How does Jeremiah 9:23 challenge our understanding of true wisdom and strength? Setting the Scene “Thus says the LORD: ‘Let not the wise boast in their wisdom, nor the mighty boast in their strength, nor the rich boast in their riches.’” (Jeremiah 9:23) What the Verse Confronts • Ancient Judah trusted clever alliances, military might, and economic power to escape judgment. • God names the three great human yardsticks—wisdom, strength, wealth—and forbids boasting in any of them. • The verb “boast” points to the heart: self-congratulation, self-reliance, self-promotion. Human Measurements vs. God’s Scale 1. Wisdom – Human: education, experience, strategy. – God: “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom” (Proverbs 9:10). 2. Strength – Human: armies, influence, resilience. – God: “Those who wait upon the LORD will renew their strength” (Isaiah 40:31). 3. Riches – Human: security, status, pleasure. – God: “Better a little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure with turmoil” (Proverbs 15:16). True Wisdom: Knowing the Lord • Jeremiah 9:24 finishes the thought: “let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows Me.” • 1 Corinthians 1:25, 30—Christ is the wisdom of God; human wisdom is “foolishness.” • James 3:17 describes wisdom from above as “pure, peace-loving, considerate,” qualities found only in relationship with God. True Strength: Depending on the Lord • Psalm 20:7—“Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.” • 2 Corinthians 12:9—“My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness.” • Strength, biblically, is not self-assertion but yieldedness that lets God’s power flow. Practical Take-Aways • Evaluate your boasts: What accomplishments, networks, or possessions silently prop up your identity? • Shift the spotlight: Talk more about what Christ has done than what you have done. • Cultivate dependence: Regular prayer, Scripture intake, and obedience remind the heart where wisdom and strength truly lie. • Pursue humble stewardship: Use intellect, abilities, and resources as tools to honor God, never as trophies to honor self. A Final Glimpse of Glory Jeremiah 9:23 flips earthly values on their head. True wisdom is relational—knowing God. True strength is surrendered—resting in God. When those realities grip the soul, boasting evaporates and worship takes its place. |
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