The Birth of Wisdom

Much controversy was occasioned in the debate over the proper confessions of the incarnation and the Trinity in the early centuries of the Church by Wisdom’s portrayal in Proverbs 8: “The LORD possessed me at the beginning of his work, the first of his acts of old. Ages ago I was set up, at the first, before the beginning of the earth…” (vv.22, 23). The Arians used this passage to ague that Jesus was merely a created being rather than eternally God with the Father and the Spirit.

But the puzzle would arise even without the question of the person of Jesus. Obviously, God was not foolish before he created the world. Wisdom is an attribute of God. So why would Solomon portray Wisdom as a first act of creation.

Life Influences on “Solomon Says”: The Stroke

[This was originally posted at Kuyperian.com.]

As I was writing my book on Proverbs, I made a point to not mention certain things. One of those things was my ischemic stroke.

Wait a minute, Mark. You were writing a book on Proverbs. Proverbs! What could your stroke have to do with anything? Why would you even think of it?

I had reasons, but the worry that people would find such a discussion outlandish and perhaps decide I was looking for an excuse to write about myself, outweighed them.

Recently, I got James Clear’s valuable book, Atomic Habits, from the library. In the introduction, Clear begins by recounting his high school experience dealing with a life-threatening brain injury. He describes what was involved in his recovery as an entry-way into his learning the importance of acquiring productive habits.

Stewards Need Wisdom

I don’t think the implications of the stewardship parables (Matthew 25:14-30; Luke 19:11-27) are widely appreciated. The servants aren’t judged according to how well they obeyed “orders.” They were never given any specific commands other than try to multiply what they had been entrusted with. And the unfaithful servant wasn’t judged for not doing enough, but for maligning his master to his face and refusing to do anything at all with what he was given.

Toxic Monarchy from Gideon to Rehoboam

I’ve written elsewhere on “toxic masculinity” in Proverbs. I’ve also suggested that Proverbs concludes with a warning against Solomon’s foolishness in multiplying wives. I didn’t apply the term “toxic masculinity” to the folly that Solomon committed, but it might be appropriate. Male rulers prove themselves super-powerful (they think) by a large collection of wives.

To see how this is revealed in Scripture, let’s start with David.

First Samuel 25 is a story of David set between his two refusals to take Saul’s life in chapters 24 and 26. These were admirable actions. But the story of Nabal, Abigail, and David is more ambiguous.

Don’t Waste Your Slavery

But one of the worst results of being a slave and being forced to do things is that when there is no one to force you any more you find you have almost lost the power of forcing yourself.
C.S. Lewis, The Horse and His Boy

It is no secret that I love Lewis as a Christian writer and especially love the fictional story, The Horse and His Boy. Among other reasons for appreciating the book, I found that it seems to use the themes in the message of Proverbs to illustrate the same truths about maturity and wisdom.

My conversation about the book with my friend Andrew Isker is embedded at the bottom of this post for you, if you haven’t watched it already.

But, as much as I loved the book, I want to disagree with the quotation above. Or at least nuance it.

The GodArchy Podcast Interview

I am terribly tardy in telling you that I had the honor of being on the GodArchy podcast to talk about my book. Michael Maharrey was a gracious host and interviewer. I had a lot of fun! I hope we can talk again some time.

Audio: Interview on Canon Calls Podcast

I had a great time talking to Jake McAtee about my book Solomon Says. You can subscribe to the podcast to hear much more from Canon. I am grateful for the opportunity to discuss what I have learned about Proverbs!

I also appreciate this great image-quote!

Individualism is not Selfishness

People commonly oppose something they call “individualism” against another thing they call “collectivism.” Either they insist these must be “balanced” or else they champion one at the expense of the other.

There are concrete situations where one must make a decision that seems like you are dealing with these competing values of this sort. If a homeless family asks you for some money, and you give it to them, that could be understood as you helping out more people than one (the family) at the expense of one (yourself). But this doesn’t strike me as a plausible justification for thinking in these general terms.

Video: How the Bible Teaches Us to Train Our Selves

So a Bible conference in the age of Covid means talking to my phone!

I want to thank the Men’s Theology Forum for inviting me to speak to them!

Do You Trust God to Praise You?

I remember (distantly, vaguely) being taught to ride a bicycle as a young child. My parents shouldered the burden of teaching me. I am glad I don’t remember in detail all the whining they had to put up with or the extra encouraging and cajoling they had to practice to get it to happen.

Don’t misunderstand. I desperately wanted to ride a bike, at least in theory. One of the few childhood tantrums I remember was over getting a bike. But getting one is not the same as being able to use a bicycle. And wanting to learn to ride feels different as a distant desire than it feels when you are wobbling on the unsteady seat, realizing that your father is about to remove his hands that are holding you up. You are going to have to pedal, steer, and stay upright on your own.