The Worth of Wisdom

“Solomon answered God…'Give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may lead this people, for who is able to govern this great people of yours?’”
2 Chronicles 1:8a; 10

The definition and application of wisdom has become somewhat muddled and watered down over the years. In fact, wisdom is typically defined today as the accumulated information of knowledge. Therefore, most people view wisdom through a non-specific, generalized lens. But this is a narrow and incomplete perception. To appreciate what wisdom entails mankind must fundamentally grasp where wisdom originates: God. Humanity is not the foundation of vast intellect and intelligence; God is. We should never disassociate wisdom from its divine source, but sadly this is often what we do. The more we attempt to delink wisdom as being a holy attribute of the Lord the more we become susceptible to the temptation to embrace prideful, self-empowerment ideology.   

This is partly why the context and content of 2 Chronicles 1 is so compelling. Solomon was God’s choice to succeed David as king of Israel. David certainly set a lofty standard for his son to follow. The person Scripture attributes as being after God’s own heart left an enduring legacy of bravery, faith, and a fierce devotion to the Lord. But Solomon was clearly eager to advance the godly walk of his father, as evidenced in 2 Chronicles 1, when Solomon’s civil reign took effect. Per 2 Chronicles 1, one of Solomon first acts was to gather with the military commanders and family elders at Gibeon, where the Tent of Meeting resided at the time, and lead the people in an extensive sacrificial gift: a thousand burnt offerings (2 Chronicles 1:6)  

Why a thousand burnt offerings instead of one? Maybe one burnt offering wasn’t sufficient for Solomon to convey how grateful he was for his elevated position. Maybe he was so thankful for his leadership blessing that his heart demanded a way to publicly recognize God’s blessing upon his life. Realize that Solomon didn’t haphazardly stumble into worship; he came aptly prepared as he made arrangements to travel to Gideon. And this was not a quick, impersonal observance. It likely took some time to perform a thousand burnt offerings. But Solomon was primed and ready to glorify God through a sizeable offering, as well as show others the proof of his adoration of God. 

That night God appeared to Solomon in a dream at Gideon and the Lord posed a most astounding offer to Solomon: ask for anything you want. Imagine if God spontaneously presented us this same proposal. Would our natural desire to be to ask for something honorable? Or would we revert to something which appeals to our fleshly desires? In asking for wisdom Solomon chose nobility over narcissism. Some might argue that Solomon’s request was still somewhat egotistical in nature, in that he asked for an enhanced personal cognitive ability, but Scripture denotes that the reason Solomon longed for a divine infusion of mental acumen was so that he could rightly, and better, govern God’s covenantal people (2 Chronicles 1:10). Consequently, the genesis of Solomon’s wisdom petition was not self-serving; it was servant-oriented.      

Solomon had a most dignified beginning to his reign as king. He could have asked God for wealth, acclaim, or valor. But he chose to request wisdom. Not for self-edification, but so that he could properly direct his countrymen. This was, by and large, a selfless appeal. He was not thinking of his namesake, but God’s. The Lord rewarded the upright response of Solomon. Solomon’s wisdom would go on to become world-renowned. But it all began with a humble request and a sensitive spirit.     

God made Solomon exceedingly wise. It wasn’t Solomon’s charisma, academic aptitude, royal pedigree, or genealogical connection to David that made Solomon so sage; it was God’s decision and pleasure to make Solomon exceedingly wise. Despite the fact that Solomon didn’t ask for military superiority or a massive fortune God determined to grant it to him anyway. Why? Perhaps the Lord perceived the proper intention of Solomon’s request for wisdom and knew a person of such character would aptly handle such blessings. After all, Solomon’s primary thought was for his countrymen, not himself. Regardless, Solomon perceived wisdom as a more important aim than anything else. He longed for integrity and discernment rather than human praise or affluence. And he looked for it by appealing to God directly. The Lord has always shown an appreciation for a heart that is tender, humble, and moldable – a heart that places a great worth on heavenly wisdom. 

Thankfulness and Truth

“The Lord is righteous in all his ways and loving toward all he has made. The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.”
Psalm 145:17-18

Scripture affirms that the hearts and minds of God’s followers should be noticeably different from those unacquainted with the community of faith (Ephesians 4:1-6). Specifically, believers should possess a thankful heart, knowing that eternal salvation is available through Jesus Christ (Acts 4:12), and believers should possess a truth-seeking mind, knowing that this world is wrought with deception and lies (Hebrews 4:12-13). But there is often a temptation to seek happiness, joy, and meaning outside these core pursuits. Humanity is a fickle lot, and for some reason we are not easily satisfied with the one, true God, the God Who eagerly awaits the opportunity to establish and broaden a life-altering relationship with us. 

Such a disturbing reality was evident in Exodus 32. In this Old Testament biblical passage Moses was atop Mount Sinai receiving the divine worship-related instructions God was recording for His covenantal people, a people He single-handedly rescued from Egyptian bondage. Moses had been in communion with the Lord for several days. As the days turned into weeks the Israelites became restless. Even though God’s majesty was brilliantly displayed around the mountain (Exodus 19:18) the Hebrew people spiritually hungered for another. They grew inpatient and were anxious to rid themselves of God’s leadership. So they enticed Aaron, Moses’ brother, to fabricate some false gods. In the process, the Israelites momentarily traded fellowship with God Almighty for made-to-order idolatry, a golden calf at that. Clearly, the Hebrew people wanted a self-pleasing lifestyle, a lifestyle unconstrained. They wanted to be free from accountability. They wanted to be free of the consequences of mistakes and missteps. In short, they wanted a religious routine that was convenient, unconvicting, and shallow. 

Exodus 32 offers up a general lesson for us all: mankind tends to focus on that which we perceive we lack, rather than what we have actually received. In the Scriptural account of Exodus 32 God was right before the Hebrew people, but apparently His presence was not enough. Even today this temptation to veer away from the Lord is just as appealing and stifling to modern-day believers. Sadly, the longer we stare at the possessions, positions, and personality traits of the world the easier it is to fall victim to an entitled, discontented perception. But Psalm 145 reminds us that a thankful heart and a truth-seeking mind can combat egotism and carnality. In this inspirational Hebrew hymn, David highlighted several considerations that yield hope and encouragement. One, we have been given life by God (Psalm 145:9). Two, we have been given the Lord’s love (Psalm 145:13). Three, we have been given God’s light, signified by His guidance, guidance which has been canonized in Scripture (Psalm 145:17-18). 

Taking this all in, why do we, as God’s followers, dwell little on the aforementioned blessings and look to unmet wants for fulfillment? If we continually yearn for increased material prosperity, influence, fame, or fortune for our gratification goals  then we maintain the wrong vision. We need to gaze upon God’s great generosity and goodness. Too often, we make this world, this life, about us. But life is not about us; it’s about God. It’s about knowing God. It’s about praising God. It’s about trusting God. It’s about thanking God. It’s about turning away from falsehoods and embracing God’s doctrine. It’s about reciprocating God’s love, the love He first showed us. 

We are God’s creation, a creation that is a wayward and wicked bunch, and yet the Lord graciously tends to our needs, spiritually, emotionally, mentally, and physically. This irresistible understanding moved David to exalt the awesomeness of God in Psalm 145. God’s followers should take note of the tenor and tone that this song conveys. God’s character and faithfulness are the spiritual benchmarks, not our fleshly desires. Therefore, let us bask in God’s mercies and not search for anything, or anyone, else to consume the purpose of our existence. May we be engrossed in a thankful disposition and enamored with God’s truth.

Candid Conversations With God

“Answer me, O Lord, out of the goodness of your love; in your great mercy turn to me. Do not hide your face from your servant; answer me quickly, for I am in trouble. Come near and rescue me; redeem me because of my foes.”
Psalm 69:16-18  

The book of Psalms is often thought of as a rejoice-filled collection of thanksgiving-oriented songs. And while this is largely true every now and there is a psalm that contains less enthusiasm and more earnestness - a psalm that seeks to convey the personal concerns that vexed the heart of the writer. Psalm 69 is one such example. This hymn of David is a candid confession of the emotions, both great and lowly, that the human experience offers. In this life, we find joy and we find pain. We encounter victory and we encounter defeat. In one moment we can sense the nearness of God and then turn away and sense a distance from God. As a result, the assorted sentiments emit a panorama of attitudes and declarations from our soul. 

Psalm 69 articulates a dire set of conditions. David likened his position to being engulfed by torrential waters (69:1). There are many circumstances which can cause believers to feel like we are emotionally adrift at sea, struggling to stay afloat. There is certainly no easy remedy for adversity, other than to say that we must maintain our devotion and trust in God, no matter what. But this does not always guarantee an immediate removal of affliction or calamity. In fact, David wrote in Psalm 69 that he called out to God for help for so long and so hard that his voice was hoarse, implying relief was not quick in coming (69:3). But even in the enduring discomfort David declared that his zeal for the Lord was unwavering (69:9)     

Wisdom, patience, and depth bring about an awareness of the consequences of our choices. And so David rightly asked God for guidance, and no one else, according to Psalm 69:16. In faith, he was able to think and see beyond his predicament and praise God. In faith, David openly shared his thoughts with God and asked for the Lord to redirect him if need be. It is nothing short of incredible that the Maker of the world would choose, out of the goodness of His love, to communicate with mankind, and receive our candid conversations. He does not tire of us. He does lose not sight of us. He, the immortal, eternal God longs to commune with us daily. Truly, God is supreme.

This reality yields hope because God is a relational God. He desires for His creation to be honest and open with Him. He wants us to express our shame and our song. He wants us to vocalize our glee and our guilt. The Lord does not ask that we hide our feelings. He established a means in prayer by which we can express everything to Him and embrace His supernatural counsel, affection, and grace. In Him, we can receive the strength to tarry on in this ordeal-ridden life - a life given and guided by God. This life is not without hardships or pain. But no matter where we find ourselves we must always remember that God has the power, and longing, to rescue us spiritually. 

God Forever Reigns

“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge.”

Psalm 19:1-2

There are many immediate and reoccurring vocal offerings that God’s followers often render in private prayer and praise sessions: personal sustained or improved health, the joy of experiencing cohesive relationships with family members and friends, having a satisfying life purpose, and enjoying a fulfilling vocation. And while all of the aforementioned tributes are noble they tend to be self-focused. In a “me-centric” world it is hard to distinguish the proper priorities and spiritual emphasis that believers should be actively engaged in. But Psalm 19, yet another psalm of David, presents believers a beautiful God-fixated anthem, an anthem whose central premise is that God forever reigns. This truth should be an unending submission in individual, and church-wide, worship each and every day. 

To a skeptical and unbelieving world David declares in Psalm 19 that nature itself displays the evidence of God’s eternal presence and power. The sun, the stars, and the moon did not come about, or function in perfect harmony, by some cosmic accident or billion-to-one random occurrence. God made heaven and earth out of nothing. This world had no light and God gave it light. This world had no shape and God gave it shape. This world had no life and God gave it life. How much did this reflection stir the heart of David? So-much-so that he longed to mediate on God’s majesty as much as possible. 

Realize that the Lord gives us guidance, a life-map, in His Word. He gives us counsel, words of mercy and permanence, through the Bible. He gives us instruction, knowledge desperately needed for our earthly pilgrimage, through Scripture. It is in this mindset that often inspired David to not wallow in despair, but worship in devotion to the God Who still, and always will, reign. Knowing that God eternally rules is an incredibly liberating and humbling reality. God is infallible; He cannot morally fail. God is indestructible; He cannot be defeated. God is immortal; His dominion cannot end. These underlying certainties are heralded throughout Psalm 19. 

Psalm 19 can be analyzed in four motifs: the beauty of God’s creation (verses 1-6), the beauty of God’s commandments (verses 7-11), the beauty of God’s character (verses 12-13), and the beauty of humanity’s conviction-led confessions (verse 14). But all of the verses in this ancient Hebrew song point to the overarching recognition of God’s supreme authority. Overall, this biblical consideration provides God’s followers colossal hope. God reigns even when our enemies surround us. God reigns even when trials besiege us. God reigns even when our plans crumble and fall. God reigns! And for that fact alone He deserves our praise. God is enthroned in heaven and His reign will not be thwarted. Even in what humanity views as chaos (i.e. tragedy, floods, droughts, storms, etc.), God is still in command of the affairs and destiny of everything and everyone. This means we need not fret about today, or tomorrow, because we serve the God of complete and total supremacy. We serve the God Who forever reigns.