What Saith the Scripture?
http://www.WhatSaithTheScripture.com/
The Blessings of Sound Wisdom
"He layeth up Sound Wisdom for the righteous."
(Proverbs 2:7)
by Katie Stewart
12-10-99
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Preface
When the righteous plead with the LORD, "Order my steps in Thy Word" (Psalm
119:133), they become stewards of the "Sound Wisdom" the LORD has treasured-up
for them. His Word becomes their Staple in life. "Man shall not live by bread
alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God" (Matthew 4:4).
His Counsel becomes their only Guide in a humanistic world. "Thou shalt guide
me with Thy Counsel, and afterward receive me to glory" (Psalm 73:24). His Wisdom
proves that "the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written,
He taketh the wise in their own craftiness" (1Corinthians 3:19).
I wouldn't trade the security and safety there is in Christ Jesus for all the health
benefits and promises of all the insurance companies in the world, because "safety
is of the LORD" (Proverbs 21:31). I wouldn't trade the One Who is called "The
Health Of My Countenance, and My God" (Psalm 43:5), for all the medicines and
health techniques, whether "time-honored" or "state of the art",
before which this world wishes me to bow. I wouldn't trade away all the deep riches
inherited in the Person of my LORD and Saviour Jesus Christ, "riches of the
full assurance of Understanding, to the acknowledgment of the Mystery of God, and
of the Father, and of Christ" (Colossians 2:2), for the opportunity to inherit
all the so-called "wisdom" of all the universities the world over. I wouldn't
trade "His Secret" that "is with the righteous" (Proverbs 3:32),
for all the sought-after secrets with which this world can entice. "Yea doubtless,
and I count ALL THINGS but loss for the Excellency of the Knowledge of Christ
Jesus my LORD: for Whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count
them but dung, that I may win Christ." (Philippians 3:8).
- Ephesians 2:7 "That in the ages to come He might show
the Exceeding Riches of His Grace in His kindness toward us through Christ Jesus."
- Ephesians 3:8 "Unto me, who am less than the least
of all saints, is this Grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the Unsearchable
Riches of Christ."
- Philippians 4:19 "But my God shall supply all your
need according to His Riches in glory by Christ Jesus."
- Colossians 1:27 "To whom God would make known what
is the Riches of the glory of this Mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ
in you, The Hope Of Glory:"
- Hebrews 11:26 "Esteeming the reproach of Christ Greater
Riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he [Moses] had respect unto the recompense
of the Reward."
The righteous (that
is, the ones who fit His description of righteousness, e.g., "if
ye keep My Commandments, ye shall abide in My Love" [John 15:10]-- Topical Links on Sound Doctrine--
http://WhatSaithTheScripture.com/Fellowship/Topical.Links.On.Doctrine.html --) will heed His exhortation and reap the blessings of a life directed
by His Wisdom. "My son, let not them ["Wisdom... Understanding... Knowledge"
(Proverbs 3:19-20)] depart from thine eyes: keep Sound Wisdom and Discretion:
so shall they be Life unto thy soul, and Grace to thy neck" (Proverbs 3:21-22).
The Wisdom of the LORD's Proverbs: Commands Lovingly Obeyed Reap Rewards
From the Book of Proverbs--
- 2:1-5 "1 My son, if thou wilt receive My Words, and
hide My Commandments with thee; 2 So that thou incline thine ear unto Wisdom, and
apply thine heart to Understanding; 3 Yea, if thou criest after Knowledge, and liftest
up thy voice for Understanding; 4 If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for
her as for hid treasures; 5 Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and
find the Knowledge of God."
- 2:6 "For the LORD giveth Wisdom: out
of His mouth cometh Knowledge and Understanding."
- 2:7 "He layeth up Sound Wisdom for the righteous:
He is a Buckler to them that walk uprightly."
- 2:8 "He keepeth the paths of Judgment, and
preserveth the way of His saints."
- 2:9 "Then shalt thou understand Righteousness,
and Judgment, and Equity; yea, every good path."
- 2:10-14, 16-19 "10 When Wisdom entereth into thine
heart, and Knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul; 11 Discretion shall
preserve thee, Understanding shall keep thee: 12 To deliver thee
from the way of the evil man, from the man that speaketh froward things; 13 Who leave
the paths of uprightness, to walk in the ways of darkness; 14 Who rejoice to do evil,
and delight in the frowardness of the wicked... 16 To deliver thee from the
strange woman, even from the stranger which flattereth with her words; 17 Which forsaketh
the guide of her youth, and forgetteth the Covenant of her God. 18 For her house
inclineth unto death, and her paths unto the dead. 19 None that go unto her return
again, neither take they hold of the paths of Life."
- 2:20-22 "20 That thou mayest walk in the way of good
men, and keep the paths of the righteous. 21 For the upright shall dwell
in the land, and the perfect shall remain in it. 22 But the wicked
shall be cut off from the earth, and the transgressors shall be rooted out of it."
- 3:1-2 "My son, forget not My Law; but let thine heart
keep My Commandments: For length of days, and long life, and peace,
shall they add to thee."
- 3:3-4 "Let not Mercy and Truth forsake thee: bind
them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart: So shalt thou find
favour and good Understanding in the sight of God and man."
- 3:5-8 "5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and
lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In ALL thy ways acknowledge Him, and He
shall direct thy paths. 7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart
from evil. 8 It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones."
- 3:9-10 "Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with
the firstfruits of all thine increase: So shall thy barns be filled with plenty,
and thy presses shall burst out with new wine."
- 3:11-12 "My son, despise not the chastening of the
LORD; neither be weary of His correction: For whom the LORD loveth He correcteth;
even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.
- 3:13-18 "13 Happy is the man that findeth Wisdom,
and the man that getteth Understanding. 14 For the merchandise of it is better
than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold. 15 She is
more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not
to be compared unto her. 16 Length of days is in her right hand; and in
her left hand riches and honour. 17 Her ways are ways of pleasantness,
and all her paths are peace. 18 She is a Tree of Life to them that
lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her."
- 3:19-20 "The LORD by Wisdom hath founded the Earth;
by Understanding hath He established the heavens. By His Knowledge the
depths are broken up, and the clouds drop down the dew."
- 3:23-24 "Then shalt thou walk in thy way safely,
and thy foot shall not stumble. When thou liest down, thou shalt
not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet."
- 4:1-2 "Hear, ye children, the Instruction of a Father,
and attend to know Understanding. For I give you Good Doctrine, forsake ye
not My Law."
- 4:3-4 "For I was My Father's Son, tender
and Only Beloved in the sight of My mother. He taught Me also, and said unto
Me, Let Thine heart retain My Words: keep My Commandments, and Live."
- 4:5-6 "Get Wisdom, get Understanding: forget it not;
neither decline from the Words of My mouth. Forsake her not, and she shall preserve
thee: love her, and she shall keep thee."
- 4:7-8 "Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get
Wisdom: and with all thy getting get Understanding. Exalt her, and she shall promote
thee: she shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her."
- 4:9-10 "She shall give to thine head an Ornament
of Grace: a Crown of Glory shall she deliver to thee. Hear, O My son,
and receive My sayings; and the years of thy life shall be many."
- 4:11-13 "11 I have taught thee in the way of
Wisdom; I have led thee in Right Paths. 12 When thou goest, thy steps shall
not be straitened; and when thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble. 13 Take
fast hold of Instruction; let her not go: keep her; for she is thy Life."
- 4:20-27 "20 My son, attend to My Words; incline thine
ear unto My Sayings. 21 Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst
of thine heart. 22 For they are Life unto those that find them, and Health
to all their flesh. 23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the
issues of Life. 24 Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put
far from thee. 25 Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight
before thee. 26 Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established.
27 Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil."
- 5:1-2 "My son, ATTEND unto my Wisdom, and BOW thine
ear to my Understanding: That thou mayest REGARD Discretion, and that thy lips may
KEEP Knowledge."
The Precious Wisdom of the LORD Blesses Our Way To Heaven with Riches to Cast at
His Feet
The path to Heaven is paved with God's Wisdom, "because strait is the gate,
and narrow is The Way, which leadeth unto Life, and few there be that find it"
(Matthew 7:14). Like Pilgrim found out, in John Bunyan's "The
Pilgrim's Progress"-- http://WhatSaithTheScripture.com/Stories/Bunyan.Pilgrims.Progress.html
--, when we lose our "scroll" which is the
Counsel of His Word, we "therefore which believe He is Precious" (1Peter
2:7), grieve our Precious LORD. Upon repentance, we must then backtrack to regain
that which we lost, and long again for "the Word of the LORD [that] was Precious
in those days" (1Samuel 3:1). "How Precious also are Thy thoughts unto
me, O God! how great is the sum of them!" (Psalm 139:17). Only then can we walk
again in His Wisdom. Only then will our Walk be blessed with Understanding and Discretion
to avoid the pitfalls and "sloughs" that threaten our progress.
Follow Christ Jesus as our Example, "for even hereunto were ye called: because
Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an Example, that ye should FOLLOW HIS STEPS"
(1Peter 2:21). Strengthened and cleansed "with the Precious Blood of Christ,
as of a Lamb without blemish and without spot" (1Peter 1:19), we "ought
[ourselves] also so to walk, even as He walked" (1John 2:6). And if it means
we must walk in this life "halt or maimed" before entering Heaven, then
so be it. "Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee [or cause you to sin],
cut them off, and cast them from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life halt
or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire...
For it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that
thy whole body should be cast into hell" (Matthew 18:8; 5:30).
- James 3:6 "And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity:
so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth
on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell."
- Revelation 21:27 "And there shall in no wise enter
into [Heaven] any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or
maketh a lie."
The Precious Wisdom of our Precious LORD instructs us to
"lay up for yourselves Treasures in Heaven". "19 Lay not up
for yourselves treasures upon Earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where
thieves break through and steal: 20 But lay up for yourselves Treasures in Heaven,
where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through
nor steal: 21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also" (Matthew
6:19-21). The Word of God teaches us that "The blessing of the LORD, it maketh
rich, and He addeth no sorrow with it" (Proverbs 10:22). These riches, or "Treasures"
are not merely monetary, nor are they merely material. "Blessings
of the LORD" do surely give our physical bodies warmth, comfort, and satisfaction;
but the "True Riches" which bless us deep to our souls are the "Exceeding
Riches of His Grace" found only in Christ Jesus.
- Luke 16:11 13 "Who will commit to your trust the True
Riches?... No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the One,
and love the other; or else he will hold to the One, and despise the other. Ye cannot
serve God and mammon."
- Ephesians 2:7 "That in the ages to come He might show
the Exceeding Riches of His Grace in His kindness toward us through Christ
Jesus."
- Ephesians 3:8 "Unto me, who am less than the least
of all saints, is this Grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the
Unsearchable [or, limitless] Riches of Christ."
- Philippians 4:19 "But my God shall supply all your
need according to His Riches in glory by Christ Jesus."
- Colossians 1:27 "God would make known what is the
Riches of the glory of this Mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in
you, the Hope of glory:"
- Colossians 2:2 "That their hearts might be comforted,
being knit together in love, and unto all Riches of the full assurance of Understanding,
to the acknowledgment of the Mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ."
"True Riches"--
- 1. follow us to Heaven,
- ("Blessed are the dead which die in the LORD from
henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their
works do follow them" [Revelation 14:13]),
2. and are the "gold, silver, [and] precious stones"
- ("For other foundation can no man lay than that is
laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this Foundation gold,
silver, precious stones... If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon,
he shall receive a Reward" [1Corinthians 3:11-12,14]),
3. that come with The Reward we so joyfully cast at our Saviour's feet.
- ("The four and twenty elders fall down before Him
that sat on the Throne, and worship Him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their
crowns before the Throne, saying, Thou art worthy, O LORD, to receive glory
and honour and power: for Thou hast created all things, and for Thy pleasure they
are and were created" (Revelation 4:10-11).
We desire the "Greater Riches" that Moses desired
because of The Reward our Saviour so richly deserves. "Esteeming the
reproach of Christ Greater Riches than the treasures in Egypt: for
he [Moses] had respect unto the recompense of The Reward" (Hebrews 11:26).
Conclusion
Let the Full Strength of the Word of God be the Full Counsel that guides your
life of faith and trust in Him. His Wisdom will be your blessing. Think His
Thoughts. Walk His Ways. Fulfill His Will as if it were your own. "Thy Will
be done in Earth, as it is in Heaven" (Matthew 6:10). Don't limit God with hindrances
of your own making. "Yea, they turned back and tempted God, and limited the
Holy One of Israel" (Psalm 78:41). Live by His Wisdom and He will "open
you the windows of Heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room
enough to receive it" (Malachi 3:10).
"Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort,
be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of Love and Peace shall
be with you" (2Corinthians 13:11).