In the Christian Science Bible Lesson August 18, 2014 Issue

Wisdom and might for all of us

For the Lesson titled "Mind" from August 18 - 24, 2014

Brian Hall

Wisdom and might are qualities typically thought to have a human source. This week’s Bible Lesson, titled “Mind,” shows us that they are, in reality, spiritual qualities, belonging to God and reflected by all His children. The Golden Text quotes Daniel as saying, “Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are his” (Daniel 2:20), which makes their source quite clear.

In Word Biblical Commentary, Vol. 30, John E. Goldingay notes that the wisdom Daniel is referring to is spiritual insight, rather than empirical knowledge—not something we attain intellectually, but something we receive from God.

At times we may be overwhelmed because we feel we don’t know enough to deal capably with some aspect of our lives. Mary Baker Eddy explains in Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures why these concerns are misplaced. Speaking of God, she writes: “Mind is not necessarily dependent upon educational processes. It possesses of itself all beauty and poetry, and the power of expressing them” (p. 89, citation 10). Thus it is Mind that imparts wisdom—not through human means, but through spiritual ones.