Examples of Seeking God's Guidance and Wisdom in Scripture

Seeking God's Guidance and Wisdom in Scripture

The biblical concept of seeking God's guidance and wisdom is deeply rooted in the scriptures, with numerous examples and exhortations throughout the Old and New Testaments. one tradition writes, "God looks down from heaven on the children of men, to see if there are any who understood, who seek after God" ^[7]. This seeking is not merely an intellectual pursuit but a heartfelt endeavor to understand and follow God's will.

In the book of Ecclesiastes, the author reflects on his extensive search for wisdom, stating, "I applied my heart to seek and to search out by wisdom concerning all that is done under the sky" ^[8]. This pursuit of wisdom is characterized by a desire to understand the nature of things and to discern between wisdom and foolishness ^{[1, 5]}.

The scriptures command believers to seek God and His guidance in various aspects of life. Torrey's Topical Textbook highlights several areas where seeking God is emphasized, including seeking His Name, His word, His face, and His strength ^[2]. This seeking is often associated with prayer, as seen in Job 8:5 and Daniel 9:3 ^[2].

The wisdom of God is described as one of His attributes, characterized as perfect, mighty, universal, infinite, unsearchable, and wonderful ^[6]. Believers are encouraged to seek this wisdom, which is derived from God and exhibited in His works.

The importance of seeking God's guidance is underscored by the consequences of not doing so. The Psalmist laments the fact that many do not seek after God, implying that this lack of seeking is a characteristic of those who are not righteous ^[7]. In contrast, those who seek God are promised blessing and guidance.

Various biblical figures exemplify the practice of seeking God's guidance. Christ is cited as an example of diligence in seeking God's will, often withdrawing to pray and seek guidance from His Father ^[3]. The scriptures also encourage believers to cultivate Christian graces and to strive after perfection, indicating a proactive and diligent approach to seeking God's guidance.

The fear of the Lord is closely linked to the pursuit of wisdom, with Proverbs 1:7 and 9:10 emphasizing that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge and wisdom ^{[10, 12]}. This fear is not a terror but a reverential awe that motivates believers to seek God's guidance and to obey His commandments.

In the New Testament, Jesus encourages His followers to search the Scriptures, indicating that this search is a means of gaining spiritual insight and understanding ^[11]. The apostle Peter exhorts believers to be prepared to give an answer for their hope with meekness and reverence, suggesting that seeking God's guidance involves being open to instruction and correction ^{[4, 9]}.

The biblical examples and exhortations to seek God's guidance and wisdom underscore the importance of this practice in the life of believers. As the scriptures attest, seeking God is a fundamental aspect of a righteous and wise life.

The historical and cultural context of the biblical writings highlights the enduring relevance of seeking God's guidance. From the Psalmist's reflections on the human condition to the wisdom literature of Proverbs and Ecclesiastes, the theme of seeking God's wisdom is a unifying thread throughout the scriptures.

Sources

Ecclesiastes “I turned around, and my heart sought to know and to search out, and to seek wisdom and the scheme of things, and to know that wickedness is stupidity, and that foolishness is madness. -- Ecclesiastes 7:25”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Seeking God — Commanded -- Isa 55:6; Mt 7:7. Includes seeking His Name. -- Ps 83:16. His word. -- Isa 34:16. His face. -- Ps 27:8; 105:4. His strength. -- 1Ch 16:11; Ps 105:4. His commandments. -- 1Ch 28:8; Mal 2:7. His precepts. -- Ps 119:45,94. His kingdom. -- Mt 6:33; Lu 12:31. His righteousness. -- Mt 6:33. Christ. -- Mal 3:1; Lu 2:15,16. Honour which comes from him. -- Joh 5:44. Justification by Christ. -- Ga 2:16,17. The city which God has prepared. -- Heb 11:10,16; 13:14. By prayer -- Job 8:5; Da 9:3. In his house -- De 12:5; Ps 27:4. Should be Immediate. -- H”
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: Meekness — Christ set an example of -- Ps 45:4; Isa 53:7; Mt 11:29; 21:5; 2Co 10:1; 1Pe 2:21-23. His teaching -- Mt 5:38-45. A fruit of the Spirit -- Ga 5:22,23. Saints should Seek. -- Zep 2:3. Put on. -- Col 3:12-13. Receive the word of God with. -- Jas 1:21. Exhibit, in conduct, &c. -- Jas 3:13. Answer for their hope with. -- 1Pe 3:15. Show to all men. -- Tit 3:2. Restore the erring with. -- Ga 6:1. Precious in the sight of God -- 1Pe 3:4. Ministers should Follow after. -- 1Ti 6:11. Instruct opposers with. -- 2Ti 2:24,25. Urge, on their people. -- Tit 3:1,2. A char”
Ecclesiastes “Ecclesiastes 7:27 (Geneva1599) — I haue compassed about, both I and mine heart to knowe and to enquire and to search wisedome, and reason, and to knowe the wickednesse of follie, and the foolishnesse of madnesse,”
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. ”
Psalms “God looks down from heaven on the children of men, to see if there are any who understood, who seek after God. -- Psalms 53:2”
Ecclesiastes “I applied my heart to seek and to search out by wisdom concerning all that is done under the sky. It is a heavy burden that God has given to the sons of men to be afflicted with. -- Ecclesiastes 1:13”
1 Peter (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 1 Peter 3:14: 3:14-15 or be afraid of their threats: See Isa 8:13, where God exhorts the prophet to fear nothing except the Lord. • worship Christ as Lord: By fearing Christ, they will be free from fear of their human persecutors.”
Proverbs (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Proverbs 9:10: 9:10-12 Fear of the Lord: See study note on 1:7.”
John (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on John 5:39: Search the Scriptures,.... The writings of Moses, and the prophets, which were of divine inspiration and authority, and are often appealed unto by Christ, and his apostles, for the truth of what they delivered; and were the standard of faith, and the test of doctrines; and therefore to be searched diligently into, for finding divine knowledge and improvement in it, and for the trial of doctrines. The words may be rendered in the indicative, as an assertion, "ye do search the Scriptures": the Jews had the sacred oracles committed to them, and these they read, not only th”
Proverbs (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Proverbs 2:5: 2:5 The quest for true wisdom leads to God. Wisdom is impossible without fear of the Lord (1:7).”

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