What does it mean to not let the wise man glory in his wisdom (Jeremiah 9:23)?

The rest of the chapter (Ver. 18 to the end) and the first eight verses of Jeremiah 9 set forth the affliction of the prophet over the deceitful malice of the people of the Lord, which forbade their knowledge of Him. Then, from ver. 9, follows their judgment under the Lord's indignant displeasure. Well might they call (Ver. 17) for mourning women, and with haste; and men shall fall like the handful after the reaper, but with none in their case to gather them. (ver. 22.) Human acquirements and resources would never do for man to glory in, but in understanding and knowing Jehovah righteous in all His ways here below, and delighting in goodness. "Behold, the days come, says the Lord, that I will punish all them which are circumcised with the uncircumcised; Egypt, and Judah, and Edom, and the children of Ammon, and Moab, and all that are in the utmost corners, that dwell in the wilderness: for all these nations are uncircumcised, and all the house of Israel are uncircumcised in the heart." (Ver. 25, 26.) If grace can be indiscriminate, judgment sometimes takes this shape also. And of this Jeremiah treats.

Those who receive Him as the Scriptures reveal Him in faith become the sons of light. The repentant sinner feeling the burden of his sins, accepts Him as his personal Saviour, and there is joy in heaven over such. Wherever two or three are gathered to His name alone, He is in their midst; and they may know Him there as their Centre and their all. The individual believer who loves Him and keeps His Word, may know His abiding presence. What a great honour to be granted to us in a world like this, an honour only to be surpassed by our being taken out of the world by the Son of God, and received into the Father’s house. To know Him is the greatest wealth and wisdom we can possess. “Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: but let him that glories glory in this, that he understands and knows Me, says the Lord.”

When God sets His hand to this great work, He will bring about a change of heart in His elect ones, and they will recognise their Kinsman-Redeemer; and He will own them again when their national pride has given place to brokenness of spirit and humble repentance for their own sinfulness and the blindness of their fathers; and though they have sold themselves for naught they shall be redeemed without money, and the land which is Immanuel's shall be apportioned to them according to His own decree; and then they will lift up their heads and boast, not in the wisdom of their intellectual leaders, or the riches of their financiers, or the might of any power or powers that have been favourable to them, but they will glory in this, that they understand and know Me, that "I am the Lord which exerciseth loving-kindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth, for in these things I delight, says the Lord."

But why must this unspeakable sorrow come upon them? Because they will go into the land proud and unbroken; they will glory in the WISDOM of the professors who will be installed at their university, and the legislators who will frame their constitution; and in the RICHES of the great financiers of their race which will be poured out freely to make Palestine great, and in the MIGHT of whatever power or powers support and protect them. Not of such material as this will God build up His kingdom, for "thus says the Lord, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: but let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knows Me, that I am the Lord which exercise loving-kindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth."

In what does this scripture ask us to boast? Certainly not in the state of the world! Its present condition has caused large numbers to abandon their former boastings as to its progress. Nor do the inspired words above quoted encourage us to boast in the assemblies, for the Spirit has pictured their downgrade state for us in Revelation 2 and 3 just as it is seen today. Much less are we exhorted to glory in ourselves, either naturally or spiritually. After showing that God’s way is to choose the despised of this world and set them in Christ, who is their wisdom, righteousness, sanctification and redemption, the context tells us that He has thus acted so that no flesh should boast in His presence, but according as it is written, He that boasts, let him boast in the Lord.

God has made Him everything to us, therefore our boasting is to be in Him. This citation is from Jeremiah, who, when he spake of the sad state of Israel and its leaders, said, “Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: but let him that glories glory in this, that he understandeth and knows Me, that I am the Lord” (9:23-24).

Worldliness and worldly wisdom were dangers to the saints at Corinth; therefore the Apostle shows them that it was the worldly wise, the princes of this age, that crucified the Lord of glory; and He is the hidden wisdom of God, the One who is made wisdom to us who are in Christ Jesus. So he says, “If any one thinks himself to be wise among you in this world, let him become foolish that he may be wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God; for it is written, He takes the wise in their own craftiness. And again, The Lord knows the reasonings of the wise that they are vain. So let no one boast in men” (1 Cor. 3:18, 21). Why? Because we have the Lord Himself whom men crucified to boast in; and we belong to Him. And since we are His, the Apostle adds, “All things are ours. Ye are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s.”

If the prophet begins by exposing the unreality of those that go to the temple and “enter in at these gates to worship the Lord” (Jer. 7:2); if he ends by pronouncing punishment upon them along with the “nations that are uncircumcised” (Jer. 9:26), showing up in between the vanity of those who boastfully say, “The law of the Lord is with us” (Jer. 8:8); he nevertheless calls to any that may have ears to hear, to glory alone in the Lord, who exercises loving-kindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth; for in these things He delights (Jer. 9:24). It is His exaltation which is always before the mind of the Spirit.

“Oh that my head were waters, and mine eyes a fountain of tears”, mourns the prophet. Adultery, treachery, lying, slander, deception, iniquity, duplicity and ignorance of God marked the people (Jer. 9:1-8). “Shall I not visit for these things?” says the Lord; “yea, I will make Jerusalem heaps”. Who is the wise man, that may understand this? He asks. Wormwood and water of gall should be theirs. Let the mourning women be called; let them teach their daughters wailing; desolation and death comes (vv. 9-22). And in the last two verses, 25 and 26, he shows that the punishment is not to be confined to Israel; but that it is to fall upon “all nations”. In the two verses between (vv. 23-24), Jeremiah, true to his Name, exalts the blessed Lord before the eyes of faith, saying, “Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches; but let him that glories glory in this, that he understandeth and knows ME, that I am the Lord which exercises loving-kindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth; for in these things I delight, says the Lord”.

This we shall find is the main theme of his testimony. And it is always so in the ways of our blessed God. If men turn away from the truth, the Holy Spirit nevertheless raises up a testimony which exalts the Lord; and sincere souls are drawn to Him. To such the teaching in Jeremiah ministers spiritual strength and stimulation. Let us listen attentively to one of his words: “Thus says the Lord, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: but let him that glories glory in this, that he understandeth and knows ME, that I am the Lord which exercise loving-kindness, judgment and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, says THE LORD” (Jer. 9:23-24).

“Thus says the Lord: Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches; but let him that glories glory in this, that he understandeth and knows me” (Jer. 9:23-24).

Jeremiah 7 begins a new prophecy, contemplating especially the temple, which, instead of being a protection (as the people, without conscience, would have it), was become a further demonstration of their iniquity. They were to remember Shiloh; for the house of God should likewise be overthrown. Judah should be cast off, as Ephraim had been, and God would hear no intercession for His people. He required obedience and not sacrifice, and if the people came into His house while they were practising idolatry, they did but defile it. But Israel had less understanding than the birds of the heaven, which at least knew their appointed times, while Israel knew not the judgment of Jehovah (Jer. 8). From verse 18 to verse 2 of chapter 9 the prophet lays open the depth of his grief. From verse 3 of Jeremiah 9 he proclaims judgment — a judgment which shall also visit the nations around. And in view of these judgments he exhorts every man not to glory in man, but in the knowledge of Jehovah (v. 23, 24).