“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom (Proverbs 9:10),”
There is a lot of strife over gender-related issues in our world. I guess I can understand a variety of perspectives on it. But it occurs to me that women (ladies/gals/girls/shiksas/sistahs) hold a place of high esteem in my Abrahamic and Jesus faith-roots.
The Scriptures paint a picture of a Supreme Father over every living thing. His incredible Holy Spirit is His essence – the Father literally speaks and the Spirit makes it so. Not only that, the Father has a Son who does the will and work that His Father conceives – seamlessly. When viewed together, it is hard to see where One ends and the other begins.
Enter the idea of family (something the Father unequivocally weaves into His creation and earth narrative). We see an all-powerful, gracious Father. We feel the blowing of His Spirit in, around, and through lives in every century – including our own. And we have the huge benefit of looking back to the testimony of thousands who witnessed the “appearing” of Jesus the Son of God firsthand. So where is “mom?” I submit to you She is woven into the very family nature of the Godhead. Her name is Wisdom.
So as our culture asserts our search to define feminine value, I submit to you that there is no lack of respect, admiration, appreciation – and pure love – from the Godhead to this wonderful Woman.
This is where I begin my “God-view” of women. Perhaps that is why I cannot think of one woman in my life who is close to me who does not know she is a friend of great value – and a co-heir of the grace of life. This even includes my Mom.
Wisdom shouts in the street, she lifts her voice in the square; at the head of the noisy streets she cries out; at the entrance of the gates in the city she utters her sayings: “How long, O naive ones, will you love being simple-minded, and scoffers delight themselves in scoffing, and fools hate knowledge? Turn to my reproof, behold, I will pour out my spirit on you; I will make my words known to you.” – Proverbs 1:20-23
Where does Solomon’s wisdom fit in? (1 Kings 3:28-34; 10:23-24)
Psalm 63. Learn To Be Hungry