Seeking Guidance and Wisdom from God's Word Biblically
Seeking Guidance and Wisdom from God's Word Biblically
The biblical concept of seeking guidance and wisdom from God's Word is rooted in the understanding that God's Word is infallible and contains all saving knowledge [4]. The Psalmist exemplifies this by praying, "Search me, God, and know my heart. Try me, and know my thoughts" [2]. This seeking is not merely an intellectual exercise but a spiritual discipline that involves applying one's mind to understand God's will.
The book of Ecclesiastes highlights the importance of seeking wisdom. The author reflects on their endeavor "to know and to search out, and to seek wisdom and the scheme of things" [1]. This pursuit is described as a "grievous task" given by God, underscoring the seriousness and challenge of seeking divine wisdom [3].
Biblical Basis for Seeking Guidance
The Bible commands believers to seek God and His Word. Isaiah 55:6 and Matthew 7:7 instruct believers to "seek the Lord" and to "seek, and you will find" [5]. Seeking God's Word is equated with seeking God Himself, as it is through His Word that God communicates His will. The Psalmist prays for instruction in God's ways, recognizing that while God's will is revealed in Scripture, understanding requires God's guidance [7].
Characteristics of Wisdom from God's Word
Wisdom derived from God's Word is characterized as perfect, mighty, universal, infinite, unsearchable, and wonderful [6]. It is the source of all human wisdom and is exhibited in God's works. Believers are encouraged to ascribe wisdom to God and to seek it through His Word.
Seeking Guidance in Practice
Practically, seeking guidance from God's Word involves prayer, study of Scripture, and a willingness to obey God's commands. The Psalmist's prayer to be searched and tried by God is an example of seeking guidance through prayer [2]. Studying Scripture is also essential, as it is through the "way mark" of Scripture that believers can discern the right path [10].
Tradition and Interpretation
Various Christian traditions interpret the importance of seeking guidance from God's Word. Reformed tradition, for example, emphasizes the role of the Holy Spirit in guiding believers as they seek wisdom from Scripture [8]. The Presbyterian tradition highlights the need to "sanctify the Lord" by regarding Him as the only hope of safety, thereby fearing Him more than man [11].
Conclusion
Seeking guidance and wisdom from God's Word is a fundamental aspect of the Christian life. It involves a deep commitment to understanding and obeying God's will as revealed in Scripture. Through prayer, study, and obedience, believers can gain wisdom and guidance, trusting in God's sovereignty and goodness. As one tradition notes, "let us search and try our ways" [9], reflecting on the biblical mandate to seek God's wisdom continually.
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”
- Psalms “Search me, God, and know my heart. Try me, and know my thoughts. -- Psalms 139:23”
- Ecclesiastes “Ecclesiastes 1:13 (LEB) — I applied my mind to seek and to search by wisdom all that is done under the heavens. It is a grievous task God has given to ⌞humans⌟.”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Word of God — (Heb. 4:12, etc.). The Bible so called because the writers of its several books were God's organs in communicating his will to men. It is his "word," because he speaks to us in its sacred pages. Whatever the inspired writers here declare to be true and binding upon us, God declares to be true and binding. This word is infallible, because written under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and therefore free from all error of fact or doctrine or precept. (See [670]INSPIRATION; [671]BIBLE.) All saving knowledge is obtained from the word of God. In the case of ”
- 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: 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 (Lutheran) “Keil & Delitzsch on Psalms 25:4: Recognising the infamy of such black ingratitude, he prays for instruction as to the ways which he must take according to the precepts of God (Psa 18:22). The will of God, it is true, lies before us in God's written word, but the expounder required for the right understanding of that word is God Himself. He prays Him for knowledge; but in order to make what he knows a perfect and living reality, he still further needs the grace of God, viz., both His enlightening and also His guiding grace.”
- CCEL (Reformed) “Calvin, Commentary on Isaiah, Vol. 2, section 18.11: their unbelief and rebellion; and because they have resolved not to obey the word of God, neither do they ask his Spirit. Hence arises that miserable and shameful result. Wretchedly and ruinously must those deliberations and purposes end, over which the Lord does not preside. There is no wisdom that is not obtained from “his mouth;” and if we “ask at his mouth,” that is, if we consult his word, we shall also be guided by his Spirit, from whom all prudence and wisdom proceeds. Let it be observed that two things are here connected, the word an”
- Lamentations (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Lamentations 3:36: Let us search and try our ways,.... stead of murmuring and complaining, let us search for something that may support and comfort, teach and instruct, under afflictive providences; let us search into the love of God, which, though it cannot be fully searched out, it will be found to be from everlasting to everlasting; and that all afflictions spring from it; and that it continues notwithstanding them: let us search into the covenant of grace, in which provision is made for afflictions in case of disobedience, and for supports under them: let us search the Scriptu”
- Jeremiah (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Jeremiah 6:16: Thus saith the Lord, stand ye in the ways, and see,.... These are the words of the Lord to the people, whom he would have judge for themselves, and not be blindly led by the false prophets and priests; directing them to do what men should, when they are in a place where two or more ways meet, and know not which way to take; they should make a short stop, and look to the way mark or way post, which points whither each path leads, and so accordingly proceed. Now, in religious things, the Scriptures are the way mark to direct us which way we should take: if the inquiry”
- Isaiah (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on Isaiah 8:13: Sanctify--Honor His holy name by regarding Him as your only hope of safety (Isa 29:23; Num 20:12). him . . . fear--"fear" lest you provoke His wrath by your fear of man and distrust of Him.”