The Wisdom of God

by Barry Pollard

(Based on John 6:51-58; I Kings 2:10-12; 3:3-14; Ps 111)

While God’s word usually brings joy, these readings seemed more self-focussed. My devotional at the moment is about wisdom, and I could discern the readings all had something to say about wisdom! I wouldn’t have to struggle to thread them together to make a coherent whole!

However, Proverbs 16:1 says “We can make our plans, but the Lord gives the right answer”, and it turned out that my initial plan for this reflection was off the mark; I had to resort to divine input!

As I said, I have been wisdom-focussed for the past six weeks as the Reverend Doctor Selwyn Hughes has led me through the Book of Proverbs. This is the book that I consulted during the Covid lockdowns as I sought to send uplifting Scripture to the family each day in an attempt to give them a different point of reference. Aimed mainly at the grandees, there was always something that I could find that I thought would resonate with them. Proverbs, after all, is thirty chapters, and contains a total of 915 proverbs, give or take, depending on the translation and how individual proverbs have been grouped or divided; a truly magnificent collection of sayings and wise advice that we would all benefit from reading on a regular basis.

Our reading from First Kings told us how Solomon came to be so wise. But, I have to say, the selection we heard today is the sanitised version. The reading begins in Chapter 2 with three verses that tell us that Solomon succeeded his father and his kingdom was firmly established. It then resumes some way through Chapter 3. Between the two excerpts, perhaps to ensure his kingdom stays firmly established, Solomon displays behaviour that is cut-throat and power-seeking! Following his father David’s advice, he disposes of old enemies, anyone who can adversely affect his tenure on the throne, and refuses his mother Bathsheba’s request to let his older brother marry the young lass who was employed to look after King David in his old age, instead having him and his supporters killed too! This to me does not sound like the great wise man we have come to know.
Or is it?

You see, despite this murderous interlude, Solomon’s life turns around when he has a dream in which God asks him the big question: “What do you want?”
Can you imagine the magnitude of that question? God is asking! How would you respond?
Well, Solomon answered, “Give me an understanding heart so that I can govern your people well and know the difference between right and wrong.” He asked for wisdom! And he was granted it! And he got not only wisdom, but riches, fame and long life to boot. It could be argued that Solomon was wise simply because he asked for wisdom!

Solomon’s father David gets most credit for the Book of Psalms. We know that David’s past was one of great ups and downs (Goliath and Bathsheba are in-your-face examples). But David always longed to be right with God and was humble enough to admit to his wrongs and seek God’s forgiveness. He was in awe of God.
So today’s psalm of praise is important in providing a context for what Solomon likely picked up from his father. Each element of praise is like an argument being constructed. The crowning glory is summed up in the last verse: “Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true wisdom. All who obey His commandments will grow in wisdom. Praise Him forever!”

Praise Him forever indeed!

Some people interpret the term “fear” negatively. I used to. These days I have come to understand that it more accurately means ‘giving God undivided attention’. Giving God our undivided attention is the foundation of wisdom. Following his way will make us wiser.

Despite the startling interlude between our 1 Kings excerpts, we have to assume that Solomon benefitted from his father’s input and example. David was at times, after all, humble, was aware of his limitations, was aware of God’s grace, and was able to give God his undivided attention. I think he was wise.

How then can we relate this narrative to the Gospel we heard today?
John has Jesus revealing that he is the ‘living bread’, the centre of our belief. A revelation that causes more misunderstanding than joy! It generates lots of moaning and arguing.

You will recall the Scripture about how God’s ways are higher than our ways and his thoughts higher than our thoughts. It is a very succinct way of reminding us that we are not in God’s league. The moaning and arguing crowd couldn’t grasp what Jesus was telling them. It was beyond their comprehension. Those listening were confused. How could they eat the flesh and drink the blood of Jesus? That was cannibalism.
And I would be wondering how much do we need to eat and drink, and what happens when it all runs out?

Well, let’s find comfort in the realm of ‘mysteries’.
My good friend AI had this to say about mysteries: “A Christian mystery generally refers to a profound, often supernatural, truth or aspect of faith that surpasses human understanding but is revealed through divine revelation. These mysteries are central to Christian theology and spirituality and include concepts that are believed to be beyond the full grasp of human reason but are accepted by faith.”
Things we cannot really grasp can be regarded as mysteries.

Some key Christian mysteries are the Trinity (that there is one God in three persons), the Incarnation (that Jesus was fully divine and fully human), the Eucharist (that Jesus is fully present in the bread and wine), the Resurrection (that Jesus overcame death to give us eternal life) and the Atonement (that Jesus reconciled us with God). We proclaim our belief in them regularly when we affirm our faith. Things I don’t fully understand, when my reasoning has run out, I put into the realm of mystery and move on.
And I’m happy with that!

I have explained before that when I came back to faith I was enabled to make 180 degree turns in several areas of my life, almost straight away. My tongue became tangled when I tried to curse and swear. I started to see good in others rather than bad. I was able to put hurts of the past behind me (I was learning to forgive). Things generally took on deeper meaning. I started to think less about me and more about you. All of this was a mystery! I didn’t fully understand any of it but it has had a very positive impact on my life. In the words of Billy Preston (one-time pianist with the Beatles and the Rolling Stones), I reckon “that’s the way God planned it”. He went to work and I benefitted. I don’t know how but I am so grateful.

First Corinthians explains that God’s wisdom is so great that the wisdom of the wise and the intelligence of the intelligent are no match. In fact, God makes the wisdom of the world look foolish. Some obvious examples of that worldly wisdom could be the internet – conceived to empower and enlighten the world but overwhelmed with pornography and scams; antibiotics designed to overcome disease used to such excess that they’re promoting superbugs; painkilling drugs turned into mind-numbing thrills; military-grade weapons made available to not much more than children; and the list goes on.

I’m not saying everything we do is useless or ineffective. There is much good to be found in man’s wisdom. Almost everything I can think of started from a desire to make things better, more productive, longer lived, more efficient, cheaper and happier. The problem is more found in the end-user. Short term gain, maximum profit, social status and the like impact the good, rendering the new good idea another ‘problem in the making’.

How do we discern, then, whether our thoughts, words and deeds are going to be wisely carried out? What yardstick could we use to make judgments?

The other day I came across this practical definition of wisdom by Joyce Meyer: she says wisdom is simply the proper use of knowledge. This being lived out as doing now what we’ll be happy with later on in life. She says, “Learning to live out Godly wisdom is a daily process in which we’re all learning and growing, and a process that any of us, regardless of our past choices, can begin today. If we do as God instructs us each day, then our tomorrows will be pleasing to Him and pleasant for us.”
This is a great way to analyse what is going on around us and to guide what we do.

Back to the Gospel.
You may realise that everything in the Old Testament points ultimately to Jesus. The Book of Proverbs, the repository of much scriptural wisdom, points to Jesus. This is confirmed in First Corinthians 1, verse 24, which says, “Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God.” What this is telling us is Jesus is wisdom. If we are to acquire and possess true and lasting wisdom it can only be found in the life and teachings of Christ.
I hear the Gospel telling us that Jesus is so important to our lives that we are doomed without Him. To be Christ-followers we have to believe and we have to do.
Jesus said, “I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will live forever; and this bread, which I will offer so the world may live, is my flesh.” And He emphasised it by adding, “I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you cannot have eternal life within you.” The act of eating his flesh and drinking his blood confirms our place with Jesus.

Recall that when Jesus was trying to explain all this to the crowd there was argument. While the Bible doesn’t directly forbid cannibalism, it does contain various passages that are interpreted as condemning it. Those listening were confused. How could they eat his flesh and drink his blood?

Luckily, we have discerned that Jesus was not speaking literally. He was revealing the mystery of holy communion. By partaking of this holy meal we are asserting our faith in Jesus, we are accepting that our eternity is only accessed through Him. At the least it serves to remind us of who he is, and who we are. And personally it always reminds me how blessed I am.

[Holy Spirit moment: “What is true in the physical world is true in the spiritual world.” We need spiritual food (Jesus) just like we need breakfast!]

Jesus is the wisdom of God. He calls us to communion in the eating of the bread and the drinking of the wine. We come to the banquet as special guests. Special, not for who or what we are or have been. but because he has issued the invitation to us. Jesus is the wisdom of God. His life and his word are the examples we need to follow. These examples are what will help us to make decisions now regarding our thoughts, words and deeds that God and we will be happy with later on in life.

Proverbs 3:5-6 say: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.”

Let that be our takeaway this morning. If we are in communion with the Lord, partaking of all that he has to give, we are better prepared for life and eternity than if we rely on own efforts.

James (in verses 17-18 of his Chapter 3) gives a wonderful summary of God’s wisdom:
Wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and the fruit of good deeds. It shows no favouritism and is always sincere.  And [he who is a peacemaker] will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of righteousness.

A wonderful summary of our Lord, Jesus Christ, the Wisdom of God.