One verse of focus from the last blog is from 1 Kings 4:29 (NKJV): And God gave Solomon wisdom and exceedingly great understanding, and largeness of heart like the sand on the seashore.
I want to share some of my previous explorations of wisdom in the scriptures. Isaiah 11:1-3 one such verse; and is viewed as a prophetic verse regarding the Messiah (Jesus): (bold added by me, for emphasis)
“Then a shoot will spring up from the stump of Jesse, and a Branch from his roots will bear fruit. The Spirit of the LORD will rest on Him—the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and strength, the Spirit of knowledge and fear of the LORD. And He will delight in the fear of the LORD.”
Jesse was David’s Father. Jesus’ ancestry is from the lineage of David. In as much, He is seen as the “Branch from his roots.” In Revelation 22:16-17 (ESV), Jesus said, “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you about these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.”
What is described in Isaiah chapter eleven are what some describe as the “seven spirits” or seven characteristics of God:
The Spirit of the Lord
The Spirit of wisdom
The Spirit of understanding
The Spirit of counsel
The Spirit of strength (might)
The Spirit of knowledge
The Spirit of the fear of the Lord
Seven is known as a perfect / complete number. So to have 7 spirits of God speaks to His perfection / completeness.
Revelation 1:4-5 (NASB): John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace, from Him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne, and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the the earth.
Revelation 3:1 (NLT): Write this letter to the angel of the church in Sardis. This is the message from the one who has the seven fold Spirit of God and the seven stars….
Revelation 4:5 (ESV): From the throne came flashes of lightning, and rumblings and peals of thunder, and before the throne were burning seven torches of fire, which are the seven spirits of God.
Revelation 5:6 (NLT): Then I saw a Lamb that looked as if it had been slaughtered, but it was now standing between the throne and the four living beings and among the twenty-four elders. He had seven horns and seven eyes, which represent the seven fold Spirit of God that is sent out into every part of the earth.
So, wisdom is one of the “spirits,” or characteristics of God.
Proverbs 8:12-16 (NASB): I, wisdom, dwell with prudence, And I find knowledge and discretion. The fear of the Lord is to hate evil; Pride, arrogance, the evil way, and the perverted mouth, I hate. Counsel is mine and sound wisdom; I am understanding, power is mine. By me kings reign, and rulers decree justice. By me princes rule, and nobles, all who judge rightly.
If a student of scripture reads this passage closely, one may recognize all seven of the characteristics of God described in Isaiah chapter eleven.
Proverbs 9:1 (NASB): Wisdom has built her house, She has hewn out her seven pillars…
Proverbs 9:10 (NASB): The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
Proverbs 1:7 (NASB): The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; Fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Proverbs 2:5 (NIV): then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God.
Job 12:13 (ESV): With God are wisdom and might; he has counsel and understanding.
The characteristics of the seven spirits in Isaiah chapter 11 may be recognized in each of these five passages.
Of particular note for me is the passage from Proverbs 9:10: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom …”
If wisdom’s “beginning” is found in “the fear of the Lord,” then what is the fear of the Lord?
Let’s consider this question, next time. I hope your heart is nourished by pondering how the King of the universe has constructed the scriptures to reveal Himself to us.
Remember, “It is the glory of God to conceal a matter and the glory of kings to search it out.” Proverbs 25:2.
