What we usually hear of prehistoric times—before humans came on the earth—is based on theory. And there's a few theories.
But what if there was an eyewitness account? You might say, "They'd have to be pretty old"! And you'd be right.
And yet, there was an eyewitness. Actually, there is an eyewitness. This eyewitness isn't just ancient but eternal, and saw how earth was formed and inhabited.
Scripture
“The Lord already possessed me long ago, when his way began, before any of his works. I was appointed from everlasting from the first, before the earth began. I was born before there were oceans, before there were springs filled with water. I was born before the mountains were settled in their places and before the hills, when he had not yet made land or fields or the first dust of the world. [vss 22-26]
"When he set up the heavens, I was there. When he traced the horizon on the surface of the ocean, when he established the skies above, when he determined the currents in the ocean, when he set a limit for the sea so the waters would not overstep his command, when he traced the foundations of the earth, I was beside him as a master craftsman. [vss 27-29]
"I made him happy day after day, I rejoiced in front of him all the time, found joy in his inhabited world, and delighted in the human race." [vss 30-31]
(Proverbs 8:22-31 GW) [Context– Proverbs 8]
Key phrase
I was appointed from everlasting from the first, before the earth began.
Digging Deeper...
- Who is speaking in these verses? [hint– look at the previous verses or last week's post] What is this person telling us about?
- What is described in the first several verses? How is it expressed? What does all this tell us?
- How is this person described in the latter verses? Do you understand who it speaks of?
- What does this person bring to God? In what three things does this person find joy?
Make it personal...
What is your view of how the earth began? What do you base it on, and how are you sure of it?
Has wisdom become personalized for you, yet? If so, in what way? If not, would you like it to become so?
If you could be certain about wisdom becoming personalized—how would an ancient yet eternal wisdom be valuable to you?
Have you experienced the joy of the Lord in your life? Do you believe God delights in you, as He does all humanity?
Reflection...
Philosophers—literally, lovers of wisdom—abound with a variety of thoughts. There are ancient, modern and postmodern philosophers who are studied in classrooms and libraries throughout the world. Scientists throughout the centuries have made their best guesses about how the universe and earth began. Both groups of learned people are giving us their own view of things, their own opinions.
None of these has a vested interest in humanity as God does. He is known as the Ancient of Days, and He alone is eternal. Yet, too often, God and His wisdom is ignored or viewed with contempt by many in the world. Humanity, as a whole, always seems to think they know better. But we don't.
God's Spirit was the agent of creation in the very, very beginning (Gen 1:1-2). God's Son is the very One who spoke heaven and earth and all humanity, into being (Gen 1:3; John 1:1, 14). What better source is there for wisdom in daily life than the Originator of wisdom and all that is created, including us?
Wisdom isn't a collection of abstract thoughts, but an understanding of the truth given to any person willing to respond to God's call—the call of Wisdom (Proverbs 8:1). God delights in humanity—His creation—and desires to impart wisdom to any one who seeks it, and seeks Him (James 1:5).