Give me one man of wisdom over four hundred that have a stake in a matter. We live in troublesome times. Whether it is the fight against terrorism, or a national health care bill, everyone (paying attention) is concerned about the outcome. When you’re an individual on the fringe of the issues, what can you do? Solomon once wrote, “Wisdom is the principle thing, therefore get wisdom” (Proverbs 4:7).

Physically and spiritually we must be attune to wisdom and understanding, seeing “that wisdom preserveth the life of him that hath it” (Ecclesiastes 7:12), for “wisdom is a strength to the wise man more than ten rulers that are in a city” (Ibid. vs. 19). Although wisdom is to be prized, there is a prejudice against poverty that prohibits men from listening to sound judgment: “Wisdom is better than strength: nevertheless the poor man’s wisdom is despised, and his words are not heard” and “Wisdom is better than weapons of war; but one sinner destroyeth much good” (Ibid. 9:16, 18).

History teaches us that war is a reality of life: whether it is war among nations, or war between the body and the spirit. Mankind is involved in conflict on a daily basis: some overcome through perseverance and diligence others are defeated out of ignorance. Either way, mentally, physically or spiritually you will fight to overcome your adversity, or you will be subjected to its rule. In order to overcome the physical adversities, you must exercise and train the body. In order to overcome the mental challenges of life, you must exercise and train the mind. In order to overcome the spiritual trials and tribulations, you must “exercise thyself unto godliness” (1 Timothy 4:7). Life is not free, it is not easy, and the sooner we come to that realization, the sooner we equip ourselves to overcome. Physically, mentally, or spiritually you must develop the internal and external strength to meet the challenges of the race set before you.

Recently, I was reading an observation concerning evil, which said (in essence), “if you do not fight evil, then you command it to be done” (author unknown). Individuals speak of the decaying nature of our society, but fail to see their part in its progress by fueling the fire: “Righteousness exalteth a nation; but sin is a reproach to any people” (Proverbs 14:34). We want to blame the rich for creating the poor, as if making the rich poor would make the poor rich. Under the law of Moses, it was said, “For the poor will never cease out of the land: therefore I command thee, saying, Thou shalt surely open thy hand unto thy brother, to thy needy, and to thy poor, in thy land” (Deuteronomy 15:11), and likewise, Jesus said, “For ye have the poor always with you” (Matthew 26:11). There are plenty of people to blame for the condition of our nation, and the first in line is the man who lives behind my eyes.

Contemplating upon this issue, I was brought to remembrance concerning two kings of the Jews: one evil, Ahab; one good, Jehoshaphat. During their reign, “it came to pass…that Jehoshaphat the king of Judah came down to the king of Israel. ³And the king of Israel said unto his servants, Know ye that Ramoth-gilead is ours, and we are still, and take it not out of the hand of the king of Syria? ⁴And he said unto Jehoshaphat, Wilt thou go with me to battle to Ramoth-gilead? And Jehoshaphat said to the king of Israel, I am as thou art, my people as thy people, my horses as thy horses.

⁵And Jehoshaphat said unto the king of Israel, Inquire first, I pray thee, for the word of Jehovah. ⁶Then the king of Israel gathered the prophets together, about four hundred men, and said unto them, Shall I go against Ramoth-gilead to battle, or shall I forbear? And they said, Go up; for the Lord will deliver it into the hand of the king. ⁷But Jehoshaphat said, Is there not here a prophet of Jehovah besides, that we may inquire of him? ⁸And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat, there is yet one man by whom we may inquire of Jehovah, Micaiah the son of Imlah: but I hate him; for he doth not prophesy good concerning me, but evil. And Jehoshaphat said, Let not the king say so. ⁹Then the king of Israel called an officer, and said, Fetch quickly Micaiah the son of Imlah. ¹⁰Now the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah were sitting each on his throne, arrayed in their robes, in an open place at the entrance of the gate of Samaria; and all the prophets were prophesying before them. ¹¹And Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah made him horns of iron, and said, Thus saith Jehovah, With these shalt thou push the Syrians, until they be consumed. ¹²And all the prophets prophesied so, saying, Go up to Ramoth-gilead, and prosper; for Jehovah will deliver it into the hand of the king.

¹³And the messenger that went to call Micaiah spake unto him, saying, Behold now, the words of the prophets declare good unto the king with one mouth: let thy word, I pray thee, be like the word of one of them, and speak thou good. ¹⁴And Micaiah said, As Jehovah liveth, what Jehovah saith unto me, that will I speak. ¹⁵And when he was come to the king, the king said unto him, Micaiah, shall we go to Ramoth-gilead to battle, or shall we forbear? And he answered him, Go up and prosper; and Jehovah will deliver it into the hand of the king. ¹⁶And the king said unto him, How many times shall I adjure thee that thou speak unto me nothing but the truth in the name of Jehovah? ¹⁷And he said, I saw all Israel scattered upon the mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd: and Jehovah said, These have no master; let them return every man to his house in peace. ¹⁸And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, Did I not tell thee that he would not prophesy good concerning me, but evil? ¹⁹And Micaiah said, Therefore hear thou the word of Jehovah: I saw Jehovah sitting on his throne, and all the host of heaven standing by him on his right hand and on his left. ²⁰And Jehovah said, Who shall entice Ahab, that he may go up and fall at Ramoth-gilead? And one said on this manner; and another said on that manner. ²¹And there came forth a spirit, and stood before Jehovah, and said, I will entice him. ²²And Jehovah said unto him, Wherewith? And he said, I will go forth, and will be a lying spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And he said, Thou shalt entice him, and shalt prevail also: go forth, and do so. ²³Now therefore, behold, Jehovah hath put a lying spirit in the mouth of all these thy prophets; and Jehovah hath spoken evil concerning thee.

²⁴Then Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah came near, and smote Micaiah on the cheek, and said, Which way went the Spirit of Jehovah from me to speak unto thee? ²⁵And Micaiah said, Behold, thou shalt see on that day, when thou shalt go into an inner chamber to hide thyself. ²⁶And the king of Israel said, Take Micaiah, and carry him back unto Amon the governor of the city, and to Joash the king’s son; ²⁷and say, Thus saith the king, Put this fellow in the prison, and feed him with bread of affliction and with water of affliction, until I come in peace. ²⁸And Micaiah said, If thou return at all in peace, Jehovah hath not spoken by me. And he said, Hear, ye peoples, all of you” (1 Kings 22:2-28).

Four hundred to one, those were the odds Micaiah faced. The “one” however, spoke with the wisdom of God. Give me one man with wisdom over four hundred that have a stake in the matter, for “The fear of Jehovah is the beginning of wisdom; And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding” (Proverbs 9:10). You may line up hundreds, thousands, even tens of thousands that will dazzle you with human wisdom, “Which things have indeed a show of wisdom in will-worship, and humility, and severity to the body; but are not of any value against the indulgence of the flesh” (Colossians 2:23). “Let no man rob you of your prize by a voluntary humility and worshipping of the angels, dwelling in the things which he hath seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, and not holding fast the Head, from whom all the body, being supplied and knit together through the joints and bands, increaseth with the increase of God” (Ibid. vs. 18-19).

Where does your wisdom reside? To whom do you look for answers concerning this life, and that which is to come? Our rulers, our people, our nation desire hope but see only destruction! Why? Because their trust is in man and not God. How long shall we provoke the patience of our Creator?