I’ve been reading through the book of Daniel in my quiet time. In chapter nine, Daniel is now an old man. He survived the takeover of the Babylonian kingdom by the Medes and the Persians. His people have endured exile now for seventy years – the amount of time Daniel understood from Scripture to be the length of their discipline from God.

Daniel began to mourn and pray and petition God to intervene on behalf of His people. Now here’s the part that really struck me.

“We do not make requests of you because we are righteous, but because of your great mercy. O Lord, listen! O Lord forgive! O Lord, hear and act! For your sake, O my God do not delay, because your city and your people bear your Name.” Daniel 9:18-19

From a human perspective, if anyone “deserved” for God to hear and answer his prayer it would be someone like Daniel. But because he had an inkling of the awesome greatness of God, Daniel was humble. He recognized his sinfulness – especially in comparison to the holiness of God.

Daniel asked God to act, to answer his prayer for Israel, not because he or the people had earned anything. His request was based on the character of God Himself. Because God is merciful. Because God is forgiving. All so God’s name would be glorified on the earth when He moved to help His people.

Lord, glorify your name today. Move on behalf of the people who bear your name. Not because we deserve anything, but because you deserve everything! Amen.

Thousands of years ago, God’s servant Job pondered this same thing. He saw the men of his day enter the depths of the earth and return with gold and gems and he was amazed. Yet, he noticed that with all their ability they could not mine wisdom.

Mankind’s knowledge of the world and skill to accomplish has greatly increased over the millennia, yet we still cannot produce wisdom ourselves.

We cannot find it on our own. God alone is the source and giver of wisdom. He gives it to those who fear Him – to those who honor, worship, and obey Him. In fact, Job equates fearing God with wisdom. “The fear of the Lord – that is wisdom, and to shun evil is understanding (Job 28:28).”

Our Lord God is the author and giver of life. He is all-powerful, all-knowing, and sovereign over creation, nations, and all earthly powers. There is no better, or other, source for true wisdom. To fear Him and submit to His authority is wise. To not fear Him, well that’s just dangerous.

Do you lack wisdom? “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt… (James 1:5-6)”

What does godly wisdom look like? “But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. (James 3:17).”

Find wisdom today by seeking and fearing God. It’s more valuable than a gold mine.

I’d like to hear from you. Have you experienced the wisdom that comes from God?

But this particular day something spooked him. About two blocks into our walk, Harley not only came to a screeching halt, he dug his heels in (or whatever dogs have) and refused to budge. Looking ahead I spotted the object of his fear – a kid-sized, pink scooter in the middle of the sidewalk. I tried to encourage him with soothing comments, but his rump remained on the concrete. Then I combined pulling on the leash with some not-so-soothing comments. But Harley still wouldn’t move. I ended up carrying him around the scooter while he climbed me like a tree.

Harley’s fear of pint-sized power toys seems completely irrational – particularly considering the fact he has absolutely no fear of our eighty-five pound yellow lab. Boone could crush Harley with one miss-step or send him flying across the grass with a swipe of a skillet-sized paw. Yet, Harley acts like “king of the yard.” He lunges, snaps, and barks at a powerful animal ten times his size, but won’t walk at my side past a child’s toy abandoned on the sidewalk.

I thought this was ridiculous until God showed me how I do the very same thing. Early in His ministry, Jesus prepared His disciples to go from town to town and preach about the Kingdom of Heaven. He warned them they would experience trouble. Some people would persecute them because of their message. Yet, Jesus emphasized the truth that these persecutors didn’t have any real power over them. “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell (Matthew 10:28).”

I often balk at pink scooters. I fail to talk about Jesus because I am afraid what people will think. I squander the peace of Christ while I worry about the economy, our retirement, and the security of our nation. I disobey the holy, all-powerful God and reject His blessings, but tremble before some temporary, earthly circumstance. What’s wrong with me? My God deserves my fear. Pink scooters do not.

The Lord delights in those who fear Him, who put their hope in His unfailing love.
Psalm 147:11