When I blog, my normal tendancy is to just write, with very little thought put towards the organization of those thoughts. You could tell, huh? Anyway, I am finding that the depth of this particular subject is so great and so diverse that I am compelled to be abnormally more organized with my words. So where does an outline on the subject of Knowledge and Wisdom begin? How about the beginning.........
I. The Beginning of Knowledge and Wisdom:
(Proverbs 1:7 ) The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge;
(Psalm 111:10) The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom;
(Proverbs 2:1-5) My son, if you receive my words and treasure up my commandments with you, making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding; yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God.
Ever wonder why it starts there..............The Fear of the Lord? Why not the Love of the Lord? Wouldn't that sound better, more user friendly? The Love of the Lord is the beginning of Knowledge and Wisdom? The point being made here I believe is this: Godly Knowledge and Wisdom begins with the understanding of our place before an Almighty God. Understanding exactly what that "place" is requires an intimate relational knowledge of God. Not knowing about God.......but knowing Him personally and intimately. The more we see God, the more we know Him, the more we see our inadaquecy, sin, and utter dependance on him. True Godly Knowledge and Wisdom must, must, must be void of any human pride. This idea is completely opposite of the human inclinations towards knowledge and wisdom. For most people, just hearing these words together immediately stirs up prideful thoughts and passions, and in relation to worldly knowledge and wisdom, that's a normal, if not appropriate reaction. Not so with Godly Knowledge and Wisdom.
As David's life was coming to an end, we see him preparing God's people and particularly his own son, Solomon. He was passing on to them the Knowledge and Wisdom that God had blessed him with. Now remember.......this is King David talking here, Israel's greatest King, warrior, conqueror, leader.....truly a man who deserves to be listened to and acknowledged for his knowledge and wisdom. As you read his words from I Chronicles 29, look for any signs of Human Pride;
"Blessed are you, O LORD, the God of Israel our father, forever and ever. Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, O LORD, and you are exalted as head above all. Both riches and honor come from you, and you rule over all. In your hand are power and might, and in your hand it is to make great and to give strength to all. And now we thank you, our God, and praise your glorious name. "But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able thus to offer willingly? For all things come from you, and of your own have we given you. For we are strangers before you and sojourners, as all our fathers were. Our days on the earth are like a shadow, and there is no abiding. O LORD our God, all this abundance that we have provided for building you a house for your holy name comes from your hand and is all your own. I know, my God, that you test the heart and have pleasure in uprightness. In the uprightness of my heart I have freely offered all these things, and now I have seen your people, who are present here, offering freely and joyously to you. O LORD, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, our fathers, keep forever such purposes and thoughts in the hearts of your people, and direct their hearts toward you. Grant to Solomon my son a whole heart that he may keep your commandments, your testimonies, and your statutes, performing all, and that he may build the palace for which I have made provision."
Knowing your place before God, ("the fear of the Lord") is beautifully represented here in David's words. Godly Knowledge and Wisdom begins with just this same attitude of heart.
Our outline will continue tomorrow with the Source of Knowledge and Wisdom, and a perfect example of the Trinity at work in our lives.
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