Day 184 Proverbs 8-10

Again in our reading for today we hear Lady Wisdom speaking, calling out "on the heights, beside the way" (8:2) offering wisdom that is "better than jewels" (8:11). The Law of Moses is offered to Israel in particular, and more generally to those who are willing shoulder the weight of the covenant God made with Israel, but Lady Wisdom's call is to "all that live" (8:4). She gives "knowledge and discretion" to all those who would otherwise have none (8:12); she makes herself accessible to all of humanity. She offers her "love" to those who love her, and without exception "all those who seek [her wisdom] diligently find" it (8:17).
Wisdom, according to our text, is the oldest thing in the universe; she was created by God "at the beginning of his work, the first of his acts of long ago" (8:22). The meaning of this passage—8:22-36-- is very difficult to grasp, but it was intensely debated by early Christian theologians, who identified personified Wisdom with Jesus Christ himself. A heretic named Arius used this passage to support his belief that Jesus Christ was only a created being—albeit the first and highest created being—and not God. Arius's teachings were challenged by orthodox theologians like St. Anthanasius, whose understanding of the person of Jesus Christ, was later codified in the Nicene Creed, which says that Jesus Christ "as true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one being with the Father, through whom all things were made."
The Book of Proverbs, however, is certainly not concerned with subtleties of the Christian Trinity. It is instead interested in exulting Lady Wisdom above all the rest of creation. It tells us that she "was beside" the LORD during his work of creating the universe "like a master worker" (8:30). Creation is then a cooperative effort between them, Wisdom taking the part of a skilled foreman—or fore-woman, if you will. We might say that Wisdom is that rational order within creation, which is reflected in the harmony of society and in the sound management of individual lives. Wisdom is the principle that "fits everything together." Whoever finds this principle of wisdom "finds life," the text tells us—not eternal life, but a complete and satisfying earthly life—"and obtains favor from the LORD" (8:35).
In chapter nine, Lady Wisdom and The Loose Woman both appear again; this time they have prepared meals consisting of wisdom and foolishness respectively. Lady Wisdom sends out "her servant girls" to invite the "simple" and immature to come and eat, and The Loose Woman also calls to "those who pass by" to partake of her feast. But all that she can offer are "stolen bread" and "bread eaten in secret" (17-18), and her other guests are "the dead." But the feast the Lady Wisdom offers is rich and delicious and gives life and insight to those who eat it (5-6).
And chapter ten gives us a sampling of wisdom's feast. These proverbs speak to all sorts of life situations. Here are a couple of my favorites. "When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but the prudent are restrained in speech"(19). Those who know they have done something bad betray themselves by talking all the time, but the wise know how to keep their mouths shut. Another good one and I'll call it a night. "Like vinegar to the teeth, and smoke to the eyes, so are the lazy to their employers"(26). And that one needs no explanation. . . .