This is the sixth in a series of blogs on The Righteousness of God as a part of the Armor of God.
In Proverbs 8:22-26 we are told that wisdom existed before the earth was created. In the New King James Bible version Proverbs 8:22 is translated, “The Lord possessed me at the beginning of His way, before His works of old.” The word “possessed” implies the Lord always had or possessed wisdom. The New Living Translation uses the word “formed” which implies that the Lord created wisdom. Both are translated from the same Hebrew word which has at its root to erect or to create. Therefore, by combining the idea of both possessed and formed, wisdom can be described from two very distinct dimensions integral to the Lord’s being and integral to creation.
First, wisdom is integral to the Lord’s being. He possesses wisdom. Consequently, wisdom existed before the earth and our universe was created; as does the Lord. Whatever we think we know or understand living within God’s creation, the earth we live on and the universe we live within, cannot give us insight to the existence of God or His wisdom before creation. We know only what God has chosen to reveal to us.
Second, wisdom was the architect at God’s side while the earth was created (Proverbs 8:27-31). Wisdom is revealed to us through creation. The Lord used His wisdom to architect and form the earth and our universe. This text also shares a few of the criteria God used to design our earth which demonstrate God’s wisdom.
There are many wise design criteria if we consider them. For instance, the earth was placed a certain distance from the sun such that we would be too hot if closer and too cold if farther away. The earth is tilted on its axis about which it rotates providing day and night as it rotates on a 24-hour cycle, and also our four seasons (summer, fall, winter and spring) as it circles the sun on a 365-day cycle.
If we look though the most powerful electron microscope that exists today, we can see into the atom, one of the smallest building blocks of life. And yet if we had the technology to zoom in farther, we would find more detail. If we look through the most powerful telescope that exists today, we can see out into the far reaches of our universe. And yet there is even more that we cannot yet see. Whatever we think we know or understand living within God’s creation cannot give us insight to those things that are beyond our view. Isaiah 55:8-9 sums this up very well, “’My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,’ says the Lord. ‘And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.’”
I sometimes tell my children that because I have lived so many more years than they have, that I have gained insights that they have not yet thought of or experienced. I tell them that’s why they should listen to me. But God’s wisdom has been around a lot longer than I have, and a lot longer than our earth and universe. All the more reason to put our trust and faith in God’s wisdom revealed through His word and through His creation.
What does all this boil down to? God’s wisdom gives us life! Proverbs 8:32-36 sums it up with, “And so, my children, listen to me, for all who follow my ways are joyful. Listen to my instruction and be wise. Don’t ignore it. Joyful are those who listen to me, watching for me daily at my gates, waiting for me outside my home! For whoever finds me finds life and receives favor from the Lord. But those who miss me injure themselves. All who hate me love death.” Do you see the words “listen”, “watch”, “wait”? These are words of submission!
First, we must listen to what the Lord is saying through His word and other believers. To listen we must stop talking, stop promoting our ideas and biases, stop tuning others out, and be objective about what others say.
Second, we must watch what the Lord is doing around us and through others. To watch we must stop looking at our self. We must daily come to the Lord seeking His presence. We must be objective about what we see while fellowshipping and worshipping with other believers, and in the environment around us.
Third, we must wait for the Lord to reveal Himself to us. To wait we must stop doing things that preoccupy our time in self-interests. We must go to the Lord (His gates, His home/door posts, where there are two or more believers) and seek out His direction, guidance, wisdom, and council. We must be patient while waiting.
The world’s wisdom may result in a lot of money, but its consequences are a life lacking real happiness and separation from God. In actively seeking God’s wisdom, our life will be enriched with happiness and contentment, and the approval of God. This is true wealth (1 Timothy 6:6-8); shaken not stirred.
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All Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, Copyright 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
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