Aug 19, 2018 sermon on Proverbs 9:1-6

Rev. George Miller
Aug 19, 2018
Proverbs 9:1-6

The internet is an interesting place. Offering a world of sneaky advertising, addictive games, and pervasive public opinion, it is a rabbit hole that can suck up your time, feed you with fearful anger, and stoke all your emotional fires.

The internet can also be a good thing- creation’s largest card catalogue; opening you up to a world and to people you didn’t even know you didn’t know.

For example, discovering via Twitter that June 16 marks a very important day for those living in South Africa.

June 16, 1976 is the day the youth uprised in an act against apartheid, a system of racial separation that existed in South Africa from 1948-1994.

Frustrated with the injustice that caused the black community to live in impoverished neighborhoods with substandard schools, about 10,000 students peacefully marched together against the government’s directive, on their way to a rally set to take place in Orlando Stadium, Soweto.

On their way there, the students were met with heavily armed police who used tear gas and live ammunition, killing 13 year old Hector Pieterson and 22 other children, resulting in a widespread revolt. By the end of the month 176 students were killed and thousands more were injured.

Because of the internet, and the world of Twitter, one can easily find this information, learn more about it, and engage with people in South Africa who have lived through this and celebrate the national holiday.

It turns out that each year, the South Africa TV station, channel 138, shows the musical "Sarafina" which depicts the Soweto Youth Uprising.

"Sarafina" was a Broadway musical turned into a movie by Disney back in 1992. Although the movie bombed here in America, it is one of the biggest films in South Africa.

They show “Sarafina” in June the same way here in America they show “The 10 Commandments” during Easter.

According to the world of Twitter, the showing of “Sarafina” is a big communal event in which people will sit glued to their TV, post about it on social media, and it’s even been said that the day after its showing people will be dancing in the streets, singing the songs and reprising the dance steps.

In the movie there is a scene in which the history teacher stands before her students and says this-

“History is a beautiful thing…It teaches you were you come from. I want you to know this. I want you to be proud of what we got right, and tell the truth about what we got wrong and learn from it; otherwise what’s the use of tomorrow if you don’t learn?”

“All you got is today and today and today, and we are much better than that. Believe me.”

History. As presented by this teacher it is a living thing, a reality: a barometer for true life and how to live-live-live with honesty, integrity, and pride.

History is a beautiful thing.

In the context of what the teacher taught the students, we can also say that history can be another word used for knowledge, for opportunity, for common sense, and for wisdom.

Wisdom, or Lady Wisdom, as she is so eloquently portrayed in the Book of Proverbs, is an important part of today’s Old Testament reading.

In chapter 9, we hear how wisdom is a cosmic hostess who builds a magnificent home, creates an elaborate feast, and invites people to come, enjoy, and to walk in the way of insight.

Wisdom also appears in chapters 1 and 8.

The poet tells us that wisdom was created at the beginning of God’s work; the 1st of God’s actions.

According to Proverbs, before there was even the mountains, seas, and stars, God created Wisdom, and wisdom stood beside God, like a willing worker.

It’s a complex description written centuries before the birth of Jesus, in which Wisdom is given very clearly feminine attributes and is said to delight with God in the human race.

This personification of Wisdom as a woman, an entity, talks about how she calls out to us, how she reaches out her hand, how she gives council and security.

In astounding detail, we are told how wisdom plays a role in understanding, in insight, and acquiring skill.

Perhaps most telling of all is the claim that wisdom is essential in justice and equity.

Wisdom, as proverbs 9 states builds, nourishes, and calls- “Come and eat the bread; come and drink the wine. Live and walk in the way of truth.”

Wisdom….sounds a bit familiar, doesn’t she?; this unique cosmic expression of righteousness, who invites, shares a meal, and promises life.

Think of Jesus, of all the wisdom Jesus has imparted upon us throughout the centuries.

When we think of Jesus and his ministry, we may first think about his healing, his feeding the thousands, the miracles. We may think of his casting out the demons, or his death on the cross.

But we can also think about Jesus and just how much of his ministry was actually wisdom based. Just how much time he spent teaching, how much time he devoted to knowledge and learning.

Jesus was not just a miracle worker or a magic show, but he was a teacher, always providing people with new ways to think, with stories that challenged their understanding.

In fact, the 1st known writing about Jesus was a collection of the lessons he taught.

Jesus was a living embodiment of wisdom, using his words, his stories to teach people about God, to illuminate the kingdom and to get people to think on their own about what it meant to be in relationship with and to be in awe with God.

Think of all the ways Jesus encouraged people to embrace wisdom and to learn and to think for themselves.

On the mountaintop, when Jesus sat amongst the crowds and said “You are the light of the world…let your light shine before others.”

On the plain, where Jesus stood among them on a level place, and said “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.”

On the seashore, where Jesus rested upon a boat in the water and taught “The kingdom of God is like a tiny mustard seed that grows mighty and becomes a home for all the birds to find shade.”

Or in the home, in which Jesus went against all accepted social conventions, by allowing Mary to sit at his feet as an apt pupil equal to any man of her day.

Jesus taught and taught and taught, sharing wisdom like seeds to be scattered everywhere, and Jesus didn’t worry if the knowledge he shared landed amongst rocks or briars or fertilized soil.

Jesus shared wisdom as the unlimited, life affirming, God-created resource it is.

Jesus was Twitter before there was Twitter. Jesus was the free press before there was a 1st Amendment. Jesus was and is the ultimate cosmic card catalogue.

Which means that when we say your prayers, when we lift our voices up to the Lord, we can ask that in addition to there being healing and miracles and answered prayers, we can ask that God gives us the wisdom to figure things out, the wisdom to wait things through, and the wisdom to be our own rescuers.

In closing, let us share a story that was told amongst the early Christians. It is a story that does not appear in the Bible but can be found in ancient texts.

It tells another view of the creation narrative.

The story says that in the beginning was a realm of harmony and concord and the world as we know it was born.

A human being was created but no matter how huffing and puffing was done, Adam remained still on the ground.

The divine realm saw Adam and Wisdom decided to send down her daughter, Life, to help him. Life, also called Eve, saw Adam on the ground and said to him “Adam, live, arise from the ground.”

And Eve’s words became a work.

Adam rose, opened his eyes and said “You will be called Mother of the Living, for you have given me life.”

History, knowledge, common sense, wisdom- they lead to righteousness, they lead to justice, they lead to understanding.

Wisdom leads us closer to creation, closer to one another, and closer to God.

Let us give thanks for God’s wisdom which was here before the beginning of time, thanks to the wisdom made known in the life of Jesus Christ, and thanks to the Holy Spirit for the ways she councils and speaks to us.

Amen and Amen.