He
layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous (Prov 2:7)
Wisdom’s Appeal: Her Existence Before
Creation: Prov 8:22-26
22) The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works
of old.
23) I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the
earth was.
24) When [there were] no
depths, I was brought forth; when [there
were] no fountains abounding with water.
25) Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought
forth:
26) While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the
highest part of the dust of the world.
INTRODUCTION:
Wisdom now makes an
appeal for our reception and application by arguing of her close association
with the Lord. She proves this close
relation to the Lord based upon her existence in eternity past….
EXPOSITION:
22) The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works
of old.
Wisdom
now explains several different aspects of its relationship with the eternal God…
1. Perfect divine wisdom is closely related to
Jehovah, it is His exclusive possession.
How long did He possess this wisdom? It has existed from eternity past,
even before His creative acts.
(Wisdom,
as an attribute of God, is a very part of God’s being. God has never existed without wisdom as a
part of his nature. Therefore, since God
is eternal, so too His wisdom.)
“Now unto the King eternal, immortal,
invisible, the only wise God, [be] honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen.” (1 Timothy 1:17)
23) I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the
earth was.
2.
Wisdom was molded (brought into existence and given shape) in eternity past. Its existence was long before the beginning
of the creation of the world around us.
“Now to him that is of
power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus
Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since
the world began, But now is made manifest,
and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the
everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith: To God only wise, [be] glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen.” (Romans 16:25-27)
24) When [there were] no
depths, I was brought forth; when [there
were] no fountains abounding with water. 25) Before the mountains were settled, before the
hills was I brought forth: 26) While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the
fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world.
To
emphasize her existence before the creation of the world, she now lists several
different stages in the creation of nature around us. Keep in mind, she was in existence before any
of these:
1.
depths – oceans (Gen 1:)
2.
fountains – springs, wells (Gen 1:)
3.
mountains – mountain ranges (Gen 1:)
4.
hills – individual small hills (Gen 1:)
4.
earth – material that makes up the
globe, dirt, mud, sand rock etc etc (Gen 1:)
5.
fields – topsoil, fertile ground (Gen 1:)
6.
highest part of dust – the gold, silver, precious gems etc. (The most precious
items that are found beneath the surface of the earth.) (Gen 2:12)
“O LORD, how manifold are thy works! in
wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches.” (Psalms 104:24)
“He hath made the earth by his power, he hath
established the world by his wisdom, and hath stretched out the heavens by his
discretion.” (Jeremiah 10:12)
“He hath made the earth by his power, he hath
established the world by his wisdom, and hath stretched out the heaven by his
understanding. When he uttereth [his] voice,
[there is] a multitude of waters in the heavens; and he causeth the vapours to
ascend from the ends of the earth: he maketh lightnings with rain, and bringeth
forth the wind out of his treasures.” (Jeremiah
51:15-16)
SUMMARY:
When
we understand that God would not be God without His perfect wisdom, we can begin
to see the importance of having His gift of wisdom in our lives. Also, when we can see His wisdom on display
in the creation around us, we should be greatly desirous of having some of this wisdom in our lives as
well.
By
God’s grace, let us all study these proverbs diligently, giving them the value
that they deserve.
May the
Lord bless us as we receive this sound wisdom and then “Think On These Things”.
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