Tag Archives: Jesus Christ

September 18, 2012

Proverbs 11:22

By Nick

‘Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout  is a beautiful woman who shows no discretion.’

Proverb or Nonverb?

If you want to run a great quiz round make up a load of proverbs and mix them in with little beauties like this and ask them to choose the genuine article. I guarantee you will catch some people out. But just because a Proverb sounds made up doesn’t mean it will lack wisdom, or indeed a lesson for us to learn.

Pig Jewellery

As we look into this idea of pig adornment, we discover a theme repeated throughout the Bible, that is the contrast between the image we present and the person we are. Despite this we spend an inordinate amount of time working on the outside rather than the inside, and yet the outside makes up for so little of who we are and is often easy to see past. Consider how small the gold ring is compared to the pig. It may catch our eye initially (after all it is gold) but let’s be honest no amount of gold is going to hide the fact this is stuck on a pig.

The Eye of the Beholder

Similarly beautiful women may turn a man’s head, but my experience is that if there is no substance beneath the beauty, no discretion so to speak, then the attraction is waning. I may tolerate them but it is clear they are a pig, so to speak. But what happens when I turn this mirror to my own life? Do I see a gold ring or a pig?

Beauty for Ashes

In truth it matters little what I see, the truth that I need to stand in is how God sees me? Can I believe that Jesus loves me despite myself?

Isaiah 61:3 ‘to bestow on them a crown of beauty  instead of ashes,’

8 Comments   |  tags: , , , , , , | posted in Love, Mercy, Trust the Lord, Truth, Uncategorized

July 15, 2012

Wisdom Was There

By Grady Davidson

Proverbs 8:27-31

“When he prepared the heavens, I was there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth: when he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep: when he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth: then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him; rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth; and my delights were with the sons of men.”

A BAD RAP

Somewhere along the line, Wisdom has gotten a “bad rap”.  Ask the man on the street about finding Wisdom, and some will likely visualize a Buddhist monk sitting cross-legged, passionless, in a trance-like state.  If you want to discover wisdom, he would say, take your questions to those guys.  Of course the monk will never answer the question as you pose it; rather, you’ll get a Zen-like contradictory statement in reply.

Ask others about finding Wisdom, and they will bring to mind the scolding voice of a worrisome grandmother:  “Put on your hat or you’ll catch your death of cold!  Take an umbrella – it looks like rain!”

Frankly, I find both of those “visual images” for wisdom unattractive, unappealing, and unscriptural.  How different is the Wisdom of Holy Scripture!

 Wisdom was present at creation.  Yesterday we considered how the personified voice of wisdom in Proverbs 8 points especially to the Second Person of the Trinity, Jesus Christ, by whom God the Father created the cosmos.  In today’s verses, Wisdom is present as God establishes the clouds above and the oceans beneath.

What is of special interest in today’s verses, however, is Wisdom’s demeanor in verse 30:  Wisdom rejoices in the work of creation!  Wisdom dances with delight!  And when the work of creation was completed, with mankind filling the earth, subduing it, and having dominion over all creation (Genesis 1:28, Proverbs 8:31), Wisdom is laughing and dancing for joy, delighted in all that God has done.

DOES JESUS LAUGH?

To even pose the question sounds, well, a bit sacrilegious – and therein lies our problem.  Jesus Christ, the Wisdom of God, took raucous delight in the work of Creation.  Jesus Christ, our Singing Shepherd, sings over the Flock with joy and gladness (Zephaniah 3:16-17).  What about His (and our) enemies?  Do they bring a furrowed brow of worry to his face?  Not at all!  Rather, “He who sits in the heavens laughs!  The LORD holds them in derision” (Psalm 2:4).

LIGHTEN UP, PEOPLE

The path of Wisdom is the path of laughter, joy, and delight.  Those who know the One who is Wisdom can afford a holy chuckle every now and then. We can laugh at ourselves, at our own foibles, silliness, neuroticism and mistakes.  We can chuckle at the goodness of Christ who somehow incorporates our screw-ups into his glorious redemptive plan.  We can even laugh the laughter of the Redeemed,

“Then our mouth was filled with laughter,

            And our tongue with shouts of joy!” (Psalm 126:2)

Heavenly Father, we take ourselves so very seriously.  Forgive us, Father.  As we seek to know the way of Wisdom, fill us with joy, delight, and laughter!  Through Christ our Lord we pray:  Amen. 

2 Comments   |  tags: , , , , , | posted in Creation, Wisdom

July 14, 2012

Wisdom’s Primacy

By Grady Davidson

Proverbs 8:24-26

“When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water. Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth: While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world.”

Yesterday we considered Proverbs 8:22-23, and the theme of Wisdom’s Possession.  Today we look at the subsequent three verses, and the theme of Wisdom’s Primacy.

WISDOM’S PRIMACY

Proverbs 8:24 – 26 point us back to Genesis 1, and the seven days of Creation.  We are reminded of that time when the earth was without form and void (Genesis 1:2a), before the waters were gathered together and the dry land appeared (1:9).  Long before the oceans filled their basins, before the mountaintops pierced the skies, wisdom was there!  Indeed, Proverbs 8:24 – 26 teaches the Primacy of Wisdom.

Wisdom precedes Creation itself, for wisdom is found in the nature of the Eternal God.  In fact, in these verses do we not hear the echoing voice of the Lord Jesus, God’s Eternal Son, the One in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge (Colossians 2:3)?

THE PRIMACY OF CHRIST

Jesus Christ is described in Colossians 1:15b as “the firstborn over all creation”.  Elsewhere, the Apostle John speaks of Christ as God’s Word, who was with God, and who was God, the Word through whom God spoke creation into existence (John 1:1 – 3).  The Wisdom who was present when “as yet {God} had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world” (Proverbs 8:26), is none other than Jesus Christ!

WISDOM IS A PERSON!

The exciting thought I would have you consider today is that wisdom is a Person!  Wisdom is more than a mixture of native intelligence, cunning strategy, and moral discernment.  The Lord Jesus is the embodiment of wisdom.

Seek Him.  Know Him. Worship Him.

Heavenly Father, please open the eyes of our hearts to see Jesus Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.  We want to know the One through whom you created the cosmos.  Thank you, Father, for hearing our prayer, for we ask it in Jesus’ name: Amen. 

1 Comment   |  tags: , , , , | posted in Wisdom