Wisdom the Tree of Life
Gen. 3 records that God took counsel against the possibility that Adam and Eve, having become "wise in their own eyes" by eating of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, would then stretch ou their hand to take the fruit of the tree of life and live forever. So he cast them out of the garden and guarded its entrance with a flaming sword of cherubim.
Now here, we are told that wisdom is the tree of life to those who "take hold of her" (stretch out their hand, hold her fast). "Long life is in her right hand;" "length of days and years of life and peace they [the teaching and the commandments] will add to you."
The writer then turns back to the story of creation even more explicitly: "The LORD by wisdom founded the earth, by understand he established the heavens." To gain wisdom is not only to gain the tree of life, then, but also the power of creation, the means by which God created the heavens and the earth, or at least the means by which He brought order to them out of chaos.
So what are we to do?
1. Find a way to remember--to remain constantly aware of God's law of love. "Bind them on your neck (the source of stubborn self will), write them on the tablet of your heart (the source of evil desires).
2. Trust. Believe that God will fulfill the desires of your heart better than you can fulfill them for yourself. Trust in His power, yes; but moreover, trust in his goodness--"that He is, and He is a rewarder of those who seek Him."
3. Acknowledge--"start with God," the "God Hypothesis." He is present, always present. Am I frustrated? He is present. Have others hurt me? He is present. Discern His intentions and purpose to cooperate with Him. This will have the effects of freeing us from self-deception (wise in our own eyes), protecting us from temptation (turn from evil) and freeing us from bitterness (healing to the flesh, refreshment to the bones).
4. Honor. Having acknowledged the presence of God even in the evil, we must also acknowledge him in the good. When we work and produce, we are at risk of thinking that our work alone has brought the profit. We cooperate with God in every good work. Apart from him, no labor produces bread, no tree yields its fruit. When we so honor him, he is free to have our "barns be filled with plenty, our vats with new wine." It is a curse if God allows us to prosper without honoring him, for the lack of prosperity is designed to push us to see our need for him. Woe to the man whom the Lord gives over to riches without the fear of the Lord.
5. Accept discipline. This must be seen as leading into the following verses. To find the "blessed" wisdom whose profit is better than silver, gold, jewels, or any object of desire, comes only from not "rejecting" the father's loving discipline. The finished work of discipline is the path of "peace." Those who accept discipline are not at war in their hearts, with God or with man.
Now here, we are told that wisdom is the tree of life to those who "take hold of her" (stretch out their hand, hold her fast). "Long life is in her right hand;" "length of days and years of life and peace they [the teaching and the commandments] will add to you."
The writer then turns back to the story of creation even more explicitly: "The LORD by wisdom founded the earth, by understand he established the heavens." To gain wisdom is not only to gain the tree of life, then, but also the power of creation, the means by which God created the heavens and the earth, or at least the means by which He brought order to them out of chaos.
So what are we to do?
1. Find a way to remember--to remain constantly aware of God's law of love. "Bind them on your neck (the source of stubborn self will), write them on the tablet of your heart (the source of evil desires).
2. Trust. Believe that God will fulfill the desires of your heart better than you can fulfill them for yourself. Trust in His power, yes; but moreover, trust in his goodness--"that He is, and He is a rewarder of those who seek Him."
3. Acknowledge--"start with God," the "God Hypothesis." He is present, always present. Am I frustrated? He is present. Have others hurt me? He is present. Discern His intentions and purpose to cooperate with Him. This will have the effects of freeing us from self-deception (wise in our own eyes), protecting us from temptation (turn from evil) and freeing us from bitterness (healing to the flesh, refreshment to the bones).
4. Honor. Having acknowledged the presence of God even in the evil, we must also acknowledge him in the good. When we work and produce, we are at risk of thinking that our work alone has brought the profit. We cooperate with God in every good work. Apart from him, no labor produces bread, no tree yields its fruit. When we so honor him, he is free to have our "barns be filled with plenty, our vats with new wine." It is a curse if God allows us to prosper without honoring him, for the lack of prosperity is designed to push us to see our need for him. Woe to the man whom the Lord gives over to riches without the fear of the Lord.
5. Accept discipline. This must be seen as leading into the following verses. To find the "blessed" wisdom whose profit is better than silver, gold, jewels, or any object of desire, comes only from not "rejecting" the father's loving discipline. The finished work of discipline is the path of "peace." Those who accept discipline are not at war in their hearts, with God or with man.
