Worshiping With Sakal; Wisdom

Hebrew has many different words that are translated as “wisdom.” The first one mentioned in the Bible is the word sakal. It is first seen in Genesis 3:6 as something that Eve was led to believe the Tree would give her, “…and a tree desirable to make one wise.” The word sakal, means to have the ability to process information so that a right decision can be reached and the right action taken. It includes not only the right understanding and right choice, but also the right action. For that reason it is one of the most comprehensive words for wisdom.

The meaning of understanding and action is seen in its use in Deuteronomy 29:9, “Therefore keep the words of this covenant and do them, that you may prosper in all that you do.”  In that verse the word “prosper” is the Hebrew word sakal. Prosperity in the Bible is not the accumulation of a lot of stuff, but rather having sakal, keeping God’s word and doing it!

In Joshua 1:7 – 8 this word is translated as having “good success.” The command that God gave Joshua was to be careful to do all that was written in the Law that had been given to Moses, and to meditate on it. The result would be sakal; he would have good success. Another word for sakal would be obedience, because in the Old Testament, obedience meant hearing and doing God’s word.

In 1 Samuel 17 you read the story of when David killed Goliath. In chapter 18 they started singing songs about David (he became a rock star, literally, overnight) and at the same time, King Saul started throwing spears at him. In that chapter, three times, it says that David “behaved wisely,” which is our word sakal. Two of the most telling uses are found in Isaiah 52:13 and Jeremiah 23:5. In both of those passages, God’s chosen Messiah, the son of David, is described as having sakal. In fact, this is the first thing that God says about the Christ, His Servant.

In one of David’s worship songs, Psalm 14:2, sakal is defined. “The LORD looks down from heaven on the children of man to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God.” In the English Standard Version, the word sakal, is translated “understand.” The point is that this is who God is looking for. He is searching for those who seek after Him! And those who are searching for Him are those who have sakal! This is what it means to worship the Father in spirit and truth. These are the ones the Father is seeking to worship Him, according to John 4:23 – 24.

The Father is searching for those who will bring to Him the fruit of obedience from the Vine (John 15:1 – 8) in faithful and sacrificial worship. Today, as you abide in the Vine, look up these references and uses of the word sakal, memorize one of them for the day, asking God to give you the gift of sakal so that you can worship with it, today.

Tomorrow we will see how God’s Spirit living in you and with you empowers you with sakal to see the right choice and then to do it! Hallelujah!!!