“Who is wise, and he shall understand these things? prudent, and he shall know them? for the ways of the LORD are right, and the just shall walk in them: but the transgressors shall fall therein.”
Hosea 14:9 KJV
God’s ways are always right, and those that do right according to God’s word (the just) will walk in His ways. The wise and prudent know and understand this.
Proverbs 2:6-7 says, “For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding. He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: he is a buckler to them that walk uprightly.”
God takes care of those who have been justified through Christ. He blesses them with wisdom and knowledge and understanding. He is their shield and defender. And as they learn to walk in His ways, they become more like Him, and God calls them righteous.
Psalm 92:12 says, “The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon.”
Those who walk in the ways of the Lord exercise godly wisdom and prudence. And God gives sound wisdom, knowledge, and understanding to the righteous – to those who walk in His ways. It’s like a cycle. God gives wisdom to those who walk in His ways, and the wise know that God’s ways are always right, so they walk in them. And because they walk in the ways of God, He gives them wisdom.
Now that you’re thoroughly confused, what exactly does it mean to walk in God’s ways? That means to act and behave in a way that exemplifies the attributes of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
- God is kind. (Joel 2:13) He expects us to be kind.
- God is just. (Zephaniah 3:5) He expects us to be just in everything we do.
- God is merciful to us. (Psalm 86:5) He expects us to be merciful to others.
- God is love. (John 15:12) He expects us to love one another.
- God is forgiving. (Ephesians 4:32) He expects us to forgive others as He’s forgiven us.
- God is holy. (I Peter 1:16) He expects us to be holy.
These are just a few of God’s attributes. The wise and prudent understand that God’s ways are perfect, and they choose to do right by walking in His ways. But the transgressors shall fall into sin.