May 19th 2018 – Proverbs 8:22-31

“The Lord possessed me at the beginning of his work,
    the first of his acts of old.
23 Ages ago I was set up,
    at the first, before the beginning of the earth.
24 When there were no depths I was brought forth,
    when there were no springs abounding with water.
25 Before the mountains had been shaped,
    before the hills, I was brought forth,
26 before he had made the earth with its fields,
    or the first of the dust of the world.
27 When he established the heavens, I was there;
    when he drew a circle on the face of the deep,
28 when he made firm the skies above,
    when he established the fountains of the deep,
29 when he assigned to the sea its limit,
    so that the waters might not transgress his command,
when he marked out the foundations of the earth,
30     then I was beside him, like a master workman,
and I was daily his delight,
    rejoicing before him always,
31 rejoicing in his inhabited world
    and delighting in the children of man.

The juxtaposition of ideas in the reference to 'delight' (3) and 'delights' (31) is very suggestive in relation to the New Testament revelation of Christ, Who is set forth as the Mediator between God and man. Here is a picture, by implication, of His mediatorial work, relating in His God-manhood both to the holy God and to sinful man, standing in between them, so making peace. It gives a very graphic insight into the mystery of the Atonement to see on the one hand the reality and joy of His fellowship with the Father and His love for Him, and on the other His pleasure in those created in His image. His desire for them even in their atonement for their sin. This twofold delight in the Father and in His sinful creation - is what brought Him down to express the Father's love to the sons of men. It is something passing wonderful that He should condescend to take plea- sure in His people (cf Psalm 149:4) - this is the mystery of grace, and what our minds can hardly comprehend our hearts may surely know, and will know, when we respond to the invitation of this heavenly wisdom to embrace it and make it our own.