Monday: Wisdom and Creation
Read Proverbs 8:22–31. How is wisdom related to Creation?
Image © Lars Justinen from GoodSalt.com
In these texts wisdom is mysteriously related to the Lord as the Creator. This poem shares many common words with the Creation account in Genesis 1 and 2, and even reflects its literary structure, organized around the three basic elements of heaven, water, and earth. The intention of this parallel is to emphasize the primary credential of wisdom: if God Himself used wisdom to create, if wisdom is the oldest tool, older than the universe itself and so fundamental to its existence, we should all the more use wisdom in everything we do in life.
There is also a strong emphasis on the divine origin of wisdom. The first word of the poem is the LORD, Yahweh, who is said to have begotten
(second word) wisdom. The Hebrew word qanah, translated as possessed
by the NKJV, has the connotation of begetting
rather than creating
(see Deut. 32:6, Gen. 4:1). The next word is the technical word that is associated with the Genesis Creation, reshit (beginning
), which is found in the first verse of Genesis: In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
Yet the word beginning
in Proverbs 8:22 is used somewhat differently than it is in Genesis 1. In Genesis 1:1 the word is related to the Creation itself, while in Proverbs 8:22 the word is related to God Himself, to His way (derek), which means His nature. Thus, wisdom is part of the very nature of God Himself.
Wisdom, therefore, is situated in time even before the creation of the universe. The existence of wisdom, at that time when only God was present, traces the antiquity of wisdom from everlasting.
So, wisdom does not originate in us, but rather is revealed to us; it is something that we learn, something that is taught to us; it is not what we generate out of ourselves. Surely, to walk in our own light is to walk in darkness. We are told that Jesus is the true Light which gives light to every man (John 1:9, NKJV). Every man needs it, too.
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Wisdom is sometimes said to be the appropriate application of knowledge (a common definition) and something which develops over time based on experience and other life tools. However this really applies to common wisdom. Divine wisdom on the other hand is revealed to those who are connected to the source of wisdom (James 3:17).
Smart people may be able to work out a few things based on the observation of God’s law at work. Even this intellectual ability is a gift of grace or mercy from the Creator. Had this not been given in common to all of mankind the human race would have long ago self-destructed. It has helped to slow down the inevitable – the one who sins will surely die (Genesis 2:17).
Yet divine wisdom is a level above common understanding. It is only imparted to those whose hearts are directed toward heaven. It is derived directly from a bond formed with God through surrender of one’s will to His will. All who have life have access to common wisdom. Only those who are partakers of abundant life have access to divine wisdom (John 10:10).
The people of God ought not to set the wisdom of celebrated secular scholars or philosophers of the world above God’s. For if we are submitted to the Creator we have access to something greater (1 Corinthians 1:25).
Amen Hugh!
Prov 8:22-23
22The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old.
23I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was.
God had "wisdom" even befo us all were created and so it only makes sense that we can only be given wisdom by God; its external not inherent within. Wen we've a relationship with God, by simply saying "yes, Lord", just being willing to walk with Him or just accepting Him.
When we accept God, it is based on trusting Him, knowing and believing wat He's done for us. In that regard, we will know that we can ask wisdom from Him and He will grant it.
Before God did create anything He created wisdom and He made wisdom partner Them in creation each day of creation He would look back and say behold it is good. It was so because it was created in wisdom. The same wisdom that He used in creation God is offering to impart to us in abundance free of charge. However sinful as we are we don't accept the Gifts of God because we tend to lean on our own understanding. If we could as Christians take Jesus at His word in Mathew 6:33 to seek first the kingdom of Heaven, then we could start our day with wisdom and at the end of each day of our lives we can look at our daily work and behold it to be good. We would apply craftiness from Heaven in our daily work. May we ask God each morning for wisdom to carry us through our dark days and enlighten them with the light of heaven
David said, "When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; what is man that thou art mindful of him? ( psalms 8: 3-4). We can testify of God wisdom in creation, what amazes me is, he did everything by himself - unaided by any technology.
Therefore, I enquire , "What is my response to God's wisdom? " I sought some help from The prophet, "Daniel answered and said, blessed be the name of God for ever: for wisdom and his might are his. I thank thee and praise thee o God of my fathers who has given me wisdom and might and has made known unto thee what we desire of thee ( Daniel 2: 21-23). what does it profit me to only have a head knowledge of God's wisdom?
Like Daniel, we can trust God's wisdom to reveal "secrets" to the puzzles that we have to solve each day. Reflecting on the life and death puzzle that Daniel faced inspired me to seek God for his wisdom. We are in company with the wiest in this universe. Why should we worry? Why should we attempt man-made wisdom with the potential to fail" Trust him now!!
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was fully God. 2 The Word was with God in the beginning. 3 All things were created by him, and apart from him not one thing was created that has been created. 4 In him was life , and the life was the light of mankind.
John 1:1-4
22 The Lord created me as the beginning of his works, before his deeds of long ago. 23 From eternity I was appointed, from the beginning, from before the world existed.
Prov 8:22-23
30 then I was beside him as a master craftsman, and I was his delight day by day, rejoicing before him at all times, 31 rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth, and delighting in its people.
Prov 8:30-31
Reading those verses, it doesn't look like wisdom is a BEING? Doesn't look like wisdom is Christ Jesus?
Indeed Christ is the Wisdom of God and as we know He was the active Agent at Creation. Have a look at the following text to complement what you have sent above:
30 But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption— 31 that, as it is written, “He who glories, let him glory in the Lord.”[c]
having read all this lets be like solomon who asked not for wealth but for wisdom
Surely the planets, nature and wildlife were created by wisdom. Observe the migration of the Wilder beast in the Savannah region, the life cycle of various water creatures and migration. A bee is never lost despite travelling mile in search on necture. A baby being born knows how to suckle for milk. Scientists are still discovering more and more galaxies which talk to one another. Our planet is on the Milky way galaxy which is called the poor cluster. Poor clusters are often called groups. The Milky Way is part of a poor cluster called the Local Group which contains about 50 galaxies including dwarf galaxies.cClusters are then grouped together in superclusters which contain dozens of clusters. Superclusters are up to 30 Mpc across. Recent observations show that superclusters are arranged in sheets with huge voids in between, and that matter in the universe is arranged in a filamentary structure.
One can never doubt the source of wisdom. Look at our eye, our heart and how it works. All these were marvelously designed. I love my maker