WISDOM IS NOT SAGACITY

Great men are not always wise: neither do the aged understand justice. – Job 32:9.

“It’s always wise to look ahead, but difficult to look farther than you can see” – ZUMA (game)

The Bible does not have one word for “wisdom”. Both in the Hebrew Old Testament and in the Greek New, the writers used several terms that the English translators generally subsume under the word “wisdom”.

Unfortunately, unlike novel biblical terms like “sanctification”, “propitiation” or “speaking in tongues”, “Wisdom” is already a common word in the English language, as a result, when we read “Wisdom”, we’re tempted to assume the usual, regular  meaning.

Generally speaking, when scriptures positively refer to wisdom, it’s not referring to that human virtue that comes out of a cumulation of knowledge, or “good sense shown in a way of thinking, judgment, or action”.

Bible “wisdom” is not normal “wisdom”.

A man can be a SAGE: all-wise and all-knowing; dispensing vital, practical counsel on all issues that pertain to life and death and still end up in Hell.

(Ahithophel in 2Sa 16:23 was one such sage); our Supreme Courts of Justices are occupied by sages. But sagacity is not Bible wisdom.

Wisdom is not KNOWLEDGE or INTELLIGENCE either. A visit to a busy airport will reveal just how intelligent Man is. From the complexity of the machines, to the smooth order of operations: combining hundreds of people and millions of parts simultaneously and seamlessly working to lift tonnes of persons and luggage across the world at breathtaking speed. But if that is THE wisdom, then the Bible is obviously redundant.

“Wisdom” in normal English usage refers to sagaciousness, acumen, knowledge, erudition, shrewdness, intelligence, etc.

While these are positive, enviable traits. Assuming these are what the Bible calls “wisdom” has led many to destruction. Bible wisdom is not proportional to (indeed, is generally antithetical to) human intelligence.

We need to be sensitive, therefore. For if we’re blessed with a high IQ, are exceptionally skilled with words, or generally intellectually endowed, it’s vital that we understand that that makes us vulnerable – much more than the rest of humanity, to assume we’re automatically walking in the wisdom of God.

AMEN.

More Blessings await you today; you’ll not miss them in Jesus’ Name.

GREG ELKAN