Bible Studies for Life
Wisdom From God
1 Corinthians 1: 20 Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? 21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.22 For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: 23 But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; 24 But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. 25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
These groups collectively represented the world’s wisdom. The wisdom of God as displayed in the gospel reveals these perspectives to be short-sighted, false, and ultimately foolish. God is the omniscient (all-knowing), omnipotent (all-powerful) Creator of everything that is seen and everything that is not seen-that is both the physical and the spiritual worlds. Therefore, the so-called wisdom of the world will always be subservient to the wisdom of God, and the wisdom of this age cannot comprehend the wisdom and ways of God. Christ crucified was a stumbling block to the Jews, because the Jewish expectation was for the messiah to be a conquering military hero. A messiah who was killed in a way that was considered to be a curse did not fit their expectations and therefore they rejected Jesus. Christ crucified is foolishness to the Gentiles because they were also obsessed with power; but, instead of military power, they sought power through philosophy, debate, and ideas. Someone getting crucified did not demonstrate power and wisdom, but rather foolishness and weakness. Both the Jews and Greeks were seeking to find truth and power, but in misguided ways. However, God is sovereign over all things, even non-Christian religions. God is all-powerful and all-knowing. As such, He can’t be weak or foolish. God through Christ achieved what only He could achieve-redemption for those who will repent of their sins and place their faith in Christ.
1 Corinthians 2: 9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. 10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. 11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.
As the Creator and Sustainer of the universe, God is in absolute control of everything that happens in His creation. Theologians refer to this reality as the providence of God. God’s providence is one of the reasons God’s Word endures from generation to generation. However, in spite of God’s providence, we will not understand everything that happens in our lives. There are mysteries and tragedies that God allows into our lives, the nature of which we will not understand fully on this side of heaven. The New Testament reveals that the Holy Spirit has many functions and actions. The Spirit indwells believers and empowers them to live, in cooperation with Him, according to God’s ways. The Holy Spirit convicts people of sin. He points people to Jesus. “Christians are initially born of the Spirit (John 3:1-8), receive the Spirit as a gift (Luke 11:13; Acts 2:38), are sealed by the Spirit (Eph. 1:13; 2 Cor. 1:22), receive the firstfruits of the Spirit (Rom.8:23), and are given the Spirit as a pledge of final redemption(Eph. 1:14; 2 Cor. 5:5). He assists them in prayer, especially in times of suffering(rom.8:26-27). He enables them to resist sin (Eph.4:25-32; Gal.5:16). The Spirit produces the fruit of Christ-likeness in their lives (Gal. 5:22-23). He empowers them for witness (Acts 1: 4-8; 4:31). He fills their lives, enabling them to be changed in their daily walks with the Lord (Eph. 5:18-21). Because of God’s great love for His people, God has chosen to reveal Himself to humanity in Jesus Christ (John 1:18) and thereby to grant believers the ability to know Him truly. We can know God’s ways and thoughts in His Word, because He has chosen to reveal Himself to us in His Word.
1 Corinthians 2: 12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. 13 Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 15 But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. 16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? but we have the mind of Christ.
Satan has been deceiving and manipulating humankind from the beginning (Gen.3). He and his spiritual allies work through the worldly systems in an attempt to deceive people and to oppose the mighty and salvific work of God. Satan blinds the minds of unbelievers so that they do not see the light of the gospel available through Jesus Christ (2 Cor.4:4). Paul wrote that all of our battles are ultimately against these spiritual forces and not against other people. Salvation through faith in Jesus Christ is by the grace of God alone. Salvation and all that flows from it is freely given to us by God in Christ. Recognizing that the spiritual understanding is part of this gift should produce confidence, humility, and joy. Wisdom that looks only inward into our fallen human nature and never outward to the revelation of God in Christ ultimately will never satisfy and is unable to save us. Believers are spiritual people indwelt by the Holy Spirit. They are able to understand the hidden wisdom of God (vv. 6-7) revealed by the Spirit (v.10). To those without the Holy Spirit, the things which are from God are foolishness (1:18,21,23). But Paul was assuring the Church at Corinth that they were in a different situation. They had the indwelling and empowerment of the Holy Spirit and therefore “the mind of Christ” (v.16), which is another way of saying “the wisdom of God”.
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Consequences
Judges 2: 11 And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, and served Baalim: 12 And they forsook the LORD God of their fathers, which brought them out of the land of Egypt, and followed other gods, of the gods of the people that were round about them, and bowed themselves unto them, and provoked the LORD to anger. 13 And they forsook the LORD, and served Baal and Ashtaroth. 14 And the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel, and he delivered them into the hands of spoilers that spoiled them, and he sold them into the hands of their enemies round about, so that they could not any longer stand before their enemies. 15 Whithersoever they went out, the hand of the LORD was against them for evil, as the LORD had said, and as the LORD had sworn unto them: and they were greatly distressed.
After Joshua’s death , Israel did ”what was evil in the lord’s sight”. Rather than following the Lord alone, they chased Canaan’s gods. Just because the people took their eyes off God does not mean He took His eyes off of them. Israel’s unfaithfulness angered the Lord and prompted His judgement. They would experience the consequences of their infidelity. Because of their rebellion, God handed His people over to their enemies. They suffered greatly at the hands of their oppressors.
Judges 2: 16 Nevertheless the LORD raised up judges, which delivered them out of the hand of those that spoiled them. 17 And yet they would not hearken unto their judges, but they went a whoring after other gods, and bowed themselves unto them: they turned quickly out of the way which their fathers walked in, obeying the commandments of the LORD; but they did not so. 18 And when the LORD raised them up judges, then the LORD was with the judge, and delivered them out of the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge: for it repented the LORD because of their groanings by reason of them that oppressed them and vexed them. 19 And it came to pass, when the judge was dead, that they returned, and corrupted themselves more than their fathers, in following other gods to serve them, and to bow down unto them; they ceased not from their own doings, nor from their stubborn way.
While the Lord was acting against the Israelites (v. 14), He was actually working for them. He “raised up judges,” military leaders who could deliver the people from their enemies. God’s compassion led to a demonstration of God’s power on behalf of the Israelites. Unfortunately, the people did not turn to God permanently despite all He did for them. Their cycle of sin looked like this: (1) abandoning God for Canaanite idols, (2) God sending enemies to oppress them, (3) Israel crying out to the Lord, (4) God providing judges out of His compassion, (5) a period of peace, and (6) a fall into deeper corruption once the judge passed from the scene.
Judges 2: 20 And the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel; and he said, Because that this people hath transgressed my covenant which I commanded their fathers, and have not hearkened unto my voice; 21 I also will not henceforth drive out any from before them of the nations which Joshua left when he died: 22 That through them I may prove Israel, whether they will keep the way of the LORD to walk therein, as their fathers did keep it, or not. 23 Therefore the LORD left those nations, without driving them out hastily; neither delivered he them into the hand of Joshua.
Their infidelity violated His covenant and alienated them from His protection. God withdrew His hand of blessing from them. Ultimately, God did this to “test” the Israelites. He wanted their suffering to draw them back to Him once and for all. So, he continued allowing their cycle of sin to run its course and produce its consequences.
Summary Statements
After Joshua’s death, Israel fell into a cycle of sin, judgement, confession, and restoration.
-God’s people must guard against the danger of forgetting what the Lord has done for them.
-Believers can be assured that God’s faithfulness to act on behalf of His people is rooted in His character, not in ours.
-Believers can expect their obedience to God to be tested.
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