Wisdom Personified

Frank Sinatra used to sing an old song, asking for Luck to "be a lady tonight." But way before songwriter Frank Loesser personified luck as a lady, the OT book of Proverbs had introduced us to Lady Wisdom. In this wisdom collection from King Solomon, Lady Wisdom calls out to all: "listen to me" (1:33),  and "respond to my warning" (v.23). A loving father encourages his son that if he listens to wisdom, searches for it like a hidden treasure, he will "understand the fear of the Lord and discover the knowledge of God" (2:1-5).

I am amazed this morning how evident here in the Proverbs are Christ and the gospel. Biblical theology allows us to make the step from wisdom personified as a lady to wisdom personified in Jesus, the Incarnate Son.

For those who "fear the Lord" (1:7) the response is repentance (1:23, "turn at my reproof" in the ESV). As a result, Wisdom pours out her spirit on the repentant, and teaches them. We in the church age understand this and a related prophecy by Joel were fulfilled by the Holy Spirit at Pentecost (Acts 2:4). The Spirit of Christ is the Spirit of Wisdom that now fills and teaches the believer.

In OT Hebrew listening includes taking action, so the one who listens to wisdom is the one who responds rightly to it. This person "will live securely and be undisturbed by the dread of danger" (1:33). The Christian lives securely in Christ - what would we fear, we who are sheltered from the wrath of God (Rm 8:31-39)?

The Fall is present here, and its reiteration in every rebellious heart ever since: "Because they hated knowledge, didn't choose to fear the Lord, were not interested in my counsel, and rejected all my correction, they will eat the fruit of their way, and be glutted with their own schemes" (1:29-31). Lady Wisdom offers no "hopeful universalism" - there IS at some point an end to Wisdom's appeals: "Then they will call me, but I won't answer; they will search for me, but won't find me" (v.28).

But if the Fall is here, so is the rescue. The Lord who gives wisdom is himself a "shield for those who walk in integrity," who "guard[s] the path of justice and protect[s] the way of his faithful followers" (2:6-8). For those who "trust in the Lord with all [their] heart" and "in all [their] ways know him" he will "make [their] paths straight," bring "healing...and strengthening" (3:5-8). These are all ways we understand that Christ rescues and ultimately restores us through his own righteousness and eternal life.

Wisdom is a "tree of life" (v.18) that points to the Source of life in Christ for the believer. The Apostle John sums up the benefit of the wisdom that is personified in Christ: "And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life."