contrast of the righteous and wicked, and the blessing that comes from being wise. Table 3.1 provides a list of twelve possible psalms that fall into this category and indicates some of the characteristic wisdom vocabulary in each psalm. Psalm 37 is loaded with wisdom terms. The last three psalms in the list are rather short. As indicated by the double lines, wisdom psalms appear in four of the books of Psalms, with special concentration in Book V. It is quite evident that these sub-themes primarily concern wisdom as it applies to mankind. The attribute of God’s wisdom is not usually transparent in these wisdom psalms, but it is there if we meditate on God’s communication to man.
Table 3.1 Listing of Wisdom Psalms
| Psalm | Key Words in the KJV (v. #) |
| 1: | blessed (v. 1), law (v. 2) |
| 19: | law (v. 7), wise (v. 7), fear of the Lord (v. 9) |
| 37: | righteous/wicked (4x), consider (v. 10), wisdom (v. 30), law (v. 31) |
| 49: | wisdom (v. 3), understanding (vv. 3, 20), parable (v. 4), wise (v. 10) |
| 73: | understood (v. 17), counsel (v. 24) |
| 78: | law (vv. 1, 5, 10), parable (v. 2), skilfulness (v. 72) |
| 111: | fear of the Lord (v. 10), wisdom (v. 10), understanding (v. 10) |
| 112: | blessed (v. 1), feareth the Lord (v. 1) |
| 119: | blessed (vv. 1–2), law (25x), counsellors (v. 24), wiser (v. 98) |
| 127: | blessed (v. 5) |
| 128: | blessed (vv. 1–2), feareth the Lord (vv. 1, 4), days of thy life (v. 5) |
| 133: | blessing (v. 3), life for evermore (v. 3) |
New Testament Echoes
The Greek word for wisdom (σοφία, sophia) occurs over 50 times in the New Testament, 15 times in 1 Corinthians 1–2. Paul marvels at the magnitude of God’s wisdom (Rom. 11:33), and the church exists to manifest this wisdom to the angelic beings (Eph. 3:10). From His childhood Christ was “filled with wisdom” (Luke 2:40). His wisdom amazed the people of His hometown (Matt. 13:54). As the great Prophet, Christ in His communications to mankind has greater wisdom than Solomon (Matt. 12:42). Jesus referred to Himself as “the wisdom of God” (Luke 11:49). Furthermore, Paul specifically identified Jesus Christ with wisdom: “Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God”; “Jesus Christ, who of God is made unto us wisdom …” (1 Cor. 1:24, 30). Additionally, some of the wisdom psalms are quoted in the New Testament: 19:4 (Rom. 10:18), 78:2 (Matt. 13:35), and 112:9 (2 Cor. 9:9).
The concluding book in the New Testament gives us a glimpse into heaven as John records for us the scene: a scroll sealed with seven seals in the hand of God. No one in heaven is found worthy to open the book until the Lamb of God takes it. The inhabitants of heaven sing a new song, “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing” (Rev. 5:12). As the seals are opened, the righteous judgments of God begin to be loosed on the earth. But God’s wisdom will not allow His faithful servants to suffer the penalty which the Lamb has already paid. God stops the progress of the judgment to seal His 144,000 faithful servants among Israel. An innumerable multitude from all nations as well as heavenly beings fall on their faces before the throne, “saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen” (Rev. 7:12). The book of Revelation gives us a detailed description of God’s judgment, but we also see the wisdom of God in a new creation: a Holy City coming down from heaven where God will finally be able to dwell with His people (21:2). The laws that by God’s wisdom sustained the first earth will be changed. This new creation will not need the sun or the moon, for there will be no night, and the Lamb will be its light (21:23). Familiar elements such as fruit trees will be there, but they will bear twelve different fruits according to the month (22:2). The river will flow from the throne of God, not from the top of a mountain (22:1). Just the function of a three-dimensional city in a cubical form (21:16) is unimaginable to us, but the wisdom of God will construct it.
In conclusion, we call attention to the fact that the Holy Spirit, who has communicated wisdom to mankind, exhorts us to be wise. “Who is wise? Let him give heed to these things, and consider the lovingkindnesses of the Lord” (107:43, NASB). We all need to reflect on God’s wise instruction and focus on the Lord’s goodness and faithfulness. The instructive wisdom of Psalm 111 challenges us to contemplate God’s creative wisdom: “Great are the works of the Lord, studied by all who delight in them” (v. 2, ESV); “He hath made his wonderful works to be remembered” (v. 4a). The psalmist speaks of redemption (v. 9), and in the last verse comes back to wisdom’s great slogan: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” (v. 10a).
4
Creation
The first three chapters have prepared us for the theme of God’s work of creation. The act of God’s speaking (Chapter 1) led to heavenly bodies coming into existence: “he commanded, and they were created” (148:5b). The instructions He gave (Chapter 2) were the means of creation: “By the word of the Lord were the heavens made” (33:6a). Two of the twelve wisdom psalms (78 & 119) have something to say about creation. Of course, the book of Psalms connects God’s wisdom (Chapter 3) to His creative acts: “O Lord, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all” (104:24a); “To him that by wisdom made the heavens” (136:5a).100
The Psalms frequently celebrate this theme and praise God for this particular work of His. The doctrine of creation appears in 33 psalms, occurring in 51 different verses. Every one of the five Books in Psalms treats this subject in at least three psalms, with dominance in the last two Books (17 verses in Book IV, 15 in Book V). Since the Bible itself begins with creation and because creation is the first of God’s awesome works, it is a fitting topic in praising the Lord and appears in four of the five concluding hallelujah psalms (146:6; 147:8; 148:5; 149:2).
Vocabulary of Creation
The normal Hebrew verb for “create” (ברא, bara’) occurs six times in Psalms (see Table 4.1 below). By noting parallels to this word, we discover additional terms for this theme. The poetry of Isaiah 45:18a gives us three synonyms: “For thus saith the Lord that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it …” (my emphasis). The verb עשׂה (‘asah, “to make”) is a very general term that occurs over 2500 times in the Old Testament, over 100 times in Psalms, where it specifically refers to creation 17 times. Parallel to it in 95:5 is the verb יצר (yatsar, “to form”), used for God’s creative activity in five out of its seven occurrences in Psalms. It can designate the activity of a potter with his clay. In 74:17b English versions (KJV, ASV, NASB, ESV, HCSB, and NIV)101 usually translate it as “made.” In this same context the third synonym from Isaiah 45:18 appears: “The day is thine, the night also is thine: thou hast prepared the light and the sun” (74:16). This verb כון (kuwn, “to establish”) indicates founding or setting up something firmly, for example, of a man setting up a city (Hab. 2:12) or of establishing an altar (Ezra 3:3).
The psalmists make use of four additional verbs for creation (listed in Table 4.1 below). Parallel to כון (kuwn) in 24:2 is the term יסד (yasad, “to found”): “For he has founded [the earth] upon the seas, and established it upon the floods” (my emphasis). Six out its ten occurrences
