We all would like to think that we are wise to a certain degree, and where we lack wisdom, hopefully we seek out someone that we feel is wise to help instruct us. It’s always good to know an older and wiser man or woman to whom we can turn for help and guidance. Wouldn’t it be nice if someday we could be that older and wiser person that others turn to! But where can we get that wisdom? In our psalm for today the Lord tells us where to start on a path to achieving true wisdom and understanding. Let’s take a look.
Some people equate getting wisdom with getting a lot of school and university education. They think that the more university degrees one has attached to their name, the wiser they are. Though there is certainly nothing wrong with getting as much school education as one can, that is not the key to having wisdom. Some of the most “educated” people around lack genuine wisdom, while some people who are barely literate have what God calls true wisdom. So where is true wisdom found, and how does someone obtain it? Jesus, who is Creator of the whole universe, and the source of all wisdom, gives us the answer. We need to turn to His Word, the Bible, to find our answer.
In verse 10 of our psalm today we read that “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; a good understanding have all those who do His commandments.” Do you wish to be wise? Fear the Lord. Do, or obey, His commandments. Reverence for God is the beginning of wisdom. Showing Him proper “fear”, or respect, reverence, and worship will lead to wisdom (Proverbs 1:7). Solomon was one of the wisest people who ever lived, and a collection of many of his sayings, along with those of other people of wisdom, were put into the Book of Proverbs in the Bible. There he repeatedly instructs us to fear the Lord, as we are also told throughout the Bible. This fear is not one of anxiety or panic. It is a healthy respect and reverence for God, and His power and authority.
A healthy fear of the Lord leads to a respect for His commands and Word. Through God’s Word we learn how He wants His children to live, and as we do so, we will wish to do what pleases Him. Believers will find obedience to God a joy, not a burden, and it will lead us to that goal of obtaining wisdom and understanding. As we study God’s Word, the Bible, we begin to gain more wisdom (Proverbs 8). God gives more insight and understanding to those who study and obey His commandments and Word. True wisdom doesn’t come just from life experiences and academic knowledge. God is the true and sure source of wisdom. Anything else is a weak and unstable foundation.
As we study God’s Word, we find out more and more about Him (vs. 2). Isn’t that something that believers should want to have, more knowledge about God? Since God is the source of all wisdom, and we desire to be wise, the best way to get that wisdom and understanding is to study His Word more, to find out more of His works and what He has done in the world.
One thing that we soon find out as we study the Bible is that when God makes promises to His people, He keeps them. God has promised that He would provide for all of our needs (Philippians 4:19), and He has done so (vs. 5-6). God promised all through Scripture that He would bring salvation to His people. He provided the means for that salvation through His Son, and those who accept the Lord Jesus will receive it (vs. 9). God’s Word is more than just some tips on how to live a better life. It shows us the way of salvation and eternal life.
In response to God’s promise of wisdom and understanding to those who fear and obey Him, in response to keeping all of the promises He has made to us, God desires our whole-hearted love and worship (vs. 1). We wouldn’t want our spouse or loved one to just partially love us, or only have a partial interest in us. Partial love or interest is not satisfying for us, nor desired. Neither does God want that. We need to worship Him with our whole heart, and love Him with our whole heart (Matthew 22:37). Love God, fear or give proper reverence and respect to Him, and obey His Word, and we can gain true wisdom and understanding.
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