In November 2016, I started a five-month project of reading the Bible cover to cover. While at it, I have been intrigued by the man Ahithophel, King David's advisor. He was extremely wise and because of his great wisdom, King David had a reverence for him. So much so that later on, when Ahithophel switched allegiance, David was tormented.
It is God's desire that you stand out as wise, so that when you speak, it is as if God has spoken. That is the level Ahithophel had attained. The Bible says, "The advice of Ahithophel, which he gave in those days, was as if one had inquired at the oracle of God," (2 Samuel 16:23).
When Ahithophel joined Absalom, who was intent on dethroning David, David was extremely threatened by that alliance. Knowing that an exceedingly wise man was now with those who had risen against him, David sought God's intervention. He prayed, "O Lord, I pray, turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness!” God also knew that David's survival depended on defeating the good advice of Ahithophel, (2 Samuel 17:14).
It is God's wish that you become as wise (if not wiser) as Ahithophel.
Today's "cover to cover" project found me in 1 Kings Chapter 3. There, we read how Solomon became wise. He humbly acknowledged that he was not wise (verse 7), then asked God for the wisdom (verse 9), and God super-abundantly granted his request (verse 12).
Growing up, I quickly acknowledged that I was not wise. Even though I exhibited a degree of academic excellence, deep down in my heart I knew I lacked the wisdom I needed to handle the issues of this life. A few months after accepting Jesus as my Lord and Savior, I happened to listen to Roberts Liardon. The extent of his wisdom so impressed me, I earnestly started praying, "Father, let all the wisdom that is inside Roberts Liardon be inside me." Last year, more than 15 years later, in a dream, the spirit of wisdom that so mightily operated in Liardon came upon me. Glory to God.
Wisdom is the principal thing (Proverbs 4:7) in life. It (wisdom) will always be attained by acknowledging the lack of it, earnestly desiring it and asking for it. Solomon got it that way, so did I, and so will you. It is also freely available to those who love and highly esteem God's Word. The Bible contains all the wisdom we will ever need. That is primarily why I am reading the Bible cover to cover; I want to be wise, and I desire to stay that way.
Lastly, still concerning wisdom, I am reminded of what Rick Joyner was told in heaven as written in his book The Final Quest: The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, but the highest wisdom is to love Him.
Happy New Year.