THE DELIGHTFULLY SWEET & PRACTICAL WORD OF GOD (Part 2)

THE DELIGHTFULLY SWEET & PRACTICAL

BENEFITS OF BIBLICAL WISDOM

Introduction

Before we dive into our Scripture tonight, I want to make a clarification. Last week I said that this psalm was written about 1,000 to 1,500 years ago. I misspoke. It was probably written about 2,500 years ago.

We all have heard of the story of the ant and the grasshopper from Aesop’s fable. The ants, busily storing up grain for the winter, are stopped by a fiddle-holding grasshopper. The grasshopper begs for food and the ants wisely ask, “Haven’t you stored anything away for the winter? What in the world were you doing all last summer?”

The grasshopper replies, “I didn’t have time to store up any food, I was so busy making music that before I knew it the summer was gone.” The ants reply, “Making music, were you? Very well; now dance!”

The ants, biblically speaking, were wise. The ESV Study Bible, in discussing Hebrew wisdom, quip, “Hebrew ‘wisdom’ is readily recognized but difficult to define.” (866) Everyone would readily acknowledge that the ants were wise and the grasshoppers were foolish.

Our verses from this psalm provide the benefits of biblical wisdom. The adjective biblical is important, because it defines the kind of wisdom we are discussing and the wisdom we are in desperate need.

When we discuss wisdom, we are thinking of this helpful definition offered in the ESV Study Bible.

“Biblical ‘wisdom,’ then, might be defined as skill in the art of godly living, or more fully, that orientation which allows one to live in harmonious accord with God’s ordering of the world.”— ESV Study Bible, 866

It is an absolutely vital and necessary aspect of the believer’s life. Wisdom, or a lack thereof, will have enormous ramifications for our lives. Think back to the ants. They wisely gathered grain over the summer and were prepared for the winter. The grasshopper foolishly played his fiddle and ended up facing the winter with little food.

While Aesop’s fable describes the ants and the grasshopper, the Scriptures discuss the wisdom that human beings need to live a life in accordance with God’s Word. We are dealing with the Delightfully Sweet & Practical Word of God, and specifically the Benefits of Biblical Wisdom. It is the contrast so evident in the book of Proverbs, where the fool is contrasted with the wise.

We could almost describe wisdom as a biblical worldview. In his monumental study, Understanding the Times, David Noebel describes this idea of a worldview as,

“Every individual bases his thoughts, decisions and actions on a worldview. A person may not be able to identify his worldview, and it may lack consistency, but his most basic assumption about the origin of life, purpose, and the future guarantee adherence to some system of thought.”—David Noebel, Understanding the Times, 1

He later writes,

“To be more precise, it is a battle between worldviews. On one side is the Christian worldview. On the other is the Humanist worldview divided into three easily definable branches: Secular Humanism, Marxism/Leninism, and Cosmic Humanism or the New Age movement. While the latter three don’t agree in every detail, there is one point on which they unanimously concur—their opposition to Biblical Christianity.”—David Noebel, Understanding the Times, 7

Our psalm, focused almost exclusively on the Word of God, and it is wisdom which comes from the Word of God. It is contrasted with the worldly, human-centered wisdom described frequently in the Scriptures and displayed clearly in current events. Consider just one brief example from the Tower of Babel. In Genesis chapter 9 verse 1 God commanded Noah and his descendents (all human beings) to “be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth.” He repeats the same command in verse 7. In direct opposition to God, humanity thought it best to stay together and construct a tower that would reach heaven. In their own wisdom, they thought it was better to stick together, even though it defied God’s Word.

This is one account of many in the Bible that demonstrated the emptiness of man’s wisdom. Which, as believers, should cause us to have even greater impetus to study the Scriptures for God’s wisdom.

As we consider the Benefits of Biblical Wisdom, we will see several important truths:

I. Biblical Wisdom and Its Source

II. Biblical Wisdom Is Outside Human Originality

III. Biblical Wisdom Is Accessible to Humans Through Divine Intervention

“Biblical ‘wisdom,’ then, might be defined as skill in the art of godly living, or more fully, that orientation which allows one to live in harmonious accord with God’s ordering of the world.”— ESV Study Bible, 866

I. BIBLICAL WISDOM AND ITS SOURCE- 119:98-100

This is assumed in the adjective biblical, but unfortunately many have taken this adjective hostage and held it over a variety of issues that the Scriptures never addressed.

Consider this paragraph from Sojourners, written by Stephen Mattson, (https://sojo.net/articles/not-everything-biblical-christlike, accessed 21 July 2020)

“In a complex society increasingly skeptical about claims related to absolute truth and indisputable facts, it’s increasingly hard to use the Bible to support anything without coming across as biased and prejudiced. But there is a simple solution: start replacing the term ‘biblical’ with the term ‘Christlike,’ because while the Bible can be manipulated to say and mean almost anything, the words, actions, and life of Jesus aren’t as pliable.”—Stephen Mattson, Sojourners, “Not Everything ‘Biblical’ Is Christlike”

Mattson misses the point entirely, as do many believers. He contrasts biblical with Christlike, as if the two are opposed. He is making the case upon the basis people’s misuse of the Scriptures. But is this the most helpful way to talk and think? Consider his proposition again. He encourages us to be Christlike. But where do we learn about Christ?

Biblical wisdom is sourced in the Bible, hence the name biblical wisdom. Now, there are three phrases that the psalmist uses to describe the source of biblical wisdom:

Your commandments

Your testimonies

Your precepts

These three words with the possessive pronouns your all place the source of wisdom within God’s Word. God’s Word is the source of biblical wisdom. I have cited this before, but the London Baptist Confession of Faith summarizes the Scripture’s teaching on the Scripture,

“The Holy Scripture is the only sufficient, certain, and infallible rule of all saving knowledge, faith, and obedience, although the light of nature, and the works of creation and providence do so far manifest the goodness, wisdom, and power of God, as to leave men inexcusable; yet are they not sufficient to give that knowledge of God and his will which is necessary unto salvation.”—London Baptist Confession of Faith, 1689 I:1

The source of biblical wisdom is the Bible, the God-breathed, inspired revelation (2 Tim. 3:16; 2 Pet. 1:21). Wisdom, true and biblical wisdom, stems from the Bible.

Think about Apple Products. They are simple to use, capable of many different things, and have a good reputation. Whether it is a computer, an iPad, or a mobile phone, they are known as good products. Why? Because of their source: Apple. On an infinitely greater scale, biblical wisdom is sourced from the Bible.

Consider the book of Proverbs, the book we normally associate with wisdom literature. The many proverbs recorded have their basis in Scripture and are Scripture.

There are many other sources of wisdom from which many individuals, and even believers, receive insight. Think about humanism. In the Humanist Manifesto III, they write,

“Ethical values are derived from human need and interest as tested by experience. Humanists ground values in human welfare shaped by human circumstances, interests, and concerns and extended to the global ecosystem and beyond. We are committed to treating each person as having inherent worth and dignity, and to making informed choices in a context of freedom consonant with responsibility.”—Humanist Manifesto III

Humanists gather “ethical values” from human need and interest. What has this reasoning led to? Abortion, promiscuity, homosexuality, transgenderism, and many other issues (to name just those related to sexuality). Though they are “committed to treating each person as having inherent worth and dignity,” they neglect to offer this to unborn babies.

This is the line of thinking that allows popular atheist and biological evolutionist, Richard Dawkins to Tweet concerning unborn babies with Down Syndrome on 20 August 2014,

“Abort it and try again. It would be immoral to bring it into the world if you have the choice.”—Richard Dawkins, Twitter, 20 August 2014 on an unborn baby with Down Syndrome

This makes perfect sense if you are a humanist. That is worldly wisdom. Biblical wisdom values all life, and treats all individuals, whether born or unborn, as bearers of the image of God.

We could offer many more examples, ranging from economics to social issues and from ethics to biology. Biblical wisdom is sourced from God’s Word.

But this brings us to our second point, that Biblical Wisdom is Outside Human Originality.

II. BIBLICAL WISDOM IS OUTSIDE HUMAN ORIGINALITY

There are three groups of people that the psalmist references, which we will discuss from another aspect. For now, however, I want to spend a few moments illustrating this point. The three groups of people are:

my enemies

my teachers

the aged

These three groups: enemies, teachers, and the aged, are all different aspects of humans. Enemies are those individuals who are antagonistic toward God’s Word. We have discussed them frequently in our study of this psalm.

The enemies of God cannot attain God’s Wisdom. Consider one example from the sexual revolution. The after affects of this witnessed an increase in homosexual activity, which, on 5 June 1981, saw the publication of the CDC’s report Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. By the end of 1981, 270 reported cases of severe immune deficiency among gay men were revealed, with 121 of those individuals losing their lives.

The enemies of God’s form of human sexuality have witnessed many harmful affects of promiscuity and sex outside the biblical bounds. But do researchers and social theorists think that it is harmful and should be stopped? Actually, the CDC has a STD Fact Sheet, in which several suggestions are offered to help practice safe-sex. Biblical wisdom is outside of the grasp of God’s enemies. They cannot fathom it nor accept it.

But what about the teachers? This refers to teachers of the Law, those individuals familiar with God’s wisdom. There are a few ways to look at this, but considering the context, I believe the most natural reading is that the psalmist, through keeping God’s precepts, had advanced beyond the wisdom of his teachers. By the way, this is the desire of every pastor who cares about the flock of God. Teachers, those who have access to and devote much time and study of the Word of God, can be surpassed by an individual who diligently keeps God’s Word and lives accordingly.

Finally, this Biblical wisdom is outside of the reach of the aged. Now, this is referring to the natural wisdom of aged individuals. Biblical wisdom teaches that older individuals are naturally wiser because they have experienced life, learned from mistakes and accomplishments, and know how people work. They are naturally wise, but biblical wisdom exceeds natural wisdom. Just because an individual is older does not mean they are wiser, in other words.

III. BIBLICAL WISDOM IS ACCESSIBLE TO HUMANS THROUGH DIVINE INTERVENTION

Now, we have observed that Biblical wisdom is sourced in the Bible and that it is naturally beyond human originality. I want to spend a few moments looking at the accessibility of this wisdom. After building up the heavenliness of this wisdom, the disparity between earthly and biblical wisdom, we may be prone to despair because it is so far beyond our reach.

But biblical wisdom is accessible through divine intervention. Notice the possessive verbs that describe the psalmist’s relationship to God’s Word, i.e., the source of wisdom.

your commandments…are ever with me-98

your testimonies are my meditation-99

I keep your precepts-100

The Word of God, the source of Biblical wisdom, was his. He has access to it, but only through divine intervention. And there are several reasons we mention this point.

First, it is divine intervention because it comes from God. It is not sourced in ancient tradition, or founded upon a sophisticated form of philosophy, it is from God, it is God-breathed.

We also say it is through divine intervention because of humanity’s natural state. We are by nature, Paul reminds us, children of wrath (Eph. 2:3). Furthermore, Paul discusses this natural enmity, fighting, between God and the flesh in Romans 8:5-8. It takes divine intervention to change a child of wrath into a child of God, thus providing entrance to Biblical wisdom.

Finally, we say divine intervention because it comes as God takes us as progressively makes us more like Jesus Christ (Rom. 8:29). Consider Solomon’s words in Proverbs 2:1-6. If the son puts in the hard work, or we could say, if God’s commandments are ever with him, if God’s testimonies are his meditation, and if he keeps God’s precepts, then he will have biblical wisdom (life lived in accordance with God’s Word).

God’s wisdom is accessible only through divine intervention, but it is accessible. The question is, Why do so many Christians neglect this wisdom? Or, why do so many Christians look to the Bible and other avenues?

For an example of our own life in the Southern Baptist Convention, in 2019 a resolution was adopted (Resolution 9), which states,

“RESOLVED, That critical race theory and intersectionality should only be employed as analytical tools subordinate to Scripture—not as transcendent ideological frameworks;”—Resolution 9, “On Critical Race Theory And Intersectionality,” approved in 2019

Now, there is a lot we could say about CRT and INT. I will put some links in the description below to help you do your own research. However, there is absolutely no reason that Christians who have access, through divine intervention, to utilize CRT and INT. We may need to delve into the Scriptures deeper, or to look at different aspects of Scripture, but to adopt a godless ideological view, even when it is stipulated with many clarifications, is foolish as best.

Believers have access to all the wisdom that we need in the Bible, it is sourced in the Bible and unattainable by human originality, accessible to believers through God’s intervention.

CONCLUSION AND APPLICATION

The delightfully sweet and practical Word of God is displayed in biblical wisdom. Now, remember our definition of biblical wisdom?

“Biblical ‘wisdom,’ then, might be defined as skill in the art of godly living, or more fully, that orientation which allows one to live in harmonious accord with God’s ordering of the world.”— ESV Study Bible, 866

How, then, do we take our primary thoughts and distill them into practical points to live by?

Our primary points are:

I. Biblical Wisdom and Its Source

II. Biblical Wisdom Is Outside Human Originality

III. Biblical Wisdom Is Accessible to Humans Through Divine Intervention

The first application that I would say is to

Realize the importance of and devote the attention to the source of Biblical wisdom.

It is a sign of great pride when we fail to go to the source of biblical wisdom. This is the sin of which Jeremiah speaks about in Jeremiah 2:12-13. One way in which we can live in biblical wisdom is to study the Bible. There are so many helpful tools out there that can aid us in our study, but it should never replace our time in God’s Word.

A second application is to

Remember that biblical wisdom is outside human originality and as such most forms of thought are antithetical to biblical wisdom.

I mentioned a few examples of this, such as sexual promiscuity or views on abortion. But it bears repeating: any system of thought not delved from the Scriptures has the potential to be harmful at best and devilish at worst. It is the age old battle waging since Genesis chapter 3, it just manifests itself in different forms. From the false gods and goddesses of the Old Testament, to the heresies of the New Testament, to Marxism and secular humanism, Satan has questioned God’s Word, i.e. biblical wisdom, and will continue to do so until God ends Satan’s supposed reign.

Finally, the last application I would offer is

Read and study the Bible, through the divine enablement of the Holy Spirit, in order to live in biblical wisdom.

We need to approach the source of biblical wisdom as Ezra did in Ezra 7:10.