Faithful on Fridays Blog

Wisdom, the essence of Proverbs, is a way of thinking which establishes your attitudes. It helps you make the right choice when given two opposing courses of action. Life experiences always have options and wisdom helps you lean into success. Wisdom isn’t theoretical but practical; it takes your principles of right and wrong, morality, ethics, and shows you how to walk and talk in everyday life. That seems so ‘out there’; how does wisdom do anything?

We have to begin by remembering that Proverbs uses personification, that means it sometimes gives inanimate objects living qualities. Light danced, fear gripped, or time flies are examples of personification. 

Wisdom shouts in the streets. She cries out in the public square. She calls to the crowds along the main street, to those gathered in front of the city gate. Proverbs 1:20-21 

Do thoughts shout, cry, or call out audibly? No: that’s personification and it’s very effective. Let’s say that wisdom is a personification of Christ; it gives a way of thinking living qualities. Does the Son of God have a voice? Yes, for about 33 years He taught how to live in the invisible Kingdom of God and now we have His Spirit continuing to speak in our hearts. If wisdom is the voice of God, Jesus Himself, then Chapter 8 becomes paramount in our reading Proverbs.

Does not wisdom call? 8:1a

From My lips will come what is right for My mouth will utter truth. 8:6b, 7a.

I, Wisdom, live together with good judgment. I know where to discover knowledge and discernment. Proverbs 8:12

The Lord possessed Me (wisdom) at the beginning of His work, the first of His acts of old … then I was beside Him, like a master workman, and I was daily His delight, rejoicing before Him always, rejoicing in His inhabited world and delighting in the children of man. Proverbs 8:22, 30-31 

Is wisdom the personification of Jesus?

… Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 1 Corinthians 1:24b

God has united you with Christ Jesus. For our benefit God made Him to be wisdom itself. Christ made us right with God; He made us pure and holy, and He freed us from sin. 1 Corinthians 1:30 

So what have we learned this week? The Book of Proverbs (mashal) teaches us, using a variety of methods, that ruling and reigning with Christ (mashal) involves changing our thinking and aligning ourselves with God in our daily life. The first nine chapters dig a foundation for our attitudes and remind us that we can get to know God, be in awe of Him, and hear His Voice. 

When Solomon wrote, ‘my son’ in these first nine chapters it was God, the Father revealing mysteries and spiritual truths to you, His child, in order to experience victory in this life. 

… for length of days and years of life and peace they will add to you. Proverbs 3:2