Blogging the Apocrypha - Wisdom of Solomon 10

Wisdom of Solomon

Chapter 10.

Sorry it's been so long...been busy at work. And at night - teaching ESL, discipline, accountability group, Fire, social events...awesome! All good things. Praise and thank God for gainful employment! Working as unto the Lord...

I re-read my last post and just praise God for answered prayer. Lord, you are good, and your mercy endures forever.

Even though I have been under emotional and physical attack (and sometimes verbal!) the last few weeks, I feel as though I my foundation is stronger, my feet more planted, my heart more at peace with Him.

Miss our talks about the Apocrypha? Let's have another...

This chapter is whack. Yes, I said it, "whack."

Following the theology/logic of the opening verses, Adam was protected by and delivered by Wisdom - who can not be God as "she" is notedly personified female. (Although we see the same in Proverbs 1:20 as well.) Let us not be confused by this - the Lord God gave Adam his work to do, (subdue the earth and rule it,) forgave Adam, and delivered Him to a new land. This is a mis-attribution of blessings and power.


Also, Cain did not perish after he slew his brother, he (Genesis 4:16) "went out from the LORD's presence and lived in the land of Nod, east of Eden."


Laughing at verse four; I'm quite sure Noah's ark was larger and more well constructed than a "paltry piece of wood." He built it over 100 years.


Not sure, but perhaps verse five refers to Abraham and Isaac? The beginning of Wisdom and Knowledge is fear of the Lord, (Psalm 111:10, Proverbs 1:7,) so perhaps Abraham's fear of the Lord won out over his compassion for his child so that he was willing to sacrifice his child? My best guess...makes sense though! (At last!)


Perhaps the author is boasting of his knowledge of Scripture by generalizing the use of Wisdom across the ages with the most popular of Bible stories. (I'm not impressed.) - Verses 6 -8 refer to Lot and his wife. Although it is quite funny to imagine a pillar of salt being a monument to an unbelieving soul - it would have wasted away quite quickly with the elements - not really a lasting tribute.


There is a redeeming note here "because they passed wisdom by, they...were hindered from recognizing the good." Wisdom is the knowledge of good and evil. We must know both. Ignorance does not bring pleasure.


I can not agree with verse 9 - Wisdom rescued from troubles those who served her. Wisdom (misused) and knowledge (misused) has been the devil's instrument, and our worship of it, instead of our worship of God, has gotten us into trouble. Also, the Lord is the rescuer of His servants, most notably Jesus, who suffered the most, (for our sake,) - his troubles did not pass Him by, but He walked through them for us. What Wisdom is that! Only Divine, which confounds the world. (1 Corinthians 1:25)

Further on in the history of the Jews - I believe 10-12 is about Jacob, 13-14 is about Joseph. 15-20 is about the Israelites and the Lord using Moses to lead them through the Red Sea and the aquatic death of the pursuing Egyptian enslavers. Again, this fantastic feat is attributed to the female Wisdom and not to our Father God. So strange. The language in 20 and 21 isn't even clear - perhaps a translation issue. "They sang hymns to thy holy name...because wisdom opened the mouth of the dumb..." Again the separation of Wisdom and the Lord. Why not just say God, all-wise, or the Omniscient One?


Further proof of this "bunk-ery"!


(Yes..."bunk-ery.")


God bless us with His wisdom and His mercy - truly sufficient. Our cups runneth over.