Proverbs 8:22-31
Wisdom continues her proclamations, declaring that she was the first of [the LORD’s] acts of old (v. 22), that she was set up at the first, before the beginning of the earth. (v. 23) She goes on from there, expanding on what we read in Pr. 3:19-20 and describing her presence at Creation.
One thing I think we need to recognize here is that the personification of wisdom is a literary device, and although we need to understand the point that is being made (i.e., that wisdom is utterly foundational) we should not quite treat these words as, well, literal. That is, wisdom is not really a woman (or even a goddess of some kind) who was created before all else. I am no theologian, but I think it is safe to say that God’s wisdom is not a created “thing” at all but is really an attribute of God Himself. God is wise, always has been, and always will be. He has always “possessed” wisdom as part of His essence. Hence, as an attribute of God, wisdom is eternal, and God used His wisdom in creating all things.
Yet most of our language and our own personal experience and observations would suggest that wisdom exists within creation too, separate from God Himself. (Note, however, that nothing at all exists without God’s sustaining power.) So what is the relationship between God’s own wisdom and the wisdom available to us? Perhaps that is something to ponder today…
I just want to give a shout out to John for all his comments on Proverbs! I have been too far behind to feel comfortable commenting this month while during our trip through this section of Proverbs, but I’m challenged often by what he has said, and that’s good. So thanks again, John!
I definitely intend to get back on a daily schedule. Grateful for the RTB group!