Wisdom and Knowledge

Proverbs 2:1-15

The book of Proverbs begins with Solomon describing the purposes of his collection of proverbs. These purposes include: to know wisdom and instruction, to give prudence, knowledge and discretion and to increase in learning (1:1-6). However, as the wisest man who ever lived (see Solomon’s Wisdom) he said, ‘The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom’ (1:7). Linking wisdom and knowledge to one’s relationship with God rather than viewing it as an intellectual pursuit is one of the key themes of Proverbs.

Chapter 2 of Proverbs describes the pursuit of wisdom and knowledge as the pursuit of God Himself: ‘If you seek her [wisdom] as silver and search for her as for hidden treasures; then you will discern the fear of the Lord and discover the knowledge of God’ (vv4,5). Wisdom is something to be treasured (v1), cried out for (v3) and sought after (v4). The pursuit of wisdom will affect your hearing (v2), heart (v2), voice (v3) and eyes (v4). Wisdom and knowledge will do you good on the inside with it both entering your heart and being pleasant to your soul (v10).

However, you can’t help but feel as you read through this chapter and the book that this wisdom and knowledge seems to be somehow attainable and yet remain elusive at the same time.
As with so many things, wisdom and knowledge finally become most clearly defined when seen in Jesus, ‘in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge’ (Colossians 2:2,3). Our pursuit, then of true wisdom and knowledge boils down to our pursuit of Jesus. It is because of this that we can pray with Paul, ‘that we may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that we will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord…bearing fruit…and increasing in the knowledge of God’ (Colossians 1:9,10).

The pursuit and possession of Christ-like wisdom will cause us to increasingly reflect Him.

Further reading:     Colossians 1:9-12     Colossians 2:1-7

Worship Video:

To think about:
How would you summarise your current walk with Jesus? Are you being ‘filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding’? What does this look like in your life?

Creative response:

Journal page by Bernice

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The Chief Cornerstone

Psalm 118:1-29

Concealed in the middle of this Psalm is surprising factor in the way God will work out His amazing salvation plan. He has ordained that, ‘The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone.

This is the Lord’s doing; It is marvellous in our eyes’ (vv22,23). This is incredible: God’s plan for salvation will involve the ‘builders’ of the nation rejecting His chosen stone. But God’s plan will not be thwarted as this rejected stone will become the ‘chief cornerstone’!

In the Synoptic Gospels Jesus applied verses 22 & 23 to Himself. In telling a parable about a vineyard owner who rents out his vineyard to people who then kill the son and heir Jesus sent a clear message to His hearers that the fulfilment of this Psalm was near. Jesus’ parable clearly showed that the religious authorities were not acting in accordance with God’s ways. In quoting this Psalm the condemnation of the ‘builders’ was certainly clear to Jesus’ audience of scribes and chief priests who simply worked harder to find a way to kill Him (see Matthew 21:42-45; Mark 12:10-12; Luke 20:17-19)

Peter repeated the message to the religious leaders in Acts 4 when he explains that they (the builders) crucified Jesus (the rejected stone) but He became the chief cornerstone. And He is the only way to salvation (vv10-12)!

This use of Psalm 118:22 is expanded by Peter in his first letter. Describing Jesus as ‘a living stone which has been rejected’ (1 Peter 2:4) he describes us as ‘living stones being built into a spiritual house’ (v5). He quotes Psalm 118 in his argument and moves on to make some almost unbelievable statements about what our salvation means: it is multifaceted and involves us being ‘a chosen race, royal priesthood, holy nation and God’s own possession’ (v9). But at the heart of his argument is the necessity of the rejection of the Stone so that It (He) could become the Chief Cornerstone (vv6-8).

And Paul, too, elaborates upon this imagery when he describes Christ Jesus as the corner stone in whom the whole building fits together and grows into a holy temple, the very dwelling place of God (Ephesians 2:20,21). The chief cornerstone of the Temple was massive. It supported the building but also set its shape and orientation. The rightness of the cornerstone determined the magnificence of the building.

And Our Chief Cornerstone was the stone which the builders rejected.

Further reading:     1 Peter 2:4-10       Ephesians 2:19-22

Worship Video:

To think about:
Meditate on the picture of a building built on the cornerstone of Jesus in which each of us is a living stone.    What elements of that picture encourage you?   What does it mean to you to be a ‘living stone’?

Creative response:

Journal page by Bernice

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Deity, kingship and priesthood

Psalm 110:1-7

This Psalm is quoted or referred to many times in the New Testament. It is written by David, and Jesus picks up on this authorship when debating the identity of the Christ with the Pharisees. In Matthew 22:41-46 Jesus’ line of argument is that since the Psalm opens with ‘The Lord said to my Lord,…’ (v1) it shows that David, the king, is showing deference to someone who is to come. This person must have a higher status if He is called ‘Lord’ by David. Since the only status higher than royal authority is divine status it implies that David is referring to a divine king. It is noticeable that there was no reply to Jesus question!

I want to comment on two further points arising from the Psalm:
(i) The king is seated (vv1,2)
For a king to be able to sit down means that there is no fighting, no war, no enemies standing against him anymore. Throughout the New Testament this image is picked up on and applied to Jesus. He is able to sit down because all things are now in subjection to Him. In Ephesians 1:20-22 this is linked to the resurrection and ascension, a double-move which both establishes Jesus’ position as victor over death and as being seated at the right-hand of the Father in heaven.

(ii) The king is a priest (v4)
As we have already seen, the royal line was the line of Judah. The priests, however, were taken from the tribe of Levi. To therefore appoint the king as ‘a priest forever in according to the order of Melchizedek’ was both surprising and impossible. Kingship meeting the priesthood had implications. The most significant of these was that this king would adhere to the standards of holiness set out for the priests.

It is worth noting the fact that this priest-king is sat down. This means that the priests’ work is also complete: there are no more sacrifices to offer (see Hebrews 8:1,2; 10:11-14).

So this short Psalm talks about the deity, the kingship and the priesthood of Jesus. No wonder it is the most-quoted Old Testament passage in the New Testament!

Further reading:    Matthew 22:41-46 Ephesians 1:20-23 Hebrews 10:11-14

Worship Video:

 

To think about:
Jesus is King and Priest. What implication does that have for us who are described as co-heirs with Christ?

Creative response:

Journal page by Bernice

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Zeal for your house

Psalm 69:1-36

Psalm 69 is not written about Jesus but the situation David describes certainly resonates with Jesus’ experience. If you read the Psalm while considering Jesus you will find a number of direct and indirect references to His suffering, crucifixion and death.

These include:
‘Save me, O God, for the waters have threatened my life’ (v1)

‘I am weary with my crying; my throat is parched’ (v3)

‘Those who hate me without a cause are more than the hairs of my head; Those who would destroy me are powerful, being wrongfully my enemies’ (v4)

‘Because for Your sake I have borne reproach’ (v7)

‘I have become estranged from my brothers, And an alien to my mothers’ sons’ (v8)

Most clear is verse 21, ‘They also gave me gall for my food and for my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink’ which is referred to in all four of the gospel accounts (see Matthew 27: 34,48; Mark 15:23,36; Luke 23:36; John 19:28-30).

This could easily be enough to meditate on from this Psalm but there is also the fascinating statement which the Psalmist makes in verse 9: ‘For zeal for Your house has consumed me.’ This is quoted in John 2:17 in his account of Jesus visiting the Temple in Jerusalem. As He entered the courts of the Temple, Jesus found Himself surrounded by traders selling animals which the people required for the sacrifices. These animals could only be purchased with temple money meaning that people had use Temple money-changers in order to be able to buy their sacrifices. The money-changers were able to fix their own exchange rates in order to take advantage of the captive market. These practices were exploitative, and affected the ability of everyday people to worship God. Jesus saw exactly what was happening. He was seized with a consuming zeal for the sanctity of the Temple and for the supreme importance of the Temple as a space for God’s people to meet with God.

Jesus wanted to restore people back to God and in His actions here He was highlighting how worship had been hijacked by profiteers. But there is no doubt that such zeal-fuelled actions did not play well with the authorities. From this incident early on in His ministry He was a marked man and His uncompromising zeal for the things of God no doubt contributed to His suffering and death as the Psalmist described.

Further reading:      John 2:13-25

Worship Video:

To think about:
Are you consumed with zeal for the worship of God? What do you think zeal for God’s house looks like? What things are there which hinder people worshipping God and how can you make it easier for you and others to come to worship?

Creative response:

Photo by Bernice

Please remember to go back to previous blog posts to see the creative responses that have been added. Click on the thumbnail pictures to view them.

Please share your creative response using the linky below. To use the linky click on 'Click here to enter'. You will need the URL from your own blog or from a photosharing website like Flickr. Alternatively share your response in the Facebook group.