Proverbs 8:6. Hear, for I will speak noble things,
Remember, Lady Wisdom is doing the talking here in Proverbs 8. She is a woman who is calling out to all who will listen and follow. Wisdom always speaks what is noble. This word noble is the word for a prince or ruler. Wisdom speaks like a king or queen. Just like we might expect King Charles of England to not use potty humor, off-colored jokes, or to speak of base things, so too Wisdom herself will speak with nobility.
The question is, are we listening to the noble things that Wisdom speaks? Jesus is Wisdom himself, and Jesus is speaking noble things to us. But can we hear him? Or are we too distracted with the things of this world? Power. Success. Identity. Self-actualization. Following our dreams. Controlling our destiny.
In 1 Corinthians, Paul contrasts the high and noble wisdom of God with the wisdom of the world. The world considers the cross of Christ, and all that it implies, to be foolishness (1 Cor. 1:18). The Holy Spirit in us is revealing to us the high things of God (1 Cor. 2:10), and he is giving us the mind of Christ himself (1 Cor. 2:16). But what does that mean?
It means that in Christ we have Wisdom himself guiding our thoughts (Phil. 4:8) and our words (Eph. 5:4). And we better believe that Jesus, our prince, speaks noble things to us. High things. The “secret and hidden” things of God (1 Cor. 2:7).
But the whole point of 1 Corinthians 2 is to show us that the secret and hidden, the noble things of God are not actually secret or hidden anymore. They are revealed in the foolishness of the cross. The high and noble wisdom of God is considered ridiculous and even insane to the world. Strength through weakness? Life through death? Victory through defeat? That’s not nobility. That’s not princely. Only a fool would take such a path.
Welcome to union with Christ – the path of the “fool” who would give up everything for love.
You: Has the way of the cross ever felt like foolishness to you personally?
You in Christ: If you have time, read 1 Corinthians 1:18-2:16.In what way is the cross both foolish yet noble?
Christ in you: In what ways might Christ in you look foolish to some, but noble to others?
Pray: Father, your high and noble ways look foolish to the world. Help me to live in the nobility of the cross even with all its weakness and foolishness. Amen.
To Live is Christ 