Wisdom Literature

Book: JobBook: PsalmsBook: ProverbsBook: EcclesiastesBook: Song of Solomon

Aug 13

Character . . . the heart . . . the desires . . . the motivation . . . wisdom. These are all words for the same thing. Within man is a basic drive. It is what makes him do what he does. It is what tells him what is right and what is wrong. It is his wisdom. In fact, everything that a man does is motivated by this character, his desires, his heart, his very own wisdom.

Man has a character. So also God has a character. They are as different as night and day. God’s motivation, His desires, His wisdom, is what is “good.” He alone determines what is good and what is evil. Unfortunately man also has a character but it is totally different than God’s. It also (man’s character) determines what is good and what is evil. Man’s character is focused on glorifying himself and determines what is good and what is evil for his own benefit. God’s character glorifies God. Man’s character glorifies man.

So there are two different characters, God’s and man’s. The Biblical Story will show that each determines good and evil differently. They each have a different understanding, a different perception, a different “knowledge of good and evil.” This is the problem. Note well, that there is no overlap. No “human wisdom” at its best ever merges in any way with the wisdom of God (“revelation”). While some things may seem similar, the motivations are diametrically opposite.