The Blessings of Wisdom

I like this picture because it doesn't have hands and
I think that describes the "ages" part so well.

I'm gonna be honest with you guys. Every week that I'm at home it's getting harder to focus on my homework and my motivation is fleeting expeditiously. With that being said, this week I read chapters 8 and 9 in Proverbs and the whole book of James. With James, I have a devotional book that goes along with it and that's my main focus of study with Proverbs supplemented in there. 

The book of Proverbs is mostly about wisdom given to a son by his father. The whole theme of wisdom has been interesting to me during this time. I always thought myself to be a wise person (which probably means that I am not very wise) and I thought I knew what to expect when reading this book on wisdom. But alas, I had more to learn.

I think the verses that stood out the most to me were verses 23 and 24 in chapter 8. These verses say
"23 The Lord possessed me at the beginning of his work, the first of his acts of old. 24 Ages ago I was set up, at the first, before the beginning of the earth." I was blown away by these verses because they reveal so much about who God is.

The text says that the Lord possessed wisdom from the beginning of his works. Proverbs 3:19 asserts "The Lord by wisdom founded the earth; by understanding, he established the heavens;". Establishing the earth and creating everything that exists were done in wisdom. What's interesting to me is that wisdom is also a created being and not only that but how long ago it was created. Verse 24 states "Ages ago I was set up". How long is an age to the Lord? What does that mean? The length of time is so compelling to me because it shows the transcendent nature of God. If wisdom was established ages ago, how long has God existed? It blows my mind to even think about it. I'm reminded of 2 Peter 3:8 that reads "But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years and a thousand years as one day." That's some lengthy time right there.

I think we all feel as though this waiting period that we're in right now feels like it's already been ages (and there's no telling how long it'll last). I feel that so deeply. We are all grieving and lamenting over things lost and possibly rejoicing in things gained! But it still feels like a never-ending waiting period. I don't want to band-aid bible anyone, myself included, and give some menial bible verse about how God is still working during this time (He is, there's no doubt) because we are all experiencing feelings about this time, but I do want to share with you this encouragement that I feel. God was with wisdom ages ago. Creating, making, doing, and resting. Wisdom didn't do these things by "herself". That same God is here today. In this waiting that feels like ages. Creating, making, and doing. My peace of mind exists only because I know this to be true.


Side note: I love how Wisdom is personified as a woman. I think it goes against a lot of what people believe about women (that they're lesser in many capacities like intelligence or strength). Wisdom is personified as an upstanding woman who calls men to walk a straight path.