God is…wise

I guess the thing that strikes me is that there is a lot in the Bible about wisdom.  You'll see Scriptures below that tell us repeatedly that God is wise.  But there are many Scriptures as well that tell us to seek wisdom and also to choose wise leaders.  Nowhere in the does it say to seek out unwise and foolish people. 

So once again the Bible tells us to make a judgement.  We are to look at the words and actions of people and discern whether they are wise or not.  If they are wise we should consider what they say, consider their opinion on things.

If they are not wise we are to ignore their advice.

I've highlighted some things and commented on them below.

Deuteronomy 1:13(NKJV)

Choose wise, understanding, and knowledgeable men from among your tribes, and I will make them heads over you.’ 

I found this interesting.  Proverbs tells us to seek wisdom, knowledge, and understanding.  The verse above tells us to seek those exact types of men to lead us. 

2 Samuel 14:20(NKJV)

To bring about this change of affairs your servant Joab has done this thing; but my lord is wise, according to the wisdom of the angel of God, to know everything that is in the earth.”

Job 9:4(NKJV)

    God is wise in heart and mighty in strength.     Who has hardened himself against Him and prospered?

One of the things I have noticed is that often times wisdom and strength are combined in Scripture.

Job 11:12(NKJV)

    For an empty-headed man will be wise,     When a wild donkey’s colt is born a man.

I love Job's sense of humor.

Job 15:2(NKJV)

    “Should a wise man answer with empty knowledge,      And fill himself with the east wind?

Proverbs 24:23(NKJV)

These things also belong to the wise:      It is not good to show partiality in judgment.

Proverbs 29:8(NKJV)

    Scoffers set a city aflame,      But wise men turn away wrath.

Jeremiah 9:23(NKJV)

Thus says the Lord:      “Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom,     Let not the mighty man glory in his might,     Nor let the rich man glory in his riches;

Romans 16:27(NKJV)

to God, alone wise, be glory through Jesus Christ forever. Amen.

This one from the NT I find a little puzzling and I have written about it before.  All through the OT we are told to seek wisdom and become wise.  But here in Romans Paul says that only God is wise.  My conclusion is that in Paul's case he is simply using this as a rhetorical device to pay homage to God.