LIVING IT OUT · THE WALK WITH GOD — CRAWL, WALK, RUN, FINISH
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Wisdom — Living It Out — Bible Study
LIVING IT OUT · THE WALK WITH GOD — CRAWL, WALK, RUN, FINISH
Wisdom — Foundational Biblical Doctrine
OPENING WORD
Wisdom is a walk before it is a crown. A child does not walk in a day: first he crawls, and cries for what he cannot reach; then he is taught to walk, step by step; then he walks alone; then he grows, and he runs. And the person who runs well runs a race, and the race has an end, and at the end a prize. Wisdom in the walk with God is like that. The Hebrew word is chokmah (H2451, wisdom) — skill and sense for the way; and its companion is biynah (H998, understanding), for the two always go together: get wisdom, get understanding. The door into both is yirah (H3374, fear) — the fear of the LORD, which is the beginning. The Greek word is sophia (G4678, wisdom), and Strong's says it reaches higher or lower, worldly or spiritual — so a person must take the wisdom that is from above. This study carries wisdom through a person's whole journey: how he finds it when he can only crawl and cry after it; how he keeps it and walks in it once he has it; how he runs with it and offers it up like a soldier in God's army; and how he crosses the line at the end, where Christ himself is the wisdom of God, and where the word of our God stands forever. Search it out.
THREE QUESTIONS THIS STUDY ANSWERS:
1. Where is wisdom found, and how does a person first come to it?
2. What should a person do with wisdom once they have it, and how is it lived out day by day?
3. How does the race end — who is the wisdom of God, and what word lasts forever?
(My personal thoughts — notice how the word is built. Strong's says sophia (G4678, wisdom) reaches higher or lower, worldly or spiritual — one word, two ways. James separates them: there is a wisdom from above, and there is a wisdom that is earthly. And the Lord has a third word for the ones he sends out, phronimos (G5429, wise) — Strong's says thoughtful, discreet — the watchful wisdom of sheep among wolves. This study will meet all three.)
(My personal thoughts — chokmah (H2451, wisdom) comes from chakam (H2450, wise); it is not knowing many things, but skill for the way. biynah (H998, understanding) comes from biyn (H995, to understand) — Strong's says to separate in the mind, to discern — the seeing between things. And yirah (H3374, fear) stands at the door of both: the fear of the LORD is the beginning. No fear of God, no finding of wisdom.)
1. CRAWLING — HOW TO FIND IT
(My personal thoughts — every walk begins low. A baby crawls, and reaches, and cries for what he does not have; and no one is born full of wisdom. It must first be FOUND; and these witnesses show where, and how. Job asks the question of the whole stage: where is wisdom found? And the answer is not far off: ask of God, cry after it, seek it like silver — and begin at the fear of the LORD. Begin low, and begin.)
Tap Bible Speaks under any verse for its word study, other Scripture, and notes.
1.Job 28:12But where shall wisdom be found? and where is the place of understanding?
IF ANY OF YOU LACK WISDOM --> ASK OF GOD + IT SHALL BE GIVEN HIM.
(My personal thoughts — here is the baby's whole part: he lacks, and he asks. Strong's says haplos (G574, liberally) means generously; and oneidizo (G3679, upbraid) means to scold, to taunt. God gives to ALL people generously, and does not scold the one who asks. The first step of wisdom is not to be wise; it is to ask.)
3.Proverbs 2:3Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding;
THEN SHALT THOU UNDERSTAND THE FEAR OF THE LORD + FIND THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD.
(My personal thoughts — notice the crying: it is a baby's voice — you cry, you lift up your voice. And notice the THEN: cry, seek, search — THEN you will find. And what is found is not silver; it is the knowledge of God himself. The digging is yours; the treasure is HIM.)
6.Proverbs 2:6For the LORD givethwisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.
THE LORD GIVETH WISDOM + OUT OF HIS MOUTH COMETH KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING.
(My personal thoughts — set Solomon beside James, and hear one voice: the LORD gives wisdom — ask of God, and it will be given. The Old Testament and the New say one thing. And notice WHERE it comes from: out of his MOUTH. Wisdom is found where God speaks — in his word.)
7.Proverbs 1:7The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
THE FEAR OF THE LORD IS THE BEGINNING OF WISDOM + THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE HOLY IS UNDERSTANDING.
(My personal thoughts — two scriptures almost one; notice the two words under one English word. In Proverbs 1:7 beginning is reshiyth (H7225) — Strong's says the first, the chief. In Proverbs 9:10 beginning is techillah (H8462) — Strong's says a start, an opening. The fear of the LORD is both: the door a person enters at, and the chief place it holds ever after. A person never grows past the fear of the LORD.)
9.Job 28:28And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.
WISDOM IS THE PRINCIPAL THING --> GET WISDOM + WITH ALL THY GETTING GET UNDERSTANDING.
(My personal thoughts — see the tag: principal is that same reshiyth (H7225, beginning) from Proverbs 1:7. The fear of the LORD is the reshiyth of knowledge, and wisdom is the reshiyth of all that you get. First things first: fear him, and get it.)
11.Proverbs 8:17I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.
ASK, AND IT SHALL BE GIVEN YOU + SEEK, AND YE SHALL FIND + KNOCK, AND IT SHALL BE OPENED.
(My personal thoughts — now the baby has his full teaching. Wisdom does not hide from those who seek her; she loves those who love her. Ask — for God gives generously. Seek — as you would for silver. And the Lord himself seals it: seek, and you will find. Now that you have found her, learn to walk with her.)
2. WALKING — WHAT TO DO WITH IT WHEN THOU HAST IT
(My personal thoughts — the baby is on his feet; now comes the walk. Wisdom found must be KEPT, and wisdom kept must be WALKED — day by day, at home and away, before God and before those who are outside. Notice the words of this stage: get, do not forget, do not forsake, keep, exalt, walk, show. Wisdom is not treasure to store in a chest; she is a companion for the way.)
1.Proverbs 3:13Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that gettethunderstanding.
HAPPY IS THE MAN THAT FINDETH WISDOM + THE MAN THAT GETTETH UNDERSTANDING.
(My personal thoughts — the understanding here is tebuwnah (H8394, understanding) — Strong's says intelligence, reason, skillfulness — from that same root biyn (H995, to understand). And gets is puwq (H6329) — Strong's says to draw out, to obtain. Wisdom is not found once and for all; she is drawn out day by day. Hold on to that word; it comes again at the end of the race.)
2.Proverbs 4:5Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth.
EXALT HER, AND SHE SHALL PROMOTE THEE + SHE SHALL BRING THEE TO HONOUR.
(My personal thoughts — notice the trade in these three: do not forsake her — she preserves you. Love her — she keeps you. Exalt her — she promotes you. What a person does WITH wisdom, wisdom does to the person. Keep her, and you are kept.)
5.Proverbs 3:21My son, let not them depart from thine eyes: keep sound wisdom and discretion:
TEACH US TO NUMBER OUR DAYS --> THAT WE MAY APPLY OUR HEARTS UNTO WISDOM.
(My personal thoughts — Moses prays the walking prayer: teach us to NUMBER our days. The walk of wisdom is a day-by-day walk; the person who counts his days spends them well. Apply your heart TODAY.)
8.Deuteronomy 4:6Keep therefore and do them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations, which shall hear all these statutes, and say, Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.
(My personal thoughts — set Moses beside Paul, and the walk is one. Israel KEPT the statutes, and the nations saw their wisdom; we WALK in wisdom toward those who are outside. And twice Paul says, redeeming the time — see the tag, G1805: Strong's says to buy up. The wise walker buys up his days, because the days are evil. Wisdom walked is wisdom SEEN — and those who are outside look on.)
12.James 3:13Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.
LET HIM SHEW OUT OF A GOOD CONVERSATION HIS WORKS + WITH MEEKNESS OF WISDOM.
(My personal thoughts — here is the proof of the walking stage: who is wise among you? Let him SHOW it — not with the mouth, but out of a good way of life, and Strong's says anastrophe (G391, conversation) means the behavior, the manner of life. And the showing is with MEEKNESS. Wisdom that boasts is not from above. Now the walk is proven; get ready to run.)
3. RUNNING THE RACE — YIELD IT LIKE A SOLDIER IN GOD'S ARMY
(My personal thoughts — now the walk becomes a race, and the race a war. And notice the weapon of this war: it is not human strength. Wisdom is better than strength; a wise man casts down the strength of a city; the weapons of our warfare are not worldly. The soldier of God offers up his wisdom the way the runner offers up his strength — a mouth given by the Lord, a sword which is the word of God, and the harmless way of sheep sent among wolves.)
1.Ecclesiastes 9:14There was a little city, and few men within it; and there came a great king against it, and besieged it, and built great bulwarks against it:
WISDOM IS BETTER THAN STRENGTH + THE POOR MAN'S WISDOM IS DESPISED.
(My personal thoughts — hold this poor wise man before your eyes all through the race. The great king came with siege-works; the poor man came with wisdom; and the city stood. Wisdom is better than strength — though people despise it, and do not remember the man. Do not run for the memory of people; the city delivered is enough, and God does not forget.)
4.Proverbs 24:5A wise man is strong; yea, a man of knowledge increaseth strength.
THE WEAPONS OF OUR WARFARE ARE NOT CARNAL + MIGHTY THROUGH GOD TO THE PULLING DOWN OF STRONG HOLDS.
(My personal thoughts — set Solomon beside Paul. The wise man scales the city of the mighty and casts down its strength; the soldier of Christ pulls down strongholds — and his weapons are not worldly, but mighty THROUGH GOD. The war of wisdom is not won by human strength. It is won by the word.)
7.Ephesians 6:17And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
I WILL GIVE YOU A MOUTH AND WISDOM + YOUR ADVERSARIES NOT ABLE TO GAINSAY NOR RESIST.
(My personal thoughts — the soldier offers up, and the Captain supplies. In the hour of trial the wisdom is not your own stored-up wisdom; I WILL GIVE YOU, says the Lord — a mouth and wisdom no enemy can contradict. The One who gave at the first — ask of God — gives in the fight. Offer up your mouth, and he will fill it.)
9.2 Timothy 3:15And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
FROM A CHILD THOU HAST KNOWN THE HOLY SCRIPTURES --> ABLE TO MAKE THEE WISE UNTO SALVATION.
(My personal thoughts — see the whole walk in one place: from a CHILD — brephos (G1025, child), Strong's says a baby — to SALVATION. And the way between is the holy scriptures, which are able to make you wise — sophizo (G4679, to make wise). The sword of this race is the same book you knew from a child. Never put it away from you.)
10.Matthew 10:16Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.
SENT FORTH AS SHEEP IN THE MIDST OF WOLVES + WISE AS SERPENTS, AND HARMLESS AS DOVES.
(My personal thoughts — notice the word the Lord chose. Not sophos (G4680, wise) here, but phronimos (G5429, wise) — Strong's says thoughtful, discreet. Among wolves the soldier needs the watchful wisdom of the way; and with it akeraios (G185, harmless), which Strong's says means unmixed. Watchful as the serpent, unmixed as the dove: this is how the sent one runs.)
11.James 3:15This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.
THIS WISDOM DESCENDETH NOT FROM ABOVE + EARTHLY, SENSUAL, DEVILISH.
12.James 3:17But 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.
THE WISDOM FROM ABOVE IS FIRST PURE, THEN PEACEABLE + FULL OF MERCY AND GOOD FRUITS.
(My personal thoughts — two wisdoms meet on this field, and the soldier must tell the one from the other. There is a wisdom from below — earthly, sensual, devilish; and there is the wisdom from above — first PURE, then peaceable. Notice the order: pure first. A peace that sells purity is not from above. Fight with the clean wisdom, and the race is run well to the last step.)
4. THE FINISH LINE — WISDOM, AND THE WORD, ABIDETH FOR EVER
(My personal thoughts — every race has an end, and this end is not a wall; it is a Person. All through the study we sought wisdom as a thing to get; at the line she stands up and has a name: Christ, the power of God, and the wisdom of God. The treasures you dug for are hidden in HIM. And wisdom is older than the race — from everlasting, before the earth ever was. The one who runs after wisdom runs after that which cannot pass away.)
1.1 Corinthians 1:24But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.
CHRIST JESUS = MADE UNTO US WISDOM + RIGHTEOUSNESS + SANCTIFICATION + REDEMPTION.
(My personal thoughts — here the whole search ends. Wisdom is not, in the end, a thing at all; it is a Person, and he is made to US. You asked God for wisdom; God gave you his Son. The one who has Christ has wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption along with her.)
3.Colossians 2:3In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
IN WHOM ARE HID ALL THE TREASURES OF WISDOM AND KNOWLEDGE.
(My personal thoughts — remember the crawling days: search for her as for hidden treasures. Now see where the treasures were hidden all along — IN HIM. Not some treasures; ALL. The one who dug toward Christ dug well.)
4.1 Corinthians 2:7But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:
I WAS SET UP FROM EVERLASTING + OR EVER THE EARTH WAS.
(My personal thoughts — notice the tags, and see one thread through the whole book. Get is qanah (H7069, to get) — get wisdom; and possessed here is that same qanah: the LORD POSSESSED wisdom in the reshiyth (H7225, beginning) of his way. What God tells you to get, he himself has had from everlasting. And Paul says the hidden wisdom was ordained BEFORE THE WORLD for our glory — the finish line was laid before the earth ever was.)
7.Proverbs 8:35For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the LORD.
WHOSO FINDETH ME FINDETH LIFE + SHALL OBTAIN FAVOUR OF THE LORD.
8.Daniel 12:3And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.
(My personal thoughts — the runner's crown here is light and glory: the wise will SHINE, forever and ever; the wise will INHERIT glory. And it is not for the runner's own name — those who turn MANY to righteousness. The poor wise man whom no one remembered — God remembers him, and sets him as a star.)
10.Psalm 111:10The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever.
THE FEAR OF THE LORD IS THE BEGINNING OF WISDOM + HIS PRAISE ENDURETH FOR EVER.
(My personal thoughts — the psalm carries you from the first crawl to the last line in one place: the fear of the LORD, the beginning — and praise that LASTS FOREVER. Where the race began, there the song never ends.)
11.Isaiah 40:8The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.
HEAVEN AND EARTH SHALL PASS AWAY + MY WORDS SHALL NOT PASS AWAY.
(My personal thoughts — the scriptures made you wise for salvation; and the scriptures stand when the race is run, and when heaven and earth have passed away. Wisdom was from everlasting, and the word stands forever: the person who runs for these runs for that which lasts. Nothing of this course is lost at the line.)
MOUTH OF TWO
Proverbs 2:6For the LORD givethwisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.
THE LORD GIVETH WISDOM + OUT OF HIS MOUTH COMETH KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING.
Daniel 2:21And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding:
IN THE MOUTH OF TWO OR THREE WITNESSES SHALL EVERY WORD BE ESTABLISHED.
(My personal thoughts — three witnesses, and one testimony: wisdom is GIVEN by God. Solomon says, the LORD gives wisdom. Daniel says, he gives wisdom to the wise. James says, ask of God, and it will be given. Not bought with money, not learned from people — GIVEN. In the mouth of two or three witnesses the matter is established: go to the Giver.)
THE SHADOW AND THE FULFILLMENT
13.1 Kings 3:12Behold, I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart; so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee.
ALL THE EARTH SOUGHT TO SOLOMON + TO HEAR HIS WISDOM, WHICH GOD HAD PUT IN HIS HEART.
15.Matthew 12:42The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for she came from the uttermost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon is here.
JESUS INCREASED IN WISDOM AND STATURE + IN FAVOUR WITH GOD AND MAN.
(My personal thoughts — Solomon asked, and wisdom was GIVEN to him, and all the earth came to hear. There is the shadow. The reality is greater: a child grew in wisdom — he walked the whole way himself, from child to cross — and of him it is said, a GREATER than Solomon is here. Solomon's wisdom drew the queen from the farthest parts of the earth; Christ IS the wisdom of God, and in him are hidden ALL the treasures. Come further than she came, and find more than she found.)
CLOSING
Proverbs 4:18But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.
THE PATH OF THE JUST IS AS THE SHINING LIGHT + THAT SHINETH MORE AND MORE UNTO THE PERFECT DAY.
Colossians 1:9For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;
THAT YE MIGHT BE FILLED WITH THE KNOWLEDGE OF HIS WILL + IN ALL WISDOM AND SPIRITUAL UNDERSTANDING.
(My personal thoughts — now gather the whole way home. First the crawling: where is wisdom found? Ask of God, cry after her, seek her like silver — and begin at the fear of the LORD. Then the walking: get her, do not forsake her, exalt her; walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, and show it with meekness. Then the race and the war: wisdom is better than strength; the weapons are not worldly; a mouth and wisdom given that no enemy can contradict; the scriptures able to make you wise for salvation. Then the line: Christ, the power of God and the wisdom of God, made to us wisdom — possessed by the LORD from everlasting — and the wise will shine like the stars forever and ever. The path of the just shines MORE AND MORE toward the perfect day: this walk does not grow dim at the end; it grows bright. Walk on, and shine.)
GREEK KEYWORDS
These are the keywords for this study. Tap any dotted word in the verses above to see its meaning here.
“wisdom” — G4678 sophia — wisdom, higher or lower, worldly or spiritual
1. James 1:5 — If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and:
a) upbraideth not
b) wearieth not
c) forgetteth not
2. Proverbs 4:7 — Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore:
a) get understanding
b) get wisdom
c) get knowledge
3. Ecclesiastes 9:15 — Now there was found in it a poor wise man, and he by his wisdom:
a) scaleth the city of the mighty
b) was despised, and his words not heard
c) delivered the city
4. Luke 21:15 — For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to:
a) answer nor resist
b) gainsay nor overcome
c) gainsay nor resist
5. James 3:17 — But the wisdom that is from above is first:
a) peaceable, then pure
b) pure, then peaceable
c) gentle, then pure
6. Proverbs 8:22 — The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way:
a) or ever the earth was
b) before his works of old
c) from everlasting
7. 1 Corinthians 2:7 — But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world:
a) unto salvation
b) unto all pleasing
c) unto our glory
ANSWER KEY: 1-a, 2-b, 3-c, 4-c, 5-b, 6-b, 7-c
HOW THIS STUDY BRANCHES
--> How the shadow brings light: wisdom was given Solomon, and all the earth sought to hear it (1 Kings 10:24); the queen came from the uttermost parts, and a greater than Solomon is here (Matthew 12:42) — and that greater is himself the wisdom of God (1 Corinthians 1:24), ready for its own study.
--> How the new covenant explains it: the babe was bidden search for wisdom as for hid treasures (Proverbs 2:4); the apostle shows where they lay — in whom are hid ALL the treasures of wisdom and knowledge (Colossians 2:3) — the digging ends in a Person.
--> How the words matter: beginning in Proverbs 1:7 is reshiyth (H7225 — the first, the chief), and beginning in Proverbs 9:10 is techillah (H8462 — a commencement); and wisdom is the principal thing — reshiyth again (Proverbs 4:7) — and the LORD possessed wisdom in the reshiyth of his way (Proverbs 8:22) — mark which word stands in which place, and why.
--> How it reaches into eternity: wisdom was set up from everlasting (Proverbs 8:23), the hidden wisdom was ordained before the world for our glory (1 Corinthians 2:7), and they that be wise shall shine as the stars for ever and ever (Daniel 12:3).
--> Rabbit trail: two wisdoms stand in one chapter — the wisdom from above, first pure, and a wisdom earthly, sensual, devilish (James 3:15-17) — two fountains, two fruits — search it out.
--> Possible revelation: getteth in Proverbs 3:13 and obtain in Proverbs 8:35 are one Hebrew word (H6329 puwq — to draw out) — the man that draws out understanding day by day is the same that draws out life, and favour of the LORD, at the last.
