Wisdom Wednesday: Wisdom in Isaiah Part 4
Perishing Wisdom
Submitted by Debbie’s Dad
“…the wisdom of their wise men shall perish and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid” (Isaiah 29:14) NASB 95
We continue this series of devotions, which explores the theme of wisdom throughout the Book of Isaiah. In chapter 10, we saw how God exposed the arrogance of the King of Assyria, who pridefully claimed that he conquered through his own wisdom and power (10:13-19). Then in chapter 11 we saw the promise that the tall trees (powerful armies) of the arrogant kings will be destroyed and, “Then a shoot will spring from the stem of Jesse, and a branch from his roots will bear fruit.” (11:1). We saw that this branch growing up from the family of Jesse (and David) is the Messiah that Isaiah was proclaiming. In contrast with the foolish and boastful Assyrian king, God promised that a humble, tender shoot would grow to become the wise King over his people.
In chapter 29, Isaiah returns to the people of Judah who have turned away from God. In verses 1-8, Isaiah warns that Jerusalem (the capital of Judah) will be besieged (surrounded) by a fierce enemy as a judgment from God. (The Assyrians did besiege Jerusalem in 701 BC under Sennacherib, as recorded in Isaiah 37, but was saved by God).
But the leaders of Jerusalem ignored the warning, as if they were blind to the coming judgment (vv. 9-12) and unable to read Isaiah’s warning. This was because of their blindness – spiritual insincerity. God spells out their spiritual condition – and the result:
“ Then the Lord said,
“Because this people draw near with their words
And honor Me with their lip service,
But they remove their hearts far from Me,
And their reverence for Me consists of tradition learned by rote,
Therefore behold, I will once again deal marvelously with this people, wondrously marvelous;
And the wisdom of their wise men will perish,
And the discernment of their discerning men will be concealed.” (29:13-14)
Because they were not genuine in their worship and insincere in their hearts, God will punish their wisdom and understanding. Look at what this means:
- Wisdom of their wise men will perish- The men in Jerusalem who are counted on to advise the people (priests, judges, prophets, seers) will not comprehend what is happening. They will not understand what God is doing in judgment and will lead people astray. The things they say – their “wisdom” will perish (Hebrew abad; perish, be annihilated, destroyed). Isaiah describes this also in chapter 44, when listing the things God has done in judgment, “…Causing the omens of boasters to fail, Making fools out of diviners, Causing wise men to draw back and turning their knowledge into foolishness …” (Isa 44:25)
- Discernment of their discerning men will be concealed – The men that discerned truth in making judgments no longer could determine right or wrong.
Paul cites these verses in his explanation to the Corinthians when he refers to those who rejected the idea that God would use the punishment of His own Son on the cross to redeem sinful people from their sin:
For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written,
“I WILL DESTROY THE WISDOM OF THE WISE,
AND THE CLEVERNESS OF THE CLEVER I WILL SET ASIDE.”
Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? (1 Co 1:18-20)
Indeed, this judgment of perishing wisdom directed at Jerusalem was also prophesied against the wise men of Egypt (See Isaiah 19:11-12) and Babylon. This occurs when God’s warning is ignored and leaders think like the Babylonians that felt secure in their wickedness and said in their hearts, “…No one sees me,” and “I am, and there is no one besides me.” (See Isaiah 47:10).
Let us seek God’s wisdom that will never perish and will never delude us.