In the two previous chapters in proverbs, rebellion against God is personified in an adulterous woman, who lures and deceives the foolish and those who lack judgement into making choices which only lead to death and destruction.

In today’s reading, we now see another personified woman, but this time she is Wisdom, in direct contrast to the adulterous woman! The contrast between the two ‘women’ developed in these early chapters is a fitting introduction to the body of the book, which contains many wisdom sayings.

Here are some of the contrasts:

She (Wisdom) speaks of what is right and true, while detesting wickedness (v.6-8); She is associated with prudence, knowledge, and discretion (v.12); She fears the Lord and hates pride and arrogance (v.13); and She walks in the way of righteousness and justice (v.20).

Some things that strike me here are that we can discern wisdom, and make the right choices in life, by having knowledge (v.9).  This implies a need to attain knowledge through the study of God’s word in partnership with the Holy Spirit, so that we will ‘know’ the wise path to tread.  This knowledge in turn gives us understanding and power (v.14).  We can exercise authority over Satan and his temptations, just as Jesus himself instructs us to ‘go therefore and do likewise’ (Matt 28: 16-20). 

Indeed as I write these notes, the whole world is ‘suffering’ from the effects of the Covid-19 Pandemic, during which time there has been a plethora of information, mis-information, and conspiracy theories making it very difficult to ‘know what is the truth’, but we can discern wisdom if we remain in the Lord.  This is a principle for life, and even in a global pandemic, our safety and security is in our relationship with Him.

The final verses likens Wisdom to an attribute of God involved at the very beginning, at the creation of the universe itself.  Indeed, there is an inferred link to Jesus as the divine Word and Wisdom of God as through Jesus ‘all things were made’ (Jn 1:1-3).

Wisdom and Christ are synonymous.  There is a promised blessing (v.32), there is life and favour (v.35), but there is only death for those who reject wisdom (v.36).

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Prayer:  Heavenly Father, keep me continually in You.  Holy Spirit help me to fathom the depths of wisdom as I study the bible, that I may gain knowledge and discern wisdom in all things, knowing that the source of such wisdom is in my relationship with Jesus.  To Your glory. Amen.