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The Wisdom of God: Letting His Truth and Goodness Direct Your Steps
A.W. Tozer on Living in God's Wisdom
We were created by God and for God, and the only way to find true joy, peace, and contentment is by understanding and embracing his wisdom. Wisdom is not some highbrow philosophical concept, but rather a highly practical tool for living the best possible life.
The Wisdom of God captures Tozer's teaching on this topic as a way to understand the well-lived Christian life. God's wisdom is a part of his character, inseparable from his love and grace, and knowing this wisdom means drawing closer to him. It will change your decisions, attitudes, and relationships, setting you on the path to becoming all God wants you to be.
We were created by God and for God, and the only way to find true joy, peace, and contentment is by understanding and embracing his wisdom. Wisdom is not some highbrow philosophical concept, but rather a highly practical tool for living the best possible life.
The Wisdom of God captures Tozer's teaching on this topic as a way to understand the well-lived Christian life. God's wisdom is a part of his character, inseparable from his love and grace, and knowing this wisdom means drawing closer to him. It will change your decisions, attitudes, and relationships, setting you on the path to becoming all God wants you to be.
187 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2017
76 people are currently reading
167 people want to read
About the author
A.W. Tozer
664 books2,101 followersAiden Wilson Tozer was an American evangelical pastor, speaker, writer, and editor. After coming to Christ at the age of seventeen, Tozer found his way into the Christian & Missionary Alliance denomination where he served for over forty years. In 1950, he was appointed by the denomination's General Council to be the editor of "The Alliance Witness" (now "Alliance Life").
Born into poverty in western Pennsylvania in 1897, Tozer died in May 1963 a self-educated man who had taught himself what he missed in high school and college due to his home situation. Though he wrote many books, two of them, "The Pursuit of God" and "The Knowledge of the Holy" are widely considered to be classics.
A.W. Tozer and his wife, Ada Cecelia Pfautz, had seven children, six boys and one girl.
Born into poverty in western Pennsylvania in 1897, Tozer died in May 1963 a self-educated man who had taught himself what he missed in high school and college due to his home situation. Though he wrote many books, two of them, "The Pursuit of God" and "The Knowledge of the Holy" are widely considered to be classics.
A.W. Tozer and his wife, Ada Cecelia Pfautz, had seven children, six boys and one girl.
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October 23, 2017
The man who lives as if the truth were not true is as bad as the man who denies the truth. God judges a man by how he lives the truth, not by how he parrots the truth.
Tozer always hits the mark in teaching the attributes of God. The wisdom of God is the essence of who God is. That may be why King Solomon when asked by God what he desired from God, he did not ask for fame and riches but wisdom. Reading this book, I have come to understand that Solomon really asked for God himself.
Man's wisdom and God's wisdom are opposite and to truly appreciate the wisdom of God and live in his wisdom is only the by the Holy Spirit directed by the word. Tozer tells us the difference of God's wisdom and man's wisdom and it is indeed a high bar that only leads us to surrender our will to who God is.
I highly recommend this and encourage for this classic to be read once a year.
A Special Thank You to Bethany House and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.
Tozer always hits the mark in teaching the attributes of God. The wisdom of God is the essence of who God is. That may be why King Solomon when asked by God what he desired from God, he did not ask for fame and riches but wisdom. Reading this book, I have come to understand that Solomon really asked for God himself.
Man's wisdom and God's wisdom are opposite and to truly appreciate the wisdom of God and live in his wisdom is only the by the Holy Spirit directed by the word. Tozer tells us the difference of God's wisdom and man's wisdom and it is indeed a high bar that only leads us to surrender our will to who God is.
I highly recommend this and encourage for this classic to be read once a year.
A Special Thank You to Bethany House and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.
July 12, 2017
The Wisdom of God
What is wisdom? This book is divided into 23 chapters exploring Biblical wisdom vs. worldly knowledge. It begins with the history of how the Jews perceived wisdom, to how Jesus Christ personified wisdom, to how we are to apply wisdom today.
This was a powerful and convicting read. From all I could tell, it was Biblically accurate, quoted many Scripture verses, and even used some hymns to expound on Biblical truths. There was a strong emphasis on humility, repentance, and salvation.
There are many quotes I appreciated. Here are a few:
"Would the man filled with wisdom and spiritual understanding write cheap poetry? I would certainly hope not!"
"David could sin, but he could also repent."
"We should not only memorize the Word, which is an excellent thing to do, but also know the difference between truth and error in applying the Word faithfully."
"Obviously there is enticement from sinners. It does not say in Proverbs 1:10, 'If sin entices thee.' It says 'If sinners entice thee.'"
"If that person stands between you and Jesus Christ, that person is not a friend."
*I received this book from Bethany House Publishers and happily provided my honest review*
What is wisdom? This book is divided into 23 chapters exploring Biblical wisdom vs. worldly knowledge. It begins with the history of how the Jews perceived wisdom, to how Jesus Christ personified wisdom, to how we are to apply wisdom today.
This was a powerful and convicting read. From all I could tell, it was Biblically accurate, quoted many Scripture verses, and even used some hymns to expound on Biblical truths. There was a strong emphasis on humility, repentance, and salvation.
There are many quotes I appreciated. Here are a few:
"Would the man filled with wisdom and spiritual understanding write cheap poetry? I would certainly hope not!"
"David could sin, but he could also repent."
"We should not only memorize the Word, which is an excellent thing to do, but also know the difference between truth and error in applying the Word faithfully."
"Obviously there is enticement from sinners. It does not say in Proverbs 1:10, 'If sin entices thee.' It says 'If sinners entice thee.'"
"If that person stands between you and Jesus Christ, that person is not a friend."
*I received this book from Bethany House Publishers and happily provided my honest review*
October 2, 2017
First sentence: For a long time I have been thinking about the subject of this book: wisdom. A better writer than I should write this book, but in the meantime, I will do my best to unburden my heart.
James L. Snyder has had permission from Tozer's estate to publish his "never-before-published" sermons into new books. There have been many in recent years, the Wisdom of God is the newest.
The theme of the book is Wisdom. He addresses what "wisdom" meant in Hebrew thought and doctrine, what "wisdom" meant in Greek thought and how the Greek and Hebrew thought differ from one another, and the connection between Jesus Christ and Wisdom. But perhaps more than all this is his focus on God: Father, Son and Spirit. The focus is on how God has revealed himself to us through His Word. The wise among us will treasure the Bible for what it is: the very revelation of God himself.
The subject is, without a doubt, a challenging one. I don't think many Christians would deny that God is wise. But I also don't think many would claim to understand--define, explain, elaborate on--GOD'S WISDOM. I am just not sure the human mind can grasp the fullness and depth. We can certainly affirm truths about God as revealed in Scripture. We can be humbled by God's wisdom--and the vastness in between our "wisdom" and His. I definitely think it is the height of foolishness to think that we can judge God, that we can judge God's actions, commands, or precepts. I think the more we try to defend God, to better God, to bring out God 2.0, the more foolish we become. I do think people can be deceived into thinking that they have all the answers and know better than God.
I definitely found this to be a thought-provoking read. But it wasn't Tozer at his clearest or best. It would not be the first book by Tozer that I'd recommend. But it certainly was worth reading. Tozer identifies wisdom so closely with God in the three persons of the trinity that a lot of his statements could be taken out of context and misunderstood. In other words, he uses the word "wisdom" in this one in ways that one would normally associate it with God, Jesus, or the Holy Spirit. For example, he says: the one thing a person needs most in life is wisdom. Or another example, when we saved we were joined with the eternal wisdom that created the universe itself.
Favorite quotes:
The purpose of God in redemption is not just to save us from hell. The purpose of God in redemption is to save us unto heaven. To be totally saved, He has to save us from something in order to save us unto something. We are saved from sin, which is the negative side. We are saved unto holiness, which is the positive side. We are saved from hell, but we are saved unto heaven. We are saved from the devil, but we are saved unto Christ. (26)
In our day, we have degraded Christianity to be a kind of soft vaccine against hell and sin. We gather people, stick them with a religious needle, and say, "If you just accept Jesus you will not go to hell, you will go heaven when you die. Keep living as well as you can, and when you die you'll go to heaven." Many are preaching what I refer to as a kind of lifeboat salvation, and even the songs today reflect that idea. Certainly, this is an inadequate concept of Christianity. The purpose of God in redeeming men was not to save them from hell only, but to save them to worship, and to allow them to be born into that eternal wisdom that was with the Father, which is synonymous with that eternal life that was with the Father and was revealed unto men. (38)
I believe the compelling need of this hour is for Christians to receive from God a baptism of eternal wisdom, the creative wisdom of God. Lacking this, the church is blind. (47)
We have ignored the fact that Christianity has a divine source; it is divinely ordained, divinely given, and it cannot be humanly explained. It can only be promoted by divine wisdom and power. (50)
Our relationship with God must be based upon God's ways and not our ways. The wisdom that comes from on high, this divine breath that settles down upon us is what enables us to understand God and our relationship to Him. (68)
It is a wonderful thing when you come to the conclusion that only God can help. (73)
Oh, what a different world it would be, what a different life we would live, what a different service we would render, and what a different death we would die if we were able to see the presence of God in all things all of the time. (93)
Does anybody preach on overcoming anymore? Is not this a good evangelical doctrine? Or are we so afraid that we will distract from the glory of grace that we are no longer teaching people that they must overcome? We have to be overcomes, and to do so there must be a fight. (120)
Repentance is to seek to become a new person. It is not simply to get peace, for you can have peace and be the same person you were. It is not to get a ticket to heaven. A Christian is not one who has a ticket to heaven as one might have a ticket to a ball game. A Christian is one who has sought to become a new person. He has found himself out and has learned what a scoundrel he is by the illumination of the Holy Spirit. (139)
The idea that Christ reaches out to you with a lifeboat and pulls you aboard without changing you is a modern heresy that ought to be set aside until the Lord comes, or until men learn better. (140)
The one who says he wants to be saved but has no interest in being changed cannot be saved. To be saved, one must care about being like Christ. He will be anxious to be free from sin and alive unto God. (141)
To be repentant means to come to Christ self-accusing and without defense. (142)
James L. Snyder has had permission from Tozer's estate to publish his "never-before-published" sermons into new books. There have been many in recent years, the Wisdom of God is the newest.
The theme of the book is Wisdom. He addresses what "wisdom" meant in Hebrew thought and doctrine, what "wisdom" meant in Greek thought and how the Greek and Hebrew thought differ from one another, and the connection between Jesus Christ and Wisdom. But perhaps more than all this is his focus on God: Father, Son and Spirit. The focus is on how God has revealed himself to us through His Word. The wise among us will treasure the Bible for what it is: the very revelation of God himself.
The subject is, without a doubt, a challenging one. I don't think many Christians would deny that God is wise. But I also don't think many would claim to understand--define, explain, elaborate on--GOD'S WISDOM. I am just not sure the human mind can grasp the fullness and depth. We can certainly affirm truths about God as revealed in Scripture. We can be humbled by God's wisdom--and the vastness in between our "wisdom" and His. I definitely think it is the height of foolishness to think that we can judge God, that we can judge God's actions, commands, or precepts. I think the more we try to defend God, to better God, to bring out God 2.0, the more foolish we become. I do think people can be deceived into thinking that they have all the answers and know better than God.
I definitely found this to be a thought-provoking read. But it wasn't Tozer at his clearest or best. It would not be the first book by Tozer that I'd recommend. But it certainly was worth reading. Tozer identifies wisdom so closely with God in the three persons of the trinity that a lot of his statements could be taken out of context and misunderstood. In other words, he uses the word "wisdom" in this one in ways that one would normally associate it with God, Jesus, or the Holy Spirit. For example, he says: the one thing a person needs most in life is wisdom. Or another example, when we saved we were joined with the eternal wisdom that created the universe itself.
Favorite quotes:
The purpose of God in redemption is not just to save us from hell. The purpose of God in redemption is to save us unto heaven. To be totally saved, He has to save us from something in order to save us unto something. We are saved from sin, which is the negative side. We are saved unto holiness, which is the positive side. We are saved from hell, but we are saved unto heaven. We are saved from the devil, but we are saved unto Christ. (26)
In our day, we have degraded Christianity to be a kind of soft vaccine against hell and sin. We gather people, stick them with a religious needle, and say, "If you just accept Jesus you will not go to hell, you will go heaven when you die. Keep living as well as you can, and when you die you'll go to heaven." Many are preaching what I refer to as a kind of lifeboat salvation, and even the songs today reflect that idea. Certainly, this is an inadequate concept of Christianity. The purpose of God in redeeming men was not to save them from hell only, but to save them to worship, and to allow them to be born into that eternal wisdom that was with the Father, which is synonymous with that eternal life that was with the Father and was revealed unto men. (38)
I believe the compelling need of this hour is for Christians to receive from God a baptism of eternal wisdom, the creative wisdom of God. Lacking this, the church is blind. (47)
We have ignored the fact that Christianity has a divine source; it is divinely ordained, divinely given, and it cannot be humanly explained. It can only be promoted by divine wisdom and power. (50)
Our relationship with God must be based upon God's ways and not our ways. The wisdom that comes from on high, this divine breath that settles down upon us is what enables us to understand God and our relationship to Him. (68)
It is a wonderful thing when you come to the conclusion that only God can help. (73)
Oh, what a different world it would be, what a different life we would live, what a different service we would render, and what a different death we would die if we were able to see the presence of God in all things all of the time. (93)
Does anybody preach on overcoming anymore? Is not this a good evangelical doctrine? Or are we so afraid that we will distract from the glory of grace that we are no longer teaching people that they must overcome? We have to be overcomes, and to do so there must be a fight. (120)
Repentance is to seek to become a new person. It is not simply to get peace, for you can have peace and be the same person you were. It is not to get a ticket to heaven. A Christian is not one who has a ticket to heaven as one might have a ticket to a ball game. A Christian is one who has sought to become a new person. He has found himself out and has learned what a scoundrel he is by the illumination of the Holy Spirit. (139)
The idea that Christ reaches out to you with a lifeboat and pulls you aboard without changing you is a modern heresy that ought to be set aside until the Lord comes, or until men learn better. (140)
The one who says he wants to be saved but has no interest in being changed cannot be saved. To be saved, one must care about being like Christ. He will be anxious to be free from sin and alive unto God. (141)
To be repentant means to come to Christ self-accusing and without defense. (142)
July 17, 2017
The material in this book has been collected from sermons Tozer preached in the early 1960s. (He died in 1963.) The message is needed today, perhaps even more so than a generation ago.
Tozer concentrates on the Hebrew understanding of wisdom in the first part of the book. I did not find that section particularly interesting. Tozer begins to explore godly wisdom and its necessity about a quarter of the way into the book. That material is dynamite.
Tozer believed that the “compelling need” was for Christians to receive the divine illumination of wisdom from God. “Lacking that,” he said, “the church is blind.” (Loc 521/2038) He distinguishes wisdom and scholarship. He shares the characteristics of a wise person. He reminds us it is a gift from God through the Holy Spirit into the heart of a humble person.
I highly recommend this book to church leaders. Even in Tozer's day, he called the new ideas and programs “religious claptrap and modern entertainment.” (Loc 690/2038) He would rather have the fire of God and the presence of the Holy Spirit, he said. I also recommend this book to all Christians who desire to know more about wisdom from God, the humility needed to receive it, and the life one leads with it.
I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.
Tozer concentrates on the Hebrew understanding of wisdom in the first part of the book. I did not find that section particularly interesting. Tozer begins to explore godly wisdom and its necessity about a quarter of the way into the book. That material is dynamite.
Tozer believed that the “compelling need” was for Christians to receive the divine illumination of wisdom from God. “Lacking that,” he said, “the church is blind.” (Loc 521/2038) He distinguishes wisdom and scholarship. He shares the characteristics of a wise person. He reminds us it is a gift from God through the Holy Spirit into the heart of a humble person.
I highly recommend this book to church leaders. Even in Tozer's day, he called the new ideas and programs “religious claptrap and modern entertainment.” (Loc 690/2038) He would rather have the fire of God and the presence of the Holy Spirit, he said. I also recommend this book to all Christians who desire to know more about wisdom from God, the humility needed to receive it, and the life one leads with it.
I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.
August 5, 2017
There were some amazing Scriptural insights in this book. It is convicting, encouraging, and challenging.
He contrasts the Western or Greek understanding of Wisdom with the Hebrew or Biblical understanding in the beginning sections. Then he moves on and discusses how our understanding and obedience to true Wisdom affects our lives.
It surprised me how much he quoted from the Apocryphal books. He uses them and the Book of Proverbs to build his understanding of the Hebrew view of Wisdom. He reminds us again and again that they are not inspired, but it was very different for an Evangelical book.
Unfortunately, the format was a bit distracting. It does not flow well from chapter to chapter. Each one is good, but it doesn’t necessarily connect to the previous or following chapter. It helped once I caught on to the arrangement. If you think of it as a devotional loosely tied together by one thought, and not as a single subject book, you’ll be better prepared for the abrupt subject changes.
Maybe it was because of the format, but there many times that I had a hard time following his train of thought especially in the beginning chapters. I did not like it as well as I have some of his others.
I received this as a free ARC through NetGalley from Bethany House Publishers. No favorable review was required.
He contrasts the Western or Greek understanding of Wisdom with the Hebrew or Biblical understanding in the beginning sections. Then he moves on and discusses how our understanding and obedience to true Wisdom affects our lives.
It surprised me how much he quoted from the Apocryphal books. He uses them and the Book of Proverbs to build his understanding of the Hebrew view of Wisdom. He reminds us again and again that they are not inspired, but it was very different for an Evangelical book.
Unfortunately, the format was a bit distracting. It does not flow well from chapter to chapter. Each one is good, but it doesn’t necessarily connect to the previous or following chapter. It helped once I caught on to the arrangement. If you think of it as a devotional loosely tied together by one thought, and not as a single subject book, you’ll be better prepared for the abrupt subject changes.
Maybe it was because of the format, but there many times that I had a hard time following his train of thought especially in the beginning chapters. I did not like it as well as I have some of his others.
I received this as a free ARC through NetGalley from Bethany House Publishers. No favorable review was required.
September 21, 2017
"It is necessary to mental and moral health that we believe in the plenary wisdom of God, that is, the full wisdom of God. God is not permitted to have just a bit of wisdom or almost the sum of all wisdom, but we believe God has all wisdom, full wisdom beyond which there cannot be any wisdom. It is necessary to Christian faith, to mental rest and moral soundness that we believe in this wisdom of God as being absolute, perfect, and infinite, and I am not using words carelessly."
So says A.W. Tozer in this newly published volume. This collection of Tozer's sermons on the subject of God's wisdom has been edited and brought forth by James L. Snyder, a noted Tozer authority. It would make an excellent addition to anyone's theological library!
In the early chapters Tozer delves deep into how the ancient Hebrews perceived God's wisdom, and how their view differs from the Greek perception of the same. He expounds on how Christ is the personification of this aspect of God's character, and how clear this is in Scripture. In the second half there are more practical applications to a modern believer's everyday life.
While I did not find this book as personally meaningful as some of Tozer's more well-known books, such as The Pursuit of God, I still found it instructive and inspiring. Many thanks to the publisher for my copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions in this review are my own.
This review originated from http://reviewsbyerin.dreamwidth.org
So says A.W. Tozer in this newly published volume. This collection of Tozer's sermons on the subject of God's wisdom has been edited and brought forth by James L. Snyder, a noted Tozer authority. It would make an excellent addition to anyone's theological library!
In the early chapters Tozer delves deep into how the ancient Hebrews perceived God's wisdom, and how their view differs from the Greek perception of the same. He expounds on how Christ is the personification of this aspect of God's character, and how clear this is in Scripture. In the second half there are more practical applications to a modern believer's everyday life.
While I did not find this book as personally meaningful as some of Tozer's more well-known books, such as The Pursuit of God, I still found it instructive and inspiring. Many thanks to the publisher for my copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions in this review are my own.
This review originated from http://reviewsbyerin.dreamwidth.org
May 28, 2023
Tozer always makes for good, solid uplifting reading even if you are not exactly wont to accept his fundamental premises. His dour Reformed evangelical outlook dominates every page and prevents him from seeing practically any of God’s goodness in human affairs, which is unfortunate—in fact, he even leans toward gnosticism at times. But I find that the insights into the nature of divine wisdom rather outweigh these concerns. I did not really like how the sermons were assembled either, but I suppose that is how it must be done since Tozer actually wrote relatively little. If you share his theological foundation you will like it more than I, but I still think it’s worth reading for the most part.
August 24, 2017
My Thoughts:
I’ve read a few of Tozer’s books before The Wisdom of God. These books are Tozer On The Almighty God, The Knowledge of the Holy, Tozer: Mystery of the Holy Spirit, and The Pursuit of God.
One of the reasons I enjoy reading Tozer is he uses language that packs a punch. He has a way with illustrations that are vivid and speak loudly his message.
A Christian is not one who has a ticket to heaven as one might have a ticket to a ball game. A Christian is one who has sought to become a new person. He has found himself out and has learned what a scoundrel he is by the illumination of the Holy Spirit. Page 139.
We put a price tag on everything from a human stand point, which is how our world works. We cannot, however, bring that over into our relationship with God. Our relationship with God must be based upon God’s ways and not our ways. Page 68.
Some Christians have not read a decent book in the last twenty years. They have grown physically, but spiritually they are still in the hospital ward. Page 55.
I love how the book began by defining wisdom, but my favorite part of the book is when Tozer explains repentance.
Hasn’t it become rare to hear the word repent? When I was a child growing up my pastor often spoke of sin, repentance, forgiveness, and God’s grace.
Repentance is to seek to become a new person, to open the heart to the incoming of moral wisdom, to seek to be like that most excellent wisdom. It is to seek to live and have an affinity toward Jesus Christ the Lord. The idea that Christ reaches out to you with a lifeboat and pulls you aboard without changing you or identifying himself with you or you with Christ is a modern heresy that ought to be set aside until the Lord comes, or until men learn better. Page 140.
To be repentant means to come to Christ self-accusing and without defense. Page 142.
A second reason I love reading Tozer is he asks questions that make me think. And, I am compelled to answer them.
How do we recognize the fool? The wisdom books of the Old Testament are full of examples of foolishness, but in Proverbs 12:15, it tells us that “the way of a fool is right in his own eyes,” which is one of the marks of the fool. Page 107.
The Wisdom of God is not one of my favorites of Tozer’s adaptions from sermons. The book did not compare strongly against the other Tozer books I’ve read. The Wisdom of God is missing something. Possibly a stronger and clearer direction for each chapter’s interpretation. The points are not a clear picture of what is being stated. However, this does not take away from Tozer’s message of God’s wisdom.
My favorite quote, from page 180.
Either I do believe in God or I do not. Either I hold God to be wise altogether, or I do not. Either I believe that He is, or I doubt Him. Either I believe that He is the only wise God our Savior, or I do not. Everything lies here: destiny, death, life, heaven, and hell, and the Christian has an answer for the doubter.
Free paperback copy from Bethany House.
I’ve read a few of Tozer’s books before The Wisdom of God. These books are Tozer On The Almighty God, The Knowledge of the Holy, Tozer: Mystery of the Holy Spirit, and The Pursuit of God.
One of the reasons I enjoy reading Tozer is he uses language that packs a punch. He has a way with illustrations that are vivid and speak loudly his message.
A Christian is not one who has a ticket to heaven as one might have a ticket to a ball game. A Christian is one who has sought to become a new person. He has found himself out and has learned what a scoundrel he is by the illumination of the Holy Spirit. Page 139.
We put a price tag on everything from a human stand point, which is how our world works. We cannot, however, bring that over into our relationship with God. Our relationship with God must be based upon God’s ways and not our ways. Page 68.
Some Christians have not read a decent book in the last twenty years. They have grown physically, but spiritually they are still in the hospital ward. Page 55.
I love how the book began by defining wisdom, but my favorite part of the book is when Tozer explains repentance.
Hasn’t it become rare to hear the word repent? When I was a child growing up my pastor often spoke of sin, repentance, forgiveness, and God’s grace.
Repentance is to seek to become a new person, to open the heart to the incoming of moral wisdom, to seek to be like that most excellent wisdom. It is to seek to live and have an affinity toward Jesus Christ the Lord. The idea that Christ reaches out to you with a lifeboat and pulls you aboard without changing you or identifying himself with you or you with Christ is a modern heresy that ought to be set aside until the Lord comes, or until men learn better. Page 140.
To be repentant means to come to Christ self-accusing and without defense. Page 142.
A second reason I love reading Tozer is he asks questions that make me think. And, I am compelled to answer them.
How do we recognize the fool? The wisdom books of the Old Testament are full of examples of foolishness, but in Proverbs 12:15, it tells us that “the way of a fool is right in his own eyes,” which is one of the marks of the fool. Page 107.
The Wisdom of God is not one of my favorites of Tozer’s adaptions from sermons. The book did not compare strongly against the other Tozer books I’ve read. The Wisdom of God is missing something. Possibly a stronger and clearer direction for each chapter’s interpretation. The points are not a clear picture of what is being stated. However, this does not take away from Tozer’s message of God’s wisdom.
My favorite quote, from page 180.
Either I do believe in God or I do not. Either I hold God to be wise altogether, or I do not. Either I believe that He is, or I doubt Him. Either I believe that He is the only wise God our Savior, or I do not. Everything lies here: destiny, death, life, heaven, and hell, and the Christian has an answer for the doubter.
Free paperback copy from Bethany House.
July 14, 2017
About the Book:
A.W. Tozer on Living in God's Wisdom
We were created by God and for God, and the only way to find true joy, peace, and contentment is by understanding and embracing his wisdom. Wisdom is not some highbrow philosophical concept, but rather a highly practical tool for living the best possible life.
The Wisdom of God captures Tozer's teaching on this topic as a way to understand the well-lived Christian life. God's wisdom is a part of his character, inseparable from his love and grace, and knowing this wisdom means drawing closer to him. It will change your decisions, attitudes, and relationships, setting you on the path to becoming all God wants you to be.
My Review:
Tozer was a brilliant human being. He has been quoted and quoted and still his words ring true even in this crazy world. I would first like to point out that there's a difference between knowledge and wisdom. In The Wisdom of God, Tozer points out that it is very important to understand and obey the wisdom of God. When we understand the how and why behind God's word we start to understand Him so much more better.
Tozer had a way of driving home the point. It is and was important to win souls for Christ and he had no qualms about it. He states in his writings that we shouldn't be worried about the world around us only a growing wisdom of the Father. We should fight to learn such wisdom in an effort to learn more about Him and His ways. And in turn not only will this draw us closer to Him but in that we will learn more about what He created us to be.
A great starter book for anyone that has never read Tozer's work. The editor did a fabulous job!
**Disclosure** This book was sent to me free of charge for my honest review from the author. All opinions are my own.
A.W. Tozer on Living in God's Wisdom
We were created by God and for God, and the only way to find true joy, peace, and contentment is by understanding and embracing his wisdom. Wisdom is not some highbrow philosophical concept, but rather a highly practical tool for living the best possible life.
The Wisdom of God captures Tozer's teaching on this topic as a way to understand the well-lived Christian life. God's wisdom is a part of his character, inseparable from his love and grace, and knowing this wisdom means drawing closer to him. It will change your decisions, attitudes, and relationships, setting you on the path to becoming all God wants you to be.
My Review:
Tozer was a brilliant human being. He has been quoted and quoted and still his words ring true even in this crazy world. I would first like to point out that there's a difference between knowledge and wisdom. In The Wisdom of God, Tozer points out that it is very important to understand and obey the wisdom of God. When we understand the how and why behind God's word we start to understand Him so much more better.
Tozer had a way of driving home the point. It is and was important to win souls for Christ and he had no qualms about it. He states in his writings that we shouldn't be worried about the world around us only a growing wisdom of the Father. We should fight to learn such wisdom in an effort to learn more about Him and His ways. And in turn not only will this draw us closer to Him but in that we will learn more about what He created us to be.
A great starter book for anyone that has never read Tozer's work. The editor did a fabulous job!
**Disclosure** This book was sent to me free of charge for my honest review from the author. All opinions are my own.
July 14, 2017
"The Wisdom of God" is hard to describe. Tozer kind of wandered from topic to topic, but each chapter related to wisdom in some way. He sometimes quoted the same verses or made the same points in different chapters, so I'm curious if this is basically a compilation of his sermons relating to wisdom. However, his overall point is that human wisdom can't save you, only God's wisdom (a.k.a. Jesus).
He started by talking about how the logos in John 1:1-3 reflects the ancient Hebrew understanding of the word and of wisdom, not the Greek philosophy involving logos. He then talked about why we need wisdom and where we find it (Christ!).
He then started preaching against modern (at that time) trends, like people using "precipitation" instead of crediting God for the rain. His underlying point was against placing your confidence in man's wisdom, but the way he stated this came across as anti-science and anti-logic (don't try to prove God). Again, while his underlying point seems to be that true Christians have to repent, see a life change, and shouldn't compromise God's teachings to avoid conflict, he came across as saying that true Christians should have a profound conversion experience, be deeply committed to God, and make enemies out of everyone as they stand up for God's truth.
As I didn't have a conversion experience involving profound remorse and have managed to stand up for the truth without making enemies of everyone, I felt like he went looking to the extreme to make his points. Or maybe I'm just misunderstanding him. I've enjoyed Tozer's books in the past, but this one left me feeling unsure about what he meant in some parts.
I received an ebook review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.
He started by talking about how the logos in John 1:1-3 reflects the ancient Hebrew understanding of the word and of wisdom, not the Greek philosophy involving logos. He then talked about why we need wisdom and where we find it (Christ!).
He then started preaching against modern (at that time) trends, like people using "precipitation" instead of crediting God for the rain. His underlying point was against placing your confidence in man's wisdom, but the way he stated this came across as anti-science and anti-logic (don't try to prove God). Again, while his underlying point seems to be that true Christians have to repent, see a life change, and shouldn't compromise God's teachings to avoid conflict, he came across as saying that true Christians should have a profound conversion experience, be deeply committed to God, and make enemies out of everyone as they stand up for God's truth.
As I didn't have a conversion experience involving profound remorse and have managed to stand up for the truth without making enemies of everyone, I felt like he went looking to the extreme to make his points. Or maybe I'm just misunderstanding him. I've enjoyed Tozer's books in the past, but this one left me feeling unsure about what he meant in some parts.
I received an ebook review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.
October 29, 2018
It is not that this is not a powerful book, it is that you have to accept Tozers premise, a premise I cannot accept. He is bold, direct and clear, making him challenging for a Christian, but he is also wrong. It does not mean that there is no glimpses of great and powerful gospel here for the ones that think like me, there is, but mostly you have to disregard his premise and see it with the light of your own. So what is this premise? Well, it is unfortunately one that use all to easy for Christians to accept - the premise of Gods wisdom, being something mystical not connected to mans wisdom, and that this wisdom is Jesus himself and that we can get a part in it only by the holy spirit. This chasm of dividing wisdom into another realm, to something non-definable(something like Plato’s forms), makes wisdom very unattainable, something we cannot work on, something we cannot understand. Tozer digs a hole, puts wisdom in it, and is unable to fish it up from there. It leads into this nasty dualism of human wisdom being something bad to be delivered from, and Gods wisdom the only good we shall seek. Practicing wisdom become following instinct, because that’s where God can insert his wisdom. It’s reduced to a Christian hunch, this higher form of wisdom. The first half is the defining part and the second half is the more inspirational part. The second part is more acceptable, as wisdom is secondary and one do not always think of it as clearly as the first part of the book defined it, so it’s more of a setting of a biblical message about life direction. The last chapter, by itself, would be mostly correct about Gods wisdom, but the whole of the book show that Tozer is an Augustinian, and not a Thomist.
August 4, 2017
"We should not only memorize the Word, which is an excellent thing to do, but also know the difference between truth and error in applying the Word faithfully." (91)
The Wisdom of God is a compilation of A.W. Tozer's various sermons about wisdom, and specifically God's wisdom. Many of A.W. Tozer's works have been published through the years and this being the most recent that have never been published before. Reverend James Snyder, having received permission from Mr. Tozer's estate to compiled and published this collection carefully presented readers another thought-provoking work.
"We have ignored the fact that Christianity has a divine source; it is divinely ordained, divinely given, and it cannot be humanly explained. It can only be promoted by divine wisdom and power." (50)
Many of Mr. Tozer's sermons have stirred the soul from its powerful message of seeking God's will and His purpose first in our lives. In The Wisdom of God, readers can grasp the ultimate attempt at seeking His wisdom for our journey. There's a strong comparison between science and theology and though it's understandable, I find this compilation forceful in providing examples of extremes only. It did required some thought, and in that aspect successful. In all, a book that I can see future personal research and reflection.
This review is from Just Commonly blog.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the author/publisher in a giveaway. A review was not required. This is my honest opinion.
The Wisdom of God is a compilation of A.W. Tozer's various sermons about wisdom, and specifically God's wisdom. Many of A.W. Tozer's works have been published through the years and this being the most recent that have never been published before. Reverend James Snyder, having received permission from Mr. Tozer's estate to compiled and published this collection carefully presented readers another thought-provoking work.
"We have ignored the fact that Christianity has a divine source; it is divinely ordained, divinely given, and it cannot be humanly explained. It can only be promoted by divine wisdom and power." (50)
Many of Mr. Tozer's sermons have stirred the soul from its powerful message of seeking God's will and His purpose first in our lives. In The Wisdom of God, readers can grasp the ultimate attempt at seeking His wisdom for our journey. There's a strong comparison between science and theology and though it's understandable, I find this compilation forceful in providing examples of extremes only. It did required some thought, and in that aspect successful. In all, a book that I can see future personal research and reflection.
This review is from Just Commonly blog.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the author/publisher in a giveaway. A review was not required. This is my honest opinion.
September 8, 2017
Wisdom of God is the second book I’ve read by James Snyder, who features the sermons and writings of A.W. Tozer. Unlike Alive in the Spirit, the first Tozer book I read, this one seemed more intellectual than spiritual. In Wisdom of God, Tozer examines wisdom from the Hebrew perspective as found in the Old and New Testaments and in some books from the Apocrypha. He also finds much wisdom in hymns.
I struggled with the first two, lengthy chapters which challenged my brain as well as my attention span. As I began the third, shorter chapter, however, things jumped out at me and I began to highlight passages that made sense, such as the idea that I’m not a body that contains a spirit but a spirit that has a body to carry around that spirit. Having pointed out that simply believing in Jesus and accepting him as our Savior is not all we need to do to be saved, he noted that we must also “understand that Christianity is a result of divine wisdom flowing into a person’s life.”
Even though I was enlightened in some ways and puzzled in others, one thing that did stand out was the idea that the Christian is a creation desiring change of self. I made note of two sentences in particular: “The penitent man wants to be changed…. Repentance is to seek to be a new person.”
Note: I received a free electronic copy of this from Bethany House Publishers. No review, positive or otherwise, was required. All opinions are my own.
I struggled with the first two, lengthy chapters which challenged my brain as well as my attention span. As I began the third, shorter chapter, however, things jumped out at me and I began to highlight passages that made sense, such as the idea that I’m not a body that contains a spirit but a spirit that has a body to carry around that spirit. Having pointed out that simply believing in Jesus and accepting him as our Savior is not all we need to do to be saved, he noted that we must also “understand that Christianity is a result of divine wisdom flowing into a person’s life.”
Even though I was enlightened in some ways and puzzled in others, one thing that did stand out was the idea that the Christian is a creation desiring change of self. I made note of two sentences in particular: “The penitent man wants to be changed…. Repentance is to seek to be a new person.”
Note: I received a free electronic copy of this from Bethany House Publishers. No review, positive or otherwise, was required. All opinions are my own.
February 24, 2024
"The Wisdom of God" by A.W. Tozer offers a profound exploration of divine wisdom and its relevance in our lives. Tozer's clear and engaging writing style makes complex theological concepts accessible to a wide audience, drawing heavily from scripture to provide a solid foundation for his arguments. One of the book's strengths lies in its emphasis on the practical application of wisdom, encouraging readers to seek God's guidance in all aspects of life.
Tozer's portrayal of wisdom as a reflection of God's character enhances the reader's understanding of both God and the nature of wisdom itself. However, the book's compilation from sermons results in a somewhat limited scope, lacking the depth of a systematic theological work. Additionally, while Christians will find the content relatable and insightful, readers from other faith backgrounds may not connect with certain sections as readily.
Overall, "The Wisdom of God" is a valuable resource for Christians seeking to deepen their faith and understanding of God's wisdom. It serves as an accessible introduction to Tozer's work and is highly recommended for those seeking practical guidance in their spiritual journey.
Tozer's portrayal of wisdom as a reflection of God's character enhances the reader's understanding of both God and the nature of wisdom itself. However, the book's compilation from sermons results in a somewhat limited scope, lacking the depth of a systematic theological work. Additionally, while Christians will find the content relatable and insightful, readers from other faith backgrounds may not connect with certain sections as readily.
Overall, "The Wisdom of God" is a valuable resource for Christians seeking to deepen their faith and understanding of God's wisdom. It serves as an accessible introduction to Tozer's work and is highly recommended for those seeking practical guidance in their spiritual journey.
September 27, 2017
“Why is it that man, with drastically limited wisdom, insists on making all the decisions in his life?”
--Tozer
This book is a collection of sermons by Tozer about wisdom. Throughout, he quotes from two Apocryphal books: Wisdom of Solomon and Ecclesiasticus to help us understand the topic; although, he points out that they are not inspired like the sixty-six books of the Bible. However, they do represent the Hebrew doctrine of Wisdom.
I have found that Tozer often doesn’t think he is the most qualified to talk on certain subjects, but his writings have been so beneficial to me and others that I feel blessed to have had the opportunity to read and study what he has to say. I appreciate how the chapters were chosen for this book as it very thoroughly covers the subject of wisdom from the wisdom of God, to how we can we can draw closer to Him, and live our lives seeking God’s wisdom and acting on it. I also like how each chapter begins with a prayer.
This is definitely a five star book, and I highly recommend it.
--Tozer
This book is a collection of sermons by Tozer about wisdom. Throughout, he quotes from two Apocryphal books: Wisdom of Solomon and Ecclesiasticus to help us understand the topic; although, he points out that they are not inspired like the sixty-six books of the Bible. However, they do represent the Hebrew doctrine of Wisdom.
I have found that Tozer often doesn’t think he is the most qualified to talk on certain subjects, but his writings have been so beneficial to me and others that I feel blessed to have had the opportunity to read and study what he has to say. I appreciate how the chapters were chosen for this book as it very thoroughly covers the subject of wisdom from the wisdom of God, to how we can we can draw closer to Him, and live our lives seeking God’s wisdom and acting on it. I also like how each chapter begins with a prayer.
This is definitely a five star book, and I highly recommend it.
December 26, 2017
Nobody can say it like A. W. Tozer and The Wisdom of God is a power packed, insightful book that provides nourishment to the hungry soul. Reminding us that God’s wisdom does not come from merely reading numerous books or studying every theologian and preacher we can find. Rather, the wisdom of God comes from the divine insight that is gained from a deep relationship with the Almighty in a way that only He can provide.
Christianity is not a creation of the human mind, and because it is not, it cannot be explained by the human mind. – The Wisdom of God, page 46.
Explaining away the things we do not understand, fear understanding, or desire to understand leaves the wisdom God intended for us in a place where we have only accessed a tiny portion of the gift. I am a huge fan of Tozer and love the way he writes so I can easily say I would recommend The Wisdom of God.
Christianity is not a creation of the human mind, and because it is not, it cannot be explained by the human mind. – The Wisdom of God, page 46.
Explaining away the things we do not understand, fear understanding, or desire to understand leaves the wisdom God intended for us in a place where we have only accessed a tiny portion of the gift. I am a huge fan of Tozer and love the way he writes so I can easily say I would recommend The Wisdom of God.
July 27, 2017
**I received this book for free from the publisher through Netgalley. My review and opinions are my own.**
Tozer’s work is almost an overview of God’s wisdom and how it is seen and worked out in the lives of Christians. He looks at the Hebrew understanding of wisdom, wisdom in the Bible, and Jesus as the incarnate wisdom of God before delving into how a lack of wisdom is evident in the lives of nonbelievers and how God can give wisdom through faith in Jesus. He spends a good amount of space throughout the book explaining the difference between wisdom and intelligence and the link between wisdom and morality, pointing out that a person can be very smart and still a moral fool.
Several parts of the book really spoke to me, but my favorite is undoubtedly the chapter in which Tozer speaks of being unsatisfied by the things of this world, of looking for something that can only be found in God. “How I thank God from the depths of my soul that He always followed me around and always troubled me…I start to settle down to something, and God says, ‘That isn’t it’ ” (ebook, location 1575).
While this is the newest book by A. W. Tozer – really a collection of his writings and sermons – on the market, it was my introduction to Tozer’s writings. I’ve heard of Tozer and even own a copy of The Knowledge of the Holy, but I had not read anything by him. Based on what I’ve heard, I was prepared for the writing to be intellectual and deep, which it was. I was not prepared for the writing to be passionate and very readable, a book written not just from the head but from the heart.
Tozer’s work is almost an overview of God’s wisdom and how it is seen and worked out in the lives of Christians. He looks at the Hebrew understanding of wisdom, wisdom in the Bible, and Jesus as the incarnate wisdom of God before delving into how a lack of wisdom is evident in the lives of nonbelievers and how God can give wisdom through faith in Jesus. He spends a good amount of space throughout the book explaining the difference between wisdom and intelligence and the link between wisdom and morality, pointing out that a person can be very smart and still a moral fool.
Several parts of the book really spoke to me, but my favorite is undoubtedly the chapter in which Tozer speaks of being unsatisfied by the things of this world, of looking for something that can only be found in God. “How I thank God from the depths of my soul that He always followed me around and always troubled me…I start to settle down to something, and God says, ‘That isn’t it’ ” (ebook, location 1575).
While this is the newest book by A. W. Tozer – really a collection of his writings and sermons – on the market, it was my introduction to Tozer’s writings. I’ve heard of Tozer and even own a copy of The Knowledge of the Holy, but I had not read anything by him. Based on what I’ve heard, I was prepared for the writing to be intellectual and deep, which it was. I was not prepared for the writing to be passionate and very readable, a book written not just from the head but from the heart.
August 16, 2017
I had always heard about A. W. Tozer, so it was great for me to finally get the chance to read some of his words.
More than anything, I could feel the love this preacher had for God and how his greatest desire in life was pleasing Him in everything, which is wisdom after all.
However, I must say that I couldn’t connect with A. W. Tozer all the time. I learned from him and I’m grateful for it, but I noticed that, while reading, I was not following him wholeheartedly. This book is worth reading, no doubt, but there were times when it couldn’t get my undivided attention.
There were many interesting insights, though, and he definitely helped me see wisdom in a more profound way.
**I received a copy of this book from Bethany House through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own**
More than anything, I could feel the love this preacher had for God and how his greatest desire in life was pleasing Him in everything, which is wisdom after all.
However, I must say that I couldn’t connect with A. W. Tozer all the time. I learned from him and I’m grateful for it, but I noticed that, while reading, I was not following him wholeheartedly. This book is worth reading, no doubt, but there were times when it couldn’t get my undivided attention.
There were many interesting insights, though, and he definitely helped me see wisdom in a more profound way.
**I received a copy of this book from Bethany House through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own**
March 7, 2021
If I attempted to provide an adequate review of this book I simply would not succeed. I suggest reading it for yourself. This one, I think, might be life changing and I've read my fair share of books by Tozer but this one really stuck. We are missing this will of God in our lives because we are allowing ourselves to be in control when our Creator needs, must, be the one guiding us down the path of righteousness.
"Bring me to the shore of Thy heart. "
"Bring me to the shore of Thy heart. "
September 17, 2018
Anything by Tozer is great, I only gave it 4 stars because some of Tozer’s other books I felt spoke to me more than this one. I will read it again I’m sure my experience will be different. It is a great book with a lot of wisdom that can be applied in your daily walk with God.
November 6, 2020
I enjoyed this book very much. Much of what was said I could relate to in some way. I like the thought that God wants to shower us with Hos wisdom if we would just let him. How much are we missing out on because of pride; sin?
November 11, 2017
Good, but a little awkward as a book... I have some thoughts about what bothered me. A formal review to come!
January 12, 2019
Well worth reading
January 6, 2020
This book had a slow start for me. I found the information on “Godly Wisdom” much more inspirational. Tozer sites moving scriptures with profound insights.
I received this galley from NetGalley.
I received this galley from NetGalley.
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