These words were a denunciation from the Prophet Jeremiah to the people of Edom. These children of the East were famous for their great wisdom. They were skilled in proverbs and dark sayings. Yet, while under the judgment of God, their wisdom and prudence were no where to be found.
We see a similar situation in the Book of the Prophet Isaiah. In Isaiah 29:14, the Prophet speaks of a "marvelous work" that the Lord God would perform among the people - "even a marvelous work and a wonder."
What would this be?
He goes on to explain - "...for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid."
What Isaiah was saying here was that the knowledge and wisdom of the discerning men would disappear, vanish, and not be adequate to face the present calamities.
What caused this to happen? Why did God withdraw wisdom and prudence from the men?
Isaiah 29:13 gives the reason - "Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near Me with their mouth, and with their lips do honor Me, but have removed their heart far from Me, and their fear toward Me is taught by the precept of men."
Here we have a people who are playing the hypocrite before the Lord. They are dissembling with Him - they are not sincere in their worship...are simply giving Him lip-service while their heart is far from Him...and are not making His Word their guide nor His Will their goal. Consequently, He removes all wisdom, understanding, and discernment from them.
Isaiah 29:9-10 tells us that they have become as drunken and staggering men because "the spirit of deep sleep" from the Lord has shut their eyes and denied them of any discernment.
Whenever a people reject the Lord, they become self-conceited and self confident. They no longer lean unto Him but to their own understanding.
In Isaiah 5:21, we read of the Prophet Isaiah's rebuke to the people in such a state - "Woe unto them that are... prudent in their own sight!"
These same people became haughty and proud and unwilling to receive instruction. Their pride had deceived them into thinking that they knew more than the prophet so they rejected any and all of his warnings. They continued in their sins and neglected any words of repentance or denial of self.
We especially see this arrogancy displayed in Isaiah 10:13 where the Prophet records the words of proud Assyria - which was God's instrument to judge His people - "For he saith, By the strength of my hand I have done it, and by my wisdom; for I am prudent..." Assyria attributed their success to their own understanding, wisdom, prudence, and power. They totally left God out of the picture.
Today there is such a lack of prudence among our men. Can it be that the reason for this is because they, too, have rejected the Lord? They give Him lip-service while their heart is far from Him. Hence, they are full of self confidence rather than confidence in Him. He has placed a spirit of deep sleep upon many and withdrawn prudence and wisdom from them. For the most part, they are making decisions - not based on His Word - but on their own human reasoning. Chaos in the world, society, and in the home is the result.
Oh that God would raise up prudent men in the land to handle our affairs wisely. Oh that He would raise up men who are "prudent in matters" (1 Samuel 16:18) as David was. How we desperately need prudence in our everyday dealings with each other.
What exactly is prudence? According to the Webster's Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary, it is "the ability to govern and discipline oneself by the use of reason...sagacity or shrewdness in management of affairs...skill and good judgment in the use of resources...and caution or circumspection as to danger or risk."
When the Scripture referred to David as being "prudent in matters," it meant that he was eloquent, discerning, cunning, and able to handle matters wisely. He was able to manage his affairs well because his confidence was in the Lord and not in himself. He worshipped Him with all of his heart - not simply with lip-service. His relationship with Him was sincere and honest and upright and free from any hypocrisy. Resultantly, God gave him great discernment and good judgment.
Oh that God would give us a thousand David's today who are not ashamed to let this "sinful and adulterous generation" know where they stand when it comes to the Bible and the moral issues of the day.
Oh for a thousand David's who have no confidence in the Flesh but have their confidence in the Spirit of the Living God.
They are leaning on the Arm of the Lord and not the Arm of the Flesh.
They are handling matters wisely because they are gleaning all of their counsel from the Word of God.
The Scriptures speak alot about prudence and the prudent man. Let's examine some verses to see what it has to say about this topic -
Proverbs 16:21 says - "The wise in heart shall be called prudent..."
This is the man whose wisdom is not just stored in his mind, but it dwells in his heart - directing his every step.
Proverbs 18:15 says - "The heart of the prudent getteth knowledge..."
A prudent man is in constant pursuit of the knowledge of God and his duty before Him. He is ever seeking after this knowledge - desiring to procure, attain, and possess it. He is continuously gathering materials - for he always feels the need for more and more of it.
Proverbs 13:16 says - "Every prudent man dealeth with knowledge..."
He doesn't talk about things of which he is not knowledgeable. He doesn't venture out into a field of which he is not acquainted.
Proverbs 12:16 says - "...a prudent man covereth shame."
He passes over all affronts, injuries, and indignities that come his way. He doesn't allow anger or resentment to rise up in retaliation.
Proverbs 12:23 says - "A prudent man concealeth knowledge..."
He's not one to show off his knowledge before others. He will offer sound advice, wisdom, or counsel if it is for the good of another - not simply to draw attention to himself.
Proverbs 14:8 says - "The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way..."
This wisdom is very practical. It enables him to understand how to direct his way and to manage his affairs wisely.
Proverbs 14:15 says - "...the prudent man looketh well to his going."
He doesn't believe everything that he hears. He proves all things and tests the spirits. He is cautious and circumspect in his goings.
Proverbs 14:18 says - "...the prudent are crowned with knowledge."
Knowledge is bound to the prudent man as the brightest ornament is bound to the head. He is surrounded with it. He abounds in it.
Proverbs 15:5 says - "...he that regardeth reproof is prudent."
He that submits to and regards a rebuke, correction, and instruction gets to himself prudence, discernment, or good judgment.
Proverbs 22:3 says - "A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself..."
The "evil" mentioned in this verse can refer to the temptation to sin, troubles of any sort, or the judgment of God. This man is aware of his surroundings at all times. When he sees the "evil" approaching, he resorts to his Strong Tower - the Lord Jesus - in repentance, prayer, and the study of His Word.
Amos 5:13 says - "Therefore the prudent shall keep silence in that time; for it is an evil time."
This "evil time" is a time of total lawlessness. Sin abounds on every side. It is performed in every imaginable perversion and is winked at. The righteous or prudent man is persecuted. In order to keep from being misrepresented and misinterpreted, he remains silent rather than complain or reprove.
Where are the Prudent Men? Where are those who have the true wisdom that comes from God above? Where are those who are serving Him in sincerity and truth?
Because of their arrogancy, God has sent forth "the spirit of deep sleep" upon many. Counsel is gone. Wisdom is vanished. Understanding is hid. Hypocrisy is the cause.
God is calling for the "prudent man" to rise up -
the one who is in daily pursuit of the knowledge of God and his duty
...who has God's Wisdom stored in his heart
...who doesn't deal with concerns of which he is not knowledgeable
...who passes over all injuries, affronts, and offenses from others and refuses revenge
...who seasonably ministers knowledge to others for their edification and not for his own aggrandizement
...who walks circumspectly
...who knows how to direct his way
...who resorts to God's knowledge at all times and is completely surrounded by it
...who receives correction and rebuke
...who discerns the times and the seasons in which he lives
Are you that man?
Then rise up this day in the Strength and Power of the Lord - spreading His Knowledge and Wisdom wherever you go and handling your matters wisely for His Great Glory and Honor.
May others be drawn to the Lord Jesus through your prudent actions and ways.
May God Bless His Word,
Connie
No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. (Isaiah 54:17)
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