The Glory Of Wisdom

The Glory of Wisdom

The king said to Daniel, “Surely your God is the God of gods and the Lord of kings.”

Daniel 2:47

IN WORD God’s wisdom is noticeably different than the world’s. Psalmists and kings craved it. The queen of Sheba even came an enormous distance to witness its fruits. It is “inside information” from the throne room of God, and it always has an impact on those privileged to be around it.

When wisdom is missing, the results can be tragic. The impact of a believer or church is practically nullified by a lack of wisdom. When God’s people act in ignorance—which usually happens because of rash decisions, personal agendas, and not having an open mind when seeking God—the power of a testimony is lost. It’s virtually impossible to witness to the power and purposes of God while living in futility.

That wasn’t the case with Daniel, of course. The opposite was true: Daniel’s ability to hear God’s voice and accept His guidance had a powerful impact on the kings of Babylon and their pagan empire. It also had a powerful impact on God’s own people, at times assuring their preservation and deliverance. When God’s wisdom is made manifest, He receives glory.

IN DEED We live in a foolish world, and it’s sad when Christians blend in. But we’re just as capable of making reckless decisions as anyone, at least when we are not in the practice of listening to the voice of God and obeying His Word. A carefully cultivated relationship with Him rarely results in tragic missteps, but a person or church that functions in human wisdom without truly, diligently seeking God is destined for failure. The best we can do on our own is to establish respectable families and effective organizations. That’s fine as far as it goes—but no one glorifies God over that.

No, praise results when the Revealer of mysteries leads us where no one could go without “inside information.” God makes paths straight and fills us with purpose. When we live with His wisdom, people who do not know Him—even hardened ones like King Nebuchadnezzar—are introduced to His glory.

His wisdom’s vast, and knows no bounds, a deep where all our thoughts are drowned.

—ISAAC WATTS