radiant

April 1, 2016

The beauty of wisdom (Wis 6:12-6:16)

“Wisdom is radiant.

Wisdom is unfading.

She is easily discerned

By those who love her.

She is found

By those who seek her.

She hastens to make herself known

To those who desire her.

Whoever rises early to seek her

Will have no difficulty.

She will be found

Sitting at the gate.

To fix one’s thought on her

Is perfect understanding.

Whoever is vigilant

On her account

Will soon be free from care.

Because she goes about seeking

Those worthy of her.

She graciously appears to them

In their paths.

She meets them in every thought.”

The feminine wisdom (ἡ σοφία) is radiant and does not fade away. Wisdom is clearly portrayed as a beautiful desirable woman. If you love, seek, and desire her, you will find her as she makes herself known. If you get up early and go to the gates of the city, you will find her. If you think about her, you will understand her. If you are vigilant, you will be free from all cares. She goes about seeking those who are worthy of her as she appears in their paths.

March 19, 2016

Description of the male lover (Song 5:10-5:16)

Female lover

“My beloved is all radiant.

He is ruddy.

He is distinguished among ten thousand.

His head is the finest gold.

His locks are wavy.

His locks are black as a raven.

His eyes are like doves,

Beside springs of water,

Bathed in milk,

Fitly set.

His cheeks are like beds of spices,

Yielding fragrance.

His lips are lilies,

Distilling liquid myrrh.

His arms are rounded gold,

Set with jewels.

His body is an ivory work,

Encrusted with sapphires.

His legs are alabaster columns,

Set upon bases of gold.

His appearance is like Lebanon,

Choice as the cedars.

His speech is most sweet.

He is altogether desirable.

This is my beloved.

This is my friend.

O daughters of Jerusalem!”

This female lover responded to the daughters of Jerusalem. She explains why her male lover is so special with a long description of him. First of all, he is radiant and ruddy. What does that mean? He is a glowing happy guy with a healthy reddish complexion. He is one in 10,000. He has a golden head with black wavy hair. His eyes are like clean white doves perfectly set in his head. His cheeks are like fragrant spices. His lips are like lilies spreading liquid myrrh. His arms are like rounded gold with jewels set in them. His body is like ivory with sapphires. His legs are like alabaster columns with golden bases as feet. He appears to be like a Lebanon cedar tree. His speech is sweet. He is quite a guy, altogether desirable. He is her beloved and her friend. That is some great description of the perfect man.

September 12, 2015

Yahweh answers David (Ps 34:4-34:6)

Dalet  

“I sought Yahweh.

He answered me.

He delivered me from all my fears.

He                  

Look to him!

Be radiant!

Thus your faces shall never be ashamed.

Zain   

This poor soul cried.

He was heard by Yahweh.

He was saved from every trouble.”

David sought the help of Yahweh. Yahweh responded and delivered him from all his fears. He was radiant so that he would not be ashamed. David wanted others to do the same. He as a poor soul cried out to Yahweh. Then Yahweh heard him and saved him from all his troubles.

April 9, 2015

Queen Esther dresses up to go to the Palace (Greek text only)

“On the third day, when Queen Esther ended her prayer, she took off the garments in which she had worshiped. She arrayed herself in splendid attire. Then, majestically adorned, after invoking the aid of the all-seeing God and Savior, she took her two maids with her. She leaned gently for support on one, while the other followed carrying her train. She was radiant with perfect beauty. She looked happy, as if beloved, but her heart was frozen with fear. When she had gone through all the doors, she stood before the king.”

One again the Greek text continues. After this 3 day prayer, Queen Esther took off her sack cloth garments. Now she put on royal clothes. She invoked God to help her. However, she took 2 maids with her, one to lean on and the other to carry the train of her splendid dress. She looked radiant, beautiful and happy, but she was fearful. Finally, she stood before the king.