Proverbs 8:17-36: a reflection

17I love those who love me. Those who seek me diligently will find me. 18With me are riches, honor, enduring wealth, and prosperity. 19My fruit is better than gold, yes, than fine gold, my yield than choice silver. 20I walk in the way of righteousness, in the middle of the paths of justice, 21that I may give wealth to those who love me. I fill their treasuries. 22“The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his work, before his deeds of old. 23I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, before the earth existed. 24When there were no depths, I was born, when there were no springs abounding with water. 25Before the mountains were settled in place, before the hills, I was born; 26while as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the beginning of the dust of the world. 27When he established the heavens, I was there. When he set a circle on the surface of the deep, 28when he established the clouds above, when the springs of the deep became strong, 29when he gave to the sea its boundary, that the waters should not violate his commandment, when he marked out the foundations of the earth, 30then I was the craftsman by his side. I was a delight day by day, always rejoicing before him, 31rejoicing in his whole world. My delight was with the sons of men. 32“Now therefore, my sons, listen to me, for blessed are those who keep my ways. 33Hear instruction, and be wise. Don’t refuse it. 34Blessed is the man who hears me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at my door posts. 35For whoever finds me finds life, and will obtain favor from the LORD. 36But he who sins against me wrongs his own soul. All those who hate me love death.”

In this passage, wisdom is personified, speaking of her place at God's side in creation; and she says something astonishing about God's disposition toward humankind. Rejoicing in his whole world, she says, my delight was with the sons of men. Amid all of creation, in which God rejoiced, there was a particular delight: his delight was with humankind, with people. God did not merely make people and set them aside; among all his works, his delight was with the sons of men. There is a delight of God in humankind, in people, expressed here.

Notice the astonishing thing said: God's delight was with humankind. Amid all the glory of creation, the heavens and the deep and the mountains, God's particular delight was with people, the sons of men. It is a wonder: that God, the Maker of all, should take delight in humankind, in people such as we are. We might imagine God indifferent to us, or merely tolerating us; but the wisdom that was with God at creation delighted in humankind. God's disposition toward people is one of delight, not indifference; his delight was with the sons of men.

That is worth resting in, for it means God delights in people, in us, not merely tolerating or being indifferent to us. We can imagine that God is indifferent to us, or merely puts up with us, tolerating our existence; but the wisdom that was with God at creation says his delight was with humankind. God delights in people, and delights in you; his disposition toward you is not indifference or mere toleration, but delight. Do not imagine God indifferent to you, or merely tolerating you; his delight is with humankind, and he delights in you. Rest in the wonder that God delights in people, and in you, as the wisdom of God rejoiced with the sons of men at creation; for God's disposition toward humankind is delight, and he takes delight in his people, even in you, not merely tolerating but delighting in those he made.

Lord, in this passage, wisdom is personified, speaking of her place at your side in creation; and she says something astonishing about your disposition toward humankind. Rejoicing in his whole world, she says, my delight was with the sons of men. Amid all of creation, in which you rejoiced, there was a particular delight: your delight was with humankind, with people. You did not merely make people and set them aside; among all your works, your delight was with the sons of men. Show me the astonishing thing said: your delight was with humankind. Amid all the glory of creation, your particular delight was with people. It is a wonder: that you, the Maker of all, should take delight in humankind, in people such as we are. I might imagine you indifferent to us, or merely tolerating us; but the wisdom that was with you at creation delighted in humankind. Your disposition toward people is one of delight, not indifference. Let me rest in that, for it means you delight in people, in me, not merely tolerating or being indifferent to me. I can imagine that you are indifferent to me, or merely put up with me; but the wisdom that was with you at creation says your delight was with humankind. You delight in people, and delight in me; your disposition toward me is not indifference, but delight. Keep me from imagining you indifferent to me, or merely tolerating me; your delight is with humankind, and you delight in me, Lord. Help me rest in the wonder that you delight in people, and in me.