172. Spirit of wisdom.

It shouldn't surprise us that wisdom is personified as a woman in Scriptures, probably because the Holy Spirit, who is called the 'Spirit of wisdom' ( Ephesians 1 :17), is feminine in his temperament (nature) though masculine in gender. 'Wisdom has built her house; she has hewn out its seven pillars.' (Proverbs 9:1-6) 'Wisdom calls aloud in the street, she raises her voice in public squares; at the head of the noisy streets she cries out, in the gateway of the city she makes her speech: How long will you simple ones ( the Hebrew word rendered simple means 'one who is without direction and inclined to evil') love your simple ways?... If you had responded to my rebuke, I would have poured out my heart to you and made my thoughts known to you."' ( 1:20-23) The Gospel is the 'message of wisdom' that is being proclaimed aloud by the Spirit, in the streets and in public squares, from the rooftops and in the gateways of the city but the morally deficient doesn't seem to understand! Concerning the Gospel, Paul wrote: 'We speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age who are coming to nothing. No, we speak of God's secret wisdom that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. None of the rulers of this age understood it for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.' ( 1 Corinthians 2:6-8) But those who have who believed the Gospel have been welcomed to the feast at the table in her house, which is the Church built on seven pillars. 'She has prepared her meat and mixed her wine; she has set her table ... "Let all who are simple come in here!", she says to those who lack judgement. "Come, eat my food and drink the wine I have mixed. Leave your simple ways and you will live; walk in the way of understanding."' (Proverbs 9:2-6) We haven't come to Church to listen to the wisdom of this world but to the wisdom of God. 'Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe.' (1 Corinthians 1:20-21) 'Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding. Do not forsake wisdom and she will protect you; love her and she will watch over you. Esteem her, she will exalt you; embrace her and she will honour you. She will set a garland of grace on your head and present you with a crown of splendor.' ( Proverbs 4:5-9) The Spirit of wisdom is a treasure we have in these jars of clay! 'Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gains understanding, for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold. She is more precious than rubies and nothing you desire can compare with her. Long life is in her hands; in her left hand are riches and honor... She is a tree of life to those who embrace her; those who lay hold of her will be blessed' (Proverbs 3:13-18) Amen.