The Wisdom Of God and the Wisdom Of the world

*The Wisdom Of God and the Wisdom Of the world
*By Dr. Lloyd A. Peterson *

Paul, in writing to the Church of Corinth, contrasts the wisdom of God
with the wisdom of the world: There is much more to this than may appear
on the surface. It is really the Kingdom of Light in contrast to the
Kingdom of Darkness. It is Divine Wisdom contrasted with Satanic wisdom.

Most of us have a very poor conception or understanding of the
authority, power and wisdom possessed by Satan. Ezekiel, the prophet,
speaks of Satan's wisdom in chapter 28 and verse 12: 'Thou sealest up
the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in beauty.' Another translation is
'Thou art the finished pattern' and still another 'You complete the
sum', that is of wisdom and beauty.

That the prophet is speaking of Satan is evident because verse 13
declares that he was 'in Eden the garden of God'. It also declares that
be was created. This could not be said of the King of Tyre, of whom
Ezekiel had been speaking. It also speaks of him as 'the anointed
cherub'. verse 14.

When God created Lucifer, He gave to him wisdom and beauty. He probably
was the highest of God's creation. He must have had beauty, for
Ezekiel's description of him is beyond our grasp. His covering was of
beautiful stones, nine of which are found in the garment of the high
priest. Compare Ezekiel 28:13 with Exodus 39:10-13. This latter suggests
that he was a priest-king in God's original creation. He perhaps was at
the very footstool of God, next to God, an intercessor for the then
existing creation. He was given authority and power.

Little do Christians realize this. Acts 26:18 says 'To turn them from
darkness to light, and from the power (authority) of Satan unto God'.
Col.l:13 says 'who hath delivered us from the power (authority) of
darkness'. When Scripture speaks of Satan as 'the God of this world' it
means that God gave to him the authority, power and wisdom of rulership
of this planet.

Job 1 shows him as the steward of this earth. The Savior acknowledged
his authority and power. He, the blessed Son of God, did not contest
with him but answered in the temptation by saying 'It is written'. Jesus
at one occasion said to the disciples, 'the children of this age are in
their generation wiser than the children of light'. Luke 16:8. We are
told to be 'wise as serpents'.

Oh! that we as the children of God may fully realize the spiritual
warfare that exists. 'For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but
against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the
darkness of this age, against spiritual wickedness in high places.' Eph.
6:12. We could be so much more victorious in Christian experience. How
dare we but flee to the Lord when the tempter strikes. Jude reminds us
of this need when he said, 'Michael, the archangel, when contending with
the Devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against
him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee.' Jude 9.

This is the reason for the contrast of wisdom in I Cor.l, Christ is
presented as the wisdom of God. 'For the preaching of the cross (the
Word of the cross, or Christ of the cross} is to them that perish
foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God'.
Hebrews 4:12 says 'For the Word of God, (the logos of God, the Savior)
is quick and powerful'. See the following verse where this word is
personified and identified 'Neither is there any other creature that is
not manifest in His sight'.

Again Paul, in Corinthians, says that Christ to the Jew is a
stumblingblock and to the Greeks foolishness, 'but unto them which are
called ..... the power of God and the wisdom of God'.

In the Proverbs the writer, divinely inspired, quoting the Savior says,
'counsel is mine, and sound wisdom: I am understanding; I have
strength'. Provo 8:14. No little wonder then that the writer says,
'Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know
understanding ... Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not ...
Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall
keep thee.' Provo 4:1, 5, 6.

Have you ever wondered why God so honored Solomon in his choice for
wisdom? (l Kings 3:5-12) Here is the answer: it was not general
understanding that Solomon prayed but it was for the Wisdom of God, or
as Paul states it in 1 Cor. 2:15-16, 'He that is spiritual judgeth all
things ..... For who hath known the mind of the Lord ... that he may
instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ'. Again, Paul says in
Romans 8:7 'the
carnal mind is enmity against God', therefore, 'Let this mind be in you,
which was also in Christ Jesus.' Phil. 2:5.

Do you see, my friend, the contrast of the wisdom of this world and that
of God? Christ is the Wisdom of God. In Him, with Him and through Him
alone is there victory. No little wonder on the Mount of Ascension,
after Satan's power was hroken, He said to the beloved disciples, 'All
power is given unto me, go ye therefore.'

Yes, we agree with Paul that Christ is the power of God, and the wisdom
of God., ... of Him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us
wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: that,
according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the
Lord'. 1 Cor. 1:24, 30-31.