Proverbs 2:6 “for the Lord gives wisdom, from his mouth come knowledge and understanding”
I was working in business, looking after a series of small companies, all of which were going through challenging changes. I began to understand that a lot of what I was involved in was “project management”. I think what for me defines project management is when business activity has a specific start and a clear outcome. I really thought that it would be good for me to gain some better insights into how to manage projects, and after some research, I requested to go onto an intensive training course for a project management system called Prince 2.
It was certainly intensive, and fascinating. I stumbled into a world of “stage/gate escalations” and “product-based planning”. I felt like I was being equipped to absolutely minimise the risk of projects getting out of control. There was a 3-hour exam on the final day of the course. I stayed up till after midnight every night of that week-long course, studying, only taking time to eat quickly as it was essential. I remember the night before the exam, it had been a massive week, and here I was after midnight still trying to cram stuff into my head. Some of it just would not go in, and I broke down in tears, crying full-on but as quietly as I could (so as not to disturb anyone else). I went to bed feeling a little lost that night. I so wanted to understand and of course to be able to apply the knowledge learned.
The next day was the exam, and I worked hard for the 3 hours. When the results came through sometime later, I had passed with credit. But more importantly, I had the skills and potential to navigate and lead projects exceptionally well.
KNOWLEDGE
When we become Christians and are “born again”, one of the aspects of this new life is a new strong inner desire to say and do the right thing. This desire is predicated upon this connection to Yahweh – that we grasp at the fact that He is behind all existence and is himself eternal existence. We humbly understand that we are in a personal relationship with Him now through His son Jesus, through the price he paid for our lack of understanding, knowledge and wisdom [sin].
This cornerstone then is the live connection to wisdom. Our life is no longer what it used to be, we are connected to a global purpose and a global family. Our moral purity [wisdom] is energised and engaged by this new living relationship with Yahweh.
As we go through our everyday life now we are faced with decisions and choices, we consider the best and the right options now, regardless of the cost to self. We grow in skill at navigating this new life and also encouraging and equipping others to travel the road well. We understand that God loves us. We study God’s word and learn His ways. This approach attracts blessings and favour. Others may watch with wonder, but we know that everything we have is built on this covenantal love relationship, of which Yahweh is the prime instigator and we are the responder.
UNDERSTANDING
Let’s pick one word from this verse to look closer at and see if that can help us gain a deeper insight into how God would love us to live?
The original word for “Lord” in this scripture is Yahweh.
Lord, the English word is found 7955 times in the ESV Bible from Gen 2:4 to Rev 22.21, not all of these though is from the word Yahweh. In total 6518 of these mentions are Yahweh – from Gen 2:4 to Malachi 4:5.
Yahweh is the proper name of the one true God. Knowledge of and use of this name implies personal or covenantal relationship. This name pictures God as one who exists and/or causes existence.
WISDOM: What is your consistent response to God when honesty requires humbling yourself?
STRENGTHS THOUGHT: Learner – from your own self-understanding you can facilitate beneficial understanding for others.
Allan’s Unauthorised Version [The God who exists and causes existence will give you moral skill in all of life’s ways, as you hear what he has to say you will gain ability, learning, skill and insight.]
Prayer: Father, thank you for today. Please help me to stay close to you, to know your love, and to listen carefully to all you have for me.
The Lord is our true source of knowledge and understanding. In many situations, I struggle to understand. But He says, keep pressing on, bravely. Approach His throne with confidence and boldness. He knows our weaknesses and understands us like nobody else will.
This message gives me renewed faith and courage. Thank you, Pastor Allan.
Amen to that prayer. I like the whole Knowledge section. It’s great to learn that God’s name Yahweh implies personal and covenantal relationship – this name reveals God’s character and heart towards His people.
Thanks Ps Allan!
Thank you Allan.
You share your life with great insight and authenticity to be a blessing to us. It’s a great privilege and honour to us to be in this study of Proverbs.
As I was meditating on the Lord, I realised that:
Knowing God and His Kingdom principles is the only way forward.
Outside of Godliness, there is plenty of intelligence, cunningness, scheming, lies and deception, confusion and misunderstanding…so on.
I am convinced that we must walk in Wisdom,Knowledge of the Holy Spirit presence and cooperation of the Holy Spirit to act out everything!
And be understanding with rightly discerning and be separate from the evil temptation to re-act!
My prayer also; Awaken our spirit to follow you ever closer and magnify the Lord!
Thank you Allan!
Just as you had to work hard and study for your exam I need to study too. Sometimes I get caught up on the “please guide me today Lord” and forget the important place that study holds. Just not reading but studying , deep learning, God’s handbook of wisdom and learning. How else am I going to learn what I need to know for the challenges I need to overcome each day.. so glad I don’t have an exam at the end of each day!
Humility and self understanding go hand in hand to enable growth and reliance on God. I love using my prayer journal as a debrief for the day and seek God’s guidance through His Word and just being still. Having an intimate relationship from His unconditional love keeps me honest with Him and as a result the overflow happens. Amen. Thank you for this confirmation.
Thank you, Ps Allan.
Indeed, to call on the name of the Lord, to desire to say and do the right thing each day for God’s pleasure, and to remind myself that it’s not about me, its all for the glory of Yahweh who generously gives me this life. I shall give not some, but all. 🙂
Thank you Allan. What an awesome God we serve. Like you said, I love that, when we call upon His name he enable us and give the ability and skills to accomplish things. He is almighty, all knowing God. We need to listen when he speaks.
“Our moral purity [wisdom] is energised and engaged by our living relationship with Yahweh”. I love this. And the affirmation that this new life does take effort and energy – there is a cost to self. It’s affirming because sometimes it does feel emotionally difficult or overwhelming but we have this beautiful relationship we can lean into – Jesus, our “live connection to wisdom”. This is where the fruit is, and the overflow of His glory (blessings and favour) into every area of life.
Yahweh is such a beautiful sound. It’s calming and like a breath of fresh air. That’s how being born again felt like: a breath of fresh air, fresh everything. Amen to today’s message Pastor Allan.
“Yahweh”
As you mentioned pastor Allan ,once we are born again and give our heart to Jesus ,it’s a life long desition and commitment to honour him with our lives.
I’m truly so thankful that he chose me when I was so dead in sin,
That he loved me with all my failures ,(unconditional )
Showed me grace and mercy.
He gave me a brand new life of hope and blessing.
I chose to live the rest of my life honouring him with everything I do ,
Yes sometimes facing challenging moments ,
But in them all seeking his will for my life and knowing that he is always with me.
Amen 🙏
Hi Ps Allan, thank you so much for sharing .
I love that when we are “born again“ on the aspect of the new life is a new strong inner desire to say and to do the right thing. And that we humbly understand that we are in a personal relationship With God through His son Jesus and through the price He paid for our sins. Our lives are changed and transformed and we no longer the same as how it used to be.
Thanks Allan. Such a good reminder. Really appreciated your unauthorised version and the wisdom thought tonight!
Thanks Allan, this is another good one and as a Learner find it encouraging and pushes me more to learn and understand things much better.
Knowing that we have this covenant with Him Which as well put, was instigated by him, that knowledge should help us understand his Grace. The verse says He gives wisdom. We should be listeners to what He says as from his mouth comes knowledge and understanding, comprehending what He would have is know.
Approaching with humility knowing without Him I can do nothing on my own. Gratitude for wisdom and understanding what is in front of me at all times and willing to learn.
Hi Allan
Im living and understanding the knowledge of the Lord, the bible is a manual of life and how we should respond with our daily situation……The more I read and renew my mind in Christ I see even people who don’t know Jesus are trying to heal people with the knowledge of the bible and they don’t know it, like the biggest one is dealing with mental illness and how to over come it with Jesus Christ.
Thankyou Jesus for being the light when I was surrounded in darkness to lead me out and seeing the truth. Amen
Wow, how amazing that He gives us wisdom. I am in awe of that. What else stood out for me was that knowledge and understanding comes out of His mouth so we must have ears to hear and be close (in relationship) to Him to hear it.