Do you read the news and wonder what is true and what is biased. Does everyone have a solution that never works? Is everyone certain that the fix is this and only this. Whatever this maybe. Does society seem to be lopsided in multiple ways. As though we are walking on a labyrinth of staircases leading to nowhere. MC Escher created an artwork of staircases leading to nowhere and defying gravity. It reminds me of the times we are living through.
Like many other people I have my own theories on how to solve all the problems. But my solutions are not my solutions. They are ancient solutions handed down through generations and centuries beginning with the very creator of all that exists. For me, if God is the creator of the universe, and clockmaker of time, then He is also the only one with the solutions. It is His wisdom alone that we need to make this world spin and turn in ways that are best.
7 That night God appeared to Solomon and said to him, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you.”
8 Solomon answered God, “You have shown great kindness to David my father and have made me king in his place. 9 Now, Lord God, let your promise to my father David be confirmed, for you have made me king over a people who are as numerous as the dust of the earth. 10 Give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may lead this people, for who is able to govern this great people of yours?”
11 God said to Solomon, “Since this is your heart’s desire and you have not asked for wealth, possessions or honor, nor for the death of your enemies, and since you have not asked for a long life but for wisdom and knowledge to govern my people over whom I have made you king, 12 therefore wisdom and knowledge will be given you. And I will also give you wealth, possessions and honor, such as no king who was before you ever had and none after you will have.”
Solomon was the third king of ancient Israel. During King David’s reign there was a census of able bodied men who could fight for Israel. The total was 1.3 million men able to be warriors for Israel. This does not include old men, women, or children. King Solomon may of ruled over 3-5 million people based on my guesstimation. King Solomon was also considered the riches man to live in antiquities.
Most importantly, he was known for his great wisdom in trade, taxation, and international politics which brought him much wealth. Some people even gave him great wealth just to be able to sit and listen to his advice. He was considered the wisest man alive. The wisdom came to him from God. It was given to Solomon simply because he asked God to help him with the great task ahead, being King of Israel.
1 Kings 10:24 The whole world sought audience with Solomon to hear the wisdom God had put in his heart.
Throughout the Bible God offers wisdom to us. In Exodus 31:1-11, God tells Moses how He has given wisdom to people to create the tent of meeting, the articles of metal and stone, and the woven clothes for the priest.
Exodus 31:3, I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge and with all kinds of skills— 4 to make artistic designs
Ezra was a prophet of Israel after the exiles, when the Israelites returned to their land to rebuild the temple. Ezra lived during the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia. The king gave Ezra the ability to return to Israel and to rebuild the temple. The King paid for the expenses from the Persian treasury. The king said this about Ezra.
Ezra 7:25, 25 And you, Ezra, in accordance with the wisdom of your God, which you possess, appoint magistrates and judges to administer justice to all the people of Trans-Euphrates—all who know the laws of your God. And you are to teach any who do not know them.
In the books of Proverbs there are over 50 examples of God given wisdom and how important it is. Reading the book of Proverbs one chapter a day takes 31 days. It can help you understand how beneficial God’s wisdom is to you and your life. There are over 3000 books, devotionals, and Bible studies written about the wisdom of Proverbs found on Amazon.
Proverbs 2:6, For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.
Proverbs 2:12, Wisdom will save you from the ways of wicked men, from men whose words are perverse,
Proverbs 9:10, The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
Proverbs 21:30, There is no wisdom, no insight, no plan that can succeed against the Lord.
The book of Isaiah prophecies the coming of the Messiah, Jesus, as a man of great wisdom.
Isaiah 11:2, The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him— the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of might, the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the Lord—
In Daniel chapter1 describes when Israel was defeated by Nebuchadnezzar and taken to Babylon as captives. Some of the Israelites were set aside for the king’s service such as Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. They were to eat from the king’s table which included food forbidden by Jewish law for them to eat. Daniel asked to only eat vegetables and water which was against the king’s rules. But at the end of ten days Daniels and his companions were found to be healthier and better nourished than the other men. God blessed these men for risking death to maintain their Jewish laws. God gave them great wisdom.
Daniel 1:17-20, 17 To these four young men God gave knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning. And Daniel could understand visions and dreams of all kinds. 18 At the end of the time set by the king to bring them into his service, the chief official presented them to Nebuchadnezzar. 19 The king talked with them, and he found none equal to Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah; so they entered the king’s service. 20 In every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king questioned them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters in his whole kingdom.
The wisdom of God continues in the life of Jesus. He was a man of great wisdom as prophesied in Isaiah.
Isaiah 11:2, The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him— the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of might, the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the Lord—
Coming to his hometown, he began teaching the people in their synagogue, and they were amazed. “Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers?” they asked.
Jesus spoke to the crowds about the end times and the great difficulties His followers would face. Though none of us wish to be caught in the traps of evil men we can take comfort that God and His wisdom will be with us.
Luke 21:14-15, 14 But make up your mind not to worry beforehand how you will defend yourselves. 15 For I will give you words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict.
God has great wisdom that we cannot understand or even conceptualize.
Romans 11:33, Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out!
God is very willing to share His wisdom with us. If we ask humbly and for the purpose of serving Him and His desires.
James 1:5, If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.
James 3:17, But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.
In Mathew 7:8 and Luke 10:11 Jesus said, “For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.”
For many people we are living in difficult and confusing times. We do not know where to find an answer or a wise and honest person. Our troubles seem to multiply day after day as though life will only become worse. But there is someone who we can trust. Someone who knows all the answers to our problems even before the problems exist. Someone who is generous and willing to teach us and direct us in the best way to proceed. It is Jesus and Jesus alone.
The Lord’s Prayer in Matthew 6:9-13 includes the phrase “give us our daily bread.” I believe this applies to all details of our life. We need daily food to survive. We also need wisdom to navigate through the world from within our families, neighborhoods, churches, employment, finances, politics, international relationships, and against evil powers. The world is complex and our minds feel so small and inadequate.
We look back through history and see how many people made such stupid mistakes. We see a striving humanity sometimes improving the world and the lives of people. But we also see the wars, destruction and evil which occur far too often. Has there ever been a generation of people, organization, or nation that had the solution to its troubles? History books say no. Some solutions work for a time. But a generation or two later the same or worse problems return.
Jesus tells the parable of the widow and the ungodly judge. The judge was unresponsive to the widow. He cared nothing about her or God, until enough pressure is put upon them.
Luke 18:1, Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.
Jesus the great Savior of humanity. Jesus the son of God. Jesus who declared My life and relationship with Jesus, teaches me to believe there is only one solution. Keep walking with Jesus. Keep praying to Jesus. If need be, prayer every hour for bread or wisdom to get through the hour ahead. Pray without ceasing.
In Luke 18, Jesus tells the story of the persistent widow and the ungodly judge. Jesus believed that persistent prayer was good and effective. He believed even ungodly people grow weary and give up when Himself to be the Great I AM. He prayed often in scripture. Jesus, who is God incarnate, prayed to God the Father. Jesus seeking counsel and strength for His life on earth. How can we not pray, when The Great Prince of Peace found it important to pray while living in human form on this earth?
- Matthew 19:13, Then people brought little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples rebuked them.
- Matthew 26:36, Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.”
- Mark 1:35, Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.
- Mark 14:32, They went to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.”
- Luke 3:21, When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as he was praying, heaven was opened
- Luke 5:16, But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.
- Luke 6:12, One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God.
- Luke 9:18, Once when Jesus was praying in private and his disciples were with him, he asked them, “Who do the crowds say I am?”
- Luke 9:28, About eight days after Jesus said this, he took Peter, John and James with him and went up onto a mountain to pray.
- Luke 11:1, One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.”
- Luke 18:1,Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.
- Luke 22:39-40, 39 Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him. 40 On reaching the place, he said to them, “Pray that you will not fall into temptation.”
- John 17:1, After Jesus said this,he looked toward heaven and prayed: “Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you.
- John 17:6, “I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word.