Who exactly is Wisdom? The more this goes on, the more it seems that it’s not an attribute, but a person. The mystery draws me in and stimulates my curiosity.
Further warning against adultery
Proverbs 6:20-35
The importance of learning wisdom
Proverbs 7:1-5
The immoral woman
Proverbs 7:6-27
The nature and riches of wisdom
Proverbs 8:1-21
Wisdom at the Creation
Proverbs 8:22-31
Listen to wisdom
Proverbs 8:32-36
Wisdom and foolishness
Proverbs 9:1-18
Solomon’s proverbs
Proverbs 10:1
The benefits of righteousness
Proverbs 10:2-32, 11:1-6
There is a great contrast between two women, whose characters are painted with great detail. There is the adulteress, whose aim is to lead a man astray, and there is the figure of Wisdom, who makes her call to all to follow her ways. Interesting that both attitudes are personified as women. Perhaps it reflects the fact that in that culture, only men had a choice - women had to do what they were told, and were to a large extent under the control of their family. Or perhaps it’s just that this was written by a man.
Anyway - if anyone female wants to comment on what it feels like to read these chapters, I’d be interested!
There is the fascinating section in chapter 8 where personified wisdom appears beside God, delighting over all his work in Creation. It seems to be sailing perilously close to the wind - for a monotheistic faith to have a second figure standing so close to God. Christians delight in seeing this as a picture of Jesus, the pre-incarnate Word. Today, I’m more interested in the risks the writer was taking with his faith - coming so close to heresy. Sometimes the deepest truths teeter right on the edge of error.
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