Icon of Divine Wisdom from St George Church in Vologda (16th century)
“The LORD brought me forth as the first of his works, before his deeds of old; I was formed long ages ago, at the very beginning, when the world came to be. When there were no watery depths, I was given birth, when there were no springs overflowing with water; before the mountains were settled in place, before the hills, I was given birth, before he made the world or its fields or any of the dust of the earth. I was there when he set the heavens in place, when he marked out the horizon on the face of the deep, when he established the clouds above and fixed securely the fountains of the deep, when he gave the sea its boundary so the waters would not overstep his command, and when he marked out the foundations of the earth. Then I was constantly at his side. I was filled with delight day after day, rejoicing always in his presence, rejoicing in his whole world and delighting in mankind.” (Pro 8:22-31 NIV)
Before Adam was, there was Sophia. Sophia, the Greek translation of the word for wisdom. This singular, feminine noun is personified in Proverbs eight and nine. In chapter eight she describes herself as being created before all else was created, even given birth before the creation of the world (26). She was there when God set the heavens in their place. When God asked Job, “Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation? Tell me, if you understand. Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know! Who stretched a measuring line across it? On what were its footings set, or who laid its cornerstone–while the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy? (Job 38:4-7 NIV) Mankind was nowhere to be found. Sophia was constantly at God side, filled with delight, rejoicing in his presence, and at what God was creating.
Psalm 16:11 says, “You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore. That path into God presence is illuminated by wisdom as she shows you the way into God’s presence.
