The Verse of the Day for January 23, 2017 follows closely the words of encouragement found in yesterday’s daily word which focused on the three commands to “ask, seek, and knock.” Today’s exhortation also relates to something that believers should ask God for or earnestly pursue:
James 1:5 (NIV):
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.
Asking God for wisdom can be seen as part of our pursuit of wisdom which we are asked to do, not only in James 1:5, but the Book of Proverbs also offers “words of wisdom” to all those who desire to seek this valuable attribute. Indeed, as Proverbs 16:16 (NLT) tells us:
How much better to get wisdom than gold,
and good judgment than silver!
Once we recognize the inestimable worth of wisdom, we will seek it, knowing that we will find what we diligently pursue.
In reading the Verse of the Day and reflecting on wisdom, I recall this poetic description:
The Power of Wisdom
Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom:
and with all thy getting get understanding.
Proverbs 4:7
When we choose to build, we look to the Scriptures and find
That seeking after wisdom is the key to our success,
For wisdom has great power to promote and to bless.
With wisdom we can perceive the Father’s hidden design.
Companion to wisdom is power to loose and to bind
The enemy and then become the strongman of righteousness.
Follow the way of wisdom and path of holiness.
Pursue wisdom as a treasure, priceless as peace of mind.
As we move toward our destiny, wisdom serves as our midwife
To give birth to dreams within us, waiting to be fulfilled.
Wisdom defeats deceptive spirits and nullifies strife.
We walk in the power of our calling, seeking to be filled
With wisdom which brings riches and honor and a long life:
We use wisdom first to dismantle, then accurately build.
Today’s entry concludes with a moving rendition of “The Perfect Wisdom of God” by Keith and Kristyn Getty:
Revised and re-posted, the following entry examines the Verse of the Day for October 24, 2016, which makes a bold statement regarding the origin of wisdom found in Proverbs 9:10 graphically illustrated in this dramatic way:
Proverbs 9:10 (NLT):
Fear of the Lord is the foundation of wisdom. Knowledge of the Holy One results in good judgment.
The Amplified Bible offers this:
The reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord is the beginning (the chief and choice part) of Wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight and understanding.
When we hear the word “beginning,” we recall the first verse of the Bible that transports us to the place where life began:
Genesis 1:1
In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.
Proverbs 8:23 in the Amplified Bible brings to our attention that even before the beginning spoken of Genesis 1:1, the wisdom of God was on the scene:
From everlasting I was established and ordained, From the beginning, before the earth existed, [I, godly wisdom, existed].
If wisdom existed before the beginning, what is origin or the beginning of wisdom? Once again, the answer comes from Proverbs, the Book of Wisdom:
Proverbs 4:7 (AMP)
The beginning of wisdom is: Get [skillful and godly] wisdom [it is preeminent]! And with all your acquiring, get understanding [actively seek spiritual discernment, mature comprehension, and logical interpretation].
The Psalmist adds to the discussion with these enlightening words:
Psalm 111:10 (AMP)
The [reverent] fear of the Lord is the beginning (the prerequisite, the absolute essential, the alphabet) of wisdom; A good understanding and a teachable heart are possessed by all those who do the will of the Lord; His praise endures forever.
The message regarding the origin of wisdom expressed in the Verse of the Day is reinforced and augmented in Proverbs 1:7 (AMP):
The [reverent] fear of the Lord [that is, worshiping Him and regarding Him as truly awesome] is the beginning and the preeminent part of knowledge [its starting point and its essence]; But arrogant fools despise [skillful and godly] wisdom and instruction and self-discipline.
Thus, we see that in order to comprehend more fully the essence of wisdom, we must go back to the beginning.
As we reflect upon wisdom, so brilliantly displayed in the Book of Proverbs and elsewhere, we find that “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,” poetically expressed in this manner:
The Beginning of Wisdom
The [reverent] fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever;
the ordinances of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.
Psalm 19:9 (AMP)
The reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord is the beginning (the chief and choice part) of
Wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight and understanding.
Proverbs 9:10 (AMP)
We begin and stand in absolute awe of You,
Thoroughly washed in the fountain of holiness.
The old has passed away—Behold, You make all things new:
Redeemed and justified by Christ, our righteousness.
As you search the earth, may we find grace in your sight.
We seek to be wise but never in our own eyes.
We stand as perfected ones destined to walk upright,
Your Beloved, whose hearts Your Word purifies.
We are filled with knowledge and wisdom from above
And bound by a covenant no one can sever,
For nothing can separate us from God’s love:
The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever.
We are renewed in strength and upheld by God’s Word,
As we pursue wisdom, growing in the fear of the Lord.
A perfect musical accompaniment to this blog entry is the song “The Perfect Wisdom of Our God.”
“We Choose the Fear of the Lord” by the Maranatha Music also relates to the beginning of wisdom.
The Verse of the Day for October 12, 2016 offers sound advice taken from Proverbs 1:8-9 (NLT):
[A Father’s Exhortation: Acquire Wisdom] My child, listen when your father corrects you. Don’t neglect your mother’s instruction. What you learn from them will crown you with grace and be a chain of honor around your neck.
The Book of Proverbs reveals Solomon’s advice to his son and to all who would desire to walk as the wise. This repository of words is a treasure house to those seeking to acquire and apply the principles of wisdom. Each day unfolds as a new beginning, an opportunity to make a fresh start in our quest to lay hold on wisdom, for we recognize this truth in Proverbs 4:7 (NLT):
Getting wisdom is the wisest thing you can do! And whatever else you do, develop good judgment.
How do we begin? We go back to the beginning where we find that “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,” according to Proverbs 9:10 which is graphically illustrated in this dramatic way:
This foundational principle is also poetically expressed:
The Beginning of Wisdom
The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever.
Psalm 19:9
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom:
and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.
Proverbs 9:10
We begin and stand in absolute awe of You,
Thoroughly washed in the fountain of holiness.
The old has passed away—Behold, You make all things new:
Redeemed and justified by Christ, our righteousness.
As You search the earth, may we find grace in your sight.
We seek to be wise but never in our own eyes.
Here we stand perfected, those destined to walk upright,
As Your beloved, whose hearts Your Word purifies.
We are filled with knowledge and wisdom from above
And bound by a covenant no one can sever,
For nothing can separate us from God’s love:
The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever.
We are renewed in strength and upheld by God’s Word,
As we pursue wisdom, growing in the fear of the Lord.
A perfect accompaniment to today’s post is the worship song “We Choose the Fear of the Lord” by Maranatha Music.
Take one day at a time, seeking God’s direction and guidance each day. In light of the previous Verse of the Day which reminds us to number our days, as we apply our hearts unto wisdom, The Verse of the Day for January 3, 2016 shows us what we should deny or reject and what we should embrace.
Titus 2:11-12 (NLT)
For the grace of God has been revealed, bringing salvation to all people. And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God,
This passage brings to mind How Should We Then Live: The Rise and Decline of Western Thought and Culture, the historical documentary film series and book by theologian Francis A. Schaeffer. Originally published in 1976, the series presents Schaeffer’s view that when we base society on the Bible, on the infinite-personal God who is there and has spoken, this provides an absolute by which we can conduct our lives and by which we can judge society. This leads to what Schaeffer calls “Freedom without chaos.”
In response to the question raised by the title of the celebrate work by Schaeffer, “How should we then live?” Titus 2:12 clearly proclaims:
We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God
If we are to live meaningful lives that make a difference and impact the world in a positive way, we must understand the importance of these three vital character traits:
Wisdom
In our efforts to live lives that are pleasing in God’s sight, wisdom is essential. James 1:5 (NLT) exhorts us regarding this notable virtue:
If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking.
As a kind of golden thread that is woven throughout the Book of Proverbs, Solomon’s advice to his son provides a priceless resource for seeking and applying the principles of wisdom. We are encouraged to pursue wisdom:
Proverbs 4:7
Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding.
Righteousness:
“Righteousness” is an essential aspect of our identity as Christian believers. 1 Corinthians 1:30 makes known this truth:
But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:
Righteousness is one of those divine attributes of God imparted unto us through Christ. Think of it as being in a right relationship with the Creator, our gracious Father. We are “all right” with God, and God is “all right” with us. We abide in a state of righteousness, not our own which is “as filthy rags” but in the righteousness of God.
Devotion:
Devotion in a spiritual context is said to be wholehearted commitment to God. The people of God are encouraged to demonstrate such commitment and dedication. Often devotion is expressed in terms of prayer or worship or some other evidence of godly behavior. Solomon in his prayer at the dedication of the Temple makes this statement:
“O LORD, God of Israel, there is no God like you in all of heaven above or on the earth below. You keep your covenant and show unfailing love to all who walk before you in wholehearted devotion. (1 Kings 8:23)
While reflecting upon the Verse of the Day, I thought of a poem that speaks directly of wisdom and makes reference to “Christ, our righteousness,” and ends with the phrase “the fear of the Lord,” which is connected to devotion:
The Beginning of Wisdom
The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever. Psalm 19:9
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding. Proverbs 9:10
We begin and stand in absolute awe of You,
Thoroughly washed in the fountain of holiness.
The old has passed away—Behold, You make all things new:
Redeemed and justified by Christ, our righteousness.
As You search the earth, may we find grace in Your sight.
We seek to be wise but never in our own eyes.
Here we stand perfected and destined to walk upright,
Your beloved ones, whose heart Your Word purifies.
We are filled with knowledge and wisdom from above
And bound by a covenant no one can sever,
For nothing can separate us from God’s love:
The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever.
We are renewed in strength and upheld by God’s Word,
As we pursue wisdom, growing in the fear of the Lord.
We close with the Scripture Memory Song: Titus 2:11-12:
The Verse of the Day is part of the inspired prayer opening Paul’s letter to the “God’s holy people in the city of Colossae, who are faithful brothers and sisters in Christ.” Certainly this prayer also expresses God’s desire for His people everywhere, not just those dwelling in that ancient city in Asia Minor.
Colossians 1:9 (NLT)
So we have not stopped praying for you since we first heard about you. We ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding.
If the prayer is that God will give knowledge, wisdom and understanding, three expression of the Spirit of God, then the answer to that prayer would be that those being prayed for would receive that which was requested.
Jesus Christ, in reference to the giving of the Holy Spirit, makes this statement in Luke 11:13(NLT):
So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him”
The Verse of the Day also brings to mind three poems inspired by references to the Spirit of Knowledge, the Spirit of Wisdom, and the Spirit of Understanding. All three are intertwined as three gold chains on a delicate necklace or exquisite piece of jewelry.
The Spirit of Knowledge,
That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ,
the Father of glory, may give to you
the spirit of wisdom and revelation
in the knowledge of him;
Ephesians 1:17
To excel in mighty works that demonstrate God’s power,
Far above the knowledge of any human mind,
Beyond the confines of any ivory tower,
We pursue knowledge and seek that we might find,
To know the exceeding greatness of that power,
Surpassing natural intellect of mankind;
That we may be filled with the knowledge of His will.
Such knowledge begins with the fear of the Lord,
Knowing that every promise our God will fulfill,
We receive the spirit of knowledge, not just a word.
We have been bought with a price, we are not our own.
Assured that God keeps His covenant we stand still.
The fullness of that knowledge shall someday be shown:
When Christ returns, then shall we know as we are known.
Closely related to the Spirit of Knowledge is
The Spirit of Wisdom
Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore, get wisdom.
Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore, get wisdom.
And in all your getting, get understanding.
Proverbs 4:7(NKJV)
As we finish our course, we shall walk and not faint
And cause to flee, as one chases an enemy.
As hunters will track down their game with no restraint,
So your fragrance arouses us as we awake.
Desire, a fire, flames this inner passion deeply.
Though we felt your touch and sensed your presence before,
As lovers will pursue their beloved, so will we
Yearn to be with you and to know you even more,
Assured that all those who pursue you shall also find.
As the sun rises to follow its daily course,
Zealously we seek you with our heart and soul and mind,
As one traces a winding river to its source.
As one forsakes all to pursue a priceless treasure,
So we seek the spirit of wisdom’s good pleasure.
Spirit of Understanding is the third expression of God’s desire for us:
The Place of Understanding
From where then does Wisdom come?
And where is the place of understanding?
Job 28:20 AMP
I must arise and strive to reach the place
Where the rivers of understanding flow
And never doubt God’s purpose and His grace.
“The Call”
So we seek the spirit of wisdom’s good pleasure
That we might gain insight to better comprehend.
As God enlightens our eyes in fuller measure,
We behold where wisdom and understanding blend,
The place where the rivers of understanding flow.
We no longer walk in darkness and merely grope.
To no longer question nor doubt but truly know
Is to see life in its fullness from a broad scope.
People of understanding depart from evil,
Walk by the spirit, abiding with the upright.
Likewise, we seek to be wise and learn to be still
That our lives might be acceptable in God’s sight.
Order our steps to the place of our destiny,
As God’s will unfolds in splendid epiphany.
A similar prayer to the one offered in Colossians 1 is found in Ephesians 1-18-23, rendered as this song: A Prayer for the Ephesian Church:
Proverbs 9:10 in the Amplified Bible, the Verse of the Day for October 24, 2014, makes a bold statement regarding the origin of wisdom:
The reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord is the beginning (the chief and choice part) of Wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight and understanding.
When I hear the word “beginning,” I recall the first verse of the Bible that transports us to place where life began:
Genesis 1:1
In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.
Proverbs 8:23 in the Amplified Bible brings to our attention that even before the beginning spoken of Genesis 1:2, the wisdom of God was on the scene:
From everlasting I was established and ordained, From the beginning, before the earth existed, [I, godly wisdom, existed].
If wisdom existed before the beginning, what is origin or the beginning of wisdom? Once again, the answer comes from Proverbs, the Book of Wisdom:
Proverbs 4:7 (Amplified Bible)
The beginning of wisdom is: Get [skillful and godly] wisdom [it is preeminent]! And with all your acquiring, get understanding [actively seek spiritual discernment, mature comprehension, and logical interpretation].
The Psalmist adds to the discussion with these enlightening words:
Psalm 111:10 [Amplified Bible]
The [reverent] fear of the Lord is the beginning (the prerequisite, the absolute essential, the alphabet) of wisdom; A good understanding and a teachable heart are possessed by all those who do the will of the Lord; His praise endures forever.
The message regarding the origin of wisdom expressed in the Verse of the Day is reinforced and augmented in Proverbs 1:7[Amplified Bible]:
The [reverent] fear of the Lord [that is, worshiping Him and regarding Him as truly awesome] is the beginning and the preeminent part of knowledge [its starting point and its essence]; But arrogant fools despise [skillful and godly] wisdom and instruction and self-discipline.
In order to comprehend more fully the essence of wisdom, we must go back to the beginning.
As we reflect upon wisdom, so brilliantly displayed in the Book of Proverbs and elsewhere, we find that “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,” poetically expressed in this manner:
The Beginning of Wisdom
The [reverent] fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the ordinances of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.
Psalm 19:9 (AMP)
The reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord is the beginning (the chief and choice part) of Wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight and understanding.
Proverbs 9:10 (AMP)
We begin and stand in absolute awe of You,
Thoroughly washed in the fountain of holiness.
The old has passed away—Behold, You make all things new:
Redeemed and justified by Christ, our righteousness.
As You search the earth, may we find grace in Your sight.
We seek to be wise but never in our own eyes.
We stand as perfected, ones destined to walk upright,
Beloved ones, whose heart Your Word purifies.
We are filled with knowledge and wisdom from above
And bound by a covenant no one can sever,
For nothing can separate us from God’s love:
The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever.
We are renewed in strength and upheld by God’s Word,
As we pursue wisdom, growing in the fear of the Lord.
A perfect musical accompaniment to this blog entry is the song “The Perfect Wisdom of Our God.”
“We Choose the Fear of the Lord” by the Maranatha Music also relates to the beginning of wisdom.
The Verse of the Day for January 23, 2015 can be viewed as a follow-up to the Verse of the Day from the previous day where we focused our attention on the verbs, “ask, seek, and knock,” as revealed in Matthew 7:7-8. Today we are looking at the blog entry posted a year ago and modifying it, as we direct our attention to James 1:5 in the New Living Translation:
If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking.
This exhortation from James brings to mind the exhortation to pursue wisdom. Asking God for wisdom can be seen as part of our pursuing of wisdom which we are asked to do, not only in James 1:5 but throughout the Book of Proverbs as well. The idea of pursuing wisdom brought to mind an incident that occurred a number of years ago.
I recall going on a field trip to the Indiana Dunes State Park, outside of Gary, Indiana, when I was in middle school, what we called “junior high school,” back in the day. Somehow I came across a small stream running through a wooded area. As I followed the creek through the winding woods, I was determined to find the area where the stream began, but as I progressed, the size of the stream remained the same and continued to flow on seemingly endlessly. After about a half an hour, I realized that I needed to get back to area where we supposed to meet before departing on the bus and returning to “the Steel City.” When I arrived at the place where we were to meet, I learned that I was quite late, and that I had delayed their departure.
As I was reflecting upon the exhortation to ask God for wisdom, this experience from my childhood came to mind, in light of the directive to pursue wisdom, to search diligently for wisdom, and wholeheartedly seek to find this valuable spiritual entity. I also thought of the following poem that is related to one of the Seven Spirits of God spoken of in Isaiah 11:2 and elsewhere:
The Spirit of Wisdom
Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore, get wisdom.
And in all your getting, get understanding.
Proverbs 4:7 NKJV
As I finish my course, I shall walk and not faint
And cause to flee, as one chases an enemy.
As a hunter tracks down his game with no restraint,
So your fragrance arouses me as I awake.
Desire, a fire, flames the passion deep within me.
Though I have felt your touch and kissed your lips before.
As a lover pursues his beloved, so I
Yearn to be with you and to know you even more,
Assured that all who pursue you shall also find.
As the sun rises to follow its daily course,
Zealously I seek you with my heart and soul and mind,
As one traces a winding river to its source.
As one forsakes all to pursue a priceless treasure,
So I seek the Spirit of Wisdom’s good pleasure.
Although that experience occurred almost sixty years ago, I am still asking for wisdom while earnestly seeking to find the source of all life, the river of life, from which flows wisdom, knowledge, understanding and all the attributes of God.
The last line of the poem brings to mind a song that captures the essence of who all believers desire to be: “Seekers of Your Heart” rendered by Steve Green, Sandi Patty and Larnelle Harris.
Dr. J's Apothecary Shoppe 