Then he looked at wisdom and appraised it; he confirmed it and tested it. And he said to man, "The fear of the Lord-That is wisdom, and to shun evil is understanding."
Job 28:27-28 NIV
Wisdom is a word that is not usually heard. We hear the words data, information, and knowledge more often. Data is a collection if facts, it is generally "out there." Knowledge is the result of perception and learning, it is the result of internalizing data or information. Wisdom is a trait of utilizing knowledge and data with insight.
Webster gives us 5 definitions of wisdom. The first is the quality or state of being wise; knowledge of what is true or right coupled with just judgment as to action; sagacity,discernment, or insight.
One thought on wisdom is that it is a gift that is received after digesting knowledge. It is a gift that allows one to make the best decision with the information we have available. So often the information we base our decisions on is imperfect, imprecise, and incomplete.
Webster's definition gives us several words that describe; or could describe, with minor changes in form, some attributes of God. Quality, state of being wise, knowledge, true, right, just, judgement, action, sagacity,discernment, insight seem to be good examples of such words to describe some attributes of God.
In our fallen state, we are dealing with the imperfect, imprecise, and incomplete. Contrast our state with other attributes of God; perfect, precise, complete.
Job in Chapter 28:12 and 20; asks where can wisdom be found, where does understanding dwell, where does wisdom come from?
He goes on with the following to answer these questions in verse 23.
God understands the way to it and he alone knows where it dwells, for he views the ends of the earth and sees everything under the heavens.
In 2 Chronicles 1 , God appears to Solomon asking what gift Solomon wanted. Solomon asked for wisdom and knowledge to lead God's great people. God responded with abundance to Solomon's request in verse 12.
And he said to the man, The fear of the Lord-that is wisdom, and to shun evil that is understanding.
Job 28:28 NIV
We will learn more about wisdom throughout the year and we will get many points in late May and early June when we read Proverbs.
Pray for Wisdom.
In Christ
David P
We probably have asked God for the gift of wisdom, then having done that we think we have recieved it all! These chapters really challenge us in that understanding and application. Am I a friend like Job's friends that think they have wisdom by the horns and someone in Job's position can't be blessed with it? JW
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