Wisdom is Supreme
by Dr. Lafe Murray, pastor of Congregational Church of the Valley, Chandler, Arizona.
The response of many to the teaching that wisdom is supreme has been interesting. Solomon’s book of Proverbs focuses on wisdom, while Paul’s books in the New Testament focus on grace and love. Yet even when taking a course of Bible studies on wisdom, a class was asked what is most important to the Christian life, lastly, after 20 or so suggestions, someone finally said, “Wisdom.”
Solomon was right to focus on wisdom and proclaim that wisdom is first or supreme (Proverbs 4:7). David, his father, had taught him this (Proverbs 4:3–5). It is noteworthy that he also writes through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit that nothing one can desire compares to wisdom (Proverbs 3:15, 8:11). Solomon’s life was one dedicated to wisdom, even to the point that he explores foolishness in the hopes of learning more about wisdom (Ecclesiastes 1:17). His prayer for wisdom as a young king is the one prayer in the entire Bible that is directly said to have pleased God (1 Kings 3:10). Wisdom is one of few subjects linked to the tree of life (Proverbs 3:18). That she is personified I believe speaks volumes to wisdom’s importance. Nothing else is personified like wisdom, grace coming close in Titus 2:11–13.
After I had spent years of studying this subject, James 3:17 jumped out at me that wisdom is first of all, or most importantly, pure. It dawned on me that evil has tainted or polluted all that we know of the physical, and that there are evil beings in the spiritual, but wisdom has remained pure. Solomon really stretches our knowledge of wisdom in the 8th chapter of Proverbs when he gives it existence before everything else was created (Proverbs 8:23–30).
Defining wisdom is maybe the most difficult part. It is complex or manifold (Ephesians 3:10). Proverbs 9:1 claims that wisdom has seven pillars, or parts. First, it is a great relationship with God that begins with fear ( Psalm 111:10). Second, it is obviously the opposite of foolishness (Proverbs 10:23). Third, it is skill to do great things (Exodus 31:1–5) that becomes (or is upgraded to) spiritual giftings in the New Testament. Fourth, virtue or godliness is produced in those who are wise (Proverbs 8:13). Fifth, wisdom is found in the elderly and rare in youth (Job 12:12). Sixth, wisdom is the pure or the absolute unchanging knowledge of God (James 3:17). And seventh, it does have a mental component (2 Timothy 2:15) linked more often to understanding than to knowledge. Solomon’s weakness was that he focused more on knowledge than having a great relationship with God. David’s strength was that he was a man after God’s own heart (Acts 13:22) or relationship.
Most of what I do with wisdom is the focus on a great relationship with God. It begins with fear, but this is not God’s end game. Fear is distance — and what can be more distant than the infinite from the finite. Humans are specks compared to God. God presses the relationship by offering rules for us to obey that make our life better. This is the relationship of master-slave; it is the largest jump that God makes toward us as He communicates with us His desires. Next Jesus gives us the relationship of friendship (John 15:15). Friendship is the offer of two way communication or prayer. Few in the Old Testament enjoyed such a relationship with God. Could it get any better? Yes. God adopts us into His spiritual family — one of Jesus’ central doctrines is the Fatherhood of God. Jesus is our oldest brother, who by His faithfulness has given us a great inheritance (Rom. 8:17). This relationship is great, but God proposes marriage. God’s end game that began with fear is intimacy. Most of what is taught about marriage in Ephesians 5:22–33 is about Jesus and the church (Ephesians 5:32). From this great marriage with Jesus in the future comes the great truths Paul uses to teach about marriage.
Wisdom is complex, but not too difficult to understand with some study. Jesus is the Wisdom of God (Luke 11:49, 1 Cor. 1:24). He is God, Lord, Redeemer Friend, Older Brother, and future Husband. With this fivefold relationship with God are five key words — holy, just, merciful, gracious and glorious. In God’s love He has provided a “reversal of sin plan” that began in the Old Testament, was upgraded with Jesus’ death, resurrection and ascension in the New Testament, and will be upgraded (I assume) with Jesus’ return. The last enemy to be defeated is death (1 Corinthians 15:26) so sin will have already been taken care of before that. Most of what we know about God’s character is from His response to sin (patience, justice, mercy, grace, and love). God draws us closer and closer to Him to help us with sin.
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Pastor Lafe is offering his nine week Bible study “Wisdom and Beyond” via email free to
anyone who asks at lafemu@juno.com or for $5.00 to pay for postage if a physical copy is needed. “Wisdom and Beyond” is now a half hour radio broadcast on the Internet at elshaddairadio.com at 9 a.m. Pacific Time.
