The Self-Assertion of Christ
Abp. W. Alexander. Proverbs 8:14 Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom: I am understanding; I have strength. Here is more than a florid personification of wisdom. It is the Word who is from everlasting — "Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God." I. THE SELF-ASSERTION OF CHRIST. Exhibited in three ways. 1. Christ claims a boundless power of satisfying human wants. 2. Christ claims for Himself the most transcendent ideals. 3. Christ claims the possession of absolute truth, by the very form and mode, as well as by the substance, of His teaching. II. THE BEARING OF THAT SELF-ASSERTION ON CERTAIN DIFFICULTIES OF OUR DAY. Take the tone of much of the record in the Old Testament. 1. The Old Testament is a progressive system. Then much of it must be imperfect. 2. The Old Testament contains the pathology and diagnosis of sin. In meeting the difficulties of the Old Testament, the self-assertion of the "Amen" is our stay. He who spake the words given in Matthew 5:17, 18, knew the Old Testament. We talk of the extermination of the Canaanites. Are we gentler than He? We are offended by the polygamy of the patriarchs. Can we survey marriage with a purer gaze than that of the virgin eye which is also the eye of God? We take the book as it is from the hand of Him who says, "I am understanding." 3. Take the general sources of unbelief and their salient characteristics. The source of unbelief is not always genuine thought, it is often feebleness of character and moral enervation. The secret of strength is to believe in Him who says, "I have strength." (Abp. W. Alexander.) Parallel Verses KJV: Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom: I am understanding; I have strength. WEB: Counsel and sound knowledge are mine. I have understanding and power.