Proverbs 8:22-31, Wisdom’s Role Expanded
March 31, Proverbs 8:22-31
Heb. 12:1-2; Phil. 2:8-11 “Thou, Lord in the beginning laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens” (Heb. 1:10).
Wisdom’s Role Expanded
- Companion in Creation: When he prepared the heavens. I was there. The universe is not eternal. It had a beginning, and will have an end. It was not an accident, a chance evolution. It was originated by One Being (He, His, Him). He, Christ alone, witnessed all. “The errorists who allege that Christ was the first act of creation do not deserve an answer” (Hengstenberg). He was in eternal association with the Creator (vs. 30-31), not just as an interested spectator, but an efficient cause.
a. The Heavenly Harmony: I was by him, brought up with him, daily his delight, says the Son (v.30). He is both Object and Subject of Infinite love. The Father loved Him always. Because He was the Father’s only begotten Son, He was ever in His Fathers bosom. Thus again the N.T. doctrine of unbroken communion between Father and Son is anticipated. The Son did always those things that pleased His Father (Jn. 8:29). It was, in other words, “a state of matchless happiness, of intimacy, dearness, and oneness with His Father. It was a state of pure, unmixed, and ravishing delight” (Flavel). It is scarcely possible, in all of Hebrew literature, to use terms more expressive of the eternal, personal, divine relationship that existed between Father and Son than we find in this verse. There was, indeed, a Council of peace between them both (Zech. 6:13).
b. The Filial Felicity: Rejoicing always before him, in the habitable part of his earth (vs. 30-31). That the Son loved the Father is evident if He was by the Father’s side, having delight continually as a master-workman or faithful one. As the Workman, his joy was consummated with the completion of the dwelling place of man. He was not so pre-occupied that it interrupted His daily delight, childlike sporting, or exulting, in His Father presence. In spite of man’s sin, God’s plan was one of grace when He made the world.
c. The Peculiar Prospect: His delights were with the sons of men. The universe was as real to Him before it was formed as afterwards. He saw man with all his sins, sorrows, and sufferings before creation. This was the last and noblest work of creation. How this reaffirms that the Cross was no after-thought in God’s mind! The habitable earth was to be the scene of Christ’s bruising the Serpent’s head and exulting in the redemption of a peculiar people. In light of the infinite cost, we wonder that He should have endured it, and an even greater wonder that He rejoiced at the prospect (Heb. 12:2)! Yet that is just what He did! Oh, what grace was this! During Creation, the Son was with the Father, taking His place as Mediator between God and man. “On that early morning of time, you see on the one side the High and Holy One, and on the other the sons of men, with Jesus already in the midst laying his hand on both” (Arnot). In these verses we detect elements of the Everlasting Covenant. Only His redeeming love could have brought him from heaven’s glory to suffer for us sinners. What matchless love was His!
Thought: “Our Lord’s life was ordered by his objective” (Ken Robins).
Prayer: Lord, we can only wonder and worship! Hosanna to Him who came!