Wisdom Wednesday: Wisdom and Glory
Submitted by Debbie’s Dad
” Yet we do speak wisdom among those who are mature; a wisdom, however, not of this age nor of the rulers of this age, who are passing away; but we speak God’s wisdom in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God predestined before the ages to our glory; the wisdom which none of the rulers of this age has understood; for if they had understood it they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.(NASB 95),
-1 Co 2:6–8
Two important themes in Scripture are God’s wisdom and glory, and both are highlighted in the passage above. This is because God’s Glory and Wisdom are intrinsically related.
- The Glory of God is literally the “weight’ of God–the weight of his character. The Hebrew word translated “glory” is kavod referring to God’s weight or His worth.
- The Wisdom of God refers to His means to achieve His ends. The Hebrew word translated “wisdom” is Chokmah, the ability to make correct decisions, to develop the best plan.
Knowledge and understanding refer to a complete comprehension of truth. Wisdom goes a step further, by taking action t accomplish an end, or objective, The ultimate (highest) objective of God is to reveal His glory or character. He accomplishes this by means of sharing His wisdom with us to know Him. His glory is the goal, His wisdom charts the path.
Believers are encouraged to ask God for wisdom (James 3:17). The fear of God’s weight is the prerequisite for obtaining this wisdom (Proverbs 1:7) And God’s wisdom enables believers to live a life that is, according to Paul, “to our glory”—to have the knowledge in a personal relationship with the Lord of Glory, Jesus Christ. Paul prayed for the believers at Ephesus that, “… the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him.” (Eph. 1:7)
In the chapter to the Corinthians before this passage Paul pointed out that Jesus Christ is “the power of God and the wisdom of God.” (1Cor 1:24) and that believers in Jeus are “in Christ Jesus, Who became wisdom from God.” (1Cor 1:30).
Jeremiah the Prophet emphasized this very point – the glory of a person (their weight of character, the thing in which they might “boast”) must be in their relationship with God.
Thus says the Lord, “Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord who exercises lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on earth; for I delight in these things,” declares the Lord. (Jeremiah 9:23–24 NASB 95)
And Paul cites this very passage from Jeremiah to make his point to the believers at Corinth! He said, “” so that, just as it is written, ’Let him who boasts, boast in the Lord’ “ (1 Cor. 1:31)
The following chart illustrates the relationship between God’s wisdom and glory.
If we are to achieve God’s purpose – to glorify or reveal Him to others in our life – we must be able to apply His wisdom to follow His plan. Let us pray for wisdom to reveal Him to others.