Looking for a Bible verse about the law leading to wisdom

[Northern_Piper]

I’m doing a presentation and would like a Bible verse ((OT or NT) on the theme of the law leading to wisdom, or the value of the law to guide a society.

Any suggestions?

[panamajack]

Proverbs 28:4 (ESV)
Those who forsake the law praise the wicked,
but those who keep the law strive against them.

There could be something good in Psalm 119 (the long acrostic one). It takes devotion to the law and its value as a major theme.

[Thudlow_Boink]

I couldn’t come up with anything quite along the lines I imagine you’re looking for. What I could find was more along the lines of praising “the law of the Lord” and/or advocating doing what’s right—things like

Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly,
nor standeth in the way of sinners,
nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.

But his delight is in the law of the Lord;
and in his law doth he meditate day and night.

And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water,
that bringeth forth his fruit in his season;
his leaf also shall not wither;
and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

(Psalm 1:1-3)

or

My son, keep thy father’s commandment,
and forsake not the law of thy mother:

bind them continually upon thine heart,
and tie them about thy neck.

When thou goest, it shall lead thee;
when thou sleepest, it shall keep thee;
and when thou awakest, it shall talk with thee.

For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light;
and reproofs of instruction are the way of life:

(Proverbs 6:20-23)

or (what panamajack may have had in mind) the relatively famous

Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

(Psalm 119:105)

The problem, it seems to me, is that none of these are really about Law in general, as such.

If it doesn’t have to be a Biblical quotation, you might want to go with something like

The end of law is not to abolish or restrain, but to preserve and enlarge freedom. For in all the states of created beings capable of law, where there is no law, there is no freedom.

-John Locke

[Northern_Piper]

Thanks for the suggestions. Nothing quite hits me as what I’m looking for.

I’ll take a look at Psalm 119, but would welcome further suggestions.

ETA: The Locke quotation is a good one, but I’m doing it in a church context so want something biblical, thanks.

[MEBuckner]

There’s Psalm 19:7. I don’t know what your views are on different translations; the more modern NIV seems better for your purposes than the King James Version:

The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul. The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple.

versus

The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.

[bob_2]

New International Version (NIV)

*Corinthians 1:19-21

19 For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.”

20 Where is the wise person? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?

21 For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe.*

King James Version:

*Proverbs 31:26 She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.

Ezra 7:25 And thou, Ezra, after the wisdom of thy God, that is in thine hand, set magistrates and judges, which may judge all the people that are beyond the river, all such as know the laws of thy God; and teach ye them that know them not.*

[kanicbird]

You will have trouble finding it in context as part of the message is to trust God above the wisdom and laws of man. You see great men and women of faith defying the laws of men due to the calling of God. You have the great statement of Jesus to Pilate at the time where Pilate claims that he has the power to set him free:

Jesus answered, “You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above. Therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin.”

Not only does Jesus state that this about Pilate’s lack of real power and authority (and thus man’s laws), but defines and condemns the process, and in the end justified and glorified by being raised by God.

You may get something like the law is guidelines till we are ready for God as a learning step.

[tomndebb]

From the New Revised Standard Version:

Ezra 7:25 “And you, Ezra, according to the God-given wisdom you possess, appoint magistrates and judges who may judge all the people in the province Beyond the River who know the laws of your God; and you shall teach those who do not know them.

Sirach 1:1 [ The Prologue ] Many great teachings have been given to us through the Law and the Prophets and the others that followed them, and for these we should praise Israel for instruction and wisdom. Now, those who read the scriptures must not only themselves understand them, but must also as lovers of learning be able through the spoken and written word to help the outsiders. So my grandfather Jesus, who had devoted himself especially to the reading of the Law and the Prophets and the other books of our ancestors, and had acquired considerable proficiency in them, was himself also led to write something pertaining to instruction and wisdom, so that by becoming familiar also with his book those who love learning might make even greater progress in living according to the law. You are invited therefore to read it with goodwill and attention, and to be indulgent in cases where, despite our diligent labor in translating, we may seem to have rendered some phrases imperfectly. For what was originally expressed in Hebrew does not have exactly the same sense when translated into another language. Not only this book, but even the Law itself, the Prophecies, and the rest of the books differ not a little when read in the original. When I came to Egypt in the thirty-eighth year of the reign of Euergetes and stayed for some time, I found opportunity for no little instruction. It seemed highly necessary that I should myself devote some diligence and labor to the translation of this book. During that time I have applied my skill day and night to complete and publish the book for those living abroad who wished to gain learning and are disposed to live according to the law. [ In Praise of Wisdom ] All wisdom is from the Lord, and with him it remains forever.

Sirach 15:1 Whoever fears the Lord will do this, and whoever holds to the law will obtain wisdom.

Sirach 19:20 [ True and False Wisdom ] The whole of wisdom is fear of the Lord, and in all wisdom there is the fulfillment of the law.

Sirach 21:11 [ Wisdom and Foolishness ] Whoever keeps the law controls his thoughts, and the fulfillment of the fear of the Lord is wisdom.

Sirach 24:23 [ Wisdom and the Law ] All this is the book of the covenant of the Most High God, the law that Moses commanded us as an inheritance for the congregations of Jacob.

Sirach 34:8 Without such deceptions the law will be fulfilled, and wisdom is complete in the mouth of the faithful.

Sirach 39:8 He will show the wisdom of what he has learned, and will glory in the law of the Lord’s covenant.

1 Esdras 8:23 “And you, Ezra, according to the wisdom of God, appoint judges and justices to judge all those who know the law of your God, throughout all Syria and Phoenicia; and you shall teach it to those who do not know it.

2 Esdras 8:12 You have nurtured it in your righteousness, and instructed it in your law, and reproved it in your wisdom.

[Northern_Piper]

I was browsing through the Oxford Book of Quotations and came across this little gem from Isaiah: "For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:” Isaiah, 28:10.

Not quite what I was looking for originally, but I’m running out of time and this one tickled my fancy, so that’s what I’ll use.