Making Wise the Simple

"The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple;" (Psalm 19:7 ESV)

The word "sure" found here can also be translated as "trustworthy". The testimony of the Lord through the Scriptures is worthy of your trust and can give refreshment to your thirsting soul. The moment you place your trust in the testimony of Jesus and begin to drink a nice warm cup of His refreshing word, you will find yourself enlightened. "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight." The truth that the testimony of Jesus grants wisdom to the simple can be clearly seen in the life of the disciples. The disciples had not gone through the advanced training of the rabbinic schools like the religious leaders of their time. But when they spoke before the religious leaders in Acts chapter 4, the leaders were astonished by their confidence in what they were proclaiming. "Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus."

I also believe the truth that the testimony of Jesus grants wisdom to the simple can be seen through the faith of a child. Children get it. Children have no problem believing the testimony of Jesus and even believe in a matter-of-fact, that just-makes-sense kind of way. Critics will argue that children believe because of their ignorance and naivete. Therefore they should not be indoctrinated with the testimony of Jesus. I argue differently. Perhaps we are not to view a child's mind as ignorant and naive but rather as pure and uncontaminated. Perhaps its not the testimony of Jesus, but the indoctrination of the world that leads the child astray. Jesus said it Himself, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven." Children get it in a way in which we are called to get it! Children have faith that we as adults strive to obtain. They believe with assurance that the testimony of Jesus is trustworthy and that is true wisdom. An eight-year-old girl expressed it well. When asked why Jesus was called the Word, she said, "Because Jesus is all God wanted to say to us."

May we find the testimony of Jesus trustworthy and once again possess the wisdom of the simple.

- Terry