Wisdom Wednesday: The Walk of Wisdom Pt. 1

                              The Walk of Wisdom Part 1-guest post by my dad

 Throughout the Old and New Testaments, a consistent theme is “the way” provided by the Lord – the wise pathway to follow on the journey of life.  The concept (or motif) of the way of the Lord is closely related to the concepts of a practical, daily walk-in life that guides on a correct path that is both straight and narrow. This stands in sharp contrast with a wider way of wickedness, followed by those who turn away from the Lord’s way. 

This way to walk in life is directly related to living a wise life, as illustrated in the Old Testament:

•  WISDOM: The beginning and foundation of wisdom is the fear of (reverence for) the Lord (Psalm 111:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; A good understanding have all those who do His commandments. His praise endures forever.)
• WAY: This reverence will produce obedience to seek to live in the way of the Lord (Deut. 8:6 “Observe the commands of the LORD your God by walking in his ways and by fearing him.” See also Prov. 1:7)
•  WALK: And we will live daily walking in a relationship with the Lord (Exodus 18:20, the advice of Moses’ father-in-law to a weary Moses: “And you shall teach them the statutes and the laws, and show them the way in which they must walk and the work they must do.)

Moses then focuses on the way that Israel must continue to follow: fear of the Lord, obedience (introducing the concept of daily walking in the way of the law and commandments), love and service:

"And now, Israel, what doth the Lord they God require of thee, but to fear the LORD thy God, to walk  in all His ways, and to love Him, and to serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul?" (Deuteronomy 10:12; see also 5:33 and 8:6).

Joshua reiterated these instructions to walk in all of God’s ways to the warriors of Israel when the wars to capture of the land were over. Joshua exhorted the men (and all of Israel):

But take careful heed to do the commandment and the law which Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you, to love the LORD your God, to walk in all His ways, to keep His commandments, to hold fast to Him, and to serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul." Joshua 22:5 (NKJV)

The Psalmist reassured us that this is the way to the blessed life: “Blessed is every one that fears the LORD; that walks in His ways” (Psalm 128:1)

The relationship between these concepts is clear and easy to remember. We need the wisdom of God to navigate our life in this complex and evil world. By our reverence and submission to God, He will guide us to follow His way, and we will daily walk in that way with Him through life.

In Part 2 we will examine how the New Testament reaffirms this fundamental foundation for living in God’s wisdom.