Topic Study - Wisdom

 Wisdom is defined by the Merrian-Webster dictionary like this. I was going to copy paste it in, but the copy-pasting wouldn't cooperate. So I've just given you the link.

Now what does the bible have to say about wisdom. Let me do my search on e-sword, using the words 'wise' and 'wisdom,' then weed through the 400+ verses it pulls up.

(Exo 23:8)  And thou shalt take no gift: for the gift blindeth the wise, and perverteth the words of the righteous.
      According to Strong's the word here translated wise is piqqêach, it means to be clear sighted; figuratively intelligent. It is also translated seeing. Therefore, a wise person is clear sighted. And gifts - which is here talking about bribes - can obscure one's clear sight.


(2Ch 1:10)  Give me now wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people: for who can judge this thy people, that is so great?

      This is where Solomon is asking God for wisdom. The word here is chokmâh, which means, simply, wisdom (in a good sense) and is also translated skillful, wisely, or wit. We need to ask God for wisdom - and wisdom for our leaders.

(Job 28:18)  No mention shall be made of coral, or of pearls: for the price of wisdom is above rubies. 

       The word used here is again chokmâh. There are a lot of verses that compare the worth of wisdom to the riches of this world, but I like this one. Let's not even talk about coral or pearls - Wisdom is more valuable than rubies! All you had to do to get coral and pearls was dive into the ocean. But you had to dive into the EARTH to get rubies. And Wisdom is even more valuable - so dive into God's word and get it!

(Psa 37:30)  The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom, and his tongue talketh of judgment.

      Once more, the word is chokmâh. This is saying that a righteous man is wise.

(Psa 94:8)  Understand, ye brutish among the people: and ye fools, when will ye be wise? 

       The word here is śâkal, which means  to be (causeatively make or act) circumspect and hence intelligent. It is also translated consider, expert, instruct, prosper, (deal) prudent (-ly), (give) skill (-ful), have good success, teach, (have, make to) understand (-ing), wisdom, (be, behave self, consider, make) wise (-ly), and guide wittingly. Fools are people who don't have wisdom. We don't want to be like that. We need to get wisdom.

(Psa 107:43)  Whoso is wise, and will observe these things, even they shall understand the lovingkindness of the LORD. 

       The passage leading up to this verse talks about all the things God does in this world (and barely makes a dent, I can assure you!). The word used is châkâm, which comes from the same root as chokmâh, and means wise, (that is, intelligent, skilful or artful), and is also translated as cunning (man), subtil, ([un-]), wise ([hearted], man). Therefore, if you are wise, you will look at, and notice all the things that God does - and give him the credit. 

(Psa 111:10)  The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever.

     The word here is once more chokmâh. This verse says that in order to get wisdom, we have to fear God, and follow his commandments.

A similar verse is (Pro 1:7):  The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction. 

(Pro 1:5)  A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels: 

     The word here is châkâm. A wise man is not afraid to learn new things.

(Pro 1:20)  Wisdom crieth without; she uttereth her voice in the streets: 

     The word used here is chokmôth  chakmôth, which is a personification of wisdom, which is considered female. Wisdom is looking for us!

Topic Study - Guidance

Guidance is defined as follows:

noun

1. the act of guiding; direction; leadership
2. something that guides
3. advice or assistance, as that given to students by vocational or educational counselors
4. the process of directing the course of a spacecraft, missile, etc.

I am going more about guidance as the first three definitions describe, since guiding a spacescraft isn't mentioned much in the Bible, and it is from the Bible that I am studying.

So, what does the Bible have to say about Guidance? I'll enter the words "guidance" and "guide" into the the search engine on e-sword, which I have downloaded on my computer. I'll be using the King James Version, because that is the version I'm used to reading and studying.

The first verse I pull up is in Job and God is asking Job if he can guide something. I don't think it is quite relevant to the search I'm making. 


Therefore, I'll move on to the next verse, 

      (Psa 25:9)  The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way. 

This verse says that God will guide the meek. The Hebrew word here is dârak. According to Strong's Concordance it means to tread; by implication to walk; also to string a bow (by treading on it in bending). So, God will guide the meek like an archer guides an arrow. He sends us where we need to go.  Another picture would be a  path that has already been drawn out. There is no other path, we just have to walk down it.

Another verse:

    (Psa 31:3)  For thou art my rock and my fortress; therefore for thy name's sake lead me, and guide me. 

Here David is asking that God guide him and protect him. The Hebrew word used here is nâhal, meaning, properly, to run with a sparkle, that is, flow; hence (transitively) to conduct, and (by inference) to protect, sustain. So guidance, it appears, is not only in sending, but also in protecting. This gives a picture, not merely of sending, but going with and protecting while they go. When God guides us, he sends us, and comes with us. 

    (Psa 32:8)  I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye. 

Here God is telling us that he will guide us where we need to go. The Hebrew word used here is yâ‛ats, which means to advise; reflexively to deliberate or resolve. So in this one, he guides by giving counsel. This gives the picture of someone watching and offering advice while the task is being done. God tells us what we need to do. And where do we find his advise? In the Bible, of course.

    (Psa 48:14)  For this God is our God for ever ever: he will be our guide even unto death. 

God will always guide us! The word used here is nâhag, which  means to drive forth (a person, an animal or chariot), that is, lead, carry away; reflexively to proceed (that is, impel or guide oneself); also (from the panting induced by effort), to sigh. This is the picture of someone doing something on their own, with instructions from their guide.

    (Pro 11:3)  The integrity of the upright shall guide them: but the perverseness of transgressors shall destroy them. 

This says that if we aren't guided by what we should do, we will destroy ourselves! The word used here is 

nâchâh which means to guide; by implication to transport (into exile, or as colonists). Picture the person behind the steering wheel in a car. If he has integrity, he will be a good driver, follow the traffic rules, have a good driving record. Without integrity, he would not be a man I would like driving me places!

   (Joh 16:13)  Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. 

So the Holy Spirit is our guide today. The Greek word used here is hodēgeō, which means to show the way (literally or figuratively [teach]). The Holy Spirit teaches us how we need to live. He is all of the things above. He holds our hand and protect us. He shows us our path that we need to go down. He provides us with advice (whether from the Bible or a mentor) when we need it. He gives us integrity. 

   (Act 8:31)  And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him. 

This was when Phillip met the Ethiopian Eunuch. The Eunuch is saying that it is impossible to understand the scriptures without someone else guiding and teaching you, for the word used here is the same word used in the previous verse. We have someone to guide us. We have the Holy Spirit.