Wisdom Part Four THE THIRD PILLAR OF WISDOM GENTLE

Wisdom Part Four

THE THIRD PILLAR OF WISDOM GENTLE

We have been working from the books of James and Proverbs. Proverbs Chapter 9 speaks of the seven Pillars wisdom and the Book of James chapter 3 lists those seven pillars.

We have established  the need for pure heart Motives, in order not to interpret everything God says: In the light of our own impure heart. These seven pillars are inward heart conditions that need to be in place, in order for us to hear and interpret rightly what God is saying to us.

Insight into the true nature of things

James 3:17

But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle,[and] easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.

The word gentle here is a very interesting word in the Greek language;  epieikes, it literally means Fitting. Or to fit properly. Like when you say "it’s not fitting to do that". The translators used this old English word to render the meaning of the Greek word clearly.

It comes from the idea of not trying to put a round peg into a square hole, its not fitting. It has the meaning of; don’t force a situation, be gentle with it, it wont fit.

Both W.E.Vine and E. W. Bullinger who were Greek scholars; both state that this word also has the meaning of not insisting on the letter of the law.

Not insisting on your rights; yielding of your rights in a gentle spirit.

I am not talking about compromising truth, rather being wise and seeing the spirit of a matter rather than the letter.

Some will never see your point of view, don’t try to force your round peg into their square hole, it’s not wise; after all you could be wrong.

Not insisting on the letter of the law

The spirit of the law always includes motive. When the harlot hid the Hebrew spies and then lied to the enemy about it, she was greatly rewarded.

Joshua 2:1	And Joshua the son of Nun sent out of Shittim two men to spy secretly, saying, Go view the land, even Jericho. And they went, and came into an harlot's house, named Rahab, and lodged there.
Joshua 2:3	And the king of Jericho sent unto Rahab, saying, Bring forth the men that are come to thee, which are entered into thine house: for they be come to search out all the country.
4	And the woman took the two men, and hid them, and said thus, There came men unto me, but I wist not whence they were: (She lied)

Is lying wrong?  Yes, but if you lie to save a life the motive overrules the letter of the law and the spirit of the law prevails.

The opposite of this word Gentle is to be contentious

Let’s look at this in the life of Isaac

Genesis 26:18	And Isaac digged again the wells of water, which they had digged in the days of Abraham his father; for the Philistines had stopped them after the death of Abraham: and he called their names after the names by which his father had called them.
19	And Isaac's servants digged in the valley, and found there a well of springing water.
20	And the herdmen of Gerar did strive with Isaac's herdmen, saying, The water is ours: and he called the name of the well Esek; because they strove with him. In the life of Jesus.

These wells rightfully belonged to Isaac, but when he re dug them the herdsmen of Gerar strove with him over the well. Isaac called the well Esec Hebrew for  contention

Isaac gave it away a prefect example of the word Gentle which we are studying

Genesis 26:21	And they digged another well, and strove for that also: and he called the name of it Sitnah. Hebrew meaning Hatred
22	And he removed from thence, and digged another well; and for that they strove not: and he called the name of it Rehoboth; and he said, For now the LORD hath made room for us, and we shall be fruitful in the land. Rehoboth means spacious

Was Isaac wise when he refused to content his rights YES because God was then able to work for him and give him much more than he lost.

The example of Jesus

Isaiah 53:7

He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth. The meek always inherit.

Forcing a round peg into square hole is always UNWISE it doesn’t fit.

Parents often do this with their children and it is very unwise. Some times parents have one child who is very academic and other child who is very artistic or creative

Don’t force an artistic creative child into a hole where they don’t fit. The career path of a child should follow alone with the gifting’s and abilities God gave the child.

Sometimes a parent wants live their lives again through their child, often this is because they missed out on something they wanted to do, however forcing them into a career path God had never intended for them  to fulfil your own selfish unfulfilled ambitions  is NOT FITTING.

Wisdom that comes from above comes to thru a vessel that has died to self: Is not going to insist on what they want.  THE YIELDING OF OUR RIGHTS is fundamental to true Christianity.

Proverbs 13:10

Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised [is] wisdom.

Only by pride, the Inability to give in and let go does contention continue, but to the well advised it is true wisdom to let it go.

Well Advised Hb ya'ats:H3289.  To take Gods counsel is wisdom.

NOW: when we talk about giving in we are not talking about. Giving in to the devil, we are in a spiritual battle which we must fight, but our battle is never with people.

Ephesians 6:12

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

 Let’s look at what the book of wisdom says

Proverbs 15:1	A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.
Proverbs 18:6	A fool's lips enter into contention, and his mouth calleth for strokes.

Enter into contention. And you are a fool; God says so.

Proverbs 25:15	By long forbearing is a prince persuaded,
Proverbs 26:17	He that passeth by, [and] meddleth with strife [belonging] not to him, [is like] one that taketh a dog by the ears.

Don’t meddle with strife: Keep out of it. Mind your own business.

James 3:15	This wisdom descendeth not from above, but [is] earthly, sensual, devilish.
16	For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.

GENTLE: Fitting does not force things

What made King David Great?

II Samuel 22:36

Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: and thy gentlenesshath made me great.

Look at this contrast in King David’s life.

David was a warrior, he new how to fight the enemy. But it was gentleness that made him great. God through Samuel had anointed him King; Saul had been rejected by God.

Now David would face a period where God tested his inner qualities.

Saul sought to kill him, now David had been anointed King. But Saul was contentious seeking his life. God put David in a situation which was arranged in order to test David’s inner qualities. God arranged a situation where David could have killed Saul.

1 Samual 24:4	And the men of David said unto him, Behold the day of which the LORD said unto thee, Behold, I will deliver thine enemy into thine hand, that thou mayest do to him as it shall seem good unto thee. Then David arose, and cut off the skirt of Saul's robe privily.
5	And it came to pass afterward, that David's heart smote him, because he had cut off Saul's skirt.
6	And he said unto his men, The LORD forbid that I should do this thing unto my master, the LORD'S anointed, to stretch forth mine hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the LORD.

It was not fitting for David to kill Saul; this inner quality of David made him great in the eyes of God and men

So He could say. Your gentleness has made me great

This contrast is shown in Psalm 34

Psalms 18:34

He teacheth my hands to war, so that a bow of steel is broken by mine arms.

God taught David how to war but it was his gentleness that made him great

Psalms 18:35

Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: and thy right hand hath holden me up, and thy gentleness hath made me great.

I learned a long time ago: If you fight to justify yourself. God stops working for you.

If you try to prove you are right, God will not Justify you, he will leave you to your own devises.

CONTENTION:  You need to avoid.

James 3:14	But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. If you have strife in your heart the wisdom you receive will come from below HELL
15	This wisdom descendeth not from above, but [is] earthly, sensual, devilish.
16	For where envying and strife [is], there [is] confusion and every evil work.

This pollutes the wisdom of God as it comes to you. You interpret it in the light of your own heart condition

James 4:10

Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.

This underlying pillar of wisdom must be laid in your life.

God Bless you

Neville Johnson © February 2006