Cultivating a Deeper Appreciation for God's Wisdom Daily

The pursuit of wisdom is a central theme in biblical teachings, with numerous passages emphasizing its importance for a life of faith and obedience. The Psalmist prays, "Teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom" ^[3]. This plea underscores the recognition that wisdom is not merely a natural endowment but a divine gift that requires cultivation.

The biblical concept of wisdom encompasses not only intellectual understanding but also the practical application of knowledge in daily life. According to Torrey's Topical Textbook, the wisdom of God is described as perfect, mighty, universal, infinite, unsearchable, and wonderful ^[5]. This multifaceted nature of wisdom highlights its significance in the Christian life.

To cultivate a deeper appreciation for God's wisdom daily, one must prioritize seeking God and His guidance. The Psalmist expresses this desire, saying, "Cause me to hear your loving kindness in the morning, for I trust in you. Cause me to know the way in which I should walk, for I lift up my soul to you" ^[1]. This morning prayer reflects the importance of beginning each day with a focus on God's loving-kindness and guidance.

The apostle Paul's prayer for the Philippians is also instructive. He asks that their "love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and all discernment" ^[4]. This petition highlights the connection between love, knowledge, and discernment, suggesting that a deeper appreciation for God's wisdom is closely tied to the growth of these virtues.

In Proverbs, wisdom is personified as calling out to those who are simple, inviting them to turn from their foolishness and gain understanding ^[11]. The Puritan commentator Matthew Henry notes that the design of Wisdom's discourse is to bring people into an entire subjection to the laws of religion, making them wise and good ^[11]. This understanding underscores the practical and transformative nature of biblical wisdom.

The cultivation of wisdom is also linked to the fear of the Lord, which is described as the beginning of knowledge ^[9]. The Protestant academic commentary on Proverbs 9:10 notes that the fear of the Lord is a fundamental aspect of wisdom, as it involves reverence and awe for God's power and majesty. This fear is not terror but a deep respect that motivates obedience and faithfulness.

In practical terms, cultivating a deeper appreciation for God's wisdom daily involves several key practices. These include:

Seeking God betimes, or early, making it the first and chief anxiety of the day ^[8]
Meditating on God's precepts and wondrous works ^[2]
Practicing diligence in seeking God and obeying His commands ^[6]
Embracing simplicity and humility in one's pursuit of wisdom ^[7]

By incorporating these practices into daily life, believers can deepen their appreciation for God's wisdom and live in a manner worthy of the Lord ^[10]. As they do so, they will experience the fruit of wisdom, including a greater understanding of God's will, increased love and discernment, and a life characterized by obedience and faithfulness.

The biblical emphasis on wisdom is not limited to individual piety but extends to the community of faith. The apostle Paul prays that the Colossians may be "filled with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding" ^[12]. This prayer highlights the importance of wisdom in the corporate life of the church, where believers are called to live in harmony and mutual support.

Sources

Psalms “Cause me to hear your loving kindness in the morning, for I trust in you. Cause me to know the way in which I should walk, for I lift up my soul to you. -- Psalms 143:8”
Psalms “Let me understand the teaching of your precepts! Then I will meditate on your wondrous works. -- Psalms 119:27”
Psalms “Psalms 90:12 (Geneva1599) — Teach vs so to nomber our dayes, that we may apply our heartes vnto wisdome.”
Philippians “This I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and all discernment; -- Philippians 1:9”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Wisdom of God, The — Is one of his attributes -- 1Sa 2:3; Job 9:4. Described as Perfect. -- Job 36:4; 37:16. Mighty. -- Job 36:5. Universal. -- Job 28:24; Da 2:22; Ac 15:18. Infinite. -- Ps 147:5; Ro 11:33. Unsearchable. -- Isa 40:28; Ro 11:33. Wonderful. -- Ps 139:6. Beyond human comprehension. -- Ps 139:6. Incomparable. -- Isa 44:7; Jer 10:7. Underived. -- Job 21:22; Isa 40:14. The gospel contains treasures of -- 1Co 2:7. Wisdom of saints is derived from -- Ezr 7:25. All human wisdom derived from -- Da 2:1. Saints ascribe to him -- Da 2:20. Exhibited in His works. ”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Diligence — Christ, an example -- Mr 1:35; Lu 2:49. Required by God in Seeking him. -- 1Ch 22:19; Heb 11:6. Obeying him. -- De 6:17; 11:13. Hearkening to him. -- Isa 55:2. Striving after perfection. -- Php 3:13,14. Cultivating Christian graces. -- 2Pe 1:5. Keeping the souls. -- De 4:9. Keeping the heart. -- Pr 4:23. Labours of love. -- Heb 6:10-12. Following every good work. -- 1Ti 5:10. Guarding against defilement. -- Heb 12:15. Seeking to be found spotless. -- 2Pe 3:14. Making our call, &c, sure. -- 2Pe 1:10. Self-examination. -- Ps 77:6. Lawful business. -- Pr 27:”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Simplicity — Is opposed to fleshly wisdom -- 2Co 1:12. Necessity for -- Mt 18:2,3. Should be exhibited In preaching the gospel. -- 1Th 2:3-7. In acts of benevolence. -- Ro 12:8. In all our conduct. -- 2Co 1:12. Concerning our own wisdom. -- 1Co 3:18. Concerning evil. -- Ro 16:19. Concerning malice. -- 1Co 14:20. Exhortation to -- Ro 16:19; 1Pe 2:2. They who have the grace of Are made wise by God. -- Mt 11:25. Are made wise by the word of God. -- Ps 19:7; 119:130. Are preserved by God. -- Ps 116:6. Made circumspect by instruction. -- Pr 1:4. Profit by the correction o”
Job (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Job 8:5: seek unto God betimes--early. Make it the first and chief anxiety (Psa 78:34; Hos 5:15; Isa 26:9; Pro 8:17; Pro 13:24).”
Proverbs (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Proverbs 9:10: 9:10-12 Fear of the Lord: See study note on 1:7.”
Colossians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Colossians 1:10: Greek, "So as to walk"; so that ye may walk. True knowledge of God's will is inseparable from walking conformably to it. worthy of the Lord-- (Eph 4:1). unto--so as in every way to be well-pleasing to God. pleasing--literally, "desire of pleasing." being fruitful--Greek, "bearing fruit." This is the first manifestation of their "walking worthy of the Lord." The second is, "increasing (growing) in the knowledge of God (or as the oldest manuscripts read, 'growing BY the full knowledge of God')"; thus, as the Gospel word (Col 1:6) was said to ”
Proverbs (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Proverbs 8:32: We have here the application of Wisdom's discourse; the design and tendency of it is to bring us all into an entire subjection to the laws of religion, to make us wise and good, not to fill our heads with speculations, or our tongues with disputes, but to rectify what is amiss in our hearts and lives. In order to this, here is, I. An exhortation to hear and obey the voice of Wisdom, to attend and comply with the good instructions that the word of God gives us, and in them to discern the voice of Christ, as the sheep know the shepherd's voice. 1. We must be dilig”
Colossians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Colossians 1:9: 1:9-10 Paul prays that God would grant his readers deeper understanding of the Good News and its full expression in their lives. Spiritual growth yields a clearer and deeper comprehension of Christian truth and conduct that pleases the Lord, through which a believer will have the endurance and patience to stand firm against evil (1:11).”

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