which I teach you to observe (Deuteronomy 4:1)
We need to teach people so that they may do what is being taught. On the other hand, the people need to put into practice what is being taught.
When you put into practice the things that are taught, three things happen:
- You live
- Go into the land
- You possess the land
You shall not add to the word which I command you, nor take from it, (Deuteronomy 4:2)
This is a warning to not alter the teaching of God. The early manuscripts of the Scriptures were copied by hand, and it would be easy for the copyist to make some errors, but God watches over His Word (Jeremiah 1:12)
Your eyes have seen what the Lord did at Baal Peor; for the Lord your God has destroyed from among you all the men who followed Baal of Peor. (Deuteronomy 4:3)
The false prophet Baalam had been hired by King Balak to curse the people of Israel, but each time Baalam tried to curse the Jews, he ended up blessing them (Numbers 22—24). His curses didn’t work, but he had a plan that did work.
He and Balak invited the Jewish men to attend one of the Moabite religious feasts and encouraged them to participate to the full (Numbers 25). This meant having sex with the temple prostitutes, and one man even brought his “date” back into the Jewish camp!
The fact that God judged His people by killing 24,000 men indicates that many of the Jews eagerly participated in the wicked feast. What the enemy couldn’t accomplish with curses and fighting he accomplished with compromise.
But you who held fast to the Lord your God are alive today, every one of you. (Deuteronomy 4:4)
The Jews who refused the invitation and remained true to the Lord were still alive, again reaffirming the truth that the word is our life.
Wisdom in the Word
So keep them and do them, for that is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples who, when they hear all these statutes, will say, Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people. (Deuteronomy 4:6)
From the above verse, we see that:
- Practicing the word will make us grow in wisdom and understanding.
- Practicing the word will make us influence the people around us. When people hear and see what’s going on, they’ll say, “What a great nation! So wise, so understanding! (Deuteronomy 4:6)
The Psalmist wrote in Psalm 119:98
You, through Your commandments, make me wiser than my enemies;
For they are ever with me.
The biggest enemy is the enemy of our souls. The wisdom from the word of God will put you miles ahead of the devil. The enemy may know the word and quote the word, but he has no access to the wisdom of the word - it is hidden from him. For eg: Had the devil know, he would have never crucified Jesus on the cross. (1 Corinthians 2:8)
I have more understanding than all my teachers,
For Your testimonies are my meditation. (Psalm 119:98-99)
The wisdom of the Word of God also makes us wiser than the teachers of this world who have all their education behind them. Even age does not compete with the wisdom that comes from the Word.
True wisdom goes beyond just the accumulation of knowledge. Knowledge has value, but how to apply knowledge to our lives in a life-changing way - that is true wisdom.
Take a look around you, intelligent and educated people are not necessarily wise, and one merely has to look at the outcome of their lives to realize that knowledge does not necessarily guarantee wise decisions for life.
The Apostle Paul wrote, Christ Jesus has been made unto us wisdom (1 Corinthians 1:30)
What Paul was essentially saying was that the Word is our wisdom.
Wisdom is the principal thing;
Therefore get wisdom.
And in all your getting, get understanding.
Exalt her, and she will promote you;
She will bring you honor, when you embrace her.
She will place on your head an ornament of grace;
A crown of glory she will deliver to you.” (Proverbs 4:7-9)
If you want this wisdom you have to go after it. God gives some level of wisdom as a gift, but if you want more wisdom, you have to resolve to get it no matter what. This is not a one time process; it is a day-to-day process of seeking wisdom in the word of God.
Confession:
(Keep saying it throughout the day)
Christ Jesus has been made unto me the wisdom of God
Chapters