Wisdom

Psalm 111

Wisdom is an attribute that many people would like to have.  That is a quality and trait that we hopefully look for in those we want in important positions. We would hope that our political and business leaders would have wisdom, and most people would like to be known as wise.  In our psalm for today the Lord instructs us exactly how one might gain true wisdom. Let’s look into today’s Scripture and see how we might find real wisdom for our lives.

In verse 10 of our psalm we read that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.  The Lord repeats this word for word in Proverbs 9:10, and slightly different in Proverbs 1:7 where it reads that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge.  Either way, the key to obtaining wisdom or knowledge is “the fear of the Lord”. Since we would like to have wisdom, it’s best to find out what the “fear of the Lord” is.  This type of fear is a healthy respect and reverence for God’s power and authority, and not having a casual or flippant attitude towards Him which we find so much of today.   A true fear of the Lord leads to respect for His commands and principles.

Life experiences and academic knowledge alone do not bring true wisdom. God is the source of wisdom, and He, alone, will give a foundation for making wise decisions.  In the Book of Proverbs, chapters 1, 8 and 9, wisdom is personified and shown as an attribute of God.  It comes from Him, so without the Lord one cannot be truly wise. As we obey the Lord and His commandments, He will give us more understanding and insight.  The more we know God’s Word, the more wisdom we will gain.

There are several other verses in this short psalm which speak a message, as well.  This is a psalm that encourages us to praise the Lord for many different reasons. We are told to praise Him for His works (vs. 2), His righteousness (vs. 3), and His grace and compassion (vs. 4).  We are also encouraged in this psalm to praise the Lord for His provisions (vs. 5), His truth and justice (vs. 7), His redemption (vs. 9), and His wisdom (vs. 10).

Our praise to the Lord God should come from our whole heart and being (vs. 1).   This is a command the Lord Jesus also gave us in Matthew 22:37. People frequently want to find out all they can about someone they have fallen in love with.  We want to know what they like, and what they dislike. We like to know what their interests are, and what “makes them tick”. When we love the Lord, we should want to know about Him and His works.  The best way to do this is through God’s Word, the Bible. As verse 2 says, as we study His Word, we will learn all about the Lord and His works.

In verse 9 we read that the Lord has sent redemption to His people. “Redemption” means the recovery of something or someone upon payment of a ransom.  Before we came to Christ we were all slaves of sin. Jesus paid the price to redeem us by giving His life as a sacrifice.  Before Jesus’ sacrifice on Calvary, people could not come into God’s presence in the Holy of Holies. Now every believer can freely approach God’s throne through the Blood of Jesus.

This short psalm gives us many reasons to praise the Lord.  He is our redeemer, having shed His Blood for our souls. He is also the source of all wisdom, which He bestows on those who fear Him.