05/24/08: Proverbs 8
When they talk about wisdom, are they talking specifically about coming to know God?
Ted: Yes, exactly, but more specifically, Jesus. Basically, anywhere that you see "wisdom" you could substitute the word "Jesus" (that is, the pre-incarnate manifestation of God). In the sense that wisdom sometimes is referred to as "she," it can be considered the Word of God, which also is what Jesus was/is. He also "was appointed from eternity, from the beginning, before the world began" (Proverbs 8:23), "was there when he [God the Father] set the heavens in place" (8:27), and "was the craftsman at his side" (8:30), meaning that Jesus was the co-Architect and Maker, along with the Father, of the universe and everything in it. Compare this with John 1:1-3: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made."
Of course, even more than King Solomon, Jesus actually was/is the wisest "man" to ever live, because of course He is God. Naturally, every word He ever spoke (such as during His ministry on earth), and ever will speak (when He rules and reigns forever), was and is pure wisdom. Notice that "whoever fails to find me harms himself; all who hate me love death" (Proverbs 8:36). The people, today, who seem to epitomize this the most are Muslims, who adamantly refute the idea that Jesus is the Son of God, and they hate and detest anybody who does. They also are the first to admit that they love death, since they feel compelled to die in the name and for the sake of Allah, the false God of folly (the opposite of wisdom).
Ted: Yes, exactly, but more specifically, Jesus. Basically, anywhere that you see "wisdom" you could substitute the word "Jesus" (that is, the pre-incarnate manifestation of God). In the sense that wisdom sometimes is referred to as "she," it can be considered the Word of God, which also is what Jesus was/is. He also "was appointed from eternity, from the beginning, before the world began" (Proverbs 8:23), "was there when he [God the Father] set the heavens in place" (8:27), and "was the craftsman at his side" (8:30), meaning that Jesus was the co-Architect and Maker, along with the Father, of the universe and everything in it. Compare this with John 1:1-3: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made."
Of course, even more than King Solomon, Jesus actually was/is the wisest "man" to ever live, because of course He is God. Naturally, every word He ever spoke (such as during His ministry on earth), and ever will speak (when He rules and reigns forever), was and is pure wisdom. Notice that "whoever fails to find me harms himself; all who hate me love death" (Proverbs 8:36). The people, today, who seem to epitomize this the most are Muslims, who adamantly refute the idea that Jesus is the Son of God, and they hate and detest anybody who does. They also are the first to admit that they love death, since they feel compelled to die in the name and for the sake of Allah, the false God of folly (the opposite of wisdom).
05/23/08: Proverbs 2
They often say "to live in the land" or be torn from it--what does that mean, really?
Ted: God had guaranteed the promised land to the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (that is, to the Israelites, who were the descendants of all three). Therefore, one of the worst things that could happen to an Israelite would be to be cut off or torn from the land. It would be equivalent to being cursed by God.
We will read how, in the future (of Solomon's time), the Israelites worshipped other gods, thus committing spiritual adultery and unfaithfulness to the one true God. As such, the Israelites were taken into captivity by Syria, and Judah was taken into captivity by Babylon. Therefore, they were punished for not being upright and blameless by being cut off and torn from the land.
Ted: God had guaranteed the promised land to the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (that is, to the Israelites, who were the descendants of all three). Therefore, one of the worst things that could happen to an Israelite would be to be cut off or torn from the land. It would be equivalent to being cursed by God.
We will read how, in the future (of Solomon's time), the Israelites worshipped other gods, thus committing spiritual adultery and unfaithfulness to the one true God. As such, the Israelites were taken into captivity by Syria, and Judah was taken into captivity by Babylon. Therefore, they were punished for not being upright and blameless by being cut off and torn from the land.
