Tuesday 2021.10.19
For my OT reading this afternoon, I read through Proverbs chapters 7 to 9 from the Good News Bible.
Proverbs chapter 8 contains a long passage where the Wisdom of God is personified, describing herself in the first person. I was surprised by verses 22 and 23 in particular which says Wisdom was created by Yehovah in the very beginning before the world began.
This made me wonder whether the Wisdom of God described here is identical to the Word of God described in John 1:1 - 2, "In the beginning the Word already existed; the Word was with God, and the Word was God. From the very beginning the Word was with God" (GNB).
Proverbs 8:12 - 31 GNB
12 I am Wisdom, and I have insight;
---- I have knowledge and sound judgement.
13 To honour the LORD is to hate evil;
---- I hate pride and arrogance, evil ways and false words.
14 I make plans and carry them out.
---- I have understanding, and I am strong.
15 I help kings to govern
---- and rulers to make good laws.
16 Every ruler on earth governs with my help,
---- officials and nobles alike.
17 I love those who love me;
---- whoever looks for me can find me.
18 I have riches and honour to give,
---- prosperity and success.
19 What you get from me is better than the finest gold,
---- better than the purest silver.
20 I walk the way of righteousness;
---- I follow the paths of justice,
21 giving wealth to those who love me,
---- filling their houses with treasures.
22 “The LORD created me first of all,
---- the first of his works, long ago.
23 I was made in the very beginning,
---- at the first, before the world began.
24 I was born before the oceans,
---- when there were no springs of water.
25 I was born before the mountains,
---- before the hills were set in place,
26 before God made the earth and its fields
---- or even the first handful of soil.
27 I was there when he set the sky in place,
---- when he stretched the horizon across the ocean,
28---- when he placed the clouds in the sky,
when he opened the springs of the ocean
29---- and ordered the waters of the sea to rise no further than he said.
I was there when he laid the earth's foundations.
30---- I was beside him like an architect,
I was his daily source of joy,
---- always happy in his presence —
31 happy with the world
---- and pleased with the human race.
