Are you a Wise Guy?

I Samuel 18:15
Therefore, when Saul saw that he (David) behaved very wisely, he was afraid of him.

One of the most feared men in the streets of 1920’s was a group of men known as “Wise Guys.” By the 1920s, the United States and the provinces within Canada had adopted prohibition (a law forbidding the sale of alcohol[1]). It was during that era that North America gave birth to some of the largest crime syndicates, most vicious criminals, and mafia leaders. Al Capone, Bugs Moran, Johnny Torrio, The Purple Gang, and Peter Licavoli became household names[2]. “Wise Guy” was a slang word for a member of the mafia. You didn’t mess with a wise guy. They were dangerous and violent killers who would take down anybody in their way. People were afraid of wise guys. They were feared more than they were respected.

David was a “Wise Guy” in another sense of the word. He was a warrior for God who was Wise. The bible says whatever Saul sent him to do (kill the Philistines); David behaved “Wisely” so Saul gave him a high rank in the Army. David’s anointing made him a wise guy. “Behaved Wisely” is translated successful in the New International Version and in the original Hebrew it means to advance or prosper. Because God was with David, he allowed him to be very wise and prosper. In the secular sense David was a Wise Guy in Reverse.

Mafia Wise Guys would use deception and violence to become Boss. They would even plot to kill the boss to become boss. David used humility and faithfulness to become King. He was faithful to Saul the Boss but because of Jealousy of Saul he tried to set David up by “putting a hit” on David. When David was wise and successful the women made up a song, “Saul killed his thousands but David has killed his ten thousands.” This was more than Saul’s ego could handle and from that day on he had a jealous eye on David. Saul even tried to kill David by throwing a spear at him while David was ministering in music to Saul. It's funny how when you are Wise or successful that people will promote you, but when you are very successful those same people can become jealous of you. It’s dangerous being a Wise Guy.

Saul put David in charge of a thousand men and David “behaved very wisely” or he was very successful and Saul was afraid of him. Saul moved from being Pleased to Paranoid to Petrified because of David’s anointing for being Wise. In order to be a wise guy you don’t have to do harm to people that are jealous of you. You just have to be successful in what you do for God. God will make your enemies your footstools even if they happen to be the people you work for. Do good to those who despitefully use you. Do not return evil for evil, but overcome evil with good.

How do you become a wise guy so God can advance and prosper you?

1. Behave Wisely in all that you do. The beginning of wisdom is fear of the Lord.

2. Be respectful of those over you even when they don’t respect you. David never touched “God’s anointed” King even when he had the chance to kill him, he would not touch him.

3. Stay Humble. When Saul tried to make David his son-in-law deceitfully to try to kill him, David responded by saying, “Who am I to be the King’s son-in-law, I am a man of low stature.”

4. When they put you out to fail, the best revenge is to succeed.

Dear God, thank you for making me a wise guy. Your hand has given me success in the presence of those who were jealous and wanted me to fail. You get all the Glory and Honor. Thank you for having my back and for making me very successful. Sometimes, it hurts to know that the people you love and serve mean you the most harm but in the midst of that I get great comfort knowing that your will is being done. What God has for me,
























































































































































































































































it is for me and no one can put a stop to my destiny. If God be for me who can be against me? Thank you for making me a Wise Guy.

In Jesus Name.

Amen.