Getting Wisdom

The Lord gives Wisdom
For the LORD gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding; he stores up sound wisdom for the upright; he is a shield to those who walk in integrity, guarding the paths of justice and watching over the way of his saints. Then you will understand righteousness and justice and equity, every good path; for wisdom will come into your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul; (Pro 2:6-10 ESV)

Wisdom Through Faith
If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; (Jas 1:5-7 ESV)

The Lord is Wisdom
but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. (1Co 1:24 ESV)
And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, (1Co 1:30 ESV)

Supplications in Walking With God

Owen saw that there were only two things worthy of our supplications toward God in being His enabling us to walk with Him. He is God and we are to follow Him. His sovereignty dictates our circumstance. Anything we need to walk with Him will fall into two categories. “God give me strength to follow You and the peace in You to suffer well in trials.” Any other requests made to change circumstances devoid of seeking God’s will and His glory will only beget disappointment and discontent.

Were any of us asked seriously, what it is that troubles us, we must refer it to one of these heads: —either we want strength or power, vigour and life, in our obedience, in our walking with God; or we want peace, comfort, and consolation therein. Whatever it is that may befall a believer that doth not belong to one of these two heads, doth not deserve to be mentioned in the days of our complaints.

- John Owen, from the Mortification of Sin in Believers, chapter 4

Owen on Wisdom

Whereas wisdom, therefore, is that holy excellency or power of the Divine Being, wherein God designs, and whereby he effects, the glory of all the other properties of his nature….
Wisdom being the directive power of all divine operations, and the end of all those operations being the glory of God himself

-John Owen

The Greatness of God’s Wisdom

Why does God create something as unfathomable as the ocean? Not that we may be impressed by the creation, but in seeing it we may understand what God is saying about Himself. The way we look at everything God has created should be in a way that sparks within us an awe for God. God is expressing Himself. We must look at the ocean, great as it is while we stand at the shore of it understanding that the greatness of God’s wisdom cannot be grasped by the finite peering out across a small part of the surface. It is too great for us just as God’s wisdom is unsearchable

These depths we may admire and adore, but we cannot comprehend: “For who hath known the mind of the Lord herein, or with whom took he counsel?” Concerning the original causes of his counsels in this great mystery we can only say, “the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!” This alone is left unto us in the way of duty, that in the effects of them we should contemplate on their excellency, so as to give glory to God, and live in a holy admiration of his wisdom and grace. For to give glory unto him, and admire him, is our present duty, until he shall come eternally “to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe,” 2 Thess. i. 10. We can do no more but stand at the shore of this ocean, and adore its unsearchable depths. What is delivered from them by divine revelation we may receive as pearls of price, to enrich and adorn our souls. For “the secret things belong unto the Lord our God, but those things which are revealed belong unto us,” that we may do “the words of this law,” Deut. xxix. 29.

John Owen, Volume 1, page 179