How does Ezekiel 28:3 connect with Proverbs 9:10 on wisdom's source? Opening Look at the Two Verses • Ezekiel 28:3 — “Behold, you are wiser than Daniel; no secret is hidden from you!” • Proverbs 9:10 — “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” Ezekiel 28:3 in Context • Addressed to the king of Tyre, who is basking in self-confidence. • The statement “you are wiser than Daniel” is delivered with biting irony; the Lord is exposing the king’s pride, not commending him. • Verse 6 clarifies the divine verdict: “Because you regard your mind as the mind of a god…”. • Bottom line: any “wisdom” that exalts self rather than God is counterfeit and leads to judgment (cf. Ezekiel 28:7-10). True Wisdom Defined in Proverbs 9:10 • “The fear of the LORD” — awe, reverence, yielded loyalty. • “Beginning” — the starting point and continuing foundation. • “Knowledge of the Holy One” — a relational knowing, not mere data. • Wisdom, then, flows from rightly ordered worship; it is derivative, not self-generated (cf. Job 28:28; Daniel 2:20-23). Connecting the Dots • Tyre’s ruler flaunts supposed brilliance (Ezekiel 28:3), yet lacks the indispensable prerequisite stated in Proverbs 9:10. • Daniel, cited as the benchmark, exemplifies Proverbs 9:10: his insight came through fear of the Lord (Daniel 1:17; 2:19-23), not through pride. • The king’s claim, “No secret is hidden from me,” collides with the truth that “the LORD gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding” (Proverbs 2:6). • Outcome: wisdom divorced from reverence is exposed as presumption and is judged; wisdom rooted in reverence is affirmed and preserved (cf. James 3:13-17). Key Takeaways • Wisdom’s source is relational—grounded in fear of the Lord, not intellectual self-exaltation. • Pride substitutes self for God, turning apparent wisdom into folly (Proverbs 26:12). • Genuine insight remains humble, always pointing back to the Holy One as its fountainhead. Living the Lesson Today • Evaluate every claim to wisdom by Proverbs 9:10: Does it spring from reverence for God? • Pursue the pattern of Daniel—seek God before making decisions, credit Him afterward. • Guard against Tyrian pride—success and knowledge are gifts, never self-originated (1 Corinthians 4:7). |
    |