Friday: Further Study: Divine Wisdom
Further Study: The Sovereign of the universe was not alone in His work of beneficence. He had an associate — a co-worker who could appreciate His purposes, and could share His joy in giving happiness to created beings. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God.
John 1:1-2. Christ, the Word, the only begotten of God, was one with the eternal Father — one in nature, in character, in purpose — the only being that could enter into all the counsels and purposes of God. . . . And the Son of God declares concerning Himself: The Lord possessed me in the beginning of His way, before His works of old. I was set up from everlasting. . . . When He appointed the foundations of the earth: then I was by Him, as one brought up with Him: and I was daily His delight, rejoicing always before Him.
Proverbs 8:22–30.
— Ellen G. White, Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 34.
Discussion Questions:
- Why is belief in the Genesis Creation account the foundation of biblical wisdom? Why is the idea of evolution contrary to the Bible in every way?
- Dwell more on the idea that true wisdom is something that we cannot generate of ourselves but that must be revealed to us. What are some examples of important truths that we would never know other than their being revealed by divine inspiration? For instance, how could we know about Christ’s death on the cross and what it offers were it not revealed? What about the seventh-day Sabbath or the Second Coming?
- How does God’s work, as revealed in Genesis 1, testify to the fact that good cannot be mixed with evil? What implications does your answer have for the idea that one could, for instance, incorporate an evolutionary worldview into the Genesis Creation story?
- How does God’s enjoyment of the creation help us to understand how we can have a deeper and richer Sabbath experience?
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In my view the biggest problem with evolution is that it teaches that we don’t need the LORD.
As the lesson states: “true wisdom is something that we cannot generate of ourselves but that must be revealed to us”
To me this is the dividing line between believers and non-believers.
The Word reveals that the LORD is the Creator and He is the one who breathed life into the first person, that He gives life and takes away life.
Proverbs reminds us that without revelations from the LORD we do not have true wisdom, knowledge and understanding of who we are, where we have come from, where we are going and how to be truly happy
Shirley, I think you are right that evolution says that we don't need the Lord, however, I believe that it is probably more true that evolution teaches that there is no God for anyone to need; that we are here by pure chance, an anomaly that required no intelligence and therefore we have no dependence on a superior being. To me the real danger to us is because if Christians believe we weren't created then everything else in the Bible falls apart including any need from outside of ourselves. In my way of thinking that is the real reason why it has been promoted by the world so much. It destroys the entire Christian faith, not just part of it.
To replace creation with the theory of evolution and think u are an intellect, bcoz u can test ideas in the lab and prove them, is another degree of foolishness Romans 1:21-22! If the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom, then rejecting Him is the onset of wickedness. U become shameless and desire to sin more , read all of romans 1:18-32, and even aprove of others to join u.
After hearing some interpretations that Jesus and Wisdom are one and the same person, (I am not going to enter into a theological debate about this!) I decided to do a bit of research of my own just looking up the word and it's definition. I came across this which I think fits in well with this week's lesson. "KNOWLEDGE and WISDOM, far from being one, have ofttime NO connection.
KNOWLEDGE dwells in heads replete with thoughts of other men: WISDOM, in minds attentive to their own. KNOWLEDGE, a rude, unprofitable mass, the MERE MATERIALS with which WISDOM builds, till smoothed, and squared, and fitted to its place, Does but ENCUMBER whom it seems to enrich.
KNOWLEDGE is proud that he has learned so much; WISDOM is humble that he knows more. -Cowper."
for the first question, it is so, because it Sets The LORD GOD Apart from any OTHER copycats.
for question #2, it is true because it Says, the Sabbath will be an identifying mark between LORD GOD and HIS TRUE people
Also, for Q3.,LORD GOD'S ENJOYMENT IS, that it's a way to understand the sanctity of rest