A Closer Walk
“Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways! For WHO HAS KNOWN THE MIND OF THE LORD, OR WHO BECAME HIS COUNSELOR? Or WHO HAS FIRST GIVEN TO HIM THAT IT MIGHT BE PAID BACK TO HIM AGAIN? For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen,” Romans 22:33-36 NASB. According to this passage, riches are to be found in the wisdom of God and in the knowledge of God.
“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding,” Proverbs 9:10 NASB. The Book of Proverbs is believed to be written by ancient Israelite king Solomon, son of David, the shepherd boy who became king of all Israel. Many, including Bible scholars, believe that Solomon was the wisest man who ever lived.
Wisdom from the wisest man who ever lived would likely be extremely valuable for us to pay attention to. “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” What is fear of the Lord? Many tend to define it as respect, or awe. And that captures part of the meaning. But it could also include a component of actual fear or fright. Can you imagine being the Israelites fleeing their slavery in Egypt? Standing on the shore of the Red Sea with the Egyptian Army at their back when suddenly Moses extends both his arms and the Red Sea parts and stands in two walls on either side with a clear path in the middle? Or can you imagine being Lot and his family fleeing Sodom and Gomorrah as fire and brimstone began to rain down from heaven and continued until both cities were utterly destroyed? Because of these stories and many, many others I believe that the “fear” of the Lord can also include a component of actual fear. But take heart, He is also gracious, compassionate, and merciful.
“Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God!” The wisdom of God is higher than the highest mountain. The wisdom of God is deeper than the deepest ocean. But we, you and I, can search and explore that wisdom in The Book Of God's Word, The Bible. An entire lifetime of searching and exploring His Word will not deplete this resource of wisdom. It will, in all likelihood, just scratch the surface. But the rewards for us are plentiful. Learning more about the creator of the universe? Yes, please. Searching for nuggets of wisdom gold in the knowledge of God? Yes, please. His Word ministers to us. “Before I was afflicted I went astray, But now I keep Thy word,” Psalm 119:67 NASB. “It is good for me that I was afflicted, That I may learn Thy statutes,” Psalm 119:71 NASB. “The law of Thy mouth is better to me Than thousands of gold and silver pieces,” Psalm 119:72 NASB. The law of our God's mouth is better for us than thousands of gold or silver pieces.
“How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways! For WHO HAS KNOWN THE MIND OF THE LORD, OR WHO BECAME HIS COUNSELOR? Or WHO HAS FIRST GIVEN TO Him... .” We may not always understand who God is or what he is doing, but He does not owe us, you and me, an explanation. Who HAS known the mind of the Lord? God's Holy Spirit does. And since as children of God this Holy Spirit indwells us He can teach us what we need to know about God; or about what God commands or says. But remember, “The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our sons forever, that we may observe all the words of this law,” Deuteronomy 29:29 NASB. Our God does not want us to know everything He is doing. But those things that have been revealed to us belong to us.
What we do learn from God's Word we should obey. But even if we don't, He will forgive us for that if we ask Him. Learning from God's Word should encourage us to want to learn more about Him and continue searching and exploring. Following what we learn from God's Word can help to keep us out of trouble with our fellow human beings. But more importantly, it will keep us out of trouble with God. And that is of great benefit to us. Agreed?
“When we walk with the Lord in the light of his word, what a glory he sheds on our way! While we do his good will, he abides with us still, and with all who will trust and obey. Not a burden we bear, not a sorrow we share, but our toil he doth richly repay; not a grief or a loss, not a frown or a cross, but is blest if we trust and obey. But we never can prove the delights of his love until all on the altar we lay; for the favor he shows, for the joy he bestows, are for them who will trust and obey. Then in fellowship sweet we will sit at his feet, or we'll walk by his side in the way; what he says we will do, where he sends we will go; never fear, only trust and obey. Refrain: Trust and obey, for there's no other way to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.” Four verses and the refrain from the hymn, “Trust And Obey,” words by John H. Sammis, 1846-1919, music by Daniel B. Towner, 1850-1919.