Attributes of God:Wise

Wise

In one of our previous studies of God’s attributes we noted His omniscience or possession of all knowledge. Closely akin to God’s omniscience is His possession of all wisdom. Wisdom is correct judgment and the right use of knowledge. God’s wisdom is so far above that of all other beings that He is described thrice in Scripture as "the only wise God" (Rom. 16:27; 1 Tim. 1:17; Jude 25).

Perhaps the chiefest displays of God’s wisdom are found in His creation and in His plan of salvation, or the new creation. First, as to the creation of the universe:"O Lord, how manifold are Thy works! In wisdom hast Thou made them all; the earth is full of Thy riches" (Psa. 104:24; also 1-23). "The Lord by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath He established the heavens" (Prov. 3:19). "He hath made the earth by His power, He hath established the world by His wisdom, and hath stretched out the heavens by His discretion" (Jer. 10:12).

As to the plan of salvation, the apostle Paul sought to show in Romans 11 that neither Jews nor Gentiles have in any way deserved salvation. The nation of Israel had been God’s chosen people but they forfeited this special place because of wickedness and rebellion against God. The Gentiles as a whole had lived in idolatry, not having any desire for the one true God. So "God concluded them all in unbelief, that He might have mercy upon all" (verse 32). As the apostle contemplates God’s wonderful plan of salvation, manifesting God’s grace and mercy to Jew and Gentile alike, and designed to give all the glory to God, he breaks out with the well-known doxology:"O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are His judgments, and His ways past finding out!" (verse 33).

The wisdom of God the Son is also mentioned in Scripture. We read that as a boy of twelve, "Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man" (Luke 2:52). His wisdom is prophecied by Isaiah:"And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots; and the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord; and shall make Him of quick understanding in the fear of the Lord; and He shall not judge after the sight of His eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of His ears; but with righteousness shall He judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth" (11:1-4). The wisdom of Christ is amply displayed in His responses to the Pharisees’ attempts to trip Him up (Matt. 22:17-45), following which "they marvelled," "they were astonished at His doctrine," and "no man was able to answer Him a word, neither dared any man from that day forth ask Him any more questions" (verses 22,33,46). In Proverbs 8:12,22-36 we find a sort of allegory in which wisdom appears to be synonymous with the eternal Son of God.

God delights to impart this wisdom to others. He gave wisdom to craftsmen of Israel for fashioning the tabernacle and the priests’ garments (Exod. 28:1-6; 31:1-6). He gave to Solomon "a wise and an understanding heart" (1 Kings 3:12) so that "all Israel . . . feared the king, for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him to do judgment" (verse 28). The Lord promised to give His disciples "a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist" (Luke 21:12-15); this was later borne out in Stephen when those who disputed with him "were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake" (Acts 6:9,10).

God does not automatically impart wisdom to all believers. He wants us to ask for it just as Solomon of old asked for it (1 Kings 3:5-13). Solomon, in turn, urged his children to "get wisdom," for "wisdom is the principal thing" (Prov. 4:5-7). Paul exhorted the Ephesians to be "as wise, redeeming the time" (Eph. 5:15,16). Also, he prayed that the Colossians "might be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding" (Col. 1:9). And James exhorted, "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God" (James 1:5). God imparts this wisdom through "the holy Scriptures, which are able to make thee wise" (2 Tim. 3:15; see also Col. 3:16).

Let us now consider some of the features of this wisdom, and the characteristics of those who are wise.

Several scriptures tell us that it is wise to prepare for the future. It was "a wise man which built his house upon a rock" (Matt. 7:24), and the five wise virgins who "took oil in . . . their lamps" (Matt. 25:1-4). The wise steward prepared for being discharged from his job (Luke 16:1-8). A wise son gathers in the summer (Prov. 10:5). And the sluggard (or lazy person) is admonished to consider the ways of the ant and be wise (Prov. 6:6-8).

The Book of Proverbs, written by Solomon unto whom the Lord had imparted so much wisdom, gives us many features of wisdom, including that most basic element, "the fear of the Lord," which "is the beginning of wisdom" (9:10).

"A wise son heareth his father’s instruction" (13:1). If, however, the son is foolish and does not obey, yet there is hope for him for "the rod and reproof give wisdom" (29:15).

A wise man is one who "refraineth his lips" and "holdeth his peace" (10:19; 17:28; 29:11; see also James 3).

A wise man will hearken unto counsel, "receive commandments," "lay up knowledge," and will even love one who rebukes him (12:15; 10:8,14; 9:8,9).

A wise man is one who wins souls, pacifies the wrath of a king, and is strong (11:30; 16:14; 24:5).

Finally, James, in the New Testament, describes the wise man:"Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him show out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom. But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but. . . the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy" (3:13-17).

May we, then, be "followers of God" (Eph. 5:1) by seeking this "wisdom that is from above," imparted to us by "the only wise God our Saviour" (Jude 25). And let us give "honor and glory for ever and ever" to "the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God" (1 Tim. 1:17).