Job 28: 12, 20 “From where then does wisdom come? And where is the place of understanding?
Dear God,
I have been thrilled to hear the trills of the song birds, during a full on start to this day with numerous other very noisy birds calling out in joyful noises and tones, peculiar to their individual species; as they perch and fly from bough to bough. I give praise for the happiness they bring, within the pleasure all nature brings to me.
I sometimes think that if I could not hear bird songs and their noises each morning, a little piece of me would whither. But then I remember words in scripture, spoken from a dungeon, that whatever place or situation we find ourselves, we can be content in the enabling of the Holy Spirit.
Job reminds us all wisdom is not innately kept within the birds. Job 28: 21 “It is hidden from the eyes of the living, and concealed from the birds of the air.” How do they know how and what to do that keeps them alive, and that provides progeny to perpetuate each individual species? Surely not by chance it seems too complex? I believe that You as the Almighty God of the universe, created all species with inherent specific abilities that we have enjoyed observing and studying down through the ages. I also observe that as well as these innate abilities given at creation, some have strong instincts that cause them to act in a certain way. These instincts and/or abilities do not automatically indicate that the animal, bird, fish or man/woman, necessarily will know all that is wisdom or even a goodly portion of it.
Job writes within the context of pointing out all the mind bending aspects of nature are each put together/happen in a certain way, and asserts, V23 “God understands its way and He knows its place.” It is satisfying and stimulating to learn of the many discoveries through science about so much in our universe and earth – whether about non-living elements, historically or living things and processes all around us; especially the human body, and much more.
A deeper soul and mind experience can come when all these facts go from the mere interesting, to a confirmation of a loving, all powerful God, who not only cares to create wonderful, intricate, beautiful functioning living things, to the revelation that You placed within every man or woman a mind (we are told by science) with much untapped potential for learning and ability; along with finely tuned emotions and feelings.
There are a number of references in the scriptures that indicate that many Bible writers had found satisfaction and wisdom, during and after times of adversity and hard living. For example, king Solomon after departing from You, became disillusioned in the process of adulterous and luxurious living. He turned around and wrote how wisdom could be found and not found, Proverbs 1:7”The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” Proverbs 9: 10 “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.” Job writing in the same vein states, Job 28: 28 “And to man He said, ‘Behold the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to depart from evil is understanding.”
Because I believe I am Your created person, I can only believe that I was not born with Your wisdom and that You are the font of wisdom. It is apparent that You have gifted us with abilities and a mind that can learn and have wisdom imparted into that mind; and each individual mind can never achieve the wisdom of the Infinite God.
Within the scriptures I discern that any knowledge that robs us of eternal life cannot be called true wisdom, but instead, the knowledge of unwise things. You will always give us true and increasing wisdom in the area’s that really matter and will prosper us in all ways. Proverbs 3: 5, 7 “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not unto thine own understanding.” “Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord and depart from evil.”
Thank You Lord for revealing Yourself in these measures of wisdom, as I take for my own endeavour these Bible texts.
Amen