KNOWING GOD GOD ONLY WISE What is wisdom

KNOWING GOD

GOD ONLY WISE

What is wisdom? • Wisdom – “is the power to see, and the inclination to choose, the best and highest goal, together with the surest means of attaining it. ” “The practical side of moral goodness”

Gods Wisdom • “God alone is naturally and entirely and invariably wise. ” pg. 90 • It is his essence. – WSC. – Question 4 • God is a Spirit, (John 4: 24) infinite, (Job 11: 7– 9) eternal, (Ps. 90: 2) and unchangeable, (James 1: 17) in his being, (Exod. 3: 14)wisdom, (Ps. 147: 5) power, (Rev. 4: 8) holiness, (Rev. 15: 4) justice, goodness, and truth. (Exod. 34: 6– 7)

TRUST IN THE LORD “Wisdom without power would be pathetic, a broken reed; power without wisdom would be merely frightening; but in God boundless wisdom and endless power are united, and this makes him utterly worthy of our fullest trust. ” Packer pg. 91

Omniscience Governing Omnipotence. • “Omniscience governing omnipotence, infinite power ruled by infinite wisdom, is a basic biblical description of the divine character. ”

A Proper Response to the Wisdom of God • 33 Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! • 34 “ For who has known the mind of the Lord, • or who has been his counselor? ” • 35 “ Or who has given a gift to him • that he might be repaid? ” • 36 For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen. Romans 11: 33 -36

GOD’S WISDOM AND OURS

Wisdom a Gift of God • James 1: 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.

Two Biblical Prerequisites for Obtaining Wisdom. 1. We must learn to reverence God. 2. We must learn to receive God’s Word.

What Wisdom is Not. • Wisdom is not a deepened insight into the providential meaning and purpose of events going on around us.

Help from the Preacher • Ecclesiastes – “vanity of vanity” • “The harder you try to understand the divine purpose in the ordinary providential course of events, the more obsessed and oppressed you grow with the apparent aimlessness of everything, and the more you are tempted to conclude that life really is as pointless as it looks”

Help from the Preacher • “Fear God and keep his commandments” • Ecclesiastes 12: 13