Friday 5 June 2026

Psalm 147

Background
Proverbs is one of the ‘wisdom’ books of the Old Testament (along with other poetic books such as Psalms, Job and Ecclesiastes). It is a collection of ancient sayings of the Hebrew Scriptures.

Chapter 8 is a poem divided into seven stanzas. For God’s people, wisdom has always been greatly prized. and here is personified as a woman. Verses 1-4 speak of wisdom as a preacher, the fifth stanza speaks of wisdom’s priority over all things (vs 22-26) and sixth, of wisdom’s presence at the birth of creation (vs 27-31).

Wisdom speaks for herself (v. 4). We are told in verse 22 “The  Lord created me at the beginning of his work, the first of his acts of long ago.” Wisdom is described as the first of God’s creative acts; we might say she is ‘the firstborn of all creation’.

Wisdom in this context does not just mean formal knowledge, but includes qualities such as prudence, discretion, self-discipline and patience. Crucially, Proverbs 9:10 says wisdom begins with “fear of the Lord”.

We have here the order of creation (as Genesis 1:6-10) and in our final two verses some sense that wisdom is at play in God’s creative order and that this order has meaning and purpose.

To Ponder:

• Proverbs 8 tells us that wherever we look we see the wisdom of God. Look around and dwell in that, seeking God’s wisdom in your surroundings.
• Hear too that we flourish when we are in harmony with creation and that we are with wisdom when we seek to be one in creation. What does this mean for you today?

Prayer
Creator God, you brought forth wisdom as your first creative act and through your word you bestow your wisdom on us. Bless us now with wisdom to see and know your beauty and wisdom herself in our environment today. Amen.

Bible notes author: The Revd David Newlove
David is an Agricultural Chaplain, the Mission Area Lead for Cumbria in the North West England District and Superintendent of the Cumbria Circuit.