““The Lord formed me from the beginning, before he created anything else. I was appointed in ages past, at the very first, before the earth began. I was born before the oceans were created, before the springs bubbled forth their waters. Before the mountains were formed, before the hills, I was born— before he had made the earth and fields and the first handfuls of soil. I was there when he established the heavens, when he drew the horizon on the oceans. I was there when he set the clouds above, when he established springs deep in the earth. I was there when he set the limits of the seas, so they would not spread beyond their boundaries. And when he marked off the earth’s foundations, I was the architect at his side. I was his constant delight, rejoicing always in his presence. And how happy I was with the world he created; how I rejoiced with the human family! “And so, my children, listen to me, for all who follow my ways are joyful. Listen to my instruction and be wise. Don’t ignore it. Joyful are those who listen to me, watching for me daily at my gates, waiting for me outside my home! For whoever finds me finds life and receives favor from the Lord. But those who miss me injure themselves. All who hate me love death.””
Proverbs 8:22-36 NLT
Solomon has talked a great deal about wisdom, going so far as to personify her as if she is some sort of divine character. Here he goes a step further to actually give her a specific voice. He quotes her verbatim to his listener. This makes this passage fairly unique in scripture. Generally there are few, if any examples of spiritual entities speaking to humanity outside a narrative space. This is the closest we come to the possibility of a “book of wisdom.” Whether Solomon is translating an actual transcendent persons thoughts, or was simply being poetic by anthropomorphism remains to be seen. What we do know is that the passage is to be appreciated as it is inspired. The challenge from Solomon is to, in fact, not gloss over who she is and the impact that she can have on your life. What we can gain from it is that Wisdom, as a person, though not transcendent to God, is transcendent to men. She formed the earth with God and was a meaningful architect for it. This belies a spiritual nature to the cosmos. It isn’t just physical but there is a sort of common truth that is foundational. Perhaps this explains why there is order and laws of nature that help men to be productive in their bodies? Perhaps this is why we speak of common sense? Regardless, Wisdom is ancient, transcendent and integral. She is a chief servant of God. We ought to take her seriously.
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