Wisdom...The Principle Thing
Wisdom…the Scriptures describe wisdom as the principle thing in the New King James version. When God told Solomon in a dream to ask for anything he wanted, he asked God for understanding or wisdom to lead His people. He understood the absolute necessity of wisdom for what he was called to do.
Proverbs 4:7 in the World English Version says, “Wisdom is supreme. Get wisdom. Yes, though it costs you all your possessions, get understanding.” To have knowledge of an issue or problem is great but wisdom is the “right application of knowledge.” To know not only what to do but when and how to do it is the key to operating in wisdom.
All throughout Proverbs Solomon tells us the importance of this virtue. Over and over he tells us to get wisdom. In Psalms there are eleven chapters called “maschil” Psalms which means “to make wise and skillful.” I have been reading these for my own situations. We all have issues in our lives where we need wisdom. If we make a wrong move or act without it, we could really get off track. Not sure about you but I for one need wisdom! I need God’s voice to speak to me in my trial and not my feelings.
Psalm 42 is one of those Psalms. I love it in the Passion Translation. I’m only using parts of it to make my point. The writer is in a tuff situation. People are mocking his trust in God. He talks about that then gives his response to his situation showing us how to apply wisdom…
The issue:
Day and night my tears keep falling and my heart keeps crying for your help while my enemies mock me over and over, saying, “Where is this God of yours? Why doesn’t he help you?”
His response:
So, I speak over my heartbroken soul, “Take courage. Remember when you used to be
right out front leading the procession of praise when the great crowd of worshipers gathered to go into the presence of the Lord? You shouted with joy as the sound of passionate celebration
filled the air and the joyous multitude of lovers honored the festival of the Lord!”
So then, my soul, why would you be depressed? Why would you sink into despair?
Just keep hoping and waiting on God, your Savior. For no matter what, I will still sing with praise, for living before his face is my saving grace! Here I am depressed and downcast. Yet I will still remember you as I ponder the place where your glory streams down from the mighty mountaintops, lofty and majestic—the mountains of your awesome presence. My deep need calls out to the deep kindness of your love. Your waterfall of weeping sent waves of sorrow over my soul, carrying me away, cascading over me like a thundering cataract (large waterfall).
Yet all day long God’s promises of love pour over me.
Through the night I sing his songs, for my prayer to God has become my life.
I will say to God, “You are my mountain of strength; how could you forget me?
The issue:
Why must I suffer this vile oppression of my enemies—
these heartless tormentors who are out to kill me?” Their wounding words pierce my heart over and over while they say, “Where is this God of yours?”
His response:
So, I say to my soul, “Don’t be discouraged. Don’t be disturbed.
For I know my God will break through for me.”
Then I’ll have plenty of reasons to praise him all over again.
Yes, living before his face is my saving grace!
He was facing a personal problem that left him depressed and discouraged. People around him weren’t helping either. Discouragement and depression were pressing down on him. I get that for sure! Life can throw us some tuff problems. At times it can feel overwhelming. Have you ever been there? I know I sure have.
But he chooses to do what he knows. He decides not to wallow in despair but to speak to his situation, to worshipand to pray. These acts he does, are wisdom; applying what he has knowledge of to his problem. Just reading the Word or having knowledge of it does not help our mountain move out of the way. We must apply what we know to each situation. Our mountain needs to hear our voice!
We all face obstacles, we all hurt in one way or another. We all have wanted to give up a time or two…or three! But the wisdom we glean from this Psalm shows us we can get through when nothing looks or feels good. When it seems the worst, we war. I love the line,
“My deep need calls out to the deep kindness of your love.” Gods unfailing unwavering love can see us through any hard place if we choose to lean on it.
Lean on it today if you are hurting. God is incapable of failing us. It may not look like it or feel like it or be in our timing BUT nevertheless it is true. You can count on it.
Father today as we lean into you love, we know you will never let us down. Show us who you are through what we are facing. Speak to us in the darkness of our pain and assure us of your great love. Help us to cling to you for our very life. Like Peter told Jesus…” But Lord, where else would we go? You alone have the words of eternal life.” Give us the grace to solely rely on YOU.