Young People's Group

Seeking Knowledge and Wisdom from God

by Mitchell Tan
May 13, 2016

GOING BEYOND JUST HAVING HUMAN WISDOM

Everyone is born into this world with different levels of intelligence. Daniel, who survived the invasion of the armies of King Nebuchadnezzar, was one who was gifted with much intellect. He was selected to be part of a group of gifted young men who were to be specially trained so that they might serve in the King’s palace.

“Young men in whom there was no blemish, but good looking, gifted in all wisdom, possessing knowledge and quick to understand”
Daniel 1:4

These were men who were naturally smart and skilful in all forms of human wisdom. They all had high intellectual acuity. And yet there was something else that Daniel had that made him stand out from amongst them. He had spiritual wisdom.

HAVING SPIRITUAL WISDOM TO WALK RIGHT IN GOD’S WAYS

“But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s delicacies, nor with the wine which he drank”
Daniel 1:8

Daniel had the faith and wisdom to walk right with God. As one of the survivors of the Babylonian campaign against Judah, he had seen much suffering. Judah was judged by the Lord because of her foolishness in rebelling against Him. They had paid a high price for their insolence in sinning against God. Daniel chose wisely in purposing in his heart to not sin against Him. He displayed spiritual wisdom by not wanting to defile himself by eating the King’s delicacies which was against the laws of God.

THE LORD’S BLESSINGS OF KNOWLEDGE AND WISDOM

“As for these four young men, God gave them knowledge and skill in all literature and wisdom; and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.”
Daniel 1:17

When we wisely honour the Lord, He would honour us in return. Because Daniel chose to walk in the ways of the Lord and inspired his friends to do the same, the Lord blessed them with great knowledge and skill in understanding literature and wisdom. Daniel was even blessed with the spiritual gift to understand dreams and visions. He must have worked hard in studying what he needed to study. At the same time, as he prayed each day (Daniel 6:10), he must have sought the Lord for wisdom. And the Lord blessed him and his friends with knowledge, skill and understanding.

STANDING ABOVE THE CROWD IN TERMS OF WISDOM AND UNDERSTANDING

“And in all matters of wisdom and understanding about which the king examined them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and astrologers who were in all his realm.”
Daniel 1:20

When the king tested Daniel and friends with regards to what they knew, they were found to be ten times wiser than all the magicians and astrologers. Not only were they wiser than the other young men who were chosen to be trained, they were wiser than all the wise men in the whole realm. This was indeed distinctive and outstanding. They had the Spirit of God filling their life. They had gained wisdom from the Lord’s Spirit. Later, Daniel would be known as one in whom was the Spirit of God (Daniel 5:14). Young people, let’s seek the Lord for that wisdom too. Let’s seek to be filled with His Spirit of wisdom that we may stand out in all that we do.

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