WISDOM WAS WITH GOD IN THE BEGINNING

Proverbs 8:22-36 / Keywords 8:23

I was appointed from eternity, from the beginning, before the world began.

 

8:22 “The Lord brought me forth as the first of his works,[c][d]

    before his deeds of old;

23 I was formed long ages ago,

    at the very beginning, when the world came to be.

24 When there were no watery depths, I was given birth,

    when there were no springs overflowing with water;

25 before the mountains were settled in place,

    before the hills, I was given birth,

26 before he made the world or its fields

    or any of the dust of the earth.

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 constantly[e] 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.

32 “Now then, my children, listen to me;

    blessed are those who keep my ways.

33 Listen to my instruction and be wise;

    do not disregard it.

34 Blessed are those who listen to me,

    watching daily at my doors,

    waiting at my doorway.

35 For those who find me find life

    and receive favor from the Lord.

36 But those who fail to find me harm themselves;

    all who hate me love death.”

Footnotes

c. Proverbs 8:22 Or way; or dominion

d. Proverbs 8:22 Or The Lord possessed me at the beginning of his work; or The Lord brought me forth at the beginning of his work

e. Proverbs 8:30 Or was the artisan; or was a little child

1. Wisdom was formed long ago, at the very beginning, when the world came to be (23). Wisdom says she was before the world (24~29). After creation, she was constantly at his side and rejoicing always in his presence, rejoicing in his whole world, and delighting in mankind (30, 31). These verses remind us of the verse “God saw all that he had made, and it was very good.” (Ge1:31).

 

2. These verses also remind us of John's gospel; “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning.” (Jn 1:1-3).

 

3. This Wisdom, the Creator, will bless us if we keep his ways, if we listen to his instruction, and if we find wisdom (32-35).

 

Prayer Lord, who rejoiced after creation, help me follow your wisdom.

One Word I will follow wisdom