Wisdom Wednesday: Rejecting God’s Wisdom
Submitted by: Debbie’s Dad
“The wise men are put to shame, they are dismayed and caught; Behold, they have rejected the word of the Lord, and what kind of wisdom do they have?” (Jeremiah 8:9 NASB)
The prophets lamented the failure of Israel’s spiritual leadership to follow Jehovah. Across a two-hundred-year period when the prophets Hosea (~760-710 BC,) Isaiah (740-690 BC), Jeremiah (~597-586 BC) and Malachi (~470-460 BC) has a common theme—they all called out the spiritual (priests) and political (princes, judges) leaders for failing to remain faithful to the way of living described clearly in their Scripture.
They rejected it! Jeremiah asks, in exasperation, “…what kind of wisdom do they have?”
- Hosea described God’s perspective that His people do not even have knowledge (of Him!) “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being My priest. Since you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children.” (Hosea 4:6.)
- Isaiah specified the wickedness and corruption of the leaders in His day: “How the faithful city has become a harlot, she who was full of justice! Righteousness once lodged in her, but now murderers. Your silver has become dross, your drink diluted with water. Your rulers are rebels, and companions of thieves; Everyone loves a bribe, and chases after rewards. They do not defend the orphan, nor does the widow’s plea come before them.” (Isaiah 1:21-23.)
- Malachi lamented how corrupt spiritual leaders turned people away from instruction in the way of God: “For the lips of a priest should preserve knowledge, and men should seek instruction from his mouth; for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts. But as for you, you have turned aside from the way; you have caused many to stumble by the instruction; you have corrupted the covenant of Levi,” says the Lord of hosts. (Malachi 2:7-8.)
What kind of wisdom is this? This is foolishness, the rejection of true wisdom that fears the Lord and walks humbly in His way. According to these prophets, these leaders lost the knowledge of God, became wicked and corrupt, and caused others to stumble from the way.
Let us beware of spiritual and political leaders who reject the Word of the Lord, are rebels, companions of thieves, cause people to stumble from true wisdom, and in their greed fail to show compassion for those in need.