Biblical Wisdom
I have been thinking a lot about biblical wisdom in the last few weeks. It is something that is different from wisdom as we use it. Most of the time we apply wisdom to get out of some situation that affects us directly or indirectly. This helps us achieve some goal we have set or overcome some difficulty that comes our way.
The one thing it does not do is expose the motive of our heart. Such wisdom when applied may be laudable, it may look selfless but it does not tell the onlooker the true motive behind the execution.
This is where biblical wisdom is different. Biblical wisdom often uses syncrisis to arrive at its conclusion. It contrasts opposite themes or ideas and at times proposes the outcome of either. This pattern then advises the recipient to choose the proper action and therefore proper outcome.
Here the individual is told to choose between the wife of his youth and the adulterer, to be satisfied by her breasts rather than the fragrance of her whose door leads to the place of death.
In this pattern, the presence of godly wisdom is established. The choice of a particular outcome shows the heart of the one choosing. It just does not put up situations where there is room for manipulation it reveals to all that hear it the clear motive behind the action.
This when applied to our speech reveals to us what is behind our actions. We can self-assess and know how near or far we are when it comes to conforming to the nature of God.
James 1:5 tells us how to get wisdom. Wisdom is personalized in the book of Proverbs and Christ is revealed as the wisdom of God.
Oh the depth of the of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgment and how inscrutable his ways!
Soli Deo Gloria
Standing Firm
June 30, 2017 by Jide Ajayi • Bible, Life, Standing Firm, Thoughts • Tags: Biblical Wisdom, God, Grace of God, learning •
The Story of Mordecai and Haman in the Book of Esther is instructive in a number of ways but one thing that stands out above most is the value of standing firm in what one believes.
This is just a short article focused on that one thing
One with tongue in cheek could say it was a common virtue between Mordecai and Haman except may be Haman could be seen as being infatuated with his ego and desire to be bowed unto by Mordecai in particular.
Mordecai refused to bow unto Haman, he was not someone who did not know the laws of the land, considering that he was careful not to wear sackcloth at the gate of the palace of the king though he stood at the entrance to the gate. He seemed to know of Haman’s anti-Jew stance and decided to ignore him and maybe he was just proud and refused . This attitude brought the worst out of Haman. He thought of nothing else but how to get back at Mordecai.
No matter how high he rose in the government of the day, the only pleasure he sought was the destruction of Mordecai. Unfortunately for him, he decided Mordecai was not enough, he had to exterminate all Jews everywhere including the hanging of Mordecai on the gallows.
it is not so clear what drove Mordecai, but he seemed to know that though they were far from Israel, God was near and close by and once the law came out that the Jews were to be exterminated, he went all out in his belief that God could save while using every legitimate means he could lay his hands on.
In the providence of God, things began to turn sour for Haman, first, he leads Mordecai on a ride around town declaring how the king honors the one he delights in, then the issue with Esther comes up which costs him his life. On the flip side of things, the state of Mordecai changes till be becomes what Mordecai despised.
It is instructive that we don’t get infatuated with people who are below us in life’s station, especially if they decide they will not respect up or defer to us in any way, in all reality, it takes nothing from us. If they are wrong, they will pay and if not it doesn’t change anything.
This issue became bigger because because in the grand scheme of things, Haman wanted to kill all Jews in the whole kingdom which would include the land of the Jews, which would affect God’s plan and so though not mentioned directly, God intervenes and turns around the evil plan of Mordecai.
God is not asleep, he sees everything, he allows somethings to happen and prevents others from happening. He know why he does what he does but whatever the case, he never stops working on behalf of his people even through ordinary means.
So stand firm and stay with the Lord, it is the safest place to be.