What is Wisdom?

When I was in the 8th grade, I was taught by a nun who was also an artist, and she gave us many art projects to complete.  Surprisingly, one of those projects became for me a lesson in wisdom that affected the rest of my life.  I copied something that looked like Aladdin's Lamp, with a wisp of smoke emerging from its lip.  Above the lamp, which I colored in gold, was the word WISDOM, curved over the lamp much as WordArt does today on the computer. 

While working on this project, I fell in love with Wisdom, for some reason, and began asking God to give me Wisdom.  At the time, I had only a vague notion of what Wisdom might be, but I knew I wanted it, whatever it was.  And I also knew that nothing else but Wisdom would ever satisfy my soul.  Imagine, then, as I began reading the Bible, my feelings when I discovered at least two of its books devoted to Wisdom.  Even today, some 40+ years after that initial discovery, I devour those books as if I had just found them yesterday.  Here are a few of my favorite lines from the Book of Wisdom:

Resplendent and unfading is Wisdom, and she is readily perceived by those who love her, and found by those who seek her. 

 

She hastens to make herself known in anticipation of men's desire.  He who watches for her at dawn shall not be disappointed, for he shall find her sitting by his gate.  For taking thought of her is the perfection of prudence, and he who for her sake keeps vigil shall quickly be free from care; because she makes her own rounds, seeking those worthy of her, and graciously appears to them in the ways, and meets them with all solicitude. 

 

For the first step toward discipline is a very earnest desire for her; love means the keeping of her laws; to observe her laws is the basis for incorruptibility; and incorruptibility makes one close to God; thus the desire for Wisdom leads up to a kingdom.  If, then, you find pleasure in throne and scepter, you princes of the peoples, honor Wisdom, that you may reign forever....

 

for Wisdom, the artificer of all, taught me.  For in her is a spirit intelligent, holy, unique, manifold, subtle, agile, clear, unstained, certain, not baneful, loving the good, keen, unhampered, beneficent, kindly, firm, secure, tranquil, all-powerful, all-seeing, and pervading all spirits, though they be intelligent, pure, and very subtle. 

 

For Wisdom is mobile beyond all motion, and she penetrates and pervades all things by reason of her purity.  For she is an aura of the might of God and a pure effusion of the glory of the Almighty; therefore nought that is sullied enters into her.  For she is the refulgence of eternal light, the spotless mirror of the power of God, the image of his goodness.  And she, who is one, can do all things, and renews everything while herself perduring; and passing into holy souls from age to age, she produces friends of God and prophets.  For there is nought God loves, be it not one who dwells with Wisdom.  For she is fairer than the sun, and surpasses every constellation of the stars.  Compared to light, she takes precedence; for that, indeed, night supplants, but wickedness prevails not over Wisdom.

 

Indeed, she reaches from end to end mightily and governs all things well.

 

Who would not love Wisdom and seek 'her' after reading this passage?  Only those who skimmed over it without understanding, without savoring the meaning! If we re-read the passage while thinking of the Holy Spirit, the Advocate, the Comforter, promised by Jesus to His disciples, we want to fall down and worship Wisdom, for Scripture tells us that "Christ is the Wisdom of God," and that wisdom He graciously shares with us, through the anointing of the Holy Spirit poured out at Pentecost, "on all my servants," young men and maidens alike (Joel 2).

 

The prophets and scholars of the Old Testament rightly perceived that Wisdom was personified and active, lively, moving.  Further than that they could not see, but Jesus revealed to us the Person behind the image.  He would not have called the Holy Spirit "the Advocate" or "the Comforter" if He did not want us to know the Spirit as a Personal Friend, if He did not want us to be intimate with "the Gift of the Father."  Blessed are they who yearn for this Gift, who ask for this Gift, who await the Gift, according to Jesus' teaching in Matthew 7 and Luke 11!  For the Father yearns to give this Gift upon all who knock at the door, seek, and ask for it.