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The origin of Wisdom
(Proverbs 8:22-31)
Andy Nagahara
Today in our Proverbs series, we are going to read verses 8:22-31. Throughout chapter 7, Proverbs teaches the importance of listening to Wisdom. And up until the previous part of chapter 8, Wisdom has been introducing itself and teaching us about its nature.
Today’s passage continues that introduction, but here he speaks specifically about the origin of Wisdom.
1. Wisdom created before the creation of the world (22-26)
22 “The LORD brought me forth as the first of his works, before his deeds of old;
23 I was appointed from eternity, from the beginning, before the world began.
24 When there were no oceans, I was given birth, when there were no springs abounding with water;
25 before the mountains were settled in place, before the hills, I was given birth,
26 before he made the earth or its fields or any of the dust of the world.
We need to understand this word “wisdom” carefully. We tend to think of it as an ability to enrich our lives or avoid difficulties.
However, such “wisdom” is also possessed by animals other than humans. AI has now accumulated all of humanity’s knowledge and has the “wisdom” to output it effectively, causing teachers to worry as it can write not only high school student reports but also university students’ graduation theses. Even masters of shogi and chess can lose to AI. Some people even think it would be better to marry an AI than to live with a troublesome human being.
Yet, the wisdom “spoken” in Proverbs is not like that. I’m sure you’ve all read the opening story of Genesis, the story of the creation of the heavens and the earth, many times by now. It would have said that from a state of nothing other than God, God first created the heavens and the earth, then the sea, the land, plants, animals, and finally man, who is in God’s own image. However, when we read today’s text, we find that it clearly states over five verses that “Wisdom” existed before the creation of the world. What does this mean?
This means that wisdom is not originally an attribute of the last animal created, that is, humans. Wisdom was with God before the world was created by Him. It is very similar to the “Word.” The first part of the Gospel of John says, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”
As I have mentioned before, Jesus himself, as well as Paul and other leaders of the early church, taught that wisdom belongs to Jesus.
About 400 years before Jesus was born, there was a Greek philosopher named Socrates. This was about 100 years after the book of Proverbs was compiled in its current form. Although he left no written works of his own, his student Plato published many of his words in his books.
It includes the following words: “The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing.” Some of you may have heard the expression “I know that I know nothing.” Although Socrates probably never had the opportunity to read Proverbs, he realized that, as the Bible teaches, there is no wisdom in human. Unfortunately, the highest level of human wisdom is knowing that wisdom is not within oneself.
So if Wisdom is not a human attribute, how can we exercise wisdom? Let’s read the second half.
2. Wisdom delights in pleasing God and men (27-31)
27 I was there when he set the heavens in place, when he marked out the horizon on the face of the deep,
28 when he established the clouds above and fixed securely the fountains of the deep,
29 when he gave the sea its boundary so the waters would not overstep his command, and when he marked out the foundations of the earth.
30 Then I was the craftsman at his side. I was filled with delight day after day, rejoicing always in his presence,
31 rejoicing in his whole world and delighting in mankind.
What is noteworthy about this passage is that Wisdom not only existed before the creation of the heavens and the earth, but is also described as being with God in the creative process and “becoming the craftsman.” This means that Wisdom was deeply involved in the creation of this world.
At the end of the creation of the heavens and the earth, God created humans and entrusted them with the management of this world. And through His prophets, He has continued to provide people with the Wisdom they need to carry out this mission.
However, God’s Wisdom has not always been well received by people. God has sent many prophets to impart His Wisdom, but people have not only failed to listen, but have taken their lives. Jesus prophesied that a similar fate would befall Him and His disciples. The ones who killed those sent by God to bring Wisdom were those in power and religious leaders, who were considered to be wise in the world.
In His strong condemnation of such people, Jesus sometimes used the word wisdom sarcastically. The Gospel of Luke describes when Jesus sent out 72 men to every town and village that He was going to, and they returned joyfully to report to Jesus that even demons had yielded when they used His name.
At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure. （Luke 10:21）
Jesus said this “with full of joy.” This is because God’s Wisdom was demonstrated not by religious leaders or powerful people who were considered wise by themselves and others, but by people who were considered weak, small, and sinful.
The disciples returned joyfully, and Jesus, filled with joy and spoke to them
Living by God’s Wisdom gives us great joy, and Jesus also takes great joy in this. If you still struggle to find confidence and joy, listen to these words. These are the words of Paul in chapter 1 of his first letter to the Corinthians.
Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things–and the things that are not–to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God–that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: “Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.”
(Prayer) Lord, thank you for the abundance of your wisdom.
We don’t know much, but you teach us what we need when we need it, so that we can walk in righteousness.
Guide us so that we may continue to walk relying on your wisdom, without shame in our ignorance.
We pray in the name of Jesus Christ.
Summary
Wisdom was with God before the world was created and is what God used to design the world. God generously bestows His Wisdom upon humans so that they may govern the world righteously. Those who boast in their own wisdom cannot receive God’s wisdom. Those who think they are wise cannot share God’s joy. Let us accept our ignorance and walk joyfully with Jesus in God’s wisdom.
For Discussion
1. In what sense is Wisdom a “craftsman”?
2. How is Wisdom pleasing to people?