2-5).  Paul continues by sharing that whatever wisdom is imparted - he attributes it to God alone as He alone reveals His wisdom to us (v6-7).  V8 amplifies v7 by describing how God's wisdom existed and was decreed "before the ages" and that if men in power knew this (which they did not by God's choosing) they "would not have crucified the Lord of glory." V9 gives me hope for the many prayer requests I have - 2 Corinthians 1:20. 

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for Your Wisdom - Your Word - the Holy Spirit, the church, and my brothers and sisters in Christ for helping me understand Your Word for me.  I am not deserving of the wisdom You pour out for me.  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.

17 But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. 18 Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.

James 3

 ¹³ Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. ¹⁴ But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. ¹⁵ Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. ¹⁶ For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.

 ¹⁷ But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. ¹⁸ Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.

This is why I must fill myself with scripture - because I desire purity, peace, and wisdom that comes from God alone so that I can demonstrate fruits of the spirit.

My Prayer: Lord, Your words and scripture are pure, holy, and life giving - beyond any wisdom I can attain on earth.  I confess to you now that I often either live a live avoiding scripture or I seek wisdom that is earthly - more so than seeking scripture than is heavenly.  Thank You for providing Your scripture and of course Your Holy Spirit so that I can filled with both.  Please help me Jesus - forgive me for my selfish, lazy ways and for my desires to seek earthly matters first before Your word.  Purify me of these sins - transform both my heart and my life so that I can be more like You.

If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.

James 1

If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. v5-6

In my last post, I shared a website that discussed James as the "bossiest" book in the Bible based on its use of imperative verbs.  Today, I hear God talking to me about wisdom.

First, God is the only source of truth, knowledge and wisdom.  We MUST go to Him for clarity on any matter.  Yes, earthly knowledge is important, but it COMES from God (see v17) and it must be used in the name of God (see 1 Corinthians 12, 1 Timothy 4).  Second, we become more like God   (unchanging, stable, etc.) as we invite, assume, and assimilate more truth into our heart and life.  Third, I must believe and have faith in the truth You divine even if I don't like it.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God, full of power, love, compassion, etc.  You are also truth, and the source of all knowledge and wisdom.  No action, no decision should be informed by any source other than You.  I know that if I ask for wisdom in Your Name, it will be given to me...I may not like but I know it is Truth.  You are a great God and I need no other God.  Thank You for the wisdom You have provided me in my life and for the many, many blessings!  I am blessed well beyond what I deserve.  I am weak - I am selfish, I complain, etc.  Please forgive me Jesus!  Help me overcome and turn from such sin and towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength, comfort, and freedom from pain.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach and Dustin.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.”

1 Corinthians 1

But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.” v27-31

Moving from unity (focus of recent posts), we find Paul addressing division in the church at Corinth.  Paul founded the church in Corinth and spent a considerable amount of time there (see OverviewBible.com and Acts 18), and his first letter to Corinth includes a reprimand of the church over its division, and an encouragement to focus on what matters.  Paul starts by admonishing those who over-emphasize church leaders (v10-17) and wisdom of human beings vs that of God.  We value wisdom but we must recognize the source and purpose of wisdom - it's not about us as we exist to glorify God.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who has blessed me beyond what I deserve with Your wisdom and a heart to grow closer to You - yet I am undeserving of such blessings and often sin (worry, gossip, etc.) and this separates me from You.  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.