Musings and Contemplations

From the rising of the sun to its setting my name will be great among the nations, and in every place, incense will be offered to my name, and a pure offering. For my name will be great among the nations, says the LORD of hosts.[1]

The Weak and Foolish know God’s Wisdom and Power

1 Corinthians 1:18-31 NRSV
For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written, “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart.”
Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, God decided, through the foolishness of our proclamation, to save those who believe. For Jews demand signs and Greeks desire wisdom, but we proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God’s weakness is stronger than human strength.
Consider your own call, brothers and sisters: not many of you were wise by human standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, things that are not, to reduce to nothing things that are, so that no one might boast in the presence of God. He is the source of your life in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification and redemption, in order that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”

Boast In The Lord
Hymn Tune: Hallelujah! What a Savior!

Sing the mighty power of God,
Seen in Christ upon the cross,
Men of earth scoff and deride,
Calling “foolish” God’s salvation.

Wisdom speaks from Calvary,
Making foolish this world’s creed.
Hear the Gospel’s spoken word
God’s salvation to the whole world.

Human boasting profits none,
God has crushed it in His Son;
God is wiser, stronger still,
He, our Sovereign, is our boasting.

Who are we but weak and poor,
Still our boast is in the Lord!
He has chosen us to give
Life eternal in His presence.

So, our joy and pride is found
Not in having human crowns,
But in union with our King.
Jesus Christ is all our boasting!

God’s Wisdom Confounds Human Reasoning
When Paul speaks of the “foolishness of God,” he is not implying that God is foolish. Rather, he is saying that since God’s way of reasoning is in accord with things of the spirit, it confounds the reasoning of this world. It is wiser than human reasoning, because spiritual things are wiser than carnal ones. Spiritual things do not exist through carnal ones, but the other way around. Therefore, carnal things are understandable in relation to spiritual ones. Similarly, what belongs to heaven is stronger than what belongs to earth. So, what seems like the weakness of God is not really weak at all. Christ appeared to be defeated when he was killed, but he emerged as the victor and turned the reproof back on his persecutors.[2]

The Gospel Way Catechism Question #48
What happens to those who oppose God?
God will one day purge the world of evil and establish righteousness on earth. Those who oppose God will experience eternal judgment – an everlasting fate apart from him, where his life and light are no more.[3]

O God, you know that we are set in the midst of many grave dangers, and because of the frailty of our nature we cannot always stand upright: Grant that your strength and protection may support us in all dangers and carry us through every temptation; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Amen.[4]

Christ Our Wisdom

The LORD bless you and keep you;
The LORD make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you;
The LORD lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.[5]

[1] Malachi 1:11 ESV
[2] Abrosiaster, “Commentary on Paul’s Epistles,” Ancient Christian Devotional Year A, p. 59.
[3] Trevin Wax and Thomas West, The Gospel Way Catechism, 2025, p. 171.
[4] Prayer for the fourth Sunday of Epiphany, Anglican Book of Common Prayer, 2019.
[5] Number 6:24-26 ESV