The revelation of wisdom.
Man has searched for wisdom, but in vain. Then God, who has access to it, has revealed it to him, and has shown that it consists in the fear of the Lord and in departure from evil. The existence of a Divine revelation is here distinctly affirmed. God speaks through nature, Scripture, and conscience, and especially in Christ. Now, the Divine revelation of wisdom is here presented to us in two aspects—a positive and a negative. The first of these consists in religion; the second is of a moral character.
I. THE POSITIVELY RELIGIOUS ASPECT OF REVEALED WISDOM. When God reveals wisdom to man it first appears as "the fear of the Lord." Job says, like Solomon, that "the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge" (Proverbs 1:7); it is wisdom; the two are identified. Now, the expression, "fear of the Lord," is the Old Testament name for religion- Therefore wisdom is religion. When we have found true religion we have discovered true wisdom.
1. The highest knowledge is obtained through spiritual experience. Science comes through the study of nature, and history is learnt by reading of past deeds; certainly religion will not dispense with the laboratory and the library. Still, even in these matters the truth-loving spirit-which is the spirit of science—is nourished and strengthened by communion with the eternal Truth. The highest knowledge, however, is of a different order; it is the knowledge that reaches to the meaning and purpose of life, and is not satisfied with the phenomena and processes that are the materials of science. This can only be had by the experience of the truth of God in religion.
2. The best course of life is that which is pursued in obedience to the will of God. It is the function of practical wisdom not so much to reveal mysteries as to show us the path in which we should walk. God has made known that path; he has shown us that the perfect way is one of Christ-like obedience. We live wisely when we acknowledge our Creator, obey our Father, loyally serve our King. Any other way must be foolish, because it will involve ingratitude and rebellion, and must therefore end in ruin. No wise man would choose to ruin himself.
II. THE NEGATIVELY MORAL ASPECT OF REVEALED WISDOM. "To depart from evil is understanding."
1. Sin must be abandoned before truth can be received. Sin blinds the spiritual vision. It is a moral lie, and the enemy to all truth. Bad passions and corrupt desires cloud the judgment and distort the understanding. They are the pure in heart who see God, and all the truth of God is open to the eye of goodness, but shut up and hidden from the prying curiosity of wickedness. A bad man cannot be a true philosopher. He may know many things; he cannot know real truth. The details and the worldly ideas may be acquired by him; but the deeper meaning of everything is lost to such a person.
2. A right understanding of life prompts to repentance. When the light of God begins to fall on the soul, sin is seen for the first time in its hideous natural character. Then we wonder how we could have fondled so loathsome an object. Its disgusting features drive us from it with horror.
3. The life of sin is ruinously foolish. It offers great delights, but its promises are lies. Even its pleasures do not satisfy, and they soon give place to bitter regrets. The wise way of living is the path of purity and integrity—the path which can only be followed in godly fear and Christian faith.—W.F.A.
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Job 28 - job-28 - worlddic.com