The Superiority of Wisdom

     Those who believe the Bible is credible and the source of knowledge and wisdom have a base for understanding and discernment.  The Bible has a great deal to say about those who take Biblical teachings lightly.  Everyone has the freedom of choice as to view the Bible as credible or not.

     Consider the first of Solomon’s proverbs.

     “Wisdom calls aloud outside; she raises her voice in the open squares… at the openings of the gates in the city she speaks her words; ‘How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity?  For scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge.’”  Proverbs 1:20-22

     There are three levels of rejection in the above passage.  The first level is termed ‘simple’ which from its Hebrew base means seducible or ignorant.  The next level is termed ‘scorners’.  Scorners mock or deride the truth, and thirdly are ‘fools’ meaning stupid, obstinate, or those who won’t listen.

     The term ‘knowledge’ in the above passage means insight or understanding.

     In the first and eighth chapters of the book of Proverbs, wisdom is personified.  That truth is further explained in the New Testament.

     “…Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God…But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God – and righteousness and sanctification and redemption”  I Corinthians 1:24b, 30

     “…and attaining to all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of God, both of the Father and of Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.”  Colossians 2:2b-3

     So then, to desire wisdom is to desire the person of Christ.  Wisdom is made readily available to those who seek it.

     “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.”  James 1:5

     And true wisdom will transcend any counterfeit.

     “But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.”  James 3:17

     Therefore, true wisdom is invaluable and readily available.  But there will always be those who would rather go it on their own.  The Bible also addresses that segment of any population.

     “Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the LORD, they…despised my every rebuke.  Therefore they shall eat the fruit of their own way…For the turning away of the simple will slay them and the complacency of fools will destroy them…”  Proverbs 1:29-32

     Likewise, there is a promise for those who genuinely seek wisdom.

     “But whoever listens to me will dwell safely; and will be secure, without fear of evil.”  Proverbs 1:33

     The Hebrew for ‘evil’ in the above has several synonyms including disaster, adversity, distress, or calamity.

     Is America dwelling safely now, and are we living securely without the fear of evil? 

     Every piece of proposed legislation or executive order can be weighed against God’s standard of justice.  Even such national fiscal issues as redistribution, deficit spending, and borrowing are clearly spelled out in the Bible.  But there are more subtle issues that should alert citizens as to the depth of our depravity.

     No one would argue that our constitution originally and openly reflected Biblical principles.  Consider presently, however, that many issues are adjudicated as ‘unconstitutional’ even if the issues adhere to God’s standards.  Examples include the pro-life issue and the definition of marriage.  Recall the warning about calling good evil, or evil good.

     Other attempts to usurp God’s authority include the concepts of progressivism and social justice.  And while mankind may truly believe that changing morality warrants changing legal standards, such thinking cannot be confirmed in the Bible.

     The benchmark for God’s standard of justice and definition of righteousness has not changed through the ages, nor will it change.  One of God’s attributes is His immutability.

        

     Those who believe America has rejected wisdom would also believe those responsible for decision making at the national level are content to be simpletons, scorners, or fools.

     The consequences of this great nation rejecting wisdom are becoming more obvious each day.  Only fools would reject that which is superior and free.

"...things that must take place..."

     The degradation of the nations has been a continuous journey, and the direction doesn’t appear to be changing.

     Recall God’s standard of justice was given to Israel prior to entering the promised land of Canaan as examples for the other nations during this present age. After God revealed His standard He gave Israel the choice to either obey or disobey.

     “Now it shall come to pass, if you diligently obey the voice of the LORD your God, to observe carefully all His commandments which I command you today, that the LORD your God will set you high above all nations of the earth.  And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, because you obey the voice of the LORD your God…”  Deuteronomy 28:1-2

     If, however, Israel chose not to obey they would be cursed.

     “But it shall come to pass, if you do not obey the voice of the LORD your God, to observe carefully all His commandments and His statutes which I command you today, that all these curses will come upon you…”  Deuteronomy 28:15

     Time and time again throughout the period of the Judges and Kings, Israel disobeyed God’s commandments and statutes.  God in His longsuffering repeatedly encouraged Israel to repent and return to Him.

     “…if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”  2 Chronicles 7:14

     In spite of God’s seemingly endless patience, there came a time when both Israel and Judah passed the point of no return.

     “They have turned back to the iniquities of their forefathers who refused to hear My words, and they have gone after other gods to serve them; the house of Israel and the house of Judah have broken My covenant which I made with their fathers.  Therefore thus says the LORD: ‘Behold, I will surely bring calamity on them which they will not be able to escape; and though they cry out to Me, I will not listen to them.’”  Jeremiah 11:10-11

     God then told Jeremiah his intercession was to no avail.

     “So do not pray for this people, or lift up a cry or prayer for them; for I will not hear them in the time that they cry out to Me because of their trouble.”  Jeremiah 11:14

     History confirmed Israel was divided after Solomon’s reign which ended in 931 BC.  The northern tribes were overtaken by Assyria while southern Judah was overpowered by Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon.

     It is easy to believe such a thing as America’s demise could never happen.  America, many believe, is too powerful and indispensable to fall.  However, let’s place Israel’s fall in proper perspective.

     The Apostle Paul summarized Israel’s experiences of disobedience in his letter to the church at Corinth.

  “Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.  Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.”  1 Corinthians 10:11

     Then the final book of the Bible sums up this current age, the great tribulation, the millennial kingdom, and the age of ages.  While the Apostle John was on the island of Patmos he heard Christ talking to him saying:

     “Write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after this.”  Revelation 1:19

     The Greek translation for the term ‘will’ in the present context means an event to take place or come to pass.  After being told of the seven churches John is summoned up to heaven and Christ reveals more to him.

     “After these things I looked…And the first voice which I heard was…speaking with me, saying, ‘Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place after this.’”  Revelation 4:1

     The Greek basis for the term ‘must’ means necessary or need.  It is further defined as the result of the depravity and wickedness of man.

     John then learns in great detail of the inevitable, unfathomable destruction that befalls the entire earth.

    

    

The Sabbath and the New Testament

     Recently a friend inquired about the relevance of the Sabbath and the New Testament Church.  That’s a very good question and the scripture is not silent on the issue.

     The Hebrew base for ‘Sabbath’ is Shabbathon and means a sacred time of rest.  The Greek base for ‘Sabbath’ is sabbaton which also means rest, or a cessation from labor and is in fact transliterated from the Hebrew Shabath.

     The first use of the word is found in Genesis signifying God’s completion of creation.

     “Thus the heavens and the earth, and all the host of them, were finished.  And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day…Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work…”  Genesis 2:1-3

    Note the Old Testament day of rest was the seventh day of the week, and the observance of the Sabbath Day in the Old Testament became one of the original Ten Commandments.

     “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.  Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the LORD your God.  In it you shall do no work…”  Exodus 20:8

     The Ten Commandments are as follows:

1)       ‘You shall have no other gods before Me.’

2)       ‘You shall not make for yourself a carved image – any likeness of          anything…’

3)       ‘You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain…’

4)       ‘Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy…’

5)       ‘Honor your father and your mother…’

6)       ‘You shall not murder.’

7)       ‘You shall not commit adultery.’

8)       ‘You shall not steal.’

9)       ‘You shall not bear false witness…’

10)  ‘You shall not covet…’

     Nine of the original Ten Commandments are confirmed as relevant and continue to represent God’s standard of righteousness and justice in the New Testament Church.

     But when it comes to commandment number 4, i.e. ‘Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy…’ the New Testament does not instruct the church to observe it.

     Jesus was resurrected early on the day after the Sabbath or the first day of the week. 

   “Now the first day of the week Mary Magdalene went to the tomb early…and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb…Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled…Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, ‘Peace be with you.’”  John 20:1, 19

     The term ‘peace’ in this passage also means rest.

      From resurrection day forward the church met on the first day of the week.

     “Now on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread…”  Acts 20:7

      The Jews, however, still met in their Synagogues to pray and study on the Sabbath or seventh day.  It was in the Synagogues on the Sabbath that Paul preached Christ.

     “And he (Paul) reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and persuaded both Jews and Greeks.”  Acts 18:4

    

      The term ‘rest’ as used in the New Testament means eternal rest in Jesus Christ.

     “For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His.”  Hebrews 4:10

     The Sabbath in the Old Testament was instituted as a symbol of that eternal rest that is a divine gift from God when a person’s earthly work is finished.

     The New Testament cautions one not be deceived into believing that the observation of the Sabbath is still required as in the Old Testament law.

     “So let no one judge you…regarding a festival…or Sabbaths, which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ…”  Colossians 2:16-17

     One can, however, observe the Sabbath if his heart is right towards God.

     “One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike.  Let each be fully convinced in his own mind.”  Romans 14:5

     Therefore, if one knows that the original Sabbath was a foreshadow of things to come, and was fulfilled in Christ, he may observe the Sabbath and be guiltless. 

    

    

    

Religious Freedom or Political Correctness

     There was recently a very lively and contentious issue in Arizona with regard to private businesses refusing to serve a certain group of individuals on the grounds that it conflicted with their religious convictions.  Proposed legislation would have provided a private business protection from reprisal if they chose not to serve any customer on religious grounds.

     This column will not focus on the gay issue in Arizona; rather the focal point will be religious freedom vs. political correctness.

     The point will be illustrated by discussing a different but equally deadly sin according to the Bible, i.e. that of being a busybody.

     The Bible teaches that it is honorable to suffer for righteousness sake, but there is no honor in suffering consequences for one’s own actions such as being a murderer, a thief, or a busybody.

     “…But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief…or as a busybody in other people’s matters.”  1 Peter 4:15

     The Greek basis for the term ‘busybody’ is in fact defined as one who busies himself with what does not concern him.  It’s interesting that this definition from the Greek dictionary employs the personal pronoun ‘him’ instead of ‘her’.

     The Apostle Paul also addressed this issue.

     “For we hear that there are some who walk among you in a disorderly manner, not working at all, but are busybodies…note that person and do not keep company with him…”  2 Thessalonians 3:11, 14

     This Scripture passage admonishes one not to keep company with a busybody, or as Paul confirmed in another epistle, one involved in ‘foolish talking’.

     Therefore, if a Christian family business chooses not to serve a busybody, or foolish talker, should the state have the power to override their convictions?

     In the recent Arizona conflict, proponents of the gay community, including Eric Holder, cried foul asserting that civil rights were being violated.  If civil rights are allowed to trump Biblical principles there is a more serious problem than realized.  It’s even more serious when legislation protects those who transgress God’s laws and this great nation is deeply involved in that very thing.

     How many laws have been enacted in the last decade that honor the rights and protect those who are offended by public prayer, or the display of a cross, or the use of the word ‘God’ even though the offended may be in the vast minority.

     In Arizona’s case, the primary opponents of the proposed legislation focused their argument on the perceived negative affects on the state’s economy. 

     The aspect of religious freedom didn’t delve into the real Biblical principle involved.  The Biblical aspect of the issue was in fact a non-issue with Arizona.

     It begins with the acknowledgement of sin or transgression of God’s laws.  In Arizona’s case it was the gay issue.  In our example it is the recognition that being a busybody is a sin.  The next step is to acknowledge that the Bible teaches not to keep company with such.

     So Arizona has spoken and stated that their economy is more important than 1) acknowledging sin as defined by the Bible, and 2) honoring the Christian’s conviction in dealing with such sin.

     Does anyone suppose the results would have been different if another religion, culture, or ideology with a different definition of sin were involved?

     For Arizona it all boiled down to making the decision that would generate the most money for their state.  None of the opponents of the proposed legislation denied that.

     An underlying issue in this case is spiritual adultery.  The economy has become the real American Idol.  The end of this age will be marked by such folly.

     “For all the nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, the kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth have become rich through the abundance of her luxury.”  Revelation 18:3

     The quest for the things of the world will trump the riches of the kingdom of God.  Such will lead to total disaster.

     Listen closely in the distance for the infamous words of James Carville in 1992 describing the environment for the Clinton presidential election – “It’s the economy stupid!”