Acquiring “Wisdom”

  We would all like to be wise but too often many of us are wise after the event. We read here that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. This is not simply the kind of fear that produces terror but fear that encourages reverence; that recognizes the power and position of the Lord and renders Him proper respect. It is to stand in awe of an awesome God.

If that is what fear means what kind of wisdom does it produce. The first occurrence of this word is in Ex 28:3: "And thou shalt speak unto all that are wise hearted, whom I have filled with the spirit of wisdom, that they may make Aaron's garments to consecrate him, that he may minister unto me in the priest's office." This first occurrence of the word in the Hebrew Bible bears this out as well as the description of the workers on the tabernacle. The artisan was considered to be endowed with special abilities given to him by God: "And he hath filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship"             Ex 35:31.

  It is the knowledge and the ability to make the right choices at the right time. The consistency of making the right choice is an indication of maturity and development. The prerequisite for "wisdom" is the fear of the Lord. Wisdom, In the book of Proverbs  is viewed as crying out for disciples who will do everything to pursue her

  The person who seeks wisdom diligently will receive understanding: “For the Lord gives wisdom: out of his mouth comes knowledge and understanding” Prov 2:6. 2:20 .

  The Advantages of “Wisdom”

  The advantages of “wisdom” are many: "For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee. The prerequisite is a desire to follow and imitate God as He has revealed Himself in Jesus Christ, without self-reliance and especially not in a spirit of pride: “A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels: to understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction” Prov 1:5-7.

  The fruits of wisdom are also many. In New Testament terms the fruits of "wisdom" are the same as the fruits of the Holy Spirit; cf. "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law" Gal 5:22-23; "But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace" James 3:17f

  Knowing God

  The respect for God that leads to the wisdom of God brings us into a personal relationship with God.

 By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, "and was not found, because God had taken him"; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God. But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. Heb 11:5-6

One of life’s greatest discoveries is the discovery that God can be known personally through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. When you ask the Lord Jesus to forgive your sins and invite Him into your life you are brought into a personal relationship with God and you know God as your Heavenly Father