GIVEN BY PASTOR CARLA HARDMAN

AUGUST 30, 2010

USING NEW LIVING TRANSLATION

 19 My gifts are better than gold, even the purest gold, my wages better than sterling silver!

THE FRUIT OF WISDOM IS THE BENEFITS THAT FLOW TO US WHO RECEIVE IT AND SUMIT TO IT. HOWEVER, THERE ARE SOME THAT WILL FAVOR THE MOST PRECIOUS OF SILVER AND OF GOLD. BUT KEEP IN MIND THAT EVEN THE FINEST OF SILVER OR GOLD WILL NOT DELIVER US FROM DEATH. RIGHTEOUSNESS WHICH COMES FROM THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE LORD, ALONE CAN DELIVER US FROM DEATH AND DAMNATION. IT TALKS ABOUT REVENUE IN THE KJV AND THAT SIMPLY MEANS INCREASE, SO THAT CLEARLY THERE IS PROFIT IN THE POSSESSION OF WISDOM THAT IS FAR GREATER THAN THE BEST INTEREST ON CAN DRAW ON MONEY. THERE ARE THOSE WHO TALK ABOUT HAVING AN INTEREST IN CHRIST'S REDEMPTION; IF WE ARE ASSURED OF A PART IN THIS, WE MAY BE SURE OF REWARDS GROWING OUT OF THIS. THE NEXT TWO VERSES WILL EXPLAIN THIS MORE. WHAT GOD HAS TO OFFER US IS BY FAR MUCH BETTER THAN ANY OF THE FINEST GOLD EVEN IF THE GOLD IS PURE.

 20 I walk in righteousness,in paths of justice.

THE LORD'S LEADING IS ALWAYS THE WAY OF FOR US TO GO IN RIGHTEOUSNESS. IT IS THE DEVIL WHO LEADS OUTSIDE THE WAY OF RIGHTEOUSNESS. IT IS BECAUSE OF THE DIRECTION OF THE LORD'S LEADING THAT IT IS ALWAYS PROFITABLE BOTH FOR  THE LIFE THAT NOW IS AND ALSO FOR THAT WHICH IS TO COME. THE LORD'S LEADING IS SUCH THAT WE ARE FOUND TO BE IN THE MIDST OF THE PATHS OF JUDGEMTN, NOT TO THE EXTREME ON EITHER SIDE AS WAS WARNED  AGAINST IN 4:27. THE WAY OF TRUTH IS AS JESUS TAUGHT...STRAIT AND NARROW WAY. THE BROAD WAY THAT ALLOWS PEOPLE TO WANDER FAR ASTRAY THOUGH VERY POPULAR, IS THE WAY TO ETERNAL DESTRUCTION. DIVINE WISDOM LEADS US TO THE WAY THAT IS RIGHT AND THAT ALSO PRODUCES RIGHTEOUSNESS. WHAT WE GET FROM GOD WILL YIELD US MORE THAN SILVER AND GOLD EVER WILL. SILVER AND GOLD ARE JUST WORLDLY MATERIALS AND WHAT DOES GOD TELL US WILL HAPPEN TO WORLDLY MATERIALS? THEY WILL ALL PASS AWAY!

 21 Those who love me inherit wealth. I will fill their treasuries.

THIS IS THE PROMISED FRUIT WHICH WILL STAND ALONE WITHOUT ACCIDENTAL SUPPORTS OF OUTWARD CONVENIENCES. SPIRITUAL AND ETERNAL THINGS ARE THE ONLY REAL AND SUBSTANTIAL THINGS. WORLDLY POSSESSIONS AND RICHES ARE BUT SHADOWS THAT ARE HERE TODAY AND GONE TOMORROW. SPIRITUAL BLESSINGS THOUGH SEEN ONLY BY THE EYE OF FAITH, ARE THE REAL SUBSTANCES FOR THEY HAVE GOD'S OWN POWER OPERATING IN THEM. NOT ONLY DOES THE LORD PROMISE US THIS SUBSTANCE BUT HE PROMISES TO FILL OUR TREASURES. WHEN IT COMES TO HAVING WHAT GOD HAS TO OFFER US WHO LOVE AND OVEY HIM HIS LOVE, WISDOM AND KNOWLEDGE IS BY FAR A BETTER TREASURE FOR US THAN WORLDLY STUFF.

 22 “The Lord formed me from the beginning, before he created anything else.

WISDOM HERE HAS PERSONAL PROPERTIES AND ACTIONS, AND THAT INTELLIGENT DIVINE PERSON CAN BE NONE OTHER THAN THE SON OF GOD HIMSELF, TO WHOM THE PRINCIPAL THINGS HERE SPOKEN OF WISDOM ARE ATTRIBUTED IN OTHER SCRIPTURES. THE BEST EXPOSITION OF THESE VERSES WE HAVE IN THE FIRST 4 VERSES OF JOHN'S GOSPEL. THE BEGINNING OF GOD'S WAY IS THAT TIME WHEN FIRST GOD PASSED FROM HIS INSCRUTABLE (A DEEP DARK SECRET)WAY TO ACTIVE OPERATION. THE FIRST OF HIS WAYS' WAS CREATION. THIS CARRIES THIS WISDOM BACK TO ETERNAL TIME, NOTHING IS ETERNAL BUT GOD.IT IS A WONDERFUL THING TO KNOW THAT GOD HAD US AS HIS POSSESSION WAY BEFORE THE HIS WORKS. THAT IS AWESOME TO KNOW TOO. 

 23 I was appointed in ages past, at the very first, before the earth began.

APPOINTED AND SET AS IT IS IN KJV IS THE SAME WORD AS IT STATES IN PSALM 2:6 AND MEANS "TO ANOINT" OR TO SET FORTH OFFICIALLY. HIS ETERNAL EXISTENCE IS OFTEN MENTIONED. HIS EXISTENCE BEFORE THE EARTH WAS IN THE BIGGINING OF TIME AS WE KNOW IT IS ALSO DECLARED. THOS WHO REJECT THE TERNAL EXISTENCE OF JESUS AND WHIS TO MAKE HIM ONLY THE FIRST CREATED BEING ARE FACED WITH AN IMPOSSIBLE TASK IN THE LIGHT OF ALL THESE AND MANY OTHER LIKE TEXTS WHICH SO CLOSELY BEAR WITNESS TO HIS ETERNAL BEING BEFORE ALL CREATED THINGS. THE DESCRIPTION OF WISDOM'S ETERNAL BEING GOES ON.

 

 24 I was born before the oceans were created, before the springs bubbled forth their waters.

ACCORDING TO GENESIS 1:2 THE OCEANS IS THE FIRST THING THAT IS MENTIONED AFTER THE CREATION, SO WHAT WE HAVE HERE IS SAID OF WISDOM REVEALS HIS EXISTENCE. IT WAS ON THE SECOND DAY THAT THE UPPER AND LOWER WATERS WERE SEPERATED FROM ONE ANOTHER, THE FIRMAMENT DEIVIDING BETWEEN THE TWO. THIS AS WELL AS ALL OF THE REST OF CREATION WAS THE WORK OF CHRIST HIMSELF, AS WE ARE TOLD OFTEN IN THE NEW TESTAMENT WISDOM IS IN THIS FULL DESCRIPTION SHOWN TO BE PRIOR TO ALL EXISTING THINGS IN EVERY KIND OF PRIORITY (IN THAT TIME, ORDER, DIGNITY AND CAUSATION). THOUGH "BEFORE" MAY SEEM TO OUR EARS TO IMPLY WISDOM'S ORIGIN, IT IS ONLY BECAUSE ALL THINGS THAT WE KNOW HAVE SOME SORT OF BEGINNING  ADN HUMAN LANGUAGE IS ALMOST UNABLE TO EXPRESS ORIGIN WITHOUT BEGINNING. JESUS IS ALSO THE ONLY BEGOTTEN SON OF GOD BUT THIS DOES NOT IMPLY THAT THERE EVER WAS A TIME WHEN HE WAS NOT GOD IN ALL THREE PERSONS OF THE TRINITY IS "I AM THAT I AM" FOUND IN EXODUS 3:14---THE ETERNAL EXISTING ONE, TO WHOM THERE IS NO PAST OR PRESENT OR FUTURE. HE IS ABOVE TIME.

 25 Before the mountains were formed, before the hills, I was born—

MOST OF OUR MODERN MOUNTAINS AND HILLS HAVE RESULTED FROM THE UPHEAVALS RESULTING FROM THE FLOOD AND ITS AFTERMATH. SOME HILLS WERE BEFORE THE FLOOD. THEY WERE PART OF THE ORIGINAL CREATION. JESUS HIMSELF CREATED AT THE ORIGINAL CREATION, BUT IF HE CREATED THEM HE HAD TO EXIST BEFORE THEM. BEFORE IS DESCRIBING GOD IN HUMAN TERMS WHICH IS THE ONLY TERMS THAT WE UNDERSTAND. THIS DOES NOT IMPLY THAT HE HAD AN ORIGIN AS WE DO BUT THE WHOLE PINT IS TO SHOW US HS EXISTENCE PRIOR TO ALL CREATED THINGS. TO PROVE THAT HE IS GOD FOR ONLY GOD CREATED ALL THINGS. NOTHING IS ETERNAL BUT GOD.

 26 before he had made the earth and fields and the first handfuls of soil.

HERE ONCE AGAIN HE IS TALKING ABOUT WISDOM TO THE CREATION IS SET FORTH NOR IS THE IT REFERENCE TO GOD MAKING THE EARTH PROOF THAT WISDOM IS NOT CHRIST JESUS FOR THE FATHER IS THE AUTHORITY AND GOD THE SON IS THE AGENT IN CREATION. FIELDS HERE REFERS TO THE OUTSIDE PLACED IN CONTRAST TO THE MOUNTAINS. MOST OF THE PRIMEVAL EARTH WAS FLAT AND THE MOUNTAINS OF LATER DATE IS THAT THIS GOES BAC TO THE VERY BEGINNING. HANDFULS OF SOIL SOUNDS STRANGE BUT PERHAPS IT REFERS TO MAN, THE NOBLEST PART OF CREATION WHO WAS MADE OF THE DUST OF THE EARTH. IT IS THE SAME IN BOTH PLACES AND IS OFTEN USED OF MAN, WISDOM'S EXISTENCE BEFORE THE FIRST MAN. THE CREATION OF MAN IS THE LAST AND HIGHEST STAGE IN THE PRODUCTION OF ORGANIC LIFE. EVERY STEP IN CREATION SO FAR IS THE PROPHECY OF HIS COMING AND A PREPERATION FOR IT. THIS WONDERFUL WORLD IS PURPOSED FOR A HIGHER BEING THAN FISH OR FOWL OR BEAST

HEAVEN AND ITS HOSTS SUCH AS THE ANGELS AND THE STARS WERE PREPARED BEFORE THE EARTH. IT WAS THE REBELLION OF AN ANGEL THAT DISRUPTED THE EARTH AS IN GENESIS 1:1. THUS WISDOM BEFORE ALL EVEN THE ANGELIC CREATION AND PROVES CHRIST TO BE INFINITELY MORE THAN THE HIGHEST ARCHANGEL. THE BIBLE IS ALWAYS ACCURATE IN ALL REALMS SCIENCE INCLUDED AND SO IT IS ALWAYS FAR IN ADVANCE OF THE MOST ADVANCED SCIENTIFIC THEORIES, AND SCIENCE FALSELY SO CALLED THAT OPPOSES THE BIBLE.

 28 I was there when he set the clouds above, when he established springs deep in the earth.

CLOUDS ARE A MYSTERY EVEN TO METEOROLOGISTS. TIME-LAPSE PHOTOGRAPHY OF DEVELOPING CLOUDS MAKE IT APPEAR THAT THEY DEVELOPED OUT OF NOTHING. WERE IT NOT FOR GOD'S HAVING ESTABLISHED THE ATOMSPHERIC LAWAS THAT PRODUCE CLOUDS, THEY WOULD LONG SINCE HAVE DISSIPATED ONCE AND FOR ALL AND LEFT THIS GLOBE BARREN DESERT, INCAPABLE OF LIFE. GOD ALSO HAS BLESSED THE EARTH WITH RESERVIORS OF WATER TO NOURISH LIFE DURING DROUGHTS. THIS DEALS PRIMARILY WITH THE ORIGINAL CREATION. HE ESTABLISHED SPRINGS SO AS TO SINK DOWN INTO THEIR DEEP BED AND NOT FLOAT ABOVE IN THE AIR, LIKE THE CLOUDS; AND STRENGHTENED THE FOUNTAIN-BEDS SO THAT THE DEEP SHOULD NOT BREAK FORTH, AS HE PROCEEDS TO DESCRIBE IN VERSE 29.

 29 I was there when he set the limits of the seas, so they would not spread beyond their boundaries. And when he marked off the earth’s foundations,

THIS DECREE IS STATIN IN JOB 38:10-11 AND IN JEREMIAH 5:22. ALL THAT GOD DOES IS ORDERLY AND EVERY PART OF THE CREATION IS BOUNDED BY LAWS AND DECREES WHICH IS WHY ALL CREATION WORKS WITH A MORE PERFECT PRECISION THAT THE MOST PRECISE CLOCK ON EARTH. THE SKEPTIC MAY SNORT THAT IT IS ONLY THE HIGHER LEVEL OF LAND THAT HOLDS THE SEA IN PLACE BUT THIS WOULD BE TRUE ONLY IF THE EARTH ERER ONE GREAT FLAT PANCAKE. BECASUE IS IS A GLOBE THE NATURAL TENDENCY WOULD BE FOR ALL WATER TO FLY OUT INTO SPACE AWAY FROM EARTH BUT FOR THE LAW OF GRAVITY WHICH CONSTANTLY PRESSES THE WATERS INTO THE PORES OF THE EARTH. GOD ALSO APPOINTED FOUNDATIONS TO THE EARTH. WE KNOW LITTLE ABOUT BECAUSE THEY ARE IN THE HEART OF THE EARTH BUT THEY STABLY UPHOLD THE SURFACE.

 30 I was the architect at his side. I was his constant delight, rejoicing always in his presence.

THIS VERSE IS SIMILAR TO JOHN 1:1-2 WHERE WE HAVE (1.) ABSOLUTE ETERNITY OF BEING (2.) DISTINCT PERSONALITY (3.)NATURE OR ESSENCE OF DIETY. WISDOM'S ETERNAL EXISTENCE BEFORE ALL CREATION MEANS THIS CAN REFER ONLY TO DEITY. AT HIS SIDE SHOW DISTINCT PERSONALITY. DELIGHT AND REJOICING REVEALS THE MUTUAL COMPLACENCY THAT THE FATHER AND THE SON HAVE WITH EACH OTHER. GOD THE FATHER CALLS JESUS HIS BELOVED. REJOICING IS MORE COMMLY RENDERED MEANING LAUGH OR PLAY AND THE IDEA IS OF A FATHER'S DELIGHT IN WATCHING A CHILD FROLIC BEFORE HIM. THE TRUTH MEANT IS I WAS THE ARCHITECT AT HIS SIDE IS AS THE CLOSEST AND SUPREME OBJECT OF THE FATHER'S DELIGHT.

 31 And how happy I was with the world he created; how I rejoiced with the human family!

HAPPY AND REJOICED ARE BOTH THE SAME WORDS IN BOTH VERSES SHOWING THAT WHAT THE FATHER FELT FOR HIS SON THE SON ALSO FEELS FOR MEN FOR THE SON DOES ALL THE WORKS THAT HIS FATHER DOES FOR HE IS EQUAL TO THE FATHER IN ALL ATTRIBUTES. HERE WE SEE THE LOVE OF JESUS FOR MEN MANIFESTING ITSELF IN ETERNITY PAST FOR KNOWING THE FATHER'S COUNSELS HE RECKONED MEN AS ALREADY EXISTING THOUGH THEY DID SO ONLY IN THE ELECTIVE PURPOSES AND COUNSELS OF GOD. IT WAS THIS SUPREME KIND OF LOVE THAT MOVED HIM TO VOLUNTARILY LAY DOWN HIS LIFE FOR HIS SHEEP. IT REQUIRED A LIKE SUPREME LOVE FOR THE FATHER TO GIVE UP HIS SON.

 32 “And so, my children, listen to me, for all who follow my ways are joyful.

AND SO MY CHILDREN SUGGEST A REASON TO LOVE GOD BECAUSE OF HIS LOVE TO US AND LOVE IS ALWAYS MANIFESTED TO GOD BY OBEDIENCE. WISDOM APPEALS TO THE SONS OF MEN TO OBEY AND KEEP HER WAYS THAT THEY MIGHT BE BLESSED. JESUS APPARENTLY REFERS TO THIS VERY VERSE IN LUKE 11:28, 49; 7:35. LET WISDOM'CHILDREN JUSTIFY WISDOM BY HEARKENING TO HER. SO FAR FROM WISDOM'S COUNSEL CAUSING ONE TO LOSE OUT ON SOME DESIRABLE THINGS. IT ACTUALLY PROMOTES HAPPINESS, IT WITHHOLDS ONE FROM DANGERS, AND DIRECTS ONE TO THAT WHICH IS BEST FOR HIM. NO ONE REALLY LOSES ANYTHING OF REAL VALUE BY OBEYING THE WORD OF GOD. IT IS APART OF SATAN'S DECEPTION TO IMPLY THAT GOD WITHHOLDS GOOD FROM HIS PEOPLE.

 33 Listen to my instruction and be wise. Don’t ignore it.

THERE CANNOT BE ANY WISDOM WITHOUT THE HEARING OF GOD'S WORD AND ACCEPTING IT. HENCE SATAN ATTEMPTS TO OUT OFF WISDOM AT ITS VERY SOURCE BY STEALING THE WORD FROM US. NOT HOW HE DOES THIS IN JEREMIAH 23:29-32: (1.) BY WITHHOLDING THE WORD--VERSE 30 (2.) BY MISINTERPRETING IT--VERSE 31 (3.) BY SUSTITUTION OF FALSEHOOD FOR IT--VERSE 32. THIS HAS ALWAYS BEEN A COMMON WAY OF KEEPING US FROM OBEYING WISDOM'S PRECEPTS SO THAT THEY COULD BE HAPPY. OFTEN OUR OWN DEPRAVED NATURE CAUSES HIM TO LEND HIMSELF TO THIS DECEPTION SO AS TO REFUSE THE WORD.

 34 Joyful are those who listen to me, watching for me daily at my gates, waiting for me outside my home!

JOYFUL ALWAYS HAS TO DO WITH HAPPINESS SO THAT HERE IS THE SOURCE OF TRUE HAPPINESS: OBEDIENCE TO JESUS. BUT NOTICE HOW THIS TEACHES THE PREVENIENT GRACE OF GOD; PREVENIENT GRACE IS GRACE THAT GOES BEFORE AND ACTS PRIOR TO ALL HUMAN ACTING AND SEEKING. WE DO NOT FIRST SEEK HIM UNTIL WE FIND HIM, BUT HE FIRST SEEKS US, CRYING AT OUR GATES AND DOORS. GATES AND DOORS REPRESENT OUR HEARTS. WE FINALLY SEEK TO HIM. IN THIS DAY OF HUMANISM AND WILL-WORSHIP ONE HEARS LITTLE OF PREVENIENT GRACE.

LIFE IS PLURAL FOR THE PROMISE IS BOTH OF THE LIFE THAT IS NOW AND THAT WHICH IS YET TO COME. BOTH OF THESE FIND THEIR FULLNESS ONLY IN JESUS FOR IN HIM ALONE IS THE LIFE THAT IS THE LIGHT OF US. ETERNAL LIFE IS ALONE IN JESUS AND THIS IS THROUGH THE GRACE (FAVOR) OF GOD FOR WE ARE ONLY ACCEPTED IN JESUS. WHOSOEVER NEGLECTS THE SALVATION THAT IS IN JESUS ALONE, SHALL NOT HAVE LFIE. THE LORD'S PROMISE TO SEEKERS LIKE US IS THAT WE SHALL FIND IT. THERE IS NO PROMISE BUT OF WRATH TO COME FOR THE UNCONCERNED AND NEGLIGENT. IT IS A SIMPLE CHOICE: WE MUST CHOOSE HIM WHO IS THE TRUTH OR WE SHALL BE DECEIVED BY HIM WHO IS THE LIE. THE WARNING OF THE FINAL VER IN THIS CHAPTER IS IN VERSE 36.

 36 But those who miss me injure themselves. All who hate me love death.”