The World’s Wisdom v God’s Wisdom

Wisdom

Introduction: The World’s Wisdom vs. God’s Wisdom

Open with humor:

A wise man once said, “Never play leapfrog with a unicorn.” Now, that’s not in the Bible, but it does illustrate how the world’s idea of wisdom can be… well, a little off.

We live in a world overflowing with information but starving for wisdom. We have smart devices, smart TVs, even smart refrigerators—but are we any wiser? Wisdom, biblically defined, is not about IQ but about skill in godly living.

Today we begin a journey through the Wisdom Books of the Old Testament—Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Solomon. These are God’s inspired guidebooks for navigating life, relationships, pain, and even pleasure with a heart aligned to His will.

Let’s explore three big truths:

I. Wisdom is the Skillful Application of God’s Truth (Proverbs 1:7)

Subpoint A: What is Biblical Wisdom?

Biblical wisdom is not about head knowledge—it’s about heart orientation.

Proverbs 1:7 – “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; Fools despise wisdom and instruction.”

To "fear the LORD" isn’t to be terrified but to stand in awe of His holiness and sovereignty. Wisdom begins when we recognize that God is God and we are not.

Illustration: Imagine a teenager trying to fix a car engine by YouTubing random videos instead of reading the owner's manual. That's how many people approach life—using worldly hacks instead of God’s handbook.

Subpoint B: The Proverbs Model - Practical Wisdom

The Book of Proverbs, primarily authored by Solomon, gives us short, memorable sayings to help us live godly lives in everyday decisions.

Proverbs 3:5–6 – “Trust in the LORD with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight.”

It’s like God’s GPS system—but we often ignore “Heaven’s recalculating.”

Humor: You know someone is ignoring wisdom when they say, “Hold my sweet tea—I’ve got an idea!”

Subpoint C: Wisdom is Learned Through Reverence and Repetition

We gain wisdom through Scripture, godly counsel, life experience, and sometimes... failure. God often lets us scrape our knees so we’ll learn to walk His path.

II. Wisdom Literature Speaks in Poetry, Pain, and Praise

Subpoint A: Literary Beauty and Diversity

The Wisdom Books use poetry, parallelism, metaphor, and allegory. Hebrew poetry doesn’t rhyme words; it rhymes ideas.

Synonymous Parallelism:

Psalm 19:1 – “The heavens are telling of the glory of God; And their expanse is declaring the work of His hands.”

Antithetic Parallelism:

Proverbs 10:1 – “A wise son makes a father glad, But a foolish son is a grief to his mother.”

Chiastic structures, acrostics, and metaphors enrich the message and invite meditation.

Subpoint B: Psalms - Wisdom in Worship

Psalms is Israel’s songbook—and it includes every emotion imaginable.

Psalm 1:1–2 – “How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked... But his delight is in the law of the LORD.”

We meet worshipers who rejoice (Psalm 100), repent (Psalm 51), and wrestle (Psalm 73).

Illustration: David’s Psalms are like spiritual country songs—honest, heartfelt, and often starting with a problem but ending with praise.

Subpoint C: Job - Wisdom in Pain

Job gives us a raw, poetic, and theological wrestling with suffering.

Job 28:28 – “And to man He said, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; And to depart from evil is understanding.’”

Job’s friends thought wisdom meant giving easy answers. God shows that true wisdom is often silent before mystery.

Humor: Ever had someone quote Romans 8:28 while you’re suffering? Sometimes we need less quoting and more sitting.

III. Wisdom’s Voices Sometimes Disagree—But God's Truth Remains

Subpoint A: Divergent Perspectives in the Wisdom Books

Each book gives a unique voice:

Proverbs says: Obey God and life will generally go well.

Ecclesiastes says: Even if you do everything right, life can still feel meaningless.

Job says: Sometimes suffering has nothing to do with your actions at all.

At first glance, they seem to contradict—but they complement each other like instruments in a symphony.

Illustration: Think of the Wisdom Books like a family reunion. Proverbs is the practical uncle. Ecclesiastes is the philosophical cousin. Job is the wounded grandpa. Psalms is the musical sibling. Song of Solomon is the... well, we all know who brought the awkward poetry!

Subpoint B: Ecclesiastes - Wisdom in Perspective

Solomon writes Ecclesiastes near the end of his life. He had it all—wealth, women, wisdom—but still felt empty.

Ecclesiastes 1:2 – “Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher, “Vanity of vanities! All is vanity.”

His conclusion?

Ecclesiastes 12:13 – “The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person.”

It’s not meaningless when God is at the center.

Subpoint C: Song of Solomon - Wisdom in Passion

While often avoided in sermons, the Song of Solomon celebrates marital love and intimacy within God’s design.

Song of Solomon 8:6 – “Put me like a seal over your heart... For love is as strong as death.”

It’s God’s reminder that wisdom includes our relationships and emotions, not just our logic and doctrine.

Humor: Some churches are so uncomfortable with Song of Solomon, you'd think it was rated PG-13! But it’s right there in the Bible—proof that God invented romance before Hallmark did.

Conclusion: Christ—The Wisdom of God (1 Corinthians 1:24)

All the Wisdom Books ultimately point us to Jesus Christ.

1 Corinthians 1:24 – “...Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.” Colossians 2:3 – “In whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.”

Jesus is our better Job—who suffered unjustly. Jesus is our truer Solomon—wiser than any king. Jesus is our Shepherd from the Psalms, our meaning in Ecclesiastes, our Bridegroom in Song of Solomon.

Application Questions:

Do you fear the Lord enough to seek His wisdom daily?

Are you applying biblical wisdom in your decisions, relationships, and worship?

When life doesn’t make sense, do you trust the God who does?

Final Illustration: A young boy was watching his grandfather read the Bible with great intensity. He asked, “Grandpa, are you trying to learn something?” The old man smiled and said, “No, son—I’m letting it learn me.”

May we not just learn the wisdom books—may we let them shape us, break us, and rebuild us into people who live skillfully for God’s glory.