Human Response 323: Void of Counsel and Understanding

Deuteronomy 32:28-29 For they are a nation void of counsel, neither is there any understanding in them. O that they were wise, that they understood this, that they would consider their latter end.

Having no wisdom or understanding is not so much a response to God as it is a cause of a wrong response. The wrong response was given in verse 27: “The Lord has not done all this.” He is speaking of the curses that have come upon them for their sin and unbelief. When bad things happen, man would rather blame God than take responsibility for their own guilt.

Instead of looking at their own sin and coming to repentance and faith in the gospel, humans shift the blame to a bad God, asking, “Why?” But without God we are not wise. We tend to”lean on our own understanding,” not knowing that pride warps a true view of life. Jesus said, “Repent or perish,” when hearing about disasters happening to others. You are not more righteous than they. See your own sin, repent, and believe the Gospel.

Psalm 90:12: “So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.” Wisdom does not come from intelligence or education. It comes from the Lord and His Word. The Spirit teaches wisdom by applying the Word to our hearts in the school of experience. Jesus is our wisdom. He gives counsel and understanding. It comes from God through Word and Spirit. Look not to your own brain or to the wisdom of the world (it has none), but to the Lord. When bad things happen we turn to God, repent and believe the gospel. We seek forgiveness, not blame. That is wisdom, wise counsel, and understanding.