"For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching [the actual thing preached—N.T.] to save them that believe." 1 Cor. 1:2121For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. (1 Corinthians 1:21).
Wisdom was before creation. (Prov. 8.) Creation displayed it. (Psa. 104:2424O Lord, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches. (Psalm 104:24).) Wisdom entered this world in the person of Christ, but man by his wisdom knew Him not. (Acts 13:2727For they that dwell at Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they knew him not, nor yet the voices of the prophets which are read every sabbath day, they have fulfilled them in condemning him. (Acts 13:27).) The world in its "wisdom" rejected Him. His death is the complete setting aside of the first man, (2 Cor. 5:14-1814For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: 15And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again. 16Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more. 17Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 18And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; (2 Corinthians 5:14‑18)) for in new creation, "all things are of God". The pathway of the blessed Lord Jesus Christ on earth is the path of wisdom in a world where fallen man, by his lust and his "wisdom", corrupts himself, and rejects God, revealed in Christ. The natural man is the slave of his lusts, (John 8:3434Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. (John 8:34)) and his mind is at enmity against God. (Rom. 8:77Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. (Romans 8:7).)
God's wisdom is perfect, because of His perfect knowledge of all things. "0 the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are His judgments, and His ways past finding out! For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been His counselor" Rom. 11:33,3433O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! 34For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor? (Romans 11:33‑34). Man can never discover the things that belong to revelation. This is just the theme in the book of Ecclesiastes. It shows us the extent of man's wisdom "under the sun" apart from God's revelation. Creation and resurrection are two things that belong to revelation. The wisdom of man could never discover either the one or the other, as we see from Acts 17:23-3223For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you. 24God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; 25Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things; 26And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; 27That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us: 28For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring. 29Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device. 30And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: 31Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead. 32And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked: and others said, We will hear thee again of this matter. (Acts 17:23‑32).
Man is a fallen creature and his fallen nature loves sin. He is at enmity with God and does not want God's wisdom. To him "Stolen waters are sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant", Prov. 9:1717Stolen waters are sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant. (Proverbs 9:17), but this same book of Proverbs shows us that "the way of transgressors is hard." (not "pleasant"!) Prov. 13:1515Good understanding giveth favor: but the way of transgressors is hard. (Proverbs 13:15). This is because Proverbs shows the way of wisdom in an evil world. We need a path wherein to walk, and this God has given us in the book of Proverbs. It is heavenly wisdom in which man is called to walk, instead of yielding to the evil of a fallen nature. These moral principles are of immense value for young and old in the pathway of life.
Now Christianity supplies that which is needed to walk rightly in these ways, by giving the believer a new life, a new power, and an object for the affections of his heart. Christ is now our life, (Col. 3:44When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. (Colossians 3:4)) the Holy Spirit that dwells within us is the power for godliness, (Rom. 8:44That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. (Romans 8:4)) while Christ in glory is the end of the path for faith. (Phil. 3:1414I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:14).) The child of God does not need to know the subtle evil of the world to avoid it. He needs "a plain path." Psa. 27:1111Teach me thy way, O Lord, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies. (Psalm 27:11). This the book of Proverbs supplies, by giving us the wisdom of God for our walk. He who knows all, and has understanding of all, has given us in this book the way of wisdom in all the various relationships of life, the temptations, and the vexations that are met along the pathway of life. How precious to have the wisdom of God to direct us!
"The wisdom that is from above is first pure, [no element of self in it] then peaceable, [it takes the heart out of all that produces the strife in this world] gentle, [just yielding, because the will of fallen nature is not there] easy to be entreated, [it commends itself by its fruit] full of mercy, [it is not the fruit of what man is, for the source of wisdom's actions is the new life] and good fruits, [God in His nature is displayed, so that fruit is there] without partiality, [it does not question whether it is deserved or not] and without hypocrisy. [it is unfeigned, because it is pure]. James 3:1717But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. (James 3:17).
Now the wisdom of God is not an extension of man's wisdom, neither is it an improvement upon it. It is always the very opposite of man's wisdom. Apart from the revelation of truth found in the Word of God, man makes the horizon of all his thoughts, his efforts, and his actions, the world in which he lives. His whole life is governed by these worldly motives. Nov the voice of wisdom, as found in the Word, would teach us to sit at the feet of Jesus, as Mary did, and listen to the word of His mouth, that we might learn God's wisdom.
This is the meaning of 1 Cor. 3:1818Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise. (1 Corinthians 3:18): "If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, [that is: take the place of knowing nothing] that he may be wise". How blessed is this principle! I do not need to know the evil of the world to be kept from it, but just walk in the light and wisdom of the Word. Only in this way is the eye kept single, not governed by the self-pleasing of a fallen nature but by the precious wisdom of the Word. Speaking of this path, the Word tells us, "her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace." Prov. 3:1717Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. (Proverbs 3:17).
A few examples will show how God's wisdom is the opposite of man's. The world by its wisdom would say: "Unity is strength". The language of Scripture is: "Associate yourselves, 0 ye people, and ye shall be broken in pieces: gird yourselves, and ye shall be broken in pieces... Take counsel together and it shall come to naught; speak the word and it shall not stand: for God is with us." Isa. 8:9-109Associate yourselves, O ye people, and ye shall be broken in pieces; and give ear, all ye of far countries: gird yourselves, and ye shall be broken in pieces; gird yourselves, and ye shall be broken in pieces. 10Take counsel together, and it shall come to nought; speak the word, and it shall not stand: for God is with us. (Isaiah 8:9‑10). This passage, of course, is prophetic, but it is the word of wisdom to the feeble godly remnant of a coming day, warning them not to be entangled with the confederacy of the nations that will seek strength in a unity which, though it will appear strong in the eyes of man, will in the end be "broken in pieces." We can see how the godly ones of that day will take the opposite path to that of man's wisdom, and then God will, in His wisdom, grace, and power, deliver them, just as He delivered Israel of old when He led them out of Egypt and destroyed the mighty power of Pharaoh. Now the word to our hearts in this day is: "Fear not, little flock; for it is the Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom". Luke 12:3232Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. (Luke 12:32). "If God be for us, who can be against us?"
Rom. 8:3131What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? (Romans 8:31). Confiding in God, victory is sure, when in the path of His will. Our kingdom, is not of this world. Here we may suffer, but nothing can really be lost when walking in wisdom's ways. The end will ever prove that: "Wisdom is justified of all her children." Luke 7:3535But wisdom is justified of all her children. (Luke 7:35).
Again man's wisdom would tell us that we must know something of the evil of the world in order to avoid it. God says: "I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil". Rom. 16:1919For your obedience is come abroad unto all men. I am glad therefore on your behalf: but yet I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil. (Romans 16:19). How precious the principle! God, who has understanding of all, would preserve the child of God from every subtlety of the enemy. We have but to hearken to the voice of wisdom in the Word. It is just this forming of the habit of not doing our own will, but waiting upon God who speaks with wisdom in the Word, that delivers us from every false path.
Again, the world would tell us that we must have ambition to succeed. Now the wisdom of the Word would teach us contentment. Heb. 13:55Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. (Hebrews 13:5) says; "Let your conversation be without covetousness: and be content with such things as ye have: for He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee." How far above man's wisdom is the wisdom of God!
Let the reader meditate on Psa. 49. Here we find that what man calls wisdom, God calls folly, and yet we read that "their posterity approve their sayings." verse 13. The child of God is to "walk by faith, not by sight." 2 Cor. 5:77(For we walk by faith, not by sight:) (2 Corinthians 5:7). He is to live in view of the judgment seat of Christ when all will be made manifest. Then those who have walked in wisdom's ways will be commended of Him.
Natural relationships form beautiful pictures of the wisdom of the ways of God. The parent has authority given of God (Eph. 6:11Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. (Ephesians 6:1)), but it is authority to be used in loving wisdom to do the child good all the days of his life. Love is here the motive spring of authority rightly used. Now it is the love of God that moved His heart to give us this wisdom from Himself to guide our feet through a world filled with evil, and with the subtlety of an enemy who would use the fallen nature within us to lead in the paths of sin and folly.
The relationship of husband and wife too, is a picture of Christ and the Church. If every husband would remember that his relationship is to be patterned in the manner of Christ's love to the Church; and if every wife would remember her place of submission is to be as the Church is to Christ, what a blessing it would be!
No relationship in life can be ordered aright without this wisdom from God. Alas, many a dear child of God has neglected it in his home life, even though he may have, at the same time, shown diligence in other ways of service to the Lord. May our home life be patterned according to this wisdom, and our children brought up in it too! This is what is taught in Ephesians, chapters 5 and 6. Let us teach our children that the motive of all right conduct is love, keeping the commandments of God. Christian commandments are moral, and spring from the new nature given to us by God, as His children. Our whole Christian life is to be characterized by pleasing God—not pleasing self.
Let those who attend school and college ever remember that the things that belong to revelation are beyond reason. Reason must begin with facts. It can never give you the facts. Nothing that is known as a fact is the fruit of reason. It is always the fruit of testimony or experience. There are things in the Word of God beyond reason, and indeed it must be so because they come from God. A God whom man's reason is equal to, is not God at all. A man must be master of a subject to know it rightly, and he cannot be this of God. God and His wisdom is utterly beyond man.
When we come to something we cannot understand, we should just say with David in Psa. 139:66Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it. (Psalm 139:6), "Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I CANNOT ATTAIN UNTO IT." Let us ever come to the Word of God as newborn babes, and allow our thoughts to be formed by the precious wisdom of God. "Man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the Lord, doth man live." Deut. 8:33And he humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna, which thou knewest not, neither did thy fathers know; that he might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the Lord doth man live. (Deuteronomy 8:3).
"Low at Thy feet, Lord Jesus,"
This is the place for me;
Here I have learned deep lessons:
Truth that has set me free.
Free from myself, Lord Jesus,
Free from the ways of men:
Chains of thought that have bound me
Never can bind again.
None but Thyself, Lord Jesus,
Conquered this wayward will,
But for Thy love constraining,
I had been wayward still.
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