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Discover the wisdom found in the book of Proverbs and gain insights for living a skillful and meaningful life. Explore the personification of Lady Wisdom and her teachings.
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Part I Who is Lady Wisdom?
“Where Cross the Crowded Ways of Life” Where cross the crowded ways of life,Where sound the cries of race and clanAbove the noise of selfish strife,We hear Thy voice, O Son of Man. In haunts of wretchedness and need,On shadowed thresholds dark with fears,From paths where hide the lures of greed,We catch the vision of Thy tears.
“Where Cross the Crowded Ways of Life” From tender childhood’s helplessness,From woman’s grief, man’s burdened toil,From famished souls, from sorrow’s stress,Thine heart has never known recoil. The cup of water given for Thee,Still holds the freshness of Thy grace;Yet long these multitudes to seeThe sweet compassion of Thy face.
“Where Cross the Crowded Ways of Life” O Master from the mountainside,Make haste to heal these hearts of pain;Among these restless throngs abide;And tread the city’s streets again. ’Til sons of men shall learn Thy loveAnd follow where Thy feet have trod,’Til glorious from Thy heaven above,Shall come the city of our God!
Wisdom in Proverbs: “Getting it” • One who is wise is one who “gets it”—and gets it specifically in the deeper areas of life and reality. • Such people “get it” in ways that give them insight into what’s true and real and right so that they relate to reality in such a way as to live skillfully in their practical day-to-day lives.
Wisdom in Proverbs: “Getting it” • To speak of the wisdom of God is to speak of how God “gets it.” • For us to pursue wisdom is to seek to be people who “get it.” • Truly to “get it” is to have understanding of things from a perspective given by God, an understanding that is deeply intimate and transformational, coinciding with righteousness.
KETHUBIM (“Writings”) Psalms Job Proverbs Ruth Song of Songs Ecclesiastes Lamentations Esther Daniel Ezra-Nehemiah Chronicles
Femininity in the Kethubim • Job’s lovely daughters (Job 4213-15) • Lady Wisdom (et al) throughout Proverbs • The story of Ruth • Solomon’s bride in the Song of Songs • Jerusalem portrayed as a tragic young widow in Lamentations • The story of Esther • The queen’s wise advice in Daniel (510-12) • Emphasis placed on the wives and mothers of the kings of Judah throughout Chronicles
The Feminine in Proverbs • LADY WISDOM — i.e. wisdom personified as a woman (120-33 24 313-18 45-9413 74 81-36 91-6) • THE WOMAN OF FOLLY — i.e. foolishness personified as a woman (216-19 53-8,20 624-26 75-27 913-18) • Motherly instruction and leadership (18 43 620 101 1520 2020 2322 2325 2915 3011,17 311-9,28)
The Feminine in Proverbs • Blessings of fidelity to and enjoyment of one’s covenant wife (515-19) • Various references to good/wise women and bad/foolish women throughout the Proverbs of Solomon (Chs. 10—29) • The Woman of Noble Character (124 3110-31)
Who is Lady Wisdom? • A poetic personification of the dynamic interplay of understanding and relationship which flows between the Members of the Triune Godhead—particularly the Son and the Spirit—in the context of the story of creation and new creation.
Part II What does Lady Wisdom have to say?
Lady Wisdom in Proverbs • Lady Wisdom’s 1st Speech: A Severe Warning (120-33) • References to Lady Wisdom (Chs.2-7) • She is to be sought as treasure (24) • She brings blessing and profit (313-18) • She bestows honor and grace (45-9) • She is to be guarded as one’s own life (413) • She is to be an intimate sister/friend (74) • Lady Wisdom’s 2nd Speech: Her Call and Her Eminence (Ch.8) • Lady Wisdom’s 3rd Speech: Her Banquet Invitation (91-6)
Structure of Proverbs 9 A — The Invitation of Lady Wisdom (vv.1-6) A — The Allure of the Woman of Folly (vv.13-18)
Possible Categories of the “Powers” • Natural structures • The order of the physical/natural universe • Political structures • States • Rulers • Military • Markets/economy • Money • Race • Class • Family • Religious structures • Religions/worldviews • Religious/spiritual underpinnings of stable societies • Intellectual structures • —ologies and —isms • Schools/education
Possible Categories of the “Powers” • Cultural structures • Status symbology • Celebrity • Public opinion • Media • Moral structures • Codes and customs • The socially expected/acceptable
Structure of Proverbs 9 A — The Invitation of Lady Wisdom (vv.1-6) B — Wise Man vs. Scoffer (vv.7-8) B — Wise Man vs. Scoffer (v.12) A — The Allure of the Woman of Folly (vv.13-18)
Structure of Proverbs 9 A — The Invitation of Lady Wisdom (vv.1-6) B — Wise Man vs. Scoffer (vv.7-8) C — The Wise Man’s Increasing Wisdom (v.9) C — The Wise Man’s Increased Life (v.11) B — Wise Man vs. Scoffer (v.12) A — The Allure of the Woman of Folly (vv.13-18)
Structure of Proverbs 9 A — The Invitation of Lady Wisdom (vv.1-6) B — Wise Man vs. Scoffer (vv.7-8) C — The Wise Man’s Increasing Wisdom (v.9) D — The Fear of the LORD (v.10) C — The Wise Man’s Increased Life (v.11) B — Wise Man vs. Scoffer (v.12) A — The Allure of the Woman of Folly (vv.13-18)
