Absolutely Alive: God’s wisdom and sunshine - 17 July 2024

The book of Proverbs, largely compiled by Solomon, from which today’s verse is taken, is a treasure trove for those who seek wisdom beyond themselves in order to “number [their] days” and “gain a heart of wisdom” (Psalm 90:12, NIV).

We never think of Solomon as a little boy, do we? Would we recognise what a wise person looks like at age two, when children are often self-assured with a gung-ho approach to life, only to become more circumspect by age three as they recognise their limitations, and the world becomes increasingly larger around them? However, even that wise philosopher had to begin somewhere.

In the book of Proverbs, we find evidence of both his father’s and mother’s teachings that left a lasting impression on him. Most importantly, there was a visitation from God when Solomon was a young king. God appeared to him in a dream and said, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you” (2 Chronicles 1:7). Solomon responded, “Give me now wisdom and knowledge … for who can govern this people of yours, which is so great?” (2 Chronicles 1:10)

God then blessed him with “wisdom and very great insight, and a breadth of understanding as measureless as the sand on the seashore … greater than the wisdom of all the people of the East … greater than all the wisdom of Egypt”, (1 Kings 4:29-30, NIV) because he had “not asked for possessions, wealth, or honour … not even for long life …” (2 Chronicles 1:11) Yet Solomon realised that even with this immense wisdom, he was limited and couldn’t always understand the reasons behind life’s happenings.

Life only began to ‘make sense’ to him when he observed over time that, although no-one naturally possesses this tendency, the wisest choice is to revere God and live according to his ways. Solomon’s conclusion at the end of Ecclesiastes (Ecclesiastes 12:13) confirms his trust in the words of his father David spoke before he died: “And you, Solomon my son, know the God of your father and serve him with a whole heart and with a willing mind, for the LORD searches all hearts and understands every plan and thought. If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will cast you off forever.” (1 Chronicles 28:9)

Maturing is an enriching experience when we’re seeking him because, as we increase in knowledge, deepen our understanding, and grow through years of learning and experience, our path is increasingly illumined. What we’ve read, pondered and been taught converge and then surface in a fresh way, making sense of our experiences.

I love how much easier it is to understand the Bible and see how the Old and New Testaments complement each other, enriching our knowledge and appreciation of God and his ways, while also illuminating the distinctions between righteous and wicked, wise and foolish, light and dark, heaven and hell, truth and falsehood, humility and pride; it bears out the metaphor in our verse of delicate sunrise rays growing increasingly radiant, illuminating the path ahead until full sunlight is reached.

This will be our experience, however long it takes to get there, when we know God and serve him with an undivided heart and an enthusiastic mind, trusting him each step of the way.

Prayer: Gracious Lord, help me always to walk in your wisdom and righteousness in ever-increasing radiance. Amen