Filipinos who watch the popular sitcom in the Philippines, entitled "I Love Betty La Fea" may recall this scene when the leading man, Armando asked Betty, "Are we?" to which the latter, responded, "We are!"(meaning, they are "on"/ it's them!) Such scene thrilled the fans - but no more than it thrilled Armando who danced to the tune"we are!" A similar but indirect proposal is made in Proverbs ( A Book from the Old Testament, any version of the Christian Bible); a direct one is again made later on in the New Testament.
Proverbs is about a wise man's advice to a young man/ men, to pursue wisdom. Wisdom in this book, is personified* as a woman.** At the same time folly(reckless behavior) is personified as a woman too.
According to the persona*** other men distract a young man's pursuit of wisdom and is led astray. How does a young man identify these kinds of men? Proverbs refers to them as "men who try to get ahead in the world by exploiting others "(Chapt. 1:10-19)**** and "women who seek sexual pleasure outside the bond of marriage" (Chapts 5; 6:20-25; 7).
On the other hand, genuine wisdom can be recognized by looking at the characteristics of "the wife of noble Character" (Chapt. 31:10 - Epilogue: The Wife of Noble Character): ...
WHAT IS MOST IMPORTANT though is - who is this woman of noble character? Who is the "she" being referred to in "she is worth far more than rubies" ( 31:10). "She" refers to wisdom.
Wisdom here has a two-fold meaning:
1. the quality of being wise, referring to character
(chapts.1-9; chapts. !:7 - "the fear of the Lord"
2. a person**** -wisdom is subtly personified in the person of Jesus Christ (1 Col1: 30 and Col 2:3.Matt 13:44-46 - Parables of the Hidden Treasure and the Pearl)
If one can recognize folly by "men who try to get ahead ...and by women who seek sexual pleasure ... what is the face of wisdom? How can one recognize it? the face of wisdom is a "wife of noble character" ( a metaphor). Chapter 31: 10 however, tells us that "a wife of noble character who can find?"
If there is no perfect person of such noble character, the "young man"*** in the poem/Proverbs is advised by the persona to "marry wisdom"***** (Chapt. 31:1-9) - a prophetic view of what is to come, when Jesus in the New Testament invites us for marriage ( holy communion - last supper). take this bread and this cup - another way of saying, "Will you be mine?"
When we do choose to marry Jesus/wisdom, Jesus in us makes us the perfect woman of noble character!
________________________________________________________________________ * personified as a woman - this is a poem and an allegory. A poem uses figurative language, in this case, personification - wisdom is characterized as a woman.
** Books in the Old Testament are an allegory - meaning, they are not to be taken literally, but mean something else.
***persona refers to the point of view/perspective or the speaker of the poem who is the wise man; while, "young man" figuratively speaking is any man/woman/reader of Proverbs.
****these men and women represent folly/recklessness/unwise behavior.
*****or "lady wisdom" ( Chapts 1-9).
****Old Testament - Cross References
1. The way and what wisdom speaks in Proverbs 1:23-33 find similar voices/perspectives in: Isaiah 1: 4; 5:21; Isaiah 65; Job 28 - to name a few
2. wisdom is more precious than rubies and nothing you desire compare to her - proverbs 3: 15; 8:11; 31:10
3. Proverbs' reference to the Tree of Life has parallels with the same mention of the tree in other books ( Prov. 3:18;m*:18-19; 11:30; Gen 2:9)
The Old Testament leads us to the coming of the Savior/bridegroom.
New Testament
1Col !:30 - Christ, the wisdom and power of God - it is because of Him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God.
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