While there is not enough space here to read the entire chapter, I encourage you to read it before considering these few remarks on this remarkable. It becomes quickly obvious that this chapter is all about WISDOM. In verses 1-11, we have wisdom calling out to men to be heard and heeded. We read of the value and importance of wisdom in verses 10-11, “Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold. For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it.”

Verses 12-21 give us some of the characteristics of wisdom. Verses 14-15 say of wisdom, “Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom: I am understanding; I have strength. By me kings reign, and princes decree justice.” Verse 19 speak of wisdom’s value. It days, “My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold; and my revenue than choice silver.”

Verses 22-31 speak of wisdom being personified in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. Those verses say, “The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old. I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was. 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. 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.” Who else but Christ Himself could answer to all these claims? He was there in the beginning of anything that ever had a beginning. Before the creation of the world, He was with God. When God created the world, Christ was right there with Him. These words show the equality of God and Christ. The Lord Himself said in John 10:30, “I and my Father are one.” Here, He claimed equality with God, the Father. We read of Him in Philippians 2:6, “Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God.” The Lord was not claiming anything that wasn’t already His when He spoke of being equal with God. He was not robbing God by claiming equality. Indeed, Christ is God, and He is man!

In His relationship with God, we read that Christ was “daily his delight, rejoicing always before him.” Yet we read in verse 32 that Christ’s “delights were with the sons of men.” Remarkable! As much as the Son was the Father’s daily delight, we are the Son’s daily delight. The Son’s desire was for the salvation of guilty, sinful men and women. He came and died that we might be saved. Is there any love greater than His for us? Absolutely not!

Then in verses 32-36, we have the appeal of wisdom to be sought out and found. The last two verses of this chapter should capture our attention. That reads, “For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the LORD. But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death.” Do you love death? You might say that you certainly do not love death, but we learn here that those who continue in sin are harming themselves and proving that they do love death. However, if we seek Christ, we find life. Colossians 3:4 tells us that Christ “is our life.” (232.10)