All men are commanded to obey the commands of God.

Human logic which is apart from the express will of God is not logic at all. It is in contradiction to truth. All truth comes from God. When we reason that it is OK to do that which is right in our own eyes, we reason wrongly. We fail to take into account that an all powerful God makes the rules. All else are subject to Him.

God, in his infinite resource and all knowing character, knows what is best. He planned all that exists. He knows what is necessary to make it work in harmony and according to perfection. We fail in the practice of reason to think that we are somehow able to know better.

God give all his commands for the good of His creatures. All good comes from His character of perfection. His creation is ordered by His commands. The whole concept is the basis for law or laws. We are told that He sustains all things by His Word. We fail in the practice of reason to think that we can make laws which supersede His. We fail in the practice of logic to think that we are somehow exempt from accountability in obeying His will.

There are three examples to this.

• First is the requirement to obey as is given in Deuteronomy 28.
• There is the illustration of those who refused to obey commands that seemed illogical to carnal minds. Jeremiah 38
• Lastly, there is illustration of response of offspring who finally learn and understand obedience and then the response of God. Daniel 9:5-13.

Could it not be that so much of the sorrow that people experience is the result of such disregard for the necessary obedience to God which has been so clearly declared to us?

Putting out the appeal

Isn’t it curious that wisdom should have to advertise? Imagine a village a thousand years ago. People lived in homes without glass windows. Noises of the village were always intruding into the home. Now we have Wisdom crying aloud. She is putting forth her voice. To be best heard she stands in the top of high places and goes along the paths of the village.

The appeal is directed

Wisdom calls unto the men and to the sons of men. She calls to the simple, the inexperienced. She wants them to understand wisdom.  She calls to the fools that they may be of an understanding heart. She offers to speak of excellent things and right things. Her mouth will speak truth. Wickedness is an abomination to her lips. All the words of her mouth are in righteousness. There is nothing froward (twisted as a rope) or perverse (distorted or false) coming from her mouth. Her words are plain to him that understands. They are right to them that find knowledge.

Wisdom’s appeal is better than great treasure

Wisdom’s instruction is better than silver, knowledge than choice gold. Wisdom is better than rubies. All things that may be desired are not to be compared to it.

Wisdom’s companions

One is  prudence. Prudence implies caution in deliberating and consulting on the most suitable means to accomplish valuable purposes. It is the exercise of sagacity in discerning and selecting these purposes.

The other is knowledge of witty inventions. This has to do with the making of plans. Things are not done with haphazard foolishness. This suggests  sagacity. Sagacity has to do with quickness and acuteness of discernment, a readiness of apprehension. It is a faculty of readily discerning and distinguishing ideas and of separating truth from falsehood. It also finds out the intermediate ideas to discover what connection there is in each link of the chain.

Proverbs 8:1-12

Ps 46:1,”God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” This verse helps demonstrate the theological truth that   “Christ is All and in All”.  As discussed in a previous blog we discovered that Christ is the believer’s refuge, and that God had established “cities of refuge” for people who had accidentally killed someone.  We also see that Christ is a very “present” help in trouble.  He was “present” when David’s life was being threatened by King Saul, his son Absalom and in battle.  He was “present” when David as a lad volunteered to fight Goliath, the Philistine giant.

God tells Joshua in Jos 1:9″ Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.”  What a very comforting and encouraging thought to know that God is with you wherever you are.

Another example would be when God led the Israelites  out of Egypt.  He went before them in the day with a pillar of cloud and at night with a pillar of fire.  They could see his presence.

In John 14: 18-23, Christ promises not to leave us comfortless, but to make his abode with us.  We have the Holy Spirit dwelling in us.  While He can’t be seen, He is there because scripture says so.  There is no reason to fear because the Eternal, Holy God indwells the believer.  When the trials of the world are overwhelming flee to Christ who is the believer’s refuge.  He is a very present help in trouble.  There is no need to feel pinned in, overwhelmed or defeated.  Christ is always near and always hears the cry of the saint.  Scripture testifies of that intimate, personal  assurance that Christ is present.