Proverbs 8:27
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When he prepared the heavens, I was there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth:
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Who thought the earth was flat? The children of Jehovah God have always known the earth was round. When the blessed and only Creator God formed the earth's atmosphere, and when He wrapped it around the ball of water hanging in space, wisdom was there with Him! Lady Wisdom offers you wisdom today by this proverb and the rest of Jehovah's scriptures. Will you accept her gracious offer (8:1-5,32-36; 9:1-12)?
How wonderful is wisdom? After Lady Wisdom's introduction and invitation (8:1-5), she describes the excellence and truth of wisdom (8:6-11), the benefits that flow to those having it (8:12-21), and the presence and use of wisdom by God in the creation of the heavens and earth (8:22-31). She then concludes with a further invitation (8:32-36). Wisdom is the most precious thing you can obtain in life (3:13-20; 4:5-13; 8:10-11).
This proverb exalts wisdom by showing its presence and use by God in the creation of the heavens and His use of them to circle and encompass the watery globe. God created the heavens, the earth, and light on the first day (Gen 1:1-5; Ex 20:11; 31:17). He created the earth's atmosphere on the second day, which is the firmament of heaven that separated the water above the sky from the water that covered the earth (Gen 1:6-8).
God created the universe. The interstellar and interplanetary spaces and the spherical globe of the earth were formed first (Gen 1:1). At this point the earth was a formless ball covered with water hanging in the total darkness of space (Gen 1:2). God then added light, without light sources for three days, to complete the first day (Gen 1:3-5,14-19).
God created the earth's atmosphere. He separated waters on the earth's surface by an expanse called heaven, which we call atmosphere, in which birds and planes fly (Gen 1:6-8,20). He gathered the waters on the earth and under this atmosphere into seas on the third day (Gen 1:9). The waters above the atmosphere remained there for the 1656 years before rain (Gen 2:5-6; 7:4; Heb 11:7). It was not until the flood that rain appeared; it was not until after the flood that rainbows appeared (Gen 7:11-12; 9:12-15).
The Lord compassed, or encircled, the earth with this atmospheric heaven as part of His creative work on the second day. Included in these first two days of creation was the ordination of gravity to hold the waters and the atmosphere around the earth. Though the earth spins at 1000 mph, the atmosphere that compasses the earth moves right along with the earth, so you are not blown away! From the vantage point of spacecraft, you can see the aqua blue ball suspended by nothing in the firmament of heaven. Give God the glory!
The word "compass" in this proverb describes the circle, circumference, curve, arc, ring, or round shape of the atmospheric heaven that God wrapped around the ball we call earth. He set a compass, or a circle, over the watery earth before there was land (8:29; Gen 1:3-5). Though Solomon wrote these words 1000 years before Christ, he knew the earth was round by God's inspired revelation to him. Isaiah, writing by inspiration about 700 years before Christ, also referred to the circular or round shape of the earth (Is 40:22).
Eratosthenes (276-195 B.C.), a Greek mathematician who knew the earth was round, calculated its correct circumference and the tilt of its axis. Nicolas Copernicus (1473-1543), who knew the earth was round, developed and promoted proofs for heliocentricism, the earth moves around the sun. The Pope spanked Galileo (1564-1642) for endorsing such absurdities. But Newton (1643-1727) confirmed how a ball could keep us all feeling upright with gravity. But they were just refining old news!
What is the lesson of the proverb? If wisdom was with God in His creation of the heavens and the atmospheric curtain around the earth, then it is important enough for you! If God used wisdom to create the heavens and earth, then it would be a great thing to have for your decision-making! Are you committed to pursue wisdom? Is it more important to you than anything else? When was the last time you read the Bible? Heard a real sermon?
All the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are in the Lord Jesus Christ, for He is Jehovah God in the flesh - the fullness of the Godhead in a human body (Col 2:3,9). He created all things, and without Him was not anything made that was made (John 1:3; Eph 3:9; Heb 1:2)! He has all wisdom and knowledge as a perfect King, Priest, Saviour, and coming Judge. Humble yourself before Him this day! Beg Him for mercy and wisdom!
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