Blessed Hope Bible-Presbyterian Church
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This is a vital topic and merits a fuller treatment here because of what is at stake. The personification of Wisdom has been “the battleground of controversy since the days of the Arian heresy” (Perowne). The Lord possessed me. It is over the interpretation of the word possessed that the battle still rages.
The Incarnate Deity: This quest always achieves its desired goal, which is not so for the philosopher (1 Cor. 1:21), the merchant (Mt. 13:45-46), or the pleasure-seeker (2 Pt. 2:13). Many who have followed their star have found it to be a black hole of failed hopes. Christ is the Incarnation of the seeking love of God. No one ever sought God in vain. Man, found by God, wants to know yet more of Him (Phil. 3:8-11). We are only true to ourselves when we know God and are known of Him (Acts 17:28). All good for time and eternity is in one Person, for God is the One who meets all our deepest needs.
A Munificent Deity: A double contrast is implied. First, Wisdom bestows wealth with honour, and because gotten by righteousness it is durable, unlike the sinner’s wealth. Wisdom’s fruit is better than the finest gold, and her revenue (endowment-Alden) is better than choice silver (Pr. 16:16). This sets spiritual wealth over against the material (2 Cor. 4:18). Second, the former is better because it enriches man himself, while all the world cannot fill the aching void in the human spirit. The one is substance (what is); the other is mere shadow (Ps. 107:10), a feeding on ashes, a deceived heart (Is. 44:20).
A Merciful Deity: Again, Wisdom speaks with personal, divine authority. It leads with heart and intellect, with sincere affection and sober admonition. Wisdom’s objective truth is conveyed to the subjective heart of man, from His Heart to yours!
We have already noted the emphasis on the personal pronouns in this passage. What, therefore, we must recognize as the central theme, is not how or why Wisdom operates, but Who Wisdom is. This is more than a mere pompous personification of the attribute of God. Who else could make such claims but the Living Word, hinting once again that we are dealing with a Person, not just a Power! Christ alone has the infinite power needed to meet the needs of humanity.
Men often dread the thought of punishment for sin, but still do not hate their sins. Their only regret is that God hates what they love. Fear of retribution is at the heart of much religious superstition. The heathen believe that “Fear made God!” In proportion as that fear evaporated, the fear of a holy God also faded from the minds of men. Humanism, often now in clerical garb, has convinced today’s churchgoers that if a personal God exists he treats sin as lightly as sinners do. Man has really no need to fear God anymore.
Wisdom seeks to commend herself to all. With so many unquestioned merits, let us come to her Light, for ‘Tis shining for thee, sweetly the light has dawned upon me.
If Chapter 7 moved in the black and dark night, here we enter the bright and blessed beams of Day. We are taken to great heights, for the Master Mind is here, standing where we are.
His Caution: The Father speaks: “Now that you have seen the end of sin, hear me well.” He has recounted this story to get the serious attention of his children, but especially of his sons. He is now about to drive home his message. Listen to me; attend to the words of my mouth (v.24). What I have related to you is no idle tale, but a true and tragic account of experience. It is nothing less than your path between life and death.
Deceptive Hypocrisy Expressed: What does this temptress mean by her peace offerings and her vows (v.14)? Several interpretations are suggested. a. One is that she has fresh meat left over from a sacrifice that she will share in a banquet with this young man. Perowne reminds us that “the flesh of peace offerings for thanksgiving was to be eaten on the day on which it was offered; but if it were a vow, or a free-well offering, what remained might be eaten on the morrow (Lev. 7:15-16). She represents him as having happily lighted on her feast-day, when she was looking out and longing for his company.” Certainly, this would be a most unusual way to invite someone to a love-orgy! Further, it does not seem natural that a ‘foreign’ (strange) woman would keep Jewish religious customs. b. Another interpretation is that this woman is ceremonially clean, and thus the young man will not become defiled by consorting with her (Jn. 18:28)! This explanation also has the weakness that a ‘high view of the ceremonial law does not quite fit the picture of this gross immorality. c. On the other hand, the abuse of sacred Festivals for sinful purposes was all too common, even in Israel (Isa. 1:11-15; Amos 5:21-23). “She dare not play the harlot with man till she has played the hypocrite with God, and stopped the mouth of her conscience with her peace-offerings” (Gurnal). Whatever she means by these expressions, her peace-offerings were polluted into deadly sin-offerings!