Wisdom's Call: 30 Days in the House of LifeVoorbeeld

WISDOM'S STAMP

The exact substance of wisdom is difficult to grasp hold of, because that substance is God Himself. Yet we can understand wisdom’s substance by its expressions and also by its effects, which God has given us as visual aids.

One tangible expression of wisdom is the ordered universe in which we live. Though we know it now as a fallen world with brokenness shot through it, it remains beautiful and ordered and held together by His will and power. Matthew Henry, still highly regarded after three centuries for his biblical commentary, taught us that divine revelation is the word and wisdom of God, that the Redeemer is the eternal Word, and wisdom the Logos. So wisdom contains the power, understanding, and knowledge of the Trinity.

Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, according to our likeness. They will rule the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, the livestock, the whole earth, and the creatures that crawl on the earth.” So God created man in his own image; he created him in the image of God; he created them male and female. (Gen. 1:26–27)

Adam first out of the dust, and Eve next out of his side. Ironically, among all the non-human creatures from which God made many couples, man is the only one whom He fashioned two out of one. The man and the woman seem to be a physical extension of the relational intimacy of the Trinity’s creative force. By the handiwork of the interconnected yet distinct Three come an interconnected but distinct One.

Wisdom’s imprint on the first people is also a trinity of sorts: (1) in knowledge, their ability to see divine things clearly and truly, and there were no errors or mistakes in their knowledge; (2) in righteousness, in that the first couple’s will complied readily and universally with the will of God without reluctance or resistance; and (3) in true holiness (Eph. 4:24; Col. 3:10; Eccl. 7:29).

This imprint of wisdom defines the byproduct we call shalom. The first people of God enjoyed complex, interwoven relationships and affection among all the involved parties. They knew harmony with the rest of creation, as well as trust, communion, identity, security, and a lack of want.

This shalom was marked by three distinct blessings: presence, where God dwelt with man; property in a newly fashioned heaven and earth; and peace, as they lived in harmony with each other and the world around them. The garden, under Christ-directed shalom, was created to be a sanctuary and protected place.

Wisdom is then, at the very least, a window into the image of God. It is a part of the “very good” of garden life, a part of the situation that was most conducive to human flourishing. Throughout Proverbs and the rest of Scripture, Christ’s breath of life, of wisdom, of presence-dwelling and shalom, continues to be a life-giving force wherever it is found.

This picture gives us a scriptural definition for flourishing: the shalom of dwelling with the Creator, with no hindrances or obstacles to understanding His world, His intentions, and His purposes through His eyes. Shalom—or flourishing—is dwelling with Wisdom Himself, and it is directly tied to obedience to the source of wisdom. Shalom was never intended as a goal to be obtained; it’s not something humans can strive for or can even create. Though we create in God’s image by His mercy, our Creator stands as the only One who can wisely shape a world perfectly suited to our hopes, needs, and even our godly desires.