WISDOM AND KNOWLEDGE by E. P. D.

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Dec 21, 1876

WISDOM AND KNOWLEDGE.

By E. P. D.

“My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee; so that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding; yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; if thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures, then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God. For the Lord giveth wisdom; out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.” Prov. 2:1–6.

The volumes of thought introduced in the foregoing, can be easier conceived than expressed. And yet were these eloquent expressions of the wise man shorn of their sentimental vesture subjecting only the one grand idea of wisdom to the comprehension of finite minds, who could perceive its limits? Who can fathom its depths? Who can look away to the source from whence it came and conceive of the mysteries of its birth, and, when but an infant in days, the extent of its power? None but he who hath put wisdom in the inward parts, and given understanding to the heart. Job 38:36. And yet, all are to understand its important use. The simple may be enriched by it; for we read that whilst the law of the Lord is perfect converting the soul, the testimonies of the Lord are equally sure making wise the simple. Ps. 19:7.

Thus we discover the inseparable connection of the two great avenues of divine wisdom, the commandments of God, as revealed in his word, and the testimonies of the Lord, as developed through the manifestation of the Spirit. And so we read, “My son if thou wilt receive my words and hide my commandments with thee . . . then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God; for out of his mouth cometh wisdom and understanding.” Prov. 2:1, 5, 6.

We are, then, first to understand the fear of the Lord, which is the beginning of wisdom. Ps. 111:10. Then we shall have laid the foundation for the reception of a wise course of instruction through the testimony of Christ (Rev. 12:17), which is the Spirit of prophecy. Rev. 19:10.

“If thou criest after knowledge, and seekest her as silver and searchest after her as for hid treasures”—these are the conditions of its attainment. I see in this a broad distinction between wisdom and knowledge. The one is set forth as a reward to him who seeks, cries, and searches, for the other.

An expression from Pope would seem apparently to define them both. Wisdom and knowledge, far from being one, oft-times have no relation. For Knowledge is replete in thoughts of other men; Wisdom is content with its own. Knowledge, a rough unprofitable mass, the very material with which Wisdom builds, until hewn and squared and fitted to its place, oftentimes doth but encumber whom it seemeth to enrich. Knowledge is proud that she has learned so much. Wisdom is humble that she knows no more. So it is that knowledge does but furnish us the tools with which we construct the outer walls of wisdom’s palace halls. A man may have an extensive knowledge of chemistry, and then be unable to give a practical demonstration of it by analysis. One may have a knowledge of all the sciences, and yet find himself only in possession of the thoughts of other men, which if transmitted to others as they were received, without due meditation, which develops other and richer thoughts and stores them away in wisdom’s treasure-house, they do but encumber whom they seem to enrich.

This may properly be termed the wisdom of this world which is foolishness in the sight of God, and may be likened unto a tunnel, which, though it receives much it retains nothing, and runs dry in about one-half the time it takes to fill it, because it has a big mouth and no bottom.

Knowledge, like the diamond, must of necessity be conspicuously displayed, to be appreciated. Therefore it seeks public life. It shines in the social circle, sparkles in the mansions of the rich, and flashes in the sunlight of national honors, talks long and loud upon the scientific problems and theorems of the day, chiefly for display, whose love is in the reward of praise and approbation.

Wisdom is contented with her own, abides in seclusion, humble, quiet, modest, speaks volumes in a word, born of a noble parentage,—not of the world, but from above. It is exemplified by our Saviour in the revelation of great and sublime truths so simplified that the little child may understand them, and be led to a life of holiness by conforming to them.

It was said of Pelucido that he was a very great genius in this respect; for when he spoke in the senate he was wont to convey his ideas in so simple and so happy a manner as to instruct and convince every hearer, and to enforce the conviction through the whole illustrious assembly, and that with so much evidence that you would have been ready to wonder that every one who had spoken had not said the same things. But Pelucido was the only man that could do it. This is wisdom.

But it was not characteristic of this great man only. There seem to be those among the people of to-day, that are in possession of this priceless gift. Those more especially upon whom God hath bestowed great measures of the heavenly wisdom which was in our Saviour, who before the assembly, in conversation, and in writings, deliver their thoughts in so plain, so easy, so familiar, and perspicuous a manner that you both understand and assent to everything they say as fast as you read or hear it. Hereupon some have been ready to conclude in haste, Surely this person says none but common things. I knew as much before, or could have said as much myself.

This, many find to be a sad mistake; and it arises from their inability to discern between that wisdom which comes from above and that which is earthly.

But the most distinguishing feature of this spiritual gift is that of good fruits. It is a tree of life; its yield is bountiful. Its branches are never encumbered with pride, egotism, prejudice, dogmatism, prating, reviling, or anything of the kind; but on the contrary, these are most powerfully assailed; for wisdom sees them all in their odious deformity, and receives an impulse to hate, avoid, and shun, them, while upon the other hand it gains a glimpse of the beauty and loveliness of candor, docility, meekness, kindness, affability, liberality of feeling and independence of thought, which urges one to assume and wear these more than earthly ornaments—the legitimate fruits of wisdom, not the knowledge, which comes and goes with the rapidity of thought, but a living fountain ever flowing with sparkling gems of original thought, not successfully attained by a solitary effort of the mind, but by a prayerful crying and thirsting for it.

If any man lack wisdom, let him ask of God who giveth liberally and upbraideth not. Jas. 1:5. And a constant vigilant watchfulness is necessary lest those thoughts which are productive of good vanish away leaving the mind subject to those impressions which too often plunge the individual into perpetual error and misjudgment.

Understanding is a term which may be said to be synonymous with wisdom. For wisdom is defined to be the use of the best means for attaining the best ends; and in this sense is implied the union of high mental and moral excellence. And to understand is simply to receive into the intellect that which comes through the medium of the senses. The one is simply an instrument in the economy of the other, for its development into perfection. To accomplish any purpose in life, it must first be understood. Therefore, happy is the man that getteth understanding. And wisdom resteth in the heart of him that hath understanding. Prov. 14:19–33.

It is the basilar principle of the great work of creation, and without it the great Author of the material universe would forever have remained a unit. But we read, “By understanding hath he established the heavens.” Prov. 3:19. And again, “Hast thou not known, hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding.” Isa. 40:28. The froward, heady, and highminded, who think more highly of their own moral and intellectual worth than of the virtue of humility, get never the faintest glimpse of the excellence of wisdom, for such cannot bear the reproof God sends to develop in them a wise and understanding heart. They pray earnestly for its possession, but ignore the beneficent manner of its gift.

“The ear that heareth the reproof of life abideth among the wise. He that refuseth instruction despiseth his own soul; but he that heareth reproof, getteth understanding. The fear of the Lord is the instruction of wisdom; and before honor is humility.” Prov. 15:31–33.

If I rightly understand the force and importance of this scripture, it is to teach submission to the wise arrangements of God for our development into a higher moral and intellectual life. “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.” Hos. 4:6. Every son and daughter of Adam has a most important concern in the affairs of the life to come. Therefore it should be a matter of the highest moment for every one to understand, to judge, and reason right about the things of religion. From this it appears to be the necessary duty, and for the interest of every person living, to improve his understanding, to inform his judgment, to treasure up useful knowledge, and to acquire the skill of good reasoning, as far as his station, capacity, and circumstances in life, furnish proper means. So a studious application of the mind, though ever so latent its faculties, to the study of divine revelation, together with a close observation of external surroundings, will supply the intellectual regions with living streams of useful knowledge, sowing the seed which shall one day spring forth into verdant fields of never-withering fruit of heavenly wisdom. And thus with the mind enriched with gems of truth from the great book of nature and revelation, we may say with the apostle, “Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect, yet not the wisdom of the world, but we speak the wisdom of God.” 1 Cor. 2:6–7.

E. P. D.

Leoni, Mich.