Day 121 – Wisdom and Understanding

Proverbs 19:8 He who gets wisdom loves his own soul; he who keeps understanding will find good.

• God’s names:
• YAHWEH/JEHOVAH – Self-existent, Eternal
• Elohiym – Supreme God
• Adonay – God’s proper name
• Yeshuwa/Iesous – Jesus
• Soter – Savior
• Kurios – Supreme Authority
• Theos – Supreme Divinity
• Christos – Anointed One, Messiah
• Pneuma – Violent Wind, Breath, Spirit

• God’s character:
• Wisdom
• Understanding

How does someone become wise? People aren’t born with wisdom or understanding. They need to listen to those older than themselves. A baby learns not to touch hot things, not when their parents tell them not to touch a hot item, but when they touch it for the first time. That automatic reaction is their first experience with wisdom and understanding without recognizing what they learned. However basic that concept is, people still need to learn wisdom and understanding. They do it by observation and education.

Solomon, the wisest person at the time, didn’t gain all his wisdom through observation and education. He got it from YAHWEH. YAHWEH asked him what He could give him. Solomon was wise in many areas of his life, but he had never been the king before YAHWEH asked him that question.

1 Kings 3:3 And Solomon loved YAHWEH, walking in the statutes of his father David, except that he sacrificed and burned incense at the high places. 4 Now the king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there, for that was the great high place: Solomon offered a thousand burnt offerings on that altar. 5 At Gibeon YAHWEH appeared to Solomon in a dream by night; and Elohiym said, “Ask! What will I give you?” 6 And Solomon said, “You have shown great mercy to Your servant David my father, because he walked before You in truth, in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart with You; You have continued this great kindness for him, and You have given him a son to sit on his throne, as it is this day. 7 Now, O YAHWEH my Elohiym, You have made Your servant king instead of my father David, but I am a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in. 8 And Your servant is in the midst of Your people whom You have chosen, a great people, too numerous to be numbered or counted. 9 Therefore, give to Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people, that I may discern between good and evil. For who can judge this great people of Yours?” 10 The speech pleased Adonay, that Solomon had asked this thing. 11 Then Elohiym said to him: “Because you have asked this thing, and have not asked long life for yourself, nor have asked riches for yourself, nor have asked the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern justice, 12 behold, I have done according to your words; see, I have given you a wise and understanding heart, so that there has not been anyone like you before you, nor will any like you arise after you. 13 And I have also given you what you have not asked: both riches and honor, so that there will not be anyone like you among the kings all your days. 14 Thus, if you walk in My ways, to keep My statutes and My commandments, as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your days.”

It might seem a small thing that Solomon asked of YAHWEH, but the answer he received was not small. YAHWEH gave him wisdom and understanding, yes, but he also gave him what he didn’t ask for: wealth and honor more than all the kings of that time.

Solomon then told the people what they needed to do.

Proverbs 1:1 The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel: 2 To know wisdom and instruction, to perceive the words of understanding, 3 to receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, judgment, and equity; 4 to give prudence to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion— 5 A wise man will hear and increase learning, and a man of understanding will attain wise counsel, 6 to understand a proverb and an enigma, the words of the wise and their riddles. 7 The fear of YAHWEH is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

The wisest thing you did as a Christian was to accept Yeshuwa as Soter and Kurios. When you did, Yeshuwa promised to increase your wisdom and understanding when you spent time with Him daily in Bible study, prayer, and in fellowship with other believers. That is the only way you will increase your wisdom and understanding of Yeshuwa’s Word.

2 Timothy 2:14 Remind them of these things, charging them before Kurios not to strive about words to no profit, to the ruin of the hearers. 15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to Theos, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 16 But shun profane and idle babblings, for they will increase to more ungodliness.

Hebrews 10:24 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching. (NKJV)

1 Thessalonians 5:16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of Theos in Christos Iesous for you. 19 Do not quench the Pneuma. 20 Do not despise prophecies. 21 Test all things; hold fast what is good. 22 Abstain from every form of evil.

When you faithfully do these things, you will gain wisdom and understanding and find yourselves in right-standing with Yeshuwa.

Let’s pray: Father, give me a heart for Your Word to learn wisdom and gain understanding. Let my prayers be heard in Your courts along with my praise for who You are, my King and my God. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

Copyright © 20 May 2026 by Valerie Routhieaux