For the LORD gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding;
Proverbs 2:6
God is described as Omniscient - all-knowing. While the Bible doesn’t use this word, 1 John 3:20 tells us God does know everything.
We are all always looking for wisdom and understanding. Knowledge is readily available to those who seek it, but wisdom, defined as the ability to understand and use knowledge correctly, is what we must have.
Proverbs tells us wisdom is the principal thing. Get wisdom and with the wisdom, get understanding. Wisdom was with the Father in the beginning, beside Him like a master workman. She was daily His delight rejoicing before him always.
The Bible contains three books that are commonly referred to as Wisdom literature: Job, Proverbs, and Ecclesiastes. Each book holds its own perspective and overview of the questions of life as well as the wisdom from God as their answers. But beyond these three books, we read from 2 ™ 3:16-17,
All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
I also love the picture painted in Proverbs 8, showing wisdom as present every time a decision needs to be made. Wisdom holds the bird's-eye view, above all, looking down. She sees and knows and calls out. As a matter of fact, wisdom doesn’t just call; she cries aloud. She speaks and utters the truth. All the words of her mouth are righteous; there is nothing twisted or crooked in them.
We are admonished, when we lack wisdom, to ask God, James 1 and told he gives it to us liberally and doesn’t scold us about our lack ~ BUT (don’t you love these, BUTS there is always a condition to meet with the promise of God. He does his part and we have ours) BUT, let him ask in faith, (he who comes to God must believe he is and he is a rewarder of those who diligently seek him) without doubting. What is the doubting? Is it doubting God will speak, or doubting what we hear? Either way, the doubting individual ends up double-minded, driven, and tossed back and forth. We’ve all been there and know that experience.
Here’s the deal—the Bible is God's mind and wisdom, and only in and through it do we first find knowledge. The new birth brings entrance with the working of His Holy Spirit to lead and guide us into His truth. He brings forth wisdom and understanding. His Spirit takes from His word and reveals this to us. He shows us the right word and the right way. Revelation is our ah-ha moment of awareness.
Knowledge, wisdom, and understanding are all identified in Isaiah 11 as parts of the whole Spirit of God. The seven Spirits that stand in the book of Revelation before the throne of God are described as ‘burning lamps and seeing eyes’ (Revelation 4:5; 5:6).
How do I know when I have found the wisdom of God? James 3:13-17 gives us some guidelines of wisdom when it comes to relationships. The word delineates wisdom that comes from God and wisdom that is just earthly, not spiritual, and occasionally even demonic.
God's wisdom is first pure ~ free from selfish motives and jealousy. Then it is peaceable (as opposed to anxious and fearful), gentle (non-aggressive, pushy), open to reason (a willing and hearing ear), full of mercy (extended forgiveness) and good fruits, impartial (thy will be done) and sincere, providing a harvest of righteousness.
What to do? What to do? We begin with the fear of the Lord, which opens wisdom and understanding. We listen and watch daily at the gates and wait beside His doors until we know His heart and mind. Then, we step out in bold confidence, acting on His wisdom to achieve His will.