Tag: frustrates

29.y. ““The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile.””

 

Matthew 2:7  Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.” After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.

 Job 5:12-13    He frustrates the devices of the crafty, so that their hands achieve no success.  He catches the wise in their own craftiness, and the schemes of the wily are brought to a quick end.

 Psalms 33:10    The LORD brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; he frustrates the plans of the peoples.

 Proverbs 21:30   No wisdom, no understanding, no counsel can avail against the LORD.

 Lamentations 3:37    Who has spoken and it came to pass, unless the Lord has commanded it?

 1 Corinthians 3:19-20   For the wisdom of this world is folly with God. For it is written, “He catches the wise in their craftiness,”  and again, “The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile.”

“Those who look for Jesus will see him: those who truly see him will worship him: those who worship him will consecrate their substance to him.” (Spurgeon) Note the difference between Herod and the wise men.  The wise men went looking with a sense of urgency but Herod had none. The wise men came to the baby Jesus with gifts and worshipped, Herod had other plans. The plans of man will never alter the plans and purposes of God. Man will try to put a spin on their intents and try to hide it in a cloak of deception but God knows the intents and purpose of their hearts.  As hard as a man will try, as conning and deceiving as they can be, and as much worldly and fleshly wisdom they can display, none of it will hinder even the tiniest portion of God’s purpose and plans. 

When our heart and soul’s desire is to find Jesus, He will be found. When He is found our hearts and souls will worship Him and no longer claim anything more worthy than Him. Lip service to our searching and worship will leave us void of satisfaction. 

4.u. No wisdom, no understanding, no counsel can avail against the LORD.

Job 5:12  He frustrates the devices of the crafty, so that their hands achieve no success. He catches the wise in their own craftiness, and the schemes of the wily are brought to a quick end. They meet with darkness in the daytime and grope at noonday as in the night.

Psalms 33:10-11    The LORD brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; he frustrates the plans of the peoples.  The counsel of the LORD stands forever, the plans of his heart to all generations.

Proverbs 21:30    No wisdom, no understanding, no counsel can avail against the LORD.

Isaiah 8:10    Take counsel together, but it will come to nothing; speak a word, but it will not stand, for God is with us.

Psalms 21:11    Though they plan evil against you, though they devise mischief, they will not succeed.

Psalms 9:15-16    The nations have sunk in the pit that they made; in the net that they hid, their own foot has been caught.  The LORD has made himself known; he has executed judgment; the wicked are snared in the work of their own hands.

Psalms 7:15-16    He makes a pit, digging it out, and falls into the hole that he has made.  His mischief returns upon his own head, and on his own skull his violence descends.

1 Corinthians 1:19-20    For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.”  Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?

It does not take much time reading or watching the news in either local or foreign outlets to hear those who have no regard for God.  It comes from those in business, education, military, unions, sports, and politics.  It seems the louder they speak and the more absurd their thoughts the more attention they get.  They would have us believe things like: only the weak seek a god, there are many gods, there are multiple ways to God, your life is all about YOU, and you are intolerant if you do not agree with that which opposes honoring God.  They feed fuel to the lies of Satan.  The most unsettling thing about this is that more and more people are believing these lies.  They join in full force to the cause of the day without giving thought to God.  I would like to say that people are brainwashed over time and have little to no chance of not being pulled along this path of destruction.  The truth is that God has placed within each of these hearts knowledge of Him and they have chosen to reject Him.  At the end of the day, they are without excuse, hope, or true hope and peace.  We can shake out head at them in disgust but the truth of the matter is that we too were just like this, lost and without hope.  God in His perfect plan, softened our heart and in this softening, we heard whispers of the need for forgiveness, salvation, and repentance.  Our minds were spiritually opened to the mystery of grace, mercy, and love through Jesus Christ.  This wisdom and understanding were not of ourselves but of God.

I get lost in my thoughts when I try to understand this in light of our free will to open the door to our heart to Him and His softening of our heart to bring us to this point in our life.  I see these lost people and what they say and what they believe and get a bit miffed with all of it.  I easily forget how I was also this way.  I forget the darkness I lived in.  I forget all the time I spent in this darkness and liking it.  I forget all of the time spent apart from God and never giving Him a single thought.  They are lost for sure but while there is breath in their lungs there is still hope for salvation, forgiveness, and repentance.

We honor God by exposing the darkness.  We honor God by speaking and living the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  We never know who or when a hardened heart will be softened, but we do know that salvation and forgiveness are given to all who believe in, trust in, and rely on Jesus Christ.