Wisdom and the Harlot are strikingly juxtaposed in several instances in the
scriptures. One of the clearest examples is in Proverbs. Proverbs 5 and 7 give
us insight into the harlot – she is enticing, flattering, she exists in
darkness, she lies in wait at every corner. Proverb 8 gives insight into Wisdom
– she stands in high places (temples), she calls unto men to seek her, she
speaks truth and excellent things, she is righteousness.
These two archetypal women lead to very different places. The harlot “hath
cast down many wounded; yea, many strong men have been slain by her. Her house
is the way to hell, going down to the chambers of death.” In fact, “None that
go unto her return again, neither take they hold of the paths of life” (Pro.
2:19). Wisdom, on the other hand, is love, gives fruit better than gold, causes
“those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures.”
Ultimately, “whoso findeth me findeth life.”
I think, given that one of these symbols is referred to as a harlot,
there’s a tendency to view sins associated with her as sexual sins, and Proverb
7 does put it in that context. Certainly sexual sins would bring us into the
harlot’s power, but we need to think of the harlot in a broader context – she
is worldliness, pride, and selfishness. She stands as the exact opposite of
Wisdom.
And we must choose between them. So, to make the choice a bit clearer, I’ve
done a little comparison. It doesn’t really fit into neat categories, but maybe
this will help make the contrast. This is a pretty incomplete list, but should
give the general idea. I’ll probably add more to this later:
Harlot
|
Wisdom
|
|
What are her
characteristics?
|
sweet at first but bitter
in the end (Pro. 5:3-4); always shifting and distracting (5:6); worldly
attire (7:10), loud and stubborn (7:11); clamorous, simple and knows nothing
(9:13)
|
She is better than silver
and gold, more precious than rubies, nothing can be compared to her (Pro.
3:14-15); participated in earth's founding (Pro. 3:19, 8:27-31); speaks truth
(8:7); everlasting (8:23)
|
Where is she?
|
lying in wait at every
street corner (Pro. 7:12), ready to catch us (7:13);
|
in the top of high places
[temples] (Pro. 8:2), she stretches out her hand (Pro. 1:24), cries out to us
(8:1-5
|
How do we
find her?
|
lust after her (Pro.
6:25); she flatters us (7:5, 21); in the dark (7:9)
|
incline to wisdom, apply
your heart to understanding, cry for knowledge, call out for understanding,
seek her as you seek for lost treasure (Pro. 2:2-5); be generous (3:27-29);
don't be angry or argumentative (3:28); keep the commandments (4:4); love
wisdom (4:6); eschew evil (4:23-27); in the light (4:18); hearken (8:32);
fear the Lord (9:10)
|
What does she
offer us?
|
death and hell (Pro.
5:5); remorse (5:11-13); wounds and dishonor (6:33); wordly goods (7:16-17);
a false feast (9:17)
|
instruction,
understanding, justice, judgment, and equity (Pro. 1:3); knowledge and
discretion (Pro. 1:4); power to overcome temptation/deliverance from evil
(Pro. 2:1-12); deliverance from the harlot (Pro. 2:16-19); peace (Pro. 3:17);
love (8:17); durable riches and righteousness (8:18); life and favor of the
Lord (8:35); a sacramental feast (9:5)
|
What is the
end result of identifying ourselves with her?
|
slaughter (7:22, 23),
hell (7:27), death (9:18)
|
Eternal riches (Pro. 3:16);
happiness; eternal life (Pro. 3:18); fearlessness (3:24-26); inheritance of
glory (3:35); honor, crown of glory (4:9)
|
If we choose to follow God, He will give us power to “deliver thee from the
strange woman, even from the stranger which flattereth with her words” (Pro.
2:16).
This subtle but important theme is also woven throughout the Book of Mormon
(another indication of the Book’s authenticity!). For example, 1 Nephi 11:35-36
talks about the anti-wisdom (which is the harlot), identifying it as a great
and spacious building made up of the pride of the world:
And the multitude of the earth was gathered together; and I beheld that
they were in a large and spacious building, like unto the building which my
father saw. And the angel of the Lord spake unto me again, saying: Behold
the world and the wisdom thereof; yea, behold the house of Israel hath
gathered together to fight against the twelve apostles of the Lamb.* And it
came to pass that I saw and bear record, that the great and spacious building
was the pride of the world; and it fell, and the fall thereof was exceedingly
great. And the angel of the Lord spake unto me again, saying: Thus shall be the
destruction of all nations, kindreds, tongues, and people, that shall fight
against the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
Nephi further describes this “anti-wisdom” in chapter 13. If
you read through the description of the harlot from the chart above and then
read this chapter, you’ll see all of the same characteristics – enticement,
worldliness, deception, and finally, death.
1 Nephi 11
begins with Nephi’s vision of the tree of life. Remember that wisdom in Proverbs 3:18 is identified
as a tree of life and is more precious than rubies. 1 Nephi 11:9 identifies the
tree of life as being a tree that is “precious above all.” Next, Nephi asks to
know the interpretation of the tree of life, and he is shown the mother of God.
Recall wisdom’s feminine associations, and how the early Christians associated
Mary with wisdom (hence, the female Hagia Sophia – or “holy wisdom”).
1 Nephi 14
contrasts the harlot with wisdom (and note the feminine associations):
And he said unto me: Behold there are save two churches only; the one is
the church of the Lamb of God, and the other is the church of the devil;**wherefore,
whoso belongeth not to the church of the Lamb of God belongeth to that great
church, which is the mother of abominations; and she is the whore of
all the earth.
And then in 1 Nephi 15:36:
Wherefore, the wicked are rejected from the righteous, and also from that
tree of life, whose fruit is most precious and most desirable above all other
fruits; yea, and it is the greatest of all the gifts of God.
And Mosiah 8:20
…how blind and impenetrable are the understandings of the children of men;
for they will not seek wisdom, neither do they desire that she should rule over
them.
So that’s the basic outline of these two archetypes. These also
make appearances in the Book of John,
which is considered a Wisdom text (In the beginning was the Word – i.e., logos, wisdom), and in the
Book of Revelation (chp.17).
They are both “mothers” and will give us spiritual rebirth – one
to life, the other to death.
_____
*I find it really interesting that those who partake of the
wisdom of the world and gather in the large and spacious building are of the
house of Israel. Makes me wonder if this ties in to the parable of the 10
virgins.
**I doubt that the dividing line between these churches has much to do
with today’s denominational lines. Simple membership in the “right” church will
not be enough.
No comments:
Post a Comment