Romans 11:33-36 33 O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and the knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past tracing out! 34 For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor? 35 or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again? 36 For of him, and through him, and unto him, are all things. To him `be' the glory for ever. Amen.

From Genesis to Revelation, God’s wisdom is seen through His interactions with mankind. But there’s one supreme event in human history where we clearly see how He meticulously worked all the details together to reveal His role in our redemption.

The Conception. Jesus was no ordinary baby because His life didn’t begin at conception. He has always existed as the eternal Son of God (Mic. 5:2; John 1:1-2 Chapter 1 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. ), but He came to earth as a baby, conceived in a virgin’s womb by the Holy Spirit ( Luke 1:34-35 34 And Mary said unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? 35 And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Spirit shall come upon thee, and the power of the Most High shall overshadow thee: wherefore also the holy thing which is begotten shall be called the Son of God. ). His conception was a divine miracle.

The Town. Why did God choose the small, insignificant town of Bethlehem for Christ’s birthplace? A clue is found in the name, which means “house of bread.” Later in His life, Jesus would refer to Himself as “the true bread out of heaven” ( John 6:32-33 32 Jesus therefore said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, It was not Moses that gave you the bread out of heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread out of heaven. 33 For the bread of God is that which cometh down out of heaven, and giveth life unto the world. ).

The Setting. A manger may be quaint at a Christmas pageant, but it was not an ideal place for an infant to sleep. Jesus was born among livestock because He is “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” ( John 1:29 29 On the morrow he seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold, the Lamb of God, that taketh away the sin of the world! ).

The Announcement. Instead of broadcasting the news of the Messiah’s birth to the religious or political leaders, the angel came to shepherds that night because the Good Shepherd had arrived ( John 10:11 11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd layeth down his life for the sheep. ).

The common thread in these details of Christ’s birth is His identification with the lowly. Although He is King of Kings, He didn’t come to exalt over us, but to live with us and die for us. Since God’s wisdom is displayed in humility, we, too, must humble ourselves in order to become wise.

Bible in One Year: Proverbs 19-21 Chapter 19 1 Better is the poor that walketh in his integrity Than he that is perverse in his lips and is a fool. 2 Also, that the soul be without knowledge is not good; And he that hasteth with his feet sinneth. 3 The foolishness of man subverteth his way; And his heart fretteth against Jehovah. 4 Wealth addeth many friends; But the poor is separated from his friend. 5 A false witness shall not be unpunished; And he that uttereth lies shall not escape. 6 Many will entreat the favor of the liberal man; And every man is a friend to him that giveth gifts. 7 All the brethren of the poor do hate him: How much more do his friends go far from him! He pursueth `them with' words, `but' they are gone. 8 He that getteth wisdom loveth his own soul: He that keepeth understanding shall find good. 9 A false witness shall not be unpunished; And he that uttereth lies shall perish. 10 Delicate living is not seemly for a fool; Much less for a servant to have rule over princes. 11 The discretion of a man maketh him slow to anger; And it is his glory to pass over a transgression. 12 The king's wrath is as the roaring of a lion; But his favor is as dew upon the grass. 13 A foolish son is the calamity of his father; And the contentions of a wife are a continual dropping. 14 House and riches are an inheritance from fathers; But a prudent wife is from Jehovah. 15 Slothfulness casteth into a deep sleep; And the idle soul shall suffer hunger. 16 He that keepeth the commandment keepeth his soul; `But' he that is careless of his ways shall die. 17 He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto Jehovah, And his good deed will he pay him again. 18 Chasten thy son, seeing there is hope; nd set not thy heart on his destruction. 19 A man of great wrath shall bear the penalty; For if thou deliver `him', thou must do it yet again. 20 Hear counsel, and receive instruction, That thou mayest be wise in thy latter end. 21 There are many devices in a man's heart; But the counsel of Jehovah, that shall stand. 22 That which maketh a man to be desired is his kindness; And a poor man is better than a liar. 23 The fear of Jehovah `tendeth' to life; And he `that hath it' shall abide satisfied; He shall not be visited with evil. 24 The sluggard burieth his hand in the dish, And will not so much as bring it to his mouth again. 25 Smite a scoffer, and the simple will learn prudence; And reprove one that hath understanding, `and' he will understand knowledge. 26 He that doeth violence to his father, and chaseth away his mother, Is a son that causeth shame and bringeth reproach. 27 Cease, my son, to hear instruction `Only' to err from the words of knowledge. 28 A worthless witness mocketh at justice; And the mouth of the wicked swalloweth iniquity. 29 Judgments are prepared for scoffers, And stripes for the back of fools. Chapter 20 1 Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler; And whosoever erreth thereby is not wise. 2 The terror of a king is as the roaring of a lion: He that provoketh him to anger sinneth `against' his own life. 3 It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife; But every fool will be quarrelling. 4 The sluggard will not plow by reason of the winter; Therefore he shall beg in harvest, and have nothing. 5 Counsel in the heart of man is `like' deep water; But a man of understanding will draw it out. 6 Most men will proclaim every one his own kindness; But a faithful man who can find? 7 A righteous man that walketh in his integrity, Blessed are his children after him. 8 A king that sitteth on the throne of judgment Scattereth away all evil with his eyes. 9 Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin? 10 Diverse weights, and diverse measures, Both of them alike are an abomination to Jehovah. 11 Even a child maketh himself known by his doings, Whether his work be pure, and whether it be right. 12 The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, Jehovah hath made even both of them. 13 Love not sleep, let thou come to poverty; Open thine eyes, `and' thou shalt be satisfied with bread. 14 It is bad, it is bad, saith the buyer; But when he is gone his way, then he boasteth. 15 There is gold, and abundance of rubies; But the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel. 16 Take his garment that is surety for a stranger; And hold him in pledge `that is surety' for foreigners. 17 Bread of falsehood is sweet to a man; But afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel. 18 Every purpose is established by counsel; And by wise guidance make thou war. 19 He that goeth about as a tale-bearer revealeth secrets; Therefore company not with him that openeth wide his lips. 20 Whoso curseth his father or his mother, His lamp shall be put out in blackness of darkness. 21 An inheritance `may be' gotten hastily at the beginning; But the end thereof shall not be blessed. 22 Say not thou, I will recompense evil: Wait for Jehovah, and he will save thee. 23 Diverse weights are an abomination to Jehovah; And a false balance is not good. 24 A man's goings are of Jehovah; How then can man understand his way? 25 It is a snare to a man rashly to say, `It is' holy, And after vows to make inquiry. 26 A wise king winnoweth the wicked, And bringeth the `threshing' -wheel over them. 27 The spirit of man is the lamp of Jehovah, Searching all his innermost parts. 28 Kindness and truth preserve the king; And his throne is upholden by kindness. 29 The glory of young men is their strength; And the beauty of old men is the hoary head. 30 Stripes that wound cleanse away evil; And strokes `reach' the innermost parts. Chapter 21 1 The king's heart is in the hand of Jehovah as the watercourses: He turneth it whithersoever he will. 2 Every way of a man is right in his own eyes; But Jehovah weigheth the hearts. 3 To do righteousness and justice Is more acceptable to Jehovah than sacrifice. 4 A high look, and a proud heart, `Even' the lamp of the wicked, is sin. 5 The thoughts of the diligent `tend' only to plenteousness; But every one that is hasty `hasteth' only to want. 6 The getting of treasures by a lying tongue Is a vapor driven to and fro by them that seek death. 7 The violence of the wicked shall sweep them away, Because they refuse to do justice. 8 The way of him that is laden with guilt is exceeding crooked; But as for the pure, his work is right. 9 It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, Than with a contentious woman in a wide house. 10 The soul of the wicked desireth evil: His neighbor findeth no favor in his eyes. 11 When the scoffer is punished, the simple is made wise; And when the wise is instructed, he receiveth knowledge. 12 The righteous man considereth the house of the wicked, `How' the wicked are overthrown to `their' ruin. 13 Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, He also shall cry, but shall not be heard. 14 A gift in secret pacifieth anger; And a present in the bosom, strong wrath. 15 It is joy to the righteous to do justice; But it is a destruction to the workers of iniquity. 16 The man that wandereth out of the way of understanding Shall rest in the assembly of the dead. 17 He that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man: He that loveth wine and oil shall not be rich. 18 The wicked is a ransom for the righteous; And the treacherous `cometh' in the stead of the upright. 19 It is better to dwell in a desert land, Than with a contentious and fretful woman. 20 There is precious treasure and oil in the dwelling of the wise; But a foolish man swalloweth it up. 21 He that followeth after righteousness and kindness Findeth life, righteousness, and honor. 22 A wise man scaleth the city of the mighty, And bringeth down the strength of the confidence thereof. 23 Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue Keepeth his soul from troubles. 24 The proud and haughty man, scoffer is his name; He worketh in the arrogance of pride. 25 The desire of the sluggard killeth him; For his hands refuse to labor. 26 There is that coveteth greedily all the day long; But the righteous giveth and withholdeth not. 27 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination: How much more, when he bringeth it with a wicked mind! 28 A false witness shall perish; But the man that heareth shall speak so as to endure. 29 A wicked man hardeneth his face; But as for the upright, he establisheth his ways. 30 There is no wisdom nor understanding Nor counsel against Jehovah. 31 The horse is prepared against the day of battle; But victory is of Jehovah.