God’s Wisdom

Dear Friends,

It seems that, with all the challenges of Covid over the last 2 years, life has become even more complex. We live in a complex world for which we need God’s wisdom. In 1 Kings 3, Solomon asks for wisdom. He asks for wisdom as the king to govern and lead God’s people (v 9). God granted his request for wisdom and also gave him more than he asked for. In the New Testament, we are encouraged that if we lack wisdom we too can ask God and He will generously give us the wisdom we need – see James 1.

This section has a strong emphasis on God’s invitation encouraging us to ask for His help (v 5) and our responsibility to ask (v 10). There is also a link between obedience to God’s Word and wisdom (v 14). Psalm 19:7 reminds us that the word of the Lord makes the simple wise. Those who prayerfully read and study and inwardly digest and obey God’s Word find that they grow in wisdom.

The purpose of wisdom is to help us discern between right and wrong and to live well in whatever role we find ourselves. This can be at work or in our families or in the life of the church. In the second section, verses 16- 28, there is the famous incident where Solomon makes a ruling in a dispute between two women who both claim to be the mother of a child. His rulings shows that the wisdom which God gave to Solomon works and is practical. Proverbs 1:7 reminds us that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.

God’s blessing, David O’Mara

From the Pastor’s Bulletin, 9 January 2022