The Teaching Moment
The Wisdom of God
  This phrase ‘the wisdom of God’ is recorded once in the Old Testament and four times in the New Testament for a total of 5 mentions.
And all Israel heard of the judgment which the king had judged; and they feared the king: for they saw that the wisdom of God [was] in him, to do judgment. (1 Kings 3:28)
Therefore also said the wisdom of God, I will send them prophets and apostles, and [some] of them they shall slay and persecute: (Luke 11:49)
For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. (1 Corinthians 1:21)
But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. (1 Corinthians 1:24)
But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, [even] the hidden [wisdom], which God ordained before the world unto our glory: (1 Corinthians 2:7)
  Christ is called the power of God and the wisdom of God in 1 Corinthians 1:24, and in Luke 11:49 it is recorded that the wisdom of God spoke, the wisdom of God was/is a Person, the wisdom of God was/is the Lord Jesus Christ, thus, it is scripturally correct to say that another title of the Lord Jesus Christ is ‘the wisdom of God.’ Therefore also said the wisdom of God, I will send them prophets and apostles, and [some] of them they shall slay and persecute: (Luke 11:49)
  All the offerings, the sacrifices, the curtains, the very structure of the tabernacle, and the scapegoat in the Old Testament ALL speak of the Messiah to come. Everything that Moses wrote revealed the Christ: the Psalms are about His glory, about His creative power, about His suffering, about His death, about His resurrection, about His Messianic Kingdom to come, about His prayers, and about His battle over sin and death. The Old Testament is centered around His chosen people to reveal things concerning Himself, thus, the New Testament is the fulfillment of most (except, of course, things pertaining to the Messianic kingdom and to the eternal state) of all that He was in the Old Testament.
And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself. (Luke 24:27)
And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me. (Luke 24:44)
Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, (Luke 24:45)
And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: (Luke 24:46)
And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. (Luke 24:47)
Proverbs Chapter 8
  Proverbs Chapter 8 is divided into four sections. It is interesting that this Psalm is about our Creator and the ‘wisdom of God’ in Christ and thus the number 8 representing a new beginning is quite fitting. This number follows after the number seven which we recognize as the day or time of God’s rest. His perfection is in the number seven therefore, the number eight goes beyond His perfection into (excuse the simplicity of language) a superabundance of perfection, the perfection of perfection.
  In Proverbs Chapter 8 we are instructed by the Holy Spirit of God of the existence of the Person called the wisdom of God. Warning: I suggest that you turn your heads from reading the next paragraph, and I set before you a disclaimer. Do not allow yourself to be drawn into the ‘By-Pass Meadows’ of numbers, this takes discernment and discipline. Merely take from it what I intend, and that is to show that God uses everything in His Word to glorify the divine brilliance and genius (the ultimate of perfection) of the Word of God. Here we go . . . the pronoun ‘I’ is recorded sixteen times throughout thirteen verses. It is God’s wisdom speaking as God, or we could say, God is speaking as Wisdom.
  Sixteen times: what is the significance of this number? What is God teaching us through this number? There are 2 basic ways to arrive at the number 16: eight times two is sixteen (8 x 2 = 16), or four times four is sixteen (4 x 4 = 16). Eight is the number of this Proverb, and eight is the message of this proverb so it is quite suitable for that God would address Himself as “I” sixteen times: the witness (number 2) of His perfection in His Godhead bodily (the number 8) and also this number reveals another beginning for mankind.
  The first section, verses 1 thru 11 speaks of wisdom objectively, as describing God’s definition of the essence of wisdom: excellent things, right things, truth, righteousness, understanding the knowledge of the Holy, and the value of His wisdom
Doth not wisdom cry? and understanding put forth her voice? (Proverbs 8:1)
She standeth in the top of high places, by the way in the places of the paths. (Proverbs 8:2)
She crieth at the gates, at the entry of the city, at the coming in at the doors. (Proverbs 8:3)
Unto you, O men, I call; and my voice is to the sons of man. (Proverbs 8:4)
O ye simple, understand wisdom: and, ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart. (Proverbs 8:5)
Hear; for I will speak of excellent things; and the opening of my lips shall be right things. (Proverbs 8:6)
For my mouth shall speak truth; and wickedness is an abomination to my lips. (Proverbs 8:7)
All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing froward or perverse in them. (Proverbs 8:8)
They are all plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that find knowledge. (Proverbs 8:9)
Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold. (Proverbs 8:10)
For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it. (Proverbs 8:11)
  The second section (verses 12 thru 21) then moves from an objective view to a subjective understanding from God’s view point. Wisdom here is much more than subjective, for Wisdom is seen in a personal God.
I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of witty inventions. (Proverbs 8:12)
The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate. (Proverbs 8:13)
Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom: I am understanding; I have strength. (Proverbs 8:14)
By me kings reign, and princes decree justice. (Proverbs 8:15)
By me princes rule, and nobles, even all the judges of the earth. (Proverbs 8:16)
I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me. (Proverbs 8:17)
Riches and honour are with me; yea, durable riches and righteousness. (Proverbs 8:18)
My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold; and my revenue than choice silver. (Proverbs 8:19)
I lead in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment: (Proverbs 8:20)
That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures. (Proverbs 8:21)
  The third section (verses 22 thru – 31) develops wisdom as Wisdom is a Person. If eternity could have a history then this would be the history of eternity past; however, this cannot be, as eternity cannot have a past, nor a future because eternity is not limited nor contained by time-space thought. These verses describe (for the benefit of mankind tied to time-space) words and thoughts of the One who exists in time and in timelessness. It partially describes the Godhead bodily as being all Wisdom, and Christ as the personification of God’s wisdom. This is another witness of the eternal preexistence of Christ.
The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old. (Proverbs 8:22)
I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was. (Proverbs 8:23)
When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water. (Proverbs 8:24)
Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth: (Proverbs 8:25)
While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world. (Proverbs 8:26)
When he prepared the heavens, I was there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth: (Proverbs 8:27)
When he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep: (Proverbs 8:28)
When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth: (Proverbs 8:29)
Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him; (Proverbs 8:30)
Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth; and my delights were with the sons of men. (Proverbs 8:31)
  The fourth section is a final plea by God (through the Holy Spirit of God) to hear God’s message of love and mercy. This would be a gospel call to all — that in Him is life and blessings and grace (favour). This fourth section is also fitting in being the number four as it is a gospel call to all of mankind to seek, hear and find the One who is the perfection of God in ALL the wisdom of God.
Now therefore hearken unto me, O ye children: for blessed are they that keep my ways. (Proverbs 8:32)
Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not. (Proverbs 8:33)
Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors. (Proverbs 8:34)
For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the LORD. (Proverbs 8:35)
But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death. (Proverbs 8:36)
And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was. (John 17:5)
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (John 1:1) The same was in the beginning with God. (John 1:2)
But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, [even] the hidden [wisdom], which God ordained before the world unto our glory: (1 Corinthians 2:7)
© Copyright 2019, Mary Haigh
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All Scripture references are from the Authorized King James Bible. (KJV)