Jesus throughout the Scriptures: Wisdom Literature (3)Pray Psalm 28.8, 9.
The LORD is their strength,
And He is the saving refuge of His anointed.
Save Your people,
And bless Your inheritance;
Shepherd them also,
And bear them up forever
Sing Psalm 28.8, 9.
(Angel’s Story: O Jesus, I Have Promised)
Our strength are You, O Savior, our strong defense and sure.
Anointed with Your favor, we rest in You secure.
Save us, and bless us, Jesus, upon us turn Your face.
With shepherd’s care, LORD, keep us forever in Your grace.
Read and meditate on Proverbs 8.22-36.
Preparation
1. What terms of blessing does Wisdom set forth?
2. What blessing does Wisdom promise?
Meditation
Wisdom offers the blessing of life and favor to those who listen, watch and wait for, find, and keep His ways.
Which is to say, becoming wise doesn’t just happen. We must be instructed in the Wisdom of God. Even when, like Solomon, we ask the LORD for wisdom, still, we must apply ourselves diligently to know it (Eccl. 1.13). Wisdom is the very Word of God, as we have seen—our Lord Jesus Christ (Col. 2.2, 3). He is revealed everywhere in Scripture; thus, the more we apply ourselves to Scripture, the more we will find the Wisdom of God.
And, as Solomon shows us in his three books, much wisdom can be learned from careful observation of the world around us—people, creation, culture, and the times—as, grounded in God’s Word and Wisdom, we seek Him in the works of His hands.
However, refusing to work at becoming wise—being transformed into the likeness of Jesus (2 Cor. 3.12-18)—is not only unwise; it’s downright foolish. Those who persist in sinning against the Wisdom of God do wrong to their souls. The soul is meant for wisdom and to be like the Wisdom of God. When we neglect to grow in wisdom—to practice the daily discipline of seeking the Lord Jesus Christ—we choose death: spiritual dryness, moral fecklessness, and separation from God.
Either we love and earnestly seek the Wisdom of God in Jesus or we neglect and hate it and Him. We can know wisdom and blessing and the favor of God. But only as we listen to, hear, and keep all that God reveals to us of Wisdom in His Word and works.
Treasure Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162Poetry, as Emily Dickinson explained, tells truth “slant”. We shouldn’t be clobbered with the meaning but eased into it by increments of steady and thoughtful word usage. The message invariably sneaking up on us in an “aha” moment—thrilling when it happens.
But Scripture is not like that. The Gospel is not like that. The truth is not like that, nor is our calling from God like that. Easing into spirituality is not a thing. Creeping up on holiness—likewise, not a thing. Yes, sanctification is a process—a lifelong one at that—but the effort must be daily and strenuous.
“Either we love and earnestly seek the Wisdom of God in Jesus or we neglect and hate it and Him.”
There is no half-hearted way to go about our growth in Christ and our love for Him.
“Have I not written to you excellent things of counsels and knowledge,
that I may make you know the certainty of the words of truth,
that you may answer words of truth to those who send to you?” (Prov. 22.20, 21).
“Now therefore, listen to me, my children, for blessed are those who keep my ways.
Hear instruction and be wise, and do not disdain it.
Blessed is the man who listens to me,
watching daily at my gates,
waiting at the posts of my doors.
For whoever finds me finds life, and obtains favor from the LORD;
but he who sins against me wrongs his own soul;
all those who hate me love death” (Prov. 8.32-36).
As our quote from Matthew Henry says, “Blessed are those who hear the Savior’s voice,
and wait on Him with daily reading, meditation, and prayer.”
Jesus said, “Blessed are those who hear the Word of God and keep it!” (Lk. 11.28).
And as Jesus warned: “Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but to him who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him” (Lk. 12.11).
Maybe it’s important that we find out what pleases and displeases the LORD? (Rom. 8.8; Heb. 11.6; Ps. 1) Maybe His Law is something we should have as a solid in our minds and hearts? (Matt. 22.37-40)
Perhaps it would be the part of wisdom to gain a heart of understanding? (Prov. 8.5)
We will not be able to blame our lack of sanctification on poor shepherding or crummy churches.
Most assuredly, our spirituality is on us to work out in fear and trembling (Phil. 2.12, 13).
If I have inadvertently spoken this slant, may I clobber and clarify?
Daily reading, meditating in, and studying the Word of God is an absolute necessity.
Prayer is essential. Loving God the Father, Jesus the Son, and the guiding Holy Spirit is our life.
“And this is eternal life,
that they may know You,
the only true God,
and Jesus Christ
Whom You have sent” (Jn. 17.3).
“Take to heart all the words I have solemnly declared to you this day, so that you may command your children to obey carefully all the words of this law. They are not just idle words for you—they are your life. By them you will live…” (Deut. 32.46, 47 NIV). By the blessing of Wisdom—Jesus our Savior.
Reflection
1. What is the promise of Wisdom? How does this shape your approach to life?
2. What kinds of things can keep us from taking up the discipline we need to gain the promise of Wisdom?
3. Whom will you encourage today to seek and find the Wisdom of God in Jesus? How can you help your fellow believers embrace this calling?
Blessed are those who hear the Saviour’s voice, and wait on him with daily reading, meditation, and prayer. The children of the world find time for vain amusements, without neglecting what they deem the one thing needful. Does it not show contempt of Wisdom’s instructions, when people professing godliness, seek excuses for neglecting the means of grace? Christ is Wisdom, and he is Life to all believers. Matthew Henry (1662-1714), Commentary on Proverbs 8.32-36
Pray Psalm 28.1-7.
Thank God for the care, protection, and leading of His Wisdom, our Lord Jesus Christ. Rejoice in Him and His salvation. Offer yourself to Wisdom as a living sacrifice, and call on Him to bless with life and favor everything you do today.
Sing Psalm 28.1-7.
(Angel’s Story: O Jesus, I Have Promised)
I cry to You, our Savior, O, be not deaf to me!
LORD, speak to me with favor, lest I should dying be.
Hear now my supplications when for Your help I cry.
Receive these, my oblations, before Your throne on high.
LORD, count me not among those who walk in sinful ways.
With words of peace their tongue glows while evil fills their days.
Your works they disregard, LORD, while evil fills their hands.
Destroy them by Your Word, LORD, and let them no more stand.
Blessed be the Name of Jesus, for He will hear our prayer.
His strength protects and shields us with mercy and with care.
In You our heart rejoices; You help us by Your Word.
To You we raise our voices to praise and thank You, LORD.
T. M. and Susie Moore
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 Cor. 4.15).
Other columns of interest this week: Read Moore (from the book, Revived!); from Crosfigell, “He Knows What He’s Doing”, on the work of the Holy Spirit; and “More of Jesus” from our ReVision series, “Pray for Your Church.” And new in our bookstore, Let God Be True and Enjoying God, both free to download and share.
Support for Scriptorium comes from our faithful and generous God, who moves our readers to share financially in our work. If this article was helpful, please give Him thanks and praise.
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Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. For sources of all quotations, see the weekly PDF of this study. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter.
