Knowledge Verses Wisdom

In Psalm 51, David is confessing his sin before God and asking God to forgive him, to restore him back into fellowship. It is a beautiful Psalm, full of brokenness, praise and restoration. At one point (in verse 6) David prays, "Teach me wisdom in the inmost place." Beth Moore comments, "The inmost place is where experience turns to wisdom!"

We can gather knowledge all we want. Our heads can be filled until they seem to overflow with knowledge. But until we can take that knowledge and apply it in and through our hearts, it does not become wisdom. It has been said, "Wisdom is knowledge applied." Knowledge happens in the head -- wisdom happens in the heart.

But, then again, we are faced with another issue, and that is found in Jeremiah 17:9 where the prophet says, "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it?"

So if the heart is where knowledge is applied, resulting in wisdom, and yet the heart is wicked, how can one be able to live a life that honors God and draws others towards Him?

When we repent and ask forgiveness of our sins, God is able to create in us a clean heart and renew a right spirit within us (Psalm 51:10). Instead of our knowledge running through the filter of a wicked and depraved heart, it can now flow through the filter of God's Spirit, helping us to draw on His Word and guidance for our wisdom.

Psalm 1:1-3 (NIV): "Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither—whatever they do prospers.