Starting today is the 56th annual Memphis School of Preaching Lectureship. This year's theme is, “Who Is Wise.” This is a time that my family and I greatly look forward to each year and this is no different. I thought about the theme and it made me contemplate that very valid question that composes it, who is wise?
In many cases, we might look at our modern era and consider all of our advances in education, technology, and medicine and say there might be more intelligence in today’s society than at any other time in history. However, it does not take much research to show there are not many wise individuals today regardless of their educational acumen. So if we lack wisdom in this world today, what is the reliable source to find it?
The prophet Hosea wrote, “Who is wise, that he may understand these things? prudent, that he may know them? for the ways of Jehovah are right, and the just shall walk in them, but transgressors shall fall therein” (Hosea 14:9). If we want to be wise, have understanding, and be prudent, we must consider the ways of Jehovah. The ways of man are often ignorant, not because man is incapable of knowing most things, he just does not know them. In a larger sense, there are things that man does not know and cannot know (Deut. 29:29) and that is fine; we just need to focus on what we can know. We also should leave the things we do not know to the Creator of all things.
The ways of Jehovah are right. The standard of morality in this world is Jehovah’s. Without a divine lawgiver, there is no source for divine law. Who defines murder, lying, and the like as morally reprehensible? These crimes may cause the victim or their families to be angry, but what makes those crimes wrong in themselves? It must come from a higher source than man.
Jehovah declares, “The just shall walk in them (God’s ways), but transgressors shall fall therein.” If we want to be justified, we will walk in the ways of Jehovah. It is the only standard that has a fully pure source. In the same way, the divine law of God will also be the source of the fall of those who will not submit and keep the will of Jehovah. At this point, someone might say Hosea was an Old Testament prophet. He was under the Law of Moses and the things he said were pertaining to the Mosaic dispensation. Simeon, an inspired prophet in the New Testament, said to Mary the Mother of Jesus, “Behold, this child is set for the falling and the rising of many in Israel; and for a sign which is spoken against; yea and a sword shall pierce through thine own soul; that thoughts out of many hearts may be revealed” (Luke 2:34-35).
Jesus was certainly the source of the falling of many in Israel because His teaching was a stumbling block to some. “Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, The same was made the head of the corner; This was from the Lord, And it is marvelous in our eyes (Matt. 21:42, see also 1 Cor. 1:23).
Jesus was also at the same exact time the source of many rising up in Israel. Romans 6:4,9 reminds us of how we are raised up in conversion. Moreover, Paul wrote,
but God, being rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace have ye been saved), and raised us up with him, and made us to sit with him in the heavenly places, in Christ Jesus:
Ephesians 2:4-6
Who then is wise? The one who will hear and heed the Word of Jehovah. Christ offers wisdom to all men. May we seek wisdom like the faithful before? When given the option of wisdom seek the authentic source, not a cheap knockoff. Who is wise? The Bible tells of how the who can be you.
Grace and Peace,
R.D. Beavers
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