by Robert Brow (www.brow.on.ca), Kingston, Ontario April 2006

Among many ancient writings a universal creative spirit was viewed as the source of human wisdom. In the Bible Wisdom was personified as a beautiful woman. She was identified with ruakh Elohim (the wind of God). . The word ruakh is a feminine noun which means either wind or Spirit (as in the first two verses of Genesis). In the Greek Septuagint ( LXX) translation of the Hebrew Bible she was named Sophia. In the New Testament she is call the Holy Spirit. This is how Solomon heard her speak.

"The LORD created (an eternal generation) me at the beginning of his work, the first of his acts of long ago. Ages ago I was set up, at the first, before the beginning of the earth. When there were no depths I was brought forth, when there were no springs abounding with water. Before the mountains had been shaped, before the hills, I was brought forth. When he had not yet made earth and fields, or the world’s first bits of soil. When he established the heavens, I was there, when he first drew a circle on the face of the deep . . . Then I was there beside him, like a master worker, and I was daily his delight, rejoicing before him always, rejoicing in his inhabited world and delighting in the human race" (Proverbs 8:22-31).

Here are some of the skills she imparts. "For learning about wisdom and instruction, for understanding words of insight. For gaining instruction in wise dealing, righteousness, justice, and equity; to teach shrewdness to the simple, knowledge and prudence for the young" (Proverbs 1:2-4). The Greeks imagined wisdom for creativity being imparted through the nine muses. Many great artists, musicians, and artists, have admitted that inspiration is not something they think up, but it is given to them.

In the New Testament Jesus’ brother wrote "If any of you is lacking in wisdom, ask God, who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly, and it will be given you" (James 1:5). He also gave the characteristics of this kind of wisdom: "The wisdom from above is first pure, then peacable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without a trace of partiality or hypocrisy" (James 3:17).