Proverbs 8:30 - Homiletics

The pre-eminent glory of Christ

This is affirmed of wisdom, and wisdom in the Proverbs is always an abstraction, an attribute of God, or a grace conferred upon man. Thus we have the highly imaginative picture of a certain quality of thought described like a personal favourite in the heavenly presence. But surely it is not necessary for us to rest with this idea. The New Testament cannot be out of our minds when we read the Old. It was not long before Jews learnt to personify wisdom, and when Christ appeared he realized in his own Person what had previously been ascribed to an abstract quality. Christ is "the Truth" ( John 14:6 ) and "the Wisdom of God" ( 1 Corinthians 1:24 ). His pre-existence is affirmed by himself ( John 8:58 ) and repeatedly asserted by his apostles ( e.g. Colossians 1:16 ). We may, then, think of Christ embodying this wisdom of God in the awful ages of the past, and see how truly what is here predicated of wisdom applies to him in whom that wisdom dwelt.

I. WISDOM IN CHRIST WAS WITH GOD . "I was by him."

1 . Wisdom was always with God, always at his right hand. There was never a time when God acted blindly, imperfectly, without full consciousness. We have no ground for thinking of a lawless chaos previous to the exercise of Divine wisdom and power in creation. Even when the world was" without form and void" ( Genesis 1:2 ), God's wise thought presided over it. God's mind did not grow like ours, from infantile simplicity. He was ever fully God.

2 . Christ was similarly eternal with God. "The Word was with God" ( John 1:1 ). When he came to our earth he came forth from God. His condescension was seen in this, that he left his place by the right hand of his Father and came down to dwelt with men.

II. WISDOM IN CHRIST WAS CONCERNED IN CREATION .

1 . God made the universe in wisdom. It bears the impress of thought. Deep purposes have impregnated it. Creation is a parable of infinite ideas.

2 . God created all things through Christ. "By whom he made the worlds" ( Hebrews 1:2 ). Of course, the humanity of Jesus was not then existing. But the Divine side of our Lord was not only eternal; it was even directly active. Therefore there is a Christ-spirit in nature.

III. WISDOM IS CHRIST WAS GOD 'S DAILY DELIGHT .

1 . God rejoices over his work, as an artist over the thing of beauty that his hand has fashioned according to the dream of his heart. "God saw that it was good" ( Genesis 1:10 ). The thought that is in God's work is his especial delight. He cares not for mere exhibitions of brute force. He loves wisdom.

2 . God rejoices over Christ. So Christ is God's "beloved Son" ( Matthew 3:17 ). There are times when we grieve our Father, though at other seasons he may smile upon us. But Christ always dwelt under the smile of his Father, a daily delight—rejoiced in for his wisdom and the holy and gracious use he made of it.

IV. CHRIST , BY HIS WISDOM , WAS REJOICING ALWAYS BEFORE GOD . Wisdom is a source of joy. Wisdom devoted to God is doubly joyous. Christ had an ancient joy ( John 15:11 ). He left a happy home to come to us. The word for this joy is "sporting." Is there humour in nature? May there be in heaven those lighter, innocent joys which make up so much of the mirth of children on earth? Why should Christ have been always solemn?