Jesus is in Charge of Wisdom
Hidden wisdom is another way to look at God’s secrets. He is the Master at hiding deep eternal truth. But what is the point, you may wonder. Does one need a master’s degree to learn this wisdom? Some think so and would urge you to enroll in their Bible college. But then, what chance does a young or simple-minded person (who can’t afford Bible college) have to know the deep things of God?
There’s an answer for that, and it’s found in what I’d consider the passage of full mention on the mysteries of God. You will want to get to know the Bible study rule of “full mention.” That is, any topic you are curious about in the Bible has at least one spot that explains it thoroughly. Start there in your study of whatever the topic is.
When it comes to the hidden wisdom or the deep things of God, the go-to passage is 1 Cor. 2:7-16. In a nutshell, the way to learn God’s hidden wisdom is by the Spirit of God. Those without God’s Spirit living in them will never comprehend God’s mysteries or His deep truths. He hides them from non-believers. Remember that God is a Spirit (John 4:24) and at salvation, His Spirit comes to live in us (John 14:17, Col. 1:27, 1 John 4:4).
Everyone else… how can they possibly grasp deep spiritual things when they don’t have the Spirit?
It turns out, Jesus loved the beauty of wisdom hidden from smart knuckleheads.
“At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.” (Matt. 11:25)
Babes. Let’s call them the poor simple-minded we considered above who know Jesus. The fact that they know Jesus isn’t even because of their limited smarts. Because God wants the glory for what we know. Two verses after Jesus praised God for revealing things to babes, he said, “All things are delivered unto me of my Father, and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.” (Matt. 11:27). We’re bumping into another mystery of God we will never fully grasp, and that is His sovereignty combined with His choices. An unregenerated mind will look at that concept, and the closest they will come to understanding it is naming it fate. That is, “stuff happens for whatever cosmic reason.” God’s air breathed into that equals His sovereignty. God knows hearts, and He knows who to entrust with the truths of Jesus. Even Jesus didn’t entrust Himself to everyone. He knew those who believed in Him only because of His miracles. With that knowledge of people’s hearts, He knew who to commit himself to and who not to (John 2:23-25).
Don’t cry “foul!” too soon. You don’t know enough about the secrets of God and who he reveals them to to judge yet. His truths are treasures—pearls He won’t cast before swine.
Tell me what you think. Jody
Be Wise and Be Careful
The most intriguing period of David’s life, to me, is from when Samuel anointed David as the next king and the time he actually became king. In the meantime, Saul was king, and he didn’t know that David was going to replace him. But we know.
What happened in that interim period …. Consider it one of the “testimonies of the Lord.” That is, the Scriptures we read that show us how situations are handled that we can learn from. David himself said the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. (Ps.19:7b)
First, we read how David killed Goliath after he first became the king in waiting, unbeknownst to Saul. The Goliath show impressed Saul so immensely that he didn’t let David go home to his father. (1 Sam 18) Saul thought that David obviously belonged in the palace with him. Te he.
And David went out whithersoever Saul sent him, and behaved himself wisely: and Saul set him over the men of war, and he was accepted in the sight of all the people, and also in the sight of Saul’s servants. (1 Sam 18:5)
The quality of David’s life for today is that he behaved himself wisely, and other people noticed. Is that something that can be said about me? There’s a lot to be said for behaving wisely. Other ways I could behave are emotionally, selfishly, greedily, foolishly, etc. To walk wisely is to have insight and comprehension and then walk calmly, the way I should. I want that.
The Proverbs 31 woman behaves wisely. She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness. (Prov. 31:26) Honestly, I read Prov. 31, and I think, “There’s no way I’m like that.” She brings food from afar; she gets up early (while it’s still night!) and gives food to her household; she sews; she shops (for real estate!). I’m doing good if I just clean the house. I’m a little jealous of this model woman.
That brings me to another point about the characteristic of David we’re looking at today (He behaved himself wisely, and other people noticed). Yes, it would be nice to be like that, but sometimes people get jealous of those who behave wisely. So if I’m going to be wise, I’m going to have to understand that I’ll need that wisdom to deal with the people who can’t deal with me being wise.
And David behaved himself wisely in all his ways; and the LORD was with him. Wherefore when Saul saw that he behaved himself very wisely, he was afraid of him. But all Israel and Judah loved David, because he went out and came in before them. (1 Sam. 18:14-16)
Some loved and followed David because they could see he was wise. But Saul was afraid of him and was jealous of him (1 Sam 18:8). His jealousy led him to extremes.
All I’m saying is, yes, be wise, but be careful. Not everyone can deal with wise people. So, here’s something to pray back to God, if that’s the case: When a man’s ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him. (Prov. 16:7)