Deliver me from every evil habit, every accretion of former sins, everything that dims the brightness of thy grace in me, everything that prevents me taking delight in thee.[1]
The “foolishness” of God’s plan of salvation
Isaiah 49:1-7 NRSV
Listen to me, O coastlands, pay attention, you peoples from far away! The Lord called me before I was born, while I was in my mother’s womb he named me. He made my mouth like a sharp sword, in the shadow of his hand he hid me; he made me a polished arrow, in his quiver he hid me away. And he said to me, “You are my servant, Israel, in whom I will be glorified.”
But I said, “I have labored in vain; I have spent my strength for nothing and vanity; yet surely my cause is with the Lord, and my reward with my God.”
And now the Lord says, who formed me in the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob back to him, and that Israel might be gathered to him, for I am honored in the sight of the Lord, and my God has become my strength—he says:
“It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to restore the survivors of Israel; I will give you as a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.”
Thus says the Lord, the Redeemer of Israel and his Holy One, to one deeply despised, abhorred by the nations, the slave of rulers:
“Kings shall see and stand up, princes, and they shall prostrate themselves, because of the Lord, who is faithful, the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen you.”
Robert B. Chisholm
From before his birth the Lord chose him for a special task. The Lord made him an effective spokesman to be used at an opportune time. The servant received the title “Israel” because as an ideal representative of the nation he would restore Israel’s relationship to God. In the role of a new Moses the servant would mediate a new covenant for Israel and lead the people out of captivity and back to the promised land. As “Israel” the servant would also fulfill God’s original ideal for the nation by being a channel of blessing to the Gentile nations. Though the servant faced rejection and discouragement, he was confident that the Lord would eventually vindicate him. Someday even kings would acknowledge his greatness.[2]
1 Corinthians 1:18-25 NRSV
For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.” Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, God decided, through the foolishness of our proclamation, to save those who believe. For Jews demand signs and Greeks desire wisdom, but we proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God’s weakness is stronger than human strength.
What seems to the world “weakness” in God’s plan of salvation, and in its mode of delivery by His apostle, is really His mighty “power.” What seems “foolishness” because wanting man’s “wisdom of words”, is really the highest “wisdom of God”.[3]
Warren Wiersbe
God does not need the world’s wisdom; in fact, He will destroy it! With all its “wisdom,” the world was not able to find God or salvation. When we trace human history, we discover a record of man gaining more and more knowledge, but less and less real wisdom, especially about spiritual matters. God’s plan was so simple and unique that it seemed to be foolishness to the world! God saves those who believe what He says about His Son.[4]
The Gospel Way Catechism[5]
Question #23
What do we learn from Israel’s sacrificial system?
No earthly system of sacrifice can fully atone for sin. We cannot get right with God by willpower or good works. We need a perfect mediator to represent us to God and represent God to us.
Question #24
What do we learn from Israel’s kings?
No sinner can fulfill God’s intent for humanity to rule with perfect wisdom and righteousness over creation. Even the best kings of Israel failed this high calling. We need a perfect King to provide eternal protection and peace.
O Lord our God, whose blessed Son gave his back to be whipped and did not hide his face from shame and spitting: Give us grace to accept joyfully the sufferings of the present time, confident of the glory that shall be revealed; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.[6]
Christ, Our Wisdom
If you have found this meditation helpful, take a moment and give thanks to God. Then share what you learned with a friend. This is how the grace of God spreads (2 Corinthians 4.15).
[1] From “Confession and Petition,” The Valley of Vision, p. 77.
[2] Robert B. Chisholm, “The Major Prophets,” in Holman Concise Bible Commentary, ed. David S. Dockery (Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1998), 286.
[3] Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset, and David Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible, vol. 2 (Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1997), 264.
[4] Warren W. Wiersbe, Wiersbe’s Expository Outlines on the New Testament (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1992), 420.
[5] Trevin Wax and Thomas West, The Gospel Way Catechism, 2025, Harvest House, pp. 89, 92.
[6]Collect for Tuesday of Holy Week, Anglican Book of Common Prayer, 2019.
