As we have studied within chapters 8 and 9; there is a parallelism of Christ’s call to the sinners to come seek righteousness and that of wisdom calling for the simple minded to gain wisdom. We have briefly glimpsed at the fact that Wisdom was there with God from before the creation as True Wisdom is one of the attributes that is God. Alongside Perfect Wisdom which is found in God only there can also be found Perfect Justice, Perfect Righteousness, Perfect Joy, and Perfect Love. Thus, perfect Wisdom is only one of the attributes.
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As has always been the case since Adam’s choice to sin, there has been counterfeit wisdom just as clearly as there has been counterfeit justice, counterfeit righteousness, counterfeit joy and counterfeit love.
Although, we cannot blame Adam for having chosen the creation more than the creator; because, that is no different than each of us. Our own desire for self-exaltation is no different than that which lead Adam to seek after counterfeit wisdom through eating of the “tree of the knowledge of good and evil.” After innocence was broken, Adam could now see evil. Forever more there would
be the cries of Wisdom to follow after the only source of true Wisdom (God) and folly crying out with promises of counterfeit wisdom which promises self-exaltation and self-pleasures.
Wisdom is that attribute of God which calls forth to the intellect of mankind. In this area, perhaps more than any other; man seeks after “proof.” Man has continuously searched for a means of improving himself and proving that he is superior with no need for God. Searching for ever increasing wealth, knowledge, and ways of finding pleasure; man runs head on toward a “better society”. Yet, never before have we seen more heartbreak, despair, violence, terrorism, and financial ruin. Man runs hell-bent on a course to raise his own self up and to deny God. So folly calls forth as we see in Proverbs 9 (NIV) “13 Folly is an unruly woman;
she is simple and knows nothing.
14 She sits at the door of her house,
on a seat at the highest point of the city,
15 calling out to those who pass by,
who go straight on their way,
16 “Let all who are simple come to my house!”
To those who have no sense she says,
17 “Stolen water is sweet;
food eaten in secret is delicious!”
18 But little do they know that the dead are there,
that her guests are deep in the realm of the dead.”
Folly (counterfeit wisdom) continues to allure mankind, while true Wisdom calls forth, Proverbs 9 (NIV) “10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.”
Why is it fear of the Lord that begins wisdom? Ah, you see, my dear friends; if I did not see God as supremely just, one who would condemn my sin with the just penalty of death; then I could not understand His Mercy and Grace. First, I must acknowledge and see Him as infinitely Glorious and Majestic. With my eyes, I must see His Glorious Righteousness as He reveals Himself to me. This begins in a intellectual form. When I see Him as infinitely righteous and infinitely just; I cannot see anything less than my own guilt before Him. I then know of my own unworthiness to show my face before the Creator and King of the Universe. That is when I can see, understand, accept and experience the Grace and Mercy of His gift of Salvation. Only then can I understand the extreme price He paid for my salvation. Only then can I understand the depth of His love for me. Only then can I desire and seek Him as my greatest treasure. Only then can I enjoy forever beside Him and in His presence the Glory of His Perfect Wisdom, His Perfect Justice, His Perfect Righteousness, His Perfect Joy, and His Perfect Love.
Listen to this song by Keith and Kristyn Getty "The Perfect Wisdom of Our God
Keith and Kristyn Getty – Perfect Wisdom of Our God
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© 2014 Effie Darlene Barba
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