Well, whereas yesterday there was nothing worth repeating, today I feel as though I could comment on each verse.
Wisdom of Solomon
Let me start out by saying this author has quite the obsession with Wisdom. (Yes, capital "w.") It is definitely an idol before God. He seems to have sold his soul for it.
There is so much in here that is "counter-Truth" (ironically the ultimate in "wisdom," if you will,) it's just...well...not even funny. It's a bit of a disturbing chapter as the author personifies and romances wisdom before our eyes. Either the intimacy is awkward in this, "public arena," or the over-sexualization is just plain inappropriate, or both. Anyway, this is icky. (To use a technical term.)
"She reaches mightily from one end of the earth to the other,and she orders all things well."
This sounds a bit like the creation story. Wisdom is not the creator of the Earth. The Lord is. And, it took a heck of a lot more than just wisdom to create what we enjoy (or don't) today.
"I loved her and sought her from my youth,and I desired to take her for my bride,and I became enamored of her beauty."
Okay, stalker. This is just idol talk. (Idle talk?)
"She glorifies her noble birth by living with God, and the Lord of all loves her. For she is an initiate in the knowledge of God, and an associate in his works."
Pretty language but just awkward in idea. The only way the first sentence would make sense to me would be to say, "God is the Father of Wisdom." This makes it sound SO Greek/Roman though. Which is how I feel too about the second line - reminds me of Zeus and Athena. So continues, "In Praise of Wisdom."
"And if any one loves righteousness, her labors are virtues; for she teaches self-control and prudence, justice and courage;nothing in life is more profitable for men than these."
I like these lines as they do not further define "wisdom's labors." We may learn in so many ways - often from doing the wrong thing.
"Therefore I determined to take her to live with me, knowing that she would give me good counsel and encouragement in cares and grief. Because of her I shall have glory among the multitudes and honor in the presence of the elders, though I am young."
This is such a weird Proverbs thing for me. Proverbs talks about Wisdom for the first 30 chapters then ends on Proverbs 31, the "Wife of Noble Character." Sounds like this author is wedded to his ideal wife. I suppose any man (and woman) would want this. When I initially read the second line I just thought, what a vain and insecure man. I suppose we are all that way. I don't think this author is seeking Christ-like godliness though. He goes on to talk about being desirous of power, and to create fear in foreign kings. Now, this may be a king's duty, but for your average Joe, this kind of attitude isn't going to cut it on a daily basis. This guy wants to exploit her, while Christ/God uses Wisdom to serve. Again, the lack of humility here is somewhat disturbing to me. This text continues to be so not God-spoken.
"Because of her I shall have immortality, and leave an everlasting remembrance to those who come after me."
Yeah, no. First, this isn't what a Christlike person desires, and, being smart doesn't get you eternal life. An everlasting remembrance? In the light of Christ, nothing like this matters.
An inserted side-note here, it is important for me to say that I don't expect all old-Testament authors to have the complete revelation, but if you are going to put yourself out there as the smartest man ever, than you need to prove it. This author expresses bright ideas, none of which haven't been expressed before, but seems to be lacking in so much Godly wisdom! He's not a "Paul" for sure. There is no direct revelation here. It bothers me that some folks continue to think this is God-breathed. It's so misleading and does not add anything to the Canon.
"When I enter my house, I shall find rest with her, for companionship with her has no bitterness, and life with her has no pain, but gladness and joy."
First, this is the sexualized comment I think goes too far. Second, to me, wisdom is often very painful. Awareness and knowledge are more painful. Wisdom into alleviating the problems and sin brought up by awareness and knowledge, into alleviating ignorance, is great, but at least in today's culture, "ignorance is bliss." Unless you take sadistic, Pharisaical pleasure in knowing pain and use it to separate yourself from others - if you are of course - also not interested in being Christlike.
"When I considered these things inwardly, and thought upon them in my mind, that in kinship with wisdom there is immortality, and in friendship with her, pure delight, and in the labors of her hands, unfailing wealth, and in the experience of her company, understanding, and renown in sharing her words, I went about seeking how to get her for myself."
Yeah, the grass seemed greener, didn't it? Solomon died when he fell away from the Lord. If indeed this is somehow his writing, we must note where in his biography this took place. If you read Ecclesiastes, his ultimate conclusion was that even this was just "chasing the wind." Ever elusive - God always knows more than us. That is what makes him God.
"As a child I was by nature well endowed, and a good soul fell to my lot; or rather, being good, I entered an undefiled body."
WOW. I don't even want to touch this. It's so not even scriptural. UGH...wow...yeah...
"But I perceived that I would not possess wisdom unless God gave her to me--and it was a mark of insight to know whose gift she was--so I appealed to the Lord and besought him,and with my whole heart I said:"
Yes, indeed, a mark of insight, at last, you've said something true! So weird how this chapter ends mid-sentence.
This chapter makes me want to vomit.
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