DELIGHTING IN THE SONS OF MEN

       "Then I was beside Him as a master craftsman; and I was daily His delight, rejoicing always before Him, rejoicing in His inhabited world, and my delight was with the sons of men " (Proverbs 8:30-31)
       Solomon frequently spoke of "wisdom" as though it was a person. The eighth chapter of Proverbs is a case in point. There, wisdom is pictured as crying out to mortals. It calls to the simple, urging them to "understand wisdom," and to the fool, imploring that an "understanding heart" be obtained (8:5). Wisdom declares it dwells with "prudence," knowing how to be discreet (v 12). It announces, "By me kings reign, and princes decree justice. By me princes rule, and nobles, even all the judges of the earth" (vs 15-16). It "leads in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment" (v 20).
Our text depicts wisdom as being with God in the creation. At that time, wisdom was a "master craftsman," able to create all things beautifully and in perfection. Every day, it was God's delight, bringing forth and managing things in precise accord with the Father's will. Wisdom itself rejoiced before the Father, finding joy in the "inhabited world," and "delight with the sons of men." Lofty language, indeed! What does it mean.
First, it confirms that God's will and purpose brings great delight to Himself. That is also confirmed by the expression "the good pleasure of His will" (Eph 1:5). Particularly, what He has purposed in salvation brings joy and rejoicing to His heart. It is a salvation bathed with grace and filled with inscrutable wisdom. But something more is to be seen here. Solomon's personification of wisdom is a prophetic way of speaking of Jesus Christ. Jesus is categorically said to be "the wisdom of God" (1 Cor 1:24). In salvation, He is "made [to be] unto us wisdom" (1 Cor 1:30). In Him we ourselves gain access to "all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge," which are hidden in Him (Col 2:3).
Regarding delighting in the sons of men, our text is also fulfilled in Jesus Christ. That delight is specifically related to coming into the world to assume the responsibilities of the transgressors, and deliver them from the wicked one (Heb 10:7-9). He did not delight in the sons of men because of what they were, but because of what they would become. The rescue of our race was perceived as a most joyous undertaking, and worthy of the sacrifice of Himself. Every person who receives God's salvation will come to experience Christ's delight in themelves!