Proverb 8
In Proverbs 8, we obtain a deeper understanding of wisdom. In this chapter wisdom is personified, so I’m going to call wisdom ‘she’ throughout this blog. First of all, wisdom actually calls to us. She isn’t elusive, but calls to every person to come get her, to live by her words and to understand who she is. In this section, Wisdom tells us about her words and her origins. Remember that Proverbs 2 tells us that wisdom is given by God, the author of wisdom. Therefore, as we explore more about wisdom, and learn more about her, we are also learning more about God.
Listen to Wisdom as she speaks:
Hear, for I will speak of excellent things,
and from the opening of my lips will be right things;
for my mouth will speak truth,
and wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
All the words of my mouth are in righteousness;
there is nothing crooked or perverse in them.
They are all plain to him who understands,
and right to those who find knowledge.
Receive my instruction, and not silver,
and knowledge rather than choice gold;
for wisdom is better than rubies,
and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it.
“I, wisdom, dwell with prudence,
and find out knowledge and discretion.
The fear of the LORD is to hate evil;
pride and arrogance
and the evil way and the perverse mouth I hate.
Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom;
I am understanding, I have strength. Proverb 8:6-14
Wisdom is telling us that she can be known by her speech. Many people seem to be okay with perverse speech. We are surrounded by vulgar speech, from the people sitting at the neighboring table at a restaurant, to TV, to our politicians. We are daily barraged by speech that is not uplifting. Contrast this speech with how Wisdom describes her speech: it is excellent, the truth, righteousness, plain and right and hates the perverse mouth. She says that she is better than silver, gold and rubies and everything that anyone can desire. Wisdom also describes herself as sound counsel, understanding and strong. All these qualities are to be aspired to. Who wouldn’t want to know wisdom and become like her?
Just as we learn more about a person we spend time with, we often get to more know more about his/her past and beginnings. Within our conversation with Wisdom, she tells us about her beginnings and her past.
“The Lord possessed me in the beginning of His way,
before His works of old.
I was set up from everlasting,
from the beginning, before there was ever an earth.
When there were no depths, I was brought forth,
when there were no fountains abounding with water.
Before the mountains were settled,
before the hills I was brought forth;
while as yet He had not made the earth or the fields,
or the first dust of the world.
When He prepared the heavens, I was there,
when He drew a circle on the face of the deep,
when He established the clouds above,
when He strengthened the fountains of the deep,
when He gave to the sea His decree,
that the waters should not pass His commandment,
when He appointed the foundations of the earth,
then I was by Him, as one brought up with Him;
and I was daily His delight,
rejoicing always before Him,
rejoicing in the habitable part of His earth,
and my delights were with the sons of men. Proverb 8:22-31
God owned wisdom before the beginning. Just as we have heard that ‘God is Love’, we should also understand that ‘God is Wisdom.’ Wisdom tells us that she was set up from everlasting. She was always from the beginning, before God created the earth, the heavens and all they contain. What makes me smile is that Wisdom tells us in her story that she was, (and I would argue still is), daily God’s delight. She rejoices before God and the earth that He made. Wisdom also takes delight in us. Think about this, God calls it wisdom when he delights in us.
God models for us what it is to enjoy what we create. He even calls it wisdom when we enjoy our creations. He has made us beings that have a creative nature and calls us to use this gift He has given us. The important thing about being creative is to create for God. No matter what our profession, God gives us wisdom to help create for Him. He especially wants us to create not only in the workplace, but in our homes. Creating an inviting home for our family where God is the center is one of the most important creations we can make. Passing on godly wisdom to the next generation is one of the highest callings of God.
Getting to know Wisdom better brings peace, joy and strength into our lives. Just as God brings Wisdom with Him wherever He goes and in whatever He does, so should we. Being Wisdom is an aspect of God, let’s make it one of ours as well.
*All scripture in this blog is from the Modern English Version.
Picture Credit: shutterstock_2490881941
