Hebrews Wisdom
Hebrews 1: The New Covenant’s Guide to Faith and Wisdom
Where Every Believer Becomes a Prophet
Introduction
Section Summary: Hebrews 1:1–2 links faith and wisdom, contrasting their sources in the old and new covenants.
Socrates said, “I know that I know nothing,” hinting at a truth found within Hebrews: faith and wisdom are linked.
The Book of Hebrews shows that wisdom requires faith, and without faith, wisdom is only knowledge.
This devotional on Hebrews 1:1–2 explores the relationship between faith and wisdom, and the shift of wisdom in the old covenant through the prophets as compared to the new covenant where we receive wisdom through Christ.
Scripture Exploration
Section Summary: Hebrews 1:1–2 highlights the shift from receiving wisdom through prophets to directly from Christ, with higher stakes for faith in the new covenant.
The core scripture for this devotional on wisdom and faith is Hebrews 1:1–2.
“God spoke to our ancestors in many and various ways by the prophets but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son, whom he appointed heir of all things”
“God spoke…by the prophets”
In the old covenant, God gave wisdom to His people through the prophets. In the new covenant, His wisdom is mediated to us through Christ Jesus directly, the Son.
“…in many and various ways…”
God gave signs, wonders, and laws to the prophets, and a prophet had to be specifically chosen by God. The prophets would hear the Word, give it to us in their words, and we were expected to obey.
“...he has spoken to us by a Son”
In the new covenant God speaks directly to us believers as the Son is the mediator, giving us His wisdom individually.
“but in these last days…”
Another allusion to the new covenant as being the final covenant. Higher reward, but higher consequences for lack of faith in His wisdom.
Context and Background
Section Summary: The old covenant relied on prophets for wisdom and collective faith, while the new covenant offers direct wisdom from Christ and individualizes spiritual responsibility.
Rooting the idea of wisdom and faith being linked in scripture, let’s explore an example from the old covenant when God communicated wisdom through prophets, as seen in Hebrews 1:1.
The prophets guided the people based on the wisdom given from the Lord through laws, oaths, and promises. God made specific promises to His people, and the people kept those promises through their faith and obedience.
But in the new covenant, Hebrews 1:2, God speaks directly to us through His Son eliminating the requirement for human mediators of His word. The new covenant makes His wisdom available to us all directly.
What many Christians don’t realize is Hebrews lays out a significant truth: in the new covenant, all believers are His prophets. (Note: we will explore the implications of all believers as prophets in a separate and specific devotional on Hebrews 8:10.)
Following the wisdom of a prophet was difficult enough, so how difficult will it be to follow the voice that speaks directly and only to you?
Personal Interpretation
Section Summary: The shift from “One-for-Many” wisdom through prophets to “Many-for-One” wisdom through Christ increases individual responsibility and stakes for faith.
When God spoke to us through the prophets He commanded us to demonstrate faith in His wisdom. Faith in the words of the prophets produced obedience to the wisdom of the Lord.
But that obedience did not last. People who heard the prophets lost their faith and began to see their own knowledge as wisdom instead.
In Isaiah 6:6–9, an angel placed a hot coal inside the prophet’s mouth. A hot coal burns, searing the mouth of the prophet so that his voice (the knowledge of man) is silenced and God’s voice (the wisdom of the Lord) is all that remains.
With this new voice, God speaks through the prophet to the people. He tells them to keep listening and looking, not to understand. He is saying to have faith in His wisdom, especially if we do not understand it. Faith results in the wisdom of the Lord.
Think of God giving wisdom through prophets as one set of laws for many people, or One-for-Many.
The law of Moses is one example of One-for-Many, and is referenced many times throughout the old testament, with the Ten Commandments being one such example.
Following one set of laws intended for many people is difficult because each person’s circumstances are unique, and the One-for-Many laws are broad.
So why if God spoke to us through the prophets did He need to speak to us through the Son?
Because He is faithful, and we are unfaithful.
Our lack of faith in the One-for-Many wisdom is the same as lacking faith in His word.
As Hebrews 1:2 says, God now speaks to us directly through the Son to give each of us wisdom.
If we turn away from the Lord’s wisdom now the blame lies solely with us individually, and Hebrews later details the consequences of such disobedience.
What is being said in Hebrews 1:1–2 is that One-for-Many of the old covenant is replaced with Many-for-One in the new covenant: many laws, for each one person.
Individual direct wisdom requires individual direct faith.
Faith is required now more than ever, because the implications to live a life devoted to wisdom under the new covenant are staggering.
Application and Implication
Section Summary: To gain wisdom in the new covenant, listen and obey God’s word with full faith.
To obtain wisdom from the Lord, you must listen and obey, and faith establishes both. When God speaks, He expects us to listen. We need to have faith in His words and obey them, even if we do not understand what we are being told. Listening and obeying forms a life guided by full trust in His wisdom and the foundation as His people in the new covenant.
Jeramiah 1:4–8 discusses how God chooses prophets. Verse 6 (“…’I am only a boy’”) alludes to not trusting your own knowledge and understanding to do the Lord’s work, but to have full faith and trust of the wisdom of the Lord, “…you shall go to all to whom I send you, and you shall speak whatever I command you.”
God keeps His promises, and His ways are not our ways.
When God tells me to do something out of my comfort zone, like approach someone at Church and ask how I can help them, or introduce myself to a stranger on the street: I listen and I obey.
I don’t know if my conversation with a random person on the street will trigger a chain of events that leads them to know the Lord. Nor do I need to know. I only need to obey, and have faith; I trust in His wisdom, not my limited knowledge.
When it comes to the Lord, I know that I know nothing. But through my obedience to His word, I obtain wisdom.
Conclusion
Section Summary: Seek wisdom through faith, listen and obey God, and pray for understanding — never rely on self for truth.
Wisdom and faith are present throughout Hebrews, and the concept kicks off immediately in Hebrews 1:1. Wisdom should not be confused with knowledge, and should be supported by full faith and trust in the Lord.
In the past, God spoke wisdom to us through His prophets. But now, He speaks wisdom to all of us through his Son.
The wisdom of man can be found throughout history, but the wisdom of the Lord is only found through a faith which produces obedience. When He speaks, the wisest thing to do is to listen.
As Jesus says, “Let anyone with ears listen!”
But listening isn’t enough, we also need to obey, even if we do not understand what we are hearing or how it will benefit His kingdom.
Pray for understanding, or the strength to do His will when you do not understand.
But never turn to yourself as the source of truth, for wisdom only manifests when we have full faith in the Lord.
Amen
