Tag: wisdom

The Writing On the Wall

On By Judy GlasserIn SeptemberLeave a comment

Have you ever heard someone use this phrase?  Or have you used it?

I will often use it when I’m talking about a situation where what’s coming next is pretty obvious.  I can see the handwriting on the wall.

Several years ago I discovered that this phrase comes from book of Daniel.Sept 21 2014 The writing on the wall

King Belshazzar was having a party with all of his friends.  He ordered his slaves to take out the gold goblets that his armies had taken from the Temple of God when the Babylonians conquered Jerusalem.  Then everyone at the party used the goblets to drink their wine.

Suddenly, the fingers of a hand appeared and wrote on the wall near the king.  The king turned pale and was scared.

But the king couldn’t understand what the message said and neither could any of his enchanters, astrologers or diviners.

The queen finally remembered that Daniel had interpreted these kinds of things before so they called for him.  When Daniel arrived, he bravely told the king that the writing said that God had judged how he was ruling the people as king and found him not acceptable. He had learned nothing from his father – Nebuchadnezzar – who had constant issues until he acknowledged the most High God, who is sovereign over all.  King Belshazzar’s misuse of the temple goblets was the last straw.   So God was bringing the king’s reign to an end.

And King Belshazzar died that night.

What handwriting on the wall do we see for us through this story?  We don’t need an interpreter to understand that God expects us to learn from others’ experience.  In the first chapter of James, God offers to give wisdom to everyone who asks.  He expects us to use this wisdom so we don’t have to make the same mistakes as others have made.  He wants us to learn from their mistakes.

God expected this from King Belshazzar and he expects it from us.

Please give us your wisdom, dear Father.

 

If You Were Wise

On By Judy GlasserIn JuneLeave a comment

We are in one of my favorite sections of the Chronological Bible.  This is where June 17 2014 if they listened.some of the prophets seem much more relevant to me because this Bible has them speaking God’s word directly to the kings who were actually ruling at the time.

Hosea spoke to 5 kings from both Judah and Israel.  Hosea tells them God offers them acceptance and forgiveness if they will repent and be faithful.

Hosea tells the priests they have been rejected by God because they have led the people into idolatry.  When Israel’s repentance only lasts a short time, Hosea points out their deceitfulness.

Hosea predicts captivity for Israel when they experience the wrath of God and their kingdom is destroyed.  The book of Hosea ends with a promise of forgiveness from God if they will turn back to him.

Hosea says to them (my version): “If you were wise, you would have figured this out.  You would understand that God is right and you should be following his directions for you.”

But they didn’t listen.  Instead, rebellious Israel continued down their path of destruction which took them into captivity and slavery.

What about us – you and me?

What path are we are on today?

How well are we listening?

Is it time for us to turn back to God?

Are we following God’s directions for us?

Dear Father, Please give us wisdom.

 

It All Connects

On By Judy GlasserIn May1 Comment

The wisest man who ever lived made a bad decision which led to another bad decision which caused him to make another bad decision.  These choices took him far from where God wanted him to be.May 27 2014

Marriages to foreign women were forbidden by God because these wives often had great influence with their husbands and would encourage them to worship foreign, false gods.  The culture at that time was filled with false gods of every kind.  The Israelites were the only ones worshipping the True God.  God wanted them to stay separate so that they stayed true to him.

Solomon made a  series of very unwise decisions by marrying a foreign wife and then a another and then another.  And it happened to him – his wives lured him away from the True God.  He started following the detestable gods of his wives.  He even built temples for these various false gods.  The wisest man in the world made some very unwise choices that caused him to become a fool.

It all connects.  The first decision led to the next which caused the next.  Solomon needed to avoid that first bad choice…..but he didn’t.  As a result, God ended David’s kingdom with Solomon.May 27 2014

Proverbs 20:26 reads, “A wise king winnows out the wicked; he drives the threshing wheel over them.”  Solomon didn’t winnow out the wicked, he married it.

Proverbs 4 tells us to avoid the path of the wicked, turn from it.  Wise words.  Words Solomon – and us – should follow.  If Solomon had done what he told others to do, his legacy would not be marred by his foolishness at the end of his life.

Solomon’s choices led to his own self-destruction.  His story challenges us to stand firm and strong on the truth of God all the way to the end….which is really only the beginning.

 

 

 

How Happy!

On By Judy GlasserIn MayLeave a comment

The Queen of Sheba travelled over 1200 miles on camels through a hot desert that was inhabited by roving groups of bandits just to check out King Solomon.  She had heard about his enormous wisdom and wealth.  Now she need to see it for herself.May 15b 2014

After spending a considerable amount of time with Solomon, she told him that he was even more wise than the reports she had heard.  ‘How happy your people must be!” she exclaimed and then she praised the God of Israel who had delighted in Solomon and made him king.

Whenever I read in the Bible about people who are wise, I am reminded of James 1 where God tells us that we only need to ask for wisdom and he will give it to us.

That’s what Solomon did – he asked for wisdom and God gave it to him.  God gave his so much wisdom that King Solomon is still acknowledged as the wisest man who ever lived.

Our Dear Heavenly Father.  Thank you for your word to us.  When we seek you, we always find you. 

Today we ask for wisdom, dear God. 

Wisdom to make the right choices.

Wisdom to say the right things.

Wisdom to set our priorities right so that our lives are about the things that you care about.

And we ask for an extra measure of your wisdom.  We ask that the people around us be positively affected by our wisdom.  We’d like them to be happy because of our influence in their lives just like the people who lived with Solomon and experienced his wisdom.

You have promised you will give us wisdom if we ask, so we are asking expectantly today. 

We know that you train us when you give us gifts like wisdom.  We are anticipating that you will put us in more situations where we need wisdom so that we can turn to you and learn. 

Please help us always to turn to you and learn, dear Father!

Thank you for your transforming power in our lives!

In the awesome name of Jesus we pray, Amen.

Expect It

On By Judy GlasserIn December1 Comment

If we lack wisdom, we just need to ask God and he will give us a generous amount of it.

James tells us to ask and believe – don’t doubt.Dec 20 2013

When we doubt, we are like the waves of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.  When we doubt, we don’t think we’ve received anything.  We lack confidence in God so we don’t see the results of our prayers.

And God always answers our prayers.  Sometimes he says yes, sometimes he says no, and sometimes he says ‘wait’ because he’s orchestrating something awesome for us and now is not the right time.

James tells us God always says ‘yes’ when we ask for wisdom.  The problem is that we often doubt that he has given it to us. 

We have the holy Spirit living inside of us.  When we listen and obey, we have all of the wisdom we’ll ever need.

Don’t doubt.  Have confidence in God.  Accept his words of wisdom as he whispers them into our hearts and minds.  Then obey.  God promises to give us generous amounts of wisdom when we ask for it.  We need to believe and watch for it expectantly.  Because it’s coming. 

It’s here.

Proverbs 2 – Our Prayer

On By Judy GlasserIn MayLeave a comment

Dear Father,

We thank you for the understanding you give us as we read your word – your direction feeds our souls.

We open our ears to hear your wisdom, we seek understanding.

We call out to you – please give us insight!

We cry aloud for more understanding!

We seek out wisdom – it is more precious to us than silver.

We search for wisdom – it is a hidden treasure of understanding and knowledge of you, dear God.

All wisdom comes from you, Father.

You give success to us as we seek you.  You shield us as we walk closely with you.  You guard us when with act with integrity and you protect our way when we are faithful.

We desire to now what is right for us – the good path which you have planned out for each one of us.

We ask for wisdom to fill our hearts.  May our souls be complete with knowledge of you.

Please teach us to use discretion as protection and to use our understanding to guard our hearts.

Thank you, dear Father.

How much more…….

On By Judy GlasserIn May1 Comment

Solomon didn’t ask God for wealth or a long life.  He didn’t ask God to kill his enemies.

Solomon asked for wisdom.  And God was very pleased by his request so he gave him a wise and discerning heart.

AND he made Solomon the richest man on earth.

So I wonder if God is pleased with my requests?  Or are my requests self-centered?  Are they based more on worry than trust?  Do I sound like I’m sitting on Santa’s lap sometimes with my long list of wishes?

I know God tells us again and again in the Bible to pray to him about everything and anything.  And I have learned to do that – it’s where I find peace.

But is he pleased with the tone and character of my requests like he was with Solomon’s?

Do I want the same things for others that God wants for them?  Am I asking for things that God wants to give them?

How much more is God wanting to give me…….if I would just ask?

How much wider and deeper could the flow of blessings from heaven flow down into my life if I asked for the right things?

How much more love, joy and peace is waiting……stored…..ready for me when I ask for it?

Dear Father, please give me a wise and discerning heart.