Wow. It’s a bit of a gut punch to realize how much I’ve bought into talk of “acquiring” wisdom, like an object(!) to be possessed or owned(!!). Thank you for helping me to connect these dots that I’ve looked over countless times and never seen with enlightened eyes.
This was how I was first taught about wisdom, too. And there is support for it. "Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding" from Proverbs 4. But the surrounding verses are this: "Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee. Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee."
And then I realized that's how I was also taught to think about the Spirit: as a disembodied power without a mind, will, or personhood. But that's not how Jesus talks about the Holy Spirit.
It's like we are trying to appropriate Wisdom for ourselves rather than recognizing that we are meant to serve and live out God's divine Wisdom, which is communicated to us (many times against our practical understanding). However, "Exalt her and she will exalt you," also in Proverbs 4. This verse incidentally reminds me so much of James 4:10: "Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you."
Thank you for responding and for engaging deeply! I really appreciate it.
Of course! Martin Buber wrote an entire book about engaging with God subject-to-subject rather than subject-to-object. I’ve come across a bit of this idea when reading on existentialism, though I haven’t read Buber’s book (I and Thou, when translated to English). But your words have come to me through that lens, and I’m recognizing how deep the subject-to-object approach goes and into so many bits of life.
Lord, let us bring forth True Life, life abundant, and be a crown of glory, here and now upon the earth, among friends and enemies, within family and with strangers, in front of kings and queens, in season and out of season….help us Lord to find You, to see ourselves, and be Life, Wisdom, Hope, Help, yes empowered by The Holy Spirit to bring forth GOOD.
Wow. It’s a bit of a gut punch to realize how much I’ve bought into talk of “acquiring” wisdom, like an object(!) to be possessed or owned(!!). Thank you for helping me to connect these dots that I’ve looked over countless times and never seen with enlightened eyes.
This was how I was first taught about wisdom, too. And there is support for it. "Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding" from Proverbs 4. But the surrounding verses are this: "Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee. Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee."
And then I realized that's how I was also taught to think about the Spirit: as a disembodied power without a mind, will, or personhood. But that's not how Jesus talks about the Holy Spirit.
It's like we are trying to appropriate Wisdom for ourselves rather than recognizing that we are meant to serve and live out God's divine Wisdom, which is communicated to us (many times against our practical understanding). However, "Exalt her and she will exalt you," also in Proverbs 4. This verse incidentally reminds me so much of James 4:10: "Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you."
Thank you for responding and for engaging deeply! I really appreciate it.
Of course! Martin Buber wrote an entire book about engaging with God subject-to-subject rather than subject-to-object. I’ve come across a bit of this idea when reading on existentialism, though I haven’t read Buber’s book (I and Thou, when translated to English). But your words have come to me through that lens, and I’m recognizing how deep the subject-to-object approach goes and into so many bits of life.
Lord, let us bring forth True Life, life abundant, and be a crown of glory, here and now upon the earth, among friends and enemies, within family and with strangers, in front of kings and queens, in season and out of season….help us Lord to find You, to see ourselves, and be Life, Wisdom, Hope, Help, yes empowered by The Holy Spirit to bring forth GOOD.
yes a season of deep flourishing and deep rootedness