Who is Wise?

Who is Wise? Sometimes we tire of reading again and again of Israel's refusal to obey the Lord. How could they be so foolish?

O Israel, return to the LORD your God,
For you have stumbled because of your iniquity;
2 Take words with you,
And return to the LORD.
Say to Him,

“ Take away all iniquity;
Receive us graciously,
For we will offer the sacrifices of our lips.
3 Assyria shall not save us,
We will not ride on horses,
Nor will we say anymore to the work of our hands, ‘You are our gods.’
For in You the fatherless finds mercy.”

9 Who is wise?
Let him understand these things.
Who is prudent?
Let him know them.
For the ways of the LORD are right;
The righteous walk in them,
But transgressors stumble in them.

Hosea 14:1b-3 and 9, NKJV

Who is Wise?

God sent prophet after prophet to Israel to rebuke them for their sin and their back sliding. Sometimes we tire of reading again and again of Israel's refusal to obey the Lord. How could they be so foolish? They saw His power; miracles were performed before their very eyes and yet they would still rush after the foolish things of this world. Are we so much different? How quickly do our hearts run after the things of the world?

As Hosea reminded the Israelites, he reminds us as well, Return to the Lord. Do we look for peace, joy, and contentment? Nothing in this world can provide these for us; oh, we may find some temporary contentment, but it will not last. Soon we are right back where we started.

Who is wise?
Let him understand these things.
Who is prudent?
Let him know them.
For the ways of the LORD are right;
The righteous walk in them,
But transgressors stumble in them.

Take comfort in these words of Hosea and make them your own! Only through Christ can you attain true wisdom, joy, peace, and contentment. Only through Him do you have a reason to face each day and live it to the glory of God. Go to Christ today; fall on your face before Him. Look to Him alone for wisdom, truth, and righteousness.

Let us remember that the wisdom of this world is foolishness to God. Let us not spend our entire lives grasping after the things of this world: wisdom, power, riches, honor, etc. Rather let us seek the wisdom of God and seek Him in everything we do and say. Truthfully, God is God, and we are not!

Pray today that God will grant you understanding and that you, too, will walk in the ways of the Lord. Only those who walk with the Lord are wise!