SPELLING EDITED G-17. Prayer Lesson 2-WISDOM is the Principal Thing! ABOVE ALL GET WISDOM!
This study is part of a series of Bible studies that I am teaching called
We are using the book written by Kay Arthur entitled “Lord, Teach Me to Study the Bible in 28 Days” As an example of one way to study the Bible.
On Day #1
The page is entitled “How Critical Is Knowledge?” On day #1 we read Hosea chapter four, verses one through three, and then skipped down to verse six where we focused on the KEY word “KNOWLEDGE” by highlighting it in green. We will read this passage of Scripture from both the New American Standard Version (NASB) and the Kings James Version (KJV). All verses used in this study will be from the King James Version unless otherwise stated. This type of study is called a word study or a study by subject.
Hosea 4:1-3,6 from the New American Standard Version.
“LISTEN to the WORD of the LORD, O sons of Israel, (WHY?) For the LORD has a case against the inhabitants of the land, (WHY?) Because there is no faithfulness or kindness or KNOWLEDGE of God in the land. (So what happens when the LAND lacks the KNOWLEDGE of God? What happens when Christians allow the knowledge that God sees their secret sins to slip away? If you KNOW or have ever-present knowledge in the front of your mind that God knows your heart then you would not dwell on the temptations of the enemy to even think of giving in to sin. But WITHOUT the KNOWLEDGE of God) 2. There is swearing, deception, murder, stealing, and adultery. They employ violence, so that bloodshed follows bloodshed. 3. THEREFORE, (Or for this REASON of the lack of KNOWLEDGE in the LAND) the land mourns, And everyone who lives in it languishes along with the beasts of the field and the birds of the sky, and also the fish of the sea disappear... ...6. MY PEOPLE are DESTROYED (WHY?) for lack of KNOWLEDGE. (WHY?) Because you have rejected KNOWLEDGE, I also will reject you from being My priest. Since (Or BECAUSE) you have FORGOTTEN the law of your God, I also will forget your children.”
Hosea 4:1-3,6 in the King James Version.
“HEAR the WORD of the LORD, you children of Israel: for the LORD has a controversy with the inhabitants of the land, (WHY?) because there is no truth, nor mercy, nor KNOWLEDGE of God in the land. 2. By swearing, and lying, and killing, and stealing, and committing adultery, they break out, and blood touches blood. 3. Therefore shall the land mourn, and everyone that dwells therein shall languish, with the beasts of the field, and with the fowls of heaven; yea, the fishes of the sea also shall be taken away... ...6. My people are DESTROYED (WHY?) for LACK of KNOWLEDGE: (WHY?) because you have REJECTED KNOWLEDGE, I will also reject you, that you shall be no priest to me: seeing you have forgotten the law of your God, I will also forget your children.”
Before we get into studying this passage of Scripture I want to point out a helpful hint to correctly study the Bible. Please notice the three dots that I have highlighted in a light brown that is SEPARATING verse 3 from verse 6. Whenever you are reading a book or a study and you see these three dots together, either before, between, or after a verse of Scripture, then you will know that a verse or some verses have been LEFT OUT for one reason or another. Sometimes this can be MISLEADING to the proper UNDERSTANDING of the text. However, in this particular case, verses 4 and 5 are more of a distraction than a help to understanding the importance of KNOWLEDGE. But it is always a good practice to go ahead and read the entire CONTEXT when studying the WORD of God. With that being said, let us get to the heart of the matter to gain understanding as to the vital importance of getting knowledge, particularly the KNOWLEDGE of God, or God's KNOWLEDGE. The very first thing we are told in this passage of Scripture is to LISTEN to the WORD of the Lord! Whenever we see words like LISTEN, HEARKEN, BEHOLD, HEAR you, and THUS SAYS the Lord, then we need to TAKE HEED to what is being said. These are important words calling us to pay ATTENTION to God's WORD. The second thing we see is that the REASON WHY the Lord wants us to LISTEN to his WORD is that he has a case against the LAND. The word “case” here in the King James Version is the case of “controversy” which means that the Lord has a legal dispute or a point of contention, a grievance, or a cause against the land and his people. In other words, God has a CONTROVERSY with his people and BECAUSE God and His people are NOT in AGREEMENT, then Almighty God CANNOT BLESS his people. And THIS is the REASON there is violence, swearing, deception, murder, stealing, and adultery in the land and among God's people. So then, the third thing we see is that BECAUSE God's people are NOT in AGREEMENT with Him and His WORD is the very REASON WHY that this CONTROVERSY of all those bad things that are in the land stated in verse 2.
Please read Hosea 4:1-2 again.
“Because there is no faithfulness or kindness or KNOWLEDGE of God in the land. (Ask the question, So what happens when the LAND lacks the KNOWLEDGE of God?) 2. There is swearing, deception, murder, stealing, and adultery. They employ violence, so that bloodshed follows bloodshed.”
And all those things are controverting to oppose God’s way. Then the fourth thing we see is that BECAUSE there is NO FAITHFULNESS, NO KINDNESS, and NO KNOWLEDGE among God's people which produces all the VIOLENCE and bloodshed, then this is the REASON that the LAND MOURNS and shall LANGUISH. The word “LANGUISH” here means WEAK WILLED, to wither, to fade away, to languish, to be feeble, and to be hot or feverish. When you think of hot or feverish, then you think of being sick which is a weakened condition. So then, NOT being in AGREEMENT with Almighty God and His WORD causes us to become WEAKENED in our ability to RESIST the wiles of the enemy and causes us to be weak-willed in our pursuit to be STRONG in the Lord in order to walk in His way of RIGHTEOUSNESS. The fifth thing we see is that because of this LACK of KNOWLEDGE of Almighty God and His WORD among God's people is that NOT only are God's PEOPLE DESTROYED but the WHOLE LAND suffers. And by the whole land, we see in verse 3 that along with God's PEOPLE being DESTROYED that EVERYONE in the LAND, ALONG with the beast of the field, the birds in the air, and the fish are DESTROYED as well. So then, HOW IMPORTANT or HOW CRITICAL is KNOWLEDGE? If you think about it, KNOWLEDGE is important in every aspect of our life. Think about NOT teaching a small child to look both ways before crossing a street. Or for that matter, think about NOT teaching our children anything that will BENEFIT them in life. Think about WHAT that LACK of KNOWLEDGE would bring about in their life? Think about NOT training up our children in the WAY that they should go with God’s promise to us that they will NOT DEPART from it. So KNOWLEDGE, in general, is of VITAL importance but even more so the KNOWLEDGE of Almighty God and His WORD. Why do I say this? Remember the words of Jesus found in Luke 10:17-20, which says. Luke 10:17-20.
“And the seventy returned again with JOY, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through your name. 18. And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven. 19. Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all of the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. 20. Notwithstanding in this (In this WHAT? In the fact that God has given you POWER and AUTHORITY over the enemy and even the devils are subject unto you in the name of Jesus, in THIS) REJOICE NOT, that the spirits are subject unto you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven.”
You see my dear brothers and sisters in the Lord, we can lack knowledge in some areas of God’s word and be destroyed by the enemy now in this life and still obtain ETERNAL LIFE in the world to come. And enduring to the end to obtain eternal life is the MOST important thing. However, we do NOT have to be DESTROYED in this PRESENT world. In other words, we do NOT have to choose one over the other. That is to say, we can have BOTH! So WHY are the CHILDREN of Almighty God DESTROYED or suffer things that they have been FREED from by the atonement and the WORD of Almighty God? Again, the answer is that they LACK KNOWLEDGE! So then, WHAT is the SOLUTION to this problem? If you said, GET KNOWLEDGE, then you are partly correct. For you see, we need more than just getting KNOWLEDGE to solve the problem of being destroyed from a LACK of KNOWLEDGE. We ALSO need to GET UNDERSTANDING. So then, with our GETTING KNOWLEDGE, we also need to GET UNDERSTANDING. But even having BOTH KNOWLEDGE and UNDERSTANDING is still not enough to solve the problem of being DESTROYED for LACK of KNOWLEDGE. For your see, my dear brothers and sisters in the Lord, we ALSO need to GET WISDOM because the WORD of God teaches us that WISDOM is the PRINCIPAL thing which we will look at in a moment. But first, I would like to explain a little about the DIFFERENCE between KNOWLEDGE, UNDERSTANDING, and WISDOM. No one can have KNOWLEDGE but still LACK UNDERSTANDING. You see, one can have KNOWLEDGE about an automobile having an engine but still LACK UNDERSTANDING of HOW the combustion engine works. Also, one can even have an UNDERSTANDING of HOW the combustion engine works but still LACK the WISDOM or ABILITY of HOW to repair the engine when it ceases to work properly. Can you not see that we need WISDOM in order to have the ABILITY to take KNOWLEDGE and UNDERSTANDING and APPLY them to our life? WISDOM is the PRINCIPAL thing as we see in Proverbs 4:7. The Bible teaches us in Proverbs 4:7 that WISDOM is the PRINCIPAL thing and THEREFORE we should get WISDOM and with our getting WISDOM we should also get UNDERSTANDING! So let us read Proverbs 4:7 in its context by reading the whole chapter of Proverbs chapter 4, verses 1-27, which says.
Proverbs 4:1-27.
“HEAR, you children, the INSTRUCTION of a father, and ATTEND to KNOW UNDERSTANDING. 2. For I give you good doctrine, forsake you not my law. 3. For I was my father's son, tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother. 4. He taught me also, and said unto me, Let your heart RETAIN my words: keep my commandments and live. (Or forget my words, break my commandments and DIE. God has set life and death before us and He is pleading with us to CHOOSE LIFE so that we will live eternally with Him) 5. GET WISDOM, get understanding: forget it NOT; neither decline from the words of my mouth. (We as Christians are under the New Covenant to obey the commandments of Jesus written in the New Testament) 6. Forsake her not, (WHY?) and she shall preserve you: love her, and she shall keep you. 7. WISDOM is the PRINCIPAL thing; THEREFORE, (Or for this REASON) GET WISDOM: AND (And WHAT? AND) with all your getting get understanding. 8. Exalt her, (WHY?) and she shall promote you: she shall bring you to honor when you do embrace her. 9. She shall give to your head an ornament of grace: a crown of glory shall she deliver to you. 10. HEAR, O my son, and RECEIVE my sayings; and the years of your life shall be many. 11. I have taught you in the way of WISDOM; I have led you on the right paths. 12. When you go, your steps shall not be straitened; and when you run, you shall not stumble. 13. Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: keep her; (WHY?) for (Or BECAUSE) she is your life. 14. Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men. 15. Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away. 16. For they sleep not, except they have done mischief, and their sleep is taken away unless they cause some to fall. 17. For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence. 18. But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shines more and more unto the perfect day. 19. The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble. 20. My son, ATTEND to my WORDS; incline your ear unto my SAYINGS. 21. Let them NOT depart from your eyes; keep them in the midst of your heart. (WHY?) 22. For (Or BECAUSE) they (God's WORD or KNOWLEDGE, UNDERSTANDING and WISDOM of God and His word) are LIFE unto those that find them, and HEALTH to ALL their FLESH. 23. KEEP your heart with all diligence; (WHY?) for out of IT (Your HEART) are the issues of life. (Jesus teaches us in Luke 6:45 that WE bring forth good things out of the ABUNDANCE of the good treasures in our heart. So, hide God’s word in your heart. Also, please read the study “THE POWER OF OUR WORDS!”) 24. Put away from you a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from you. 25. Let your eyes look right on, and let your eyelids look straight before you. 26. Ponder the path of your feet, and let all your ways be established. 27. Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove your foot from evil.”
WOW! There is a lot in this passage of Scripture! But for now, I want to focus upon GETTING WISDOM and with our GETTING WISDOM that we ALSO GET UNDERSTANDING of the KNOWLEDGE that we obtain. Let us begin by looking at WHAT the Bible calls WISDOM. We know that WISDOM in general simply means the ABILITY to APPLY the KNOWLEDGE that we have obtained. In the simplest term, this is what wisdom means, to APPLY what we have learned in our lives. However, the WORD of God reaches much deeper into the TRUE meaning of WISDOM. So then, let us see what the WORD of God has to say about WISDOM.
Please read Job 28:28, which says.
“And unto MAN (Or mankind) he said, BEHOLD, the FEAR of the Lord, THAT (Speaking of the FEAR of the Lord) IS WISDOM; and to DEPART from evil IS UNDERSTANDING.”
Then in Psalm 111:10, we read.
“The FEAR of the LORD is the BEGINNING of WISDOM: a GOOD UNDERSTANDING do all they have that DO his commandments: his praise endures forever.”
So then, they that DEPART from evil and DO the COMMANDMENTS of Almighty God HAVE a GOOD UNDERSTANDING and possess the BEGINNING of WISDOM because they have the FEAR of the Lord. Then we read in Proverbs 1:7 that the FEAR of the Lord is the beginning of UNDERSTANDING rather than WISDOM, which some may see as the Bible contradicting itself, but in all actuality, UNDERSTANDING leads us to obtain WISDOM. Either way, the Bible is teaching us the vital importance of the FEAR of the Lord. For a deeper understanding of this subject please read the study called “WHY do we ALL NEED the FEAR of the LORD?”
Proverbs 1:7.
“The FEAR of the LORD is the beginning of KNOWLEDGE: but fools despise wisdom AND instruction.”
On the surface, it seems like it is a vicious circle, so which comes FIRST? Well for me, I think KNOWLEDGE comes FIRST. And I say this because of Romans 10:14 which says, how can we believe in him if we have not HEARD. Remember faith COME by HEARING.
Romans 10:14-21.
“HOW then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? And HOW shall they believe in him of whom they have NOT heard? And how shall they HEAR without a preacher? (Or an INSTRUCTOR in righteousness) 15. And HOW shall they preach, except they are sent? As it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! 16. But they have NOT all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias (Or Isaiah) says, Lord, who has BELIEVED our report? 17. So then faith COMES by HEARING, and hearing (Or more specifically UNDERSTANDING COMES) by the WORD of God. 18. But I say, Have they not heard? Yes, verily their SOUND went into all the earth, and their WORDS unto the ends of the world. 19. But I say, Did NOT Israel KNOW (Or have KNOWLEDGE)? First, Moses says I will provoke you to jealousy by them that are no people, and by a foolish nation, I will anger you. 20. But Esaias (Isaiah) is very bold, and says, I was found of them that sought me not; I was made manifest unto them that asked not after me. 21. But to Israel he says, All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people.”
You see, KNOWING or just having KNOWLEDGE is NOT the SOLUTION to being DESTROYED for LACK of KNOWLEDGE. One can KNOW that there is a God, but this KNOWLEDGE or KNOWING that there is a God is NOT a solution for being destroyed for LACK of KNOWLEDGE. I know this may sound a bit confusing at first, but if you will stick with me it will all come together before this study is completed. First, we see from Romans 10 that Israel did in fact KNOW or have KNOWLEDGE of God and his commandments, but yet God REJECTED them. WHY? BECAUSE they did NOT APPLY the KNOWLEDGE that they had been given by the INSTRUCTORS, the prophets and priest, and judges and such. They did not KEEP the WORD of the Lord in their hearts to OBEY all that God had INSTRUCTED them to DO. In short, they did NOT BELIEVE! This APPLYING the KNOWLEDGE of God's WORD is WISDOM.
Let us go to Hebrews 4:1,2 which says.
“Let us therefore FEAR, lest, (Or for fear that) a PROMISE (Or that which has ALREADY been PROVIDED for us of Almighty God) being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. 2. For unto us was the gospel PREACHED, (Or we were given KNOWLEDGE) as well as unto them: (Or in other words, they HEARD that same WORD taught to them that is taught to us) but the WORD preached (Or the KNOWLEDGE that they obtained) did NOT profit them, (WHY?) NOT being MIXED with FAITH in them that heard it.”
So then, here we see the vital importance of BELIEVING or having FAITH in the WORD of God. For you see, it is through FAITH or BELIEVING the WORD of KNOWLEDGE that we have obtained through teaching and preaching that is APPLIED to our lives which is WISDOM. Hebrews 11:6 teaches us that we must first believe that God IS and that he is the REWARDER of them that diligently seek him. And in this same verse of Scripture, we also learn that it is IMPOSSIBLE to please God without FAITH.
Hebrews 11:6.
“But WITHOUT FAITH it is IMPOSSIBLE to PLEASE him: for he that comes to God MUST BELIEVE that he IS and that he is a REWARDER of them that DILIGENTLY SEEK him.”
From this verse, we see that God IS and that he IS a REWARDER for those who DILIGENTLY SEEK him, which teaches us that KNOWLEDGE, UNDERSTANDING, and WISDOM do not come without some EFFORT on our part. With that being said, let us look at some of the verses of Scripture that implore us to SEEK after KNOWLEDGE, UNDERSTANDING, and WISDOM. Please read Psalm 51:6, which teaches us that God not only desires that our hearts possess the word of TRUTH, but that God will GIVE or to make us know WISDOM.
Psalm 51:6.
“Behold, you desire TRUTH in the inward parts: (Or our hearts) and in the hidden part (Or in my heart or inner man) you shall make me to know WISDOM.”
So then, when the word of TRUTH gets into our HEARTS or in our INNER man, then God makes us to know WISDOM or how to APPLY this knowledge of the TRUTH to our lives.
Psalm 90:12 says.
“So teach us to number our days, (WHY?) that (Or so that) we may APPLY our hearts unto WISDOM.”
Now in the context, this verse is speaking about APPLYING our hearts to WISDOM in KNOWING that the NUMBER of the days of man is 70 to 80 years of age so that the enemy will not steal or cut short our life through sickness and disease. For a deeper understanding of this subject, please read the study entitled “OUR DAYS ARE NUMBERED” But for now, let us continue with reading the word of God that teaches us to DILIGENTLY SEEK after KNOWLEDGE, UNDERSTANDING, and WISDOM.
Please read Proverbs 2:1-22 which says.
“My son, if you will RECEIVE my WORDS, and HIDE my commandments with you; (Or hide my commandments in your HEART) 2. So that you incline your ear unto WISDOM, and APPLY your heart to understanding; 3. Yea, if you cry after (Or pray for and seek after) KNOWLEDGE, and lift up your voice for UNDERSTANDING; 4. If you SEEK her as silver, and SEARCH for her as for hid treasures; 5. Then shall you understand the fear of the LORD, and find the KNOWLEDGE of God. 6. For the LORD GIVES WISDOM: out of his mouth comes KNOWLEDGE and UNDERSTANDING. 7. He lays up sound WISDOM for the righteous: he is a buckler to them that walk uprightly. 8. He keeps the paths of judgment and preserves the way of his saints. 9. Then shall you UNDERSTAND righteousness, and judgment, and equity; yea, every good path. 10. When WISDOM enters into your HEART, and KNOWLEDGE is pleasant unto your soul; 11. Discretion shall preserve you, UNDERSTANDING shall keep you: 12. To deliver you from the way of the evil man, from the man that speaks 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; 15. Whose ways are crooked, and they froward in their paths: 16. To deliver you from the strange woman, even from the stranger which flatters with her words; 17. Which forsakes the guide of her youth, and forgets the covenant of her God. 18. For her house inclines 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. 20. That you may 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.”
Again, there is a lot in this passage of Scripture but our focus, for now, is the SEEKING after KNOWLEDGE, UNDERSTANDING, and WISDOM. This is of vital importance because the wicked will NOT inherit the new heavens and the new earth. God is seeking ONLY those who prove themselves to be worthy of receiving eternal life to live with God for eternity in the ages to come. It is also vitally important so that the enemy can not destroy us in this present world with sickness, disease, tragedies, and premature death. Please read Proverbs 3:13-18, which teaches us that happy are those that FIND WISDOM and UNDERSTANDING. I have heard through the years where Christians ask WHY? Why do bad things happen to good people? Why does God allow tragedy? Some even BLAME God for everything that happens. But for me, this never set very well in my spirit so I pursued a deeper UNDERSTANDING and the Holy Spirit showed me something that has truly blessed and help me UNDERSTAND the reason WHY God allows many things even though it is NOT his WILL for them to be. I encourage you to read the study that I have entitled “UNDERSTANDING WHY” But for now, please read Proverbs 3:13-18 which says.
Proverbs 3:13-18.
“HAPPY is the man that FINDS WISDOM, and the man that GETS UNDERSTANDING. (WHY?) 14. For (Or because) 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 you can desire are not to be compared unto her. 16. Length of days is in her right hand, and in her left hand riches and honor. 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 retains her.”
Now from this passage of Scripture, we can see that true WISDOM is speaking of JESUS because one can only obtain eternal life through Jesus, and WISDOM is called a tree of life. Please read Proverbs 8:1-36 which sheds more light on WISDOM being a type or shadow that speaks of Jesus. So above all get WISDOM or ABOVE ALL get Jesus! WISDOM is the PRINCIPLE thing or Jesus is the PRINCIPLE thing!
Proverbs 8:1-36.
“Does not WISDOM cry? And UNDERSTANDING put forth her voice? 2. She stands at the top of high places, by the way in the places of the paths. 3. She cries at the gates, at the entry of the city, at the coming in at the doors. 4. Unto you, O men, I call, and my voice is to the sons of man. 5. O you simple, understand WISDOM: and, you fools, be you of an understanding heart. 6. Hear; for I will speak of excellent things, and the opening of my lips shall be right things. 7. For my mouth shall speak the truth, and wickedness is an abomination to my lips. 8. All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing froward or perverse in them. 9. They are all plain to him that understands, and right to them that find KNOWLEDGE. 10. RECEIVE my instruction, and not silver; and KNOWLEDGE rather than choice gold. (WHY?) 11. For (Or the reason why is because) WISDOM is better than rubies, and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it. 12. I WISDOM dwell with prudence, and find out KNOWLEDGE of witty inventions. 13. The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and being arrogant, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate. 14. Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom: I am UNDERSTANDING; I have strength. 15. By me kings reign, and princes decree justice. 16. By me princes rule, and nobles, even all the judges of the earth. 17. I love them that love me, and those that SEEK me early shall FIND me. 18. Riches and honor are with me; yea, durable riches and righteousness. 19. My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold; and my revenue than choice silver. 20. I lead in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment: 21. That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures. 22. The LORD (Speaking of Almighty God) possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old. 23. I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was. 24. When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water. 25. Before the mountains were settled, before the hills, was I brought forth: 26. While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world. 27. When he prepared the heavens, I was there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth: 28. When he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep: 29. When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth: 30. Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him; 31. Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth, and my delights were with the sons of men. 32. Now, therefore, hearken unto me, O you children: for blessed are they that keep my ways. 33. Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not. 34. Blessed is the man that hears me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors. 35. For whoso FINDS me FINDS life, and shall obtain favor of the LORD. 36. But he that sins against me, wrongs his own soul: all they that hate me love death.”
Verse 12 clearly shows us that WISDOM is speaking in the first person and if we follow the pronoun use all the way down through verse 35, we clearly see that whosoever finds WISDOM, which I believe is referring to JESUS, that is to say, whosoever finds JESUS finds LIFE, speaking of ETERNAL LIFE, which only comes through JESUS. So then, when the Bible teaches us that the PRINCIPAL thing is WISDOM it is actually speaking of the PRINCIPAL as being JESUS. Rejoice that your name is written in the book of life is the PRINCIPAL thing and all else are blessings and benefits of salvation. Proverbs 7:4 teaches us the principle of calling the things that are not as though they were. In other words, this verse teaches us the importance of speaking the right words.
Proverbs 7:4.
“SAY unto WISDOM, You are my sister, and CALL UNDERSTANDING your kinswoman:”
For a deeper understanding of the vital importance of speaking RIGHT WORDS both in prayer and our everyday speech please read the study entitled “THE POWER OF OUR WORDS!” But for now, let us finish taking a look at some more verses that teach us to SEEK after KNOWLEDGE, UNDERSTANDING, and above all FINDING JESUS or true WISDOM. There are many hidden prophecies in the Old Testament that speak of Jesus and WISDOM is just one of them. The more of these hidden prophecies that we know and understand the more we know and understand who Jesus is, according to the WHOLE word of Almighty God. The Holy Spirit has opened my eyes to see Jesus in many of the hidden prophecies. Some of which I cover in the studies under the heading >>>WHO IS JESUS ACCORDING TO THE BIBLE?<<< But for now, please read the following verses.
Proverbs 9:10.
“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.”
Proverbs 15:33.
“The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom; and before honor is humility.”
Proverbs 16:16.
“How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! And to get understanding, rather, to be chosen than silver!”
Proverbs 17:16.
“Wherefore, is there a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, seeing he has no heart to it?”
Proverbs 17:24.
“Wisdom is before him that hath understanding, but the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth.”
Proverbs 18:1.
“Through DESIRE a man, having SEPARATED himself, SEEKS and intermeddles with all WISDOM.”
Proverbs 18:4.
“The words of a man's mouth are as deep waters, and the wellspring of wisdom as a flowing brook.”
We also know from Luke 2:52 that Jesus in WISDOM and in favor with God and man.
Luke 2:52.
“And Jesus INCREASED in WISDOM and stature, and in FAVOR with God and man.”
So if Jesus needed to increase in WISDOM and FAVOR with God and man, then how much more do we need to SEEK after, KNOWLEDGE, UNDERSTANDING, and WISDOM? Luke 21:12-15 teaches us that when we are persecuted and brought before men to give an answer of our faith that we are not to take thought of what we are to say beforehand but that Jesus through the Holy Spirit will give us WISDOM and the words to speak, the moment we need them.
Luke 21:12-15.
“But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name's sake. 13. And it shall turn to you for a testimony. 14. Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye shall answer: 15. For I will GIVE you a MOUTH (Or words to speak) and WISDOM, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist.”
Acts 6:10 says it like this.
“And they were not able to RESIST the WISDOM and the SPIRIT by which he spoke.”
Now that we KNOW without a doubt that it is God's WILL for us to INCREASE in KNOWLEDGE, UNDERSTANDING, and WISDOM, then let us use the following passages of Scripture to PRAY and ASK Almighty God for these things. Please read the following passages of Scripture and then put them in your own words as a PRAYER to Almighty God in SEEKING after KNOWLEDGE, UNDERSTANDING, and WISDOM in every area of our life.
Ephesians 1:15-23.
“Wherefore, I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints, 16. Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers; 17. That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the SPIRIT of WISDOM and REVELATION in the KNOWLEDGE of him. 18. The eyes of your UNDERSTANDING being enlightened; that ye may KNOW what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, 19. And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, 20. Which he wrought in Christ when he raised him from the dead and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, 21. Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world but also in that which is to come: 22. And has put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, 23. Which is his body, the fullness of him that fills all in all.”
Colossians 1:9-12.
“For this cause, we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that you might be filled with the KNOWLEDGE of his will in all WISDOM and SPIRITUAL UNDERSTANDING; 10. That you might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and INCREASING in the KNOWLEDGE of God; 11. Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and long-suffering with joyfulness; 12. Giving thanks unto the Father, which has made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:”
Colossians 3:12-17.
“PUT ON, therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; 13. Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man has a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do you. 14. And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. 15. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also you are called in one body; and be you thankful. 16. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all WISDOM; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. 17. And whatsoever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.”
James 1:5-8.
“If ANY of you LACK WISDOM, let him ASK of God, that GIVES to ALL men liberally, and upbraids not; and it SHALL be GIVEN him. 6. BUT let him ask in FAITH, nothing wavering. (WHY?) For (Or the reason why we must ask in faith without wavering is that) he that WAVERS is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. 7. For let that man NOT think that he (The man or woman that WAVERS or DOUBTS when they pray, let not THAT person even THING that they) shall RECEIVE anything of the Lord. (WHY?) 8. A double-minded man (Or a person that WAVERS and DOUBTS) is unstable in all his ways.”
This is WHY we go to the very WORD of Almighty God in order to find out WHAT his WILL is for us. For you see my dear brothers and sisters in the Lord, God's WORD IS God's WILL for us! Therefore, if we find it written in his WORD, then we can be ASSURED that it IS his WILL. And then we can stand upon the PROMISE found in 1 John 5:14,15 as a “WRITTEN GUARANTEE” so to speak that our PRAYERS will not only be HEARD but also ANSWERED in the very way that we PRAYED them.
1 John 5:14,15.
“And THIS is the CONFIDENCE that we have in him, THAT, if we ask ANY thing according to his WILL, he HEARS us: 15. And if we KNOW that he HEARS us, WHATSOEVER we ask, we KNOW that we have the petitions that we desired of him.”
Therefore, since we KNOW that it IS God's WILL for us to come to the KNOWLEDGE of the TRUTH and to GET WISDOM and UNDERSTANDING, then all that is left for us to do is ASK. But let us ask in FAITH without WAVERING, and we SHALL HAVE the things that we have ASKED in prayer BELIEVING we shall RECEIVE them. Remember what we learned in the study “THE FAITHFULNESS OF ALMIGHTY GOD” that God is ALWAYS FAITHFUL and he will DO what he said he would DO! Thanks for reading and may God bless you richly as you continue to study His word. Your brother in our Lord Jesus Christ, Brother Mark.
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