“The LORD by wisdom founded the Earth; by understanding He established the heavens” (v. 19). Before wisdom was written in the Proverbs and took on flesh in Jesus, it was woven into the fabric of the universe (cf. John 1:1-3). The mountains do not stand by chance, and the stars do not burn without reason. The Lord spoke the world into being not with chaotic force but with holy order. The same wisdom that counsels the heart is the wisdom that stretched the heavens. Every sunrise, every ocean current, every blooming flower, every sparkling star and galaxy proclaims it: this world is not random. It was built on purpose. And that purpose flows from the mind and will of God, which is infinitely wise.
“By His knowledge the depths were broken up, and clouds drop down the dew” (v. 20). Here is the Lord’s intimate craftsmanship: The depths of the sea, once sealed, were broken open by His design. The sky above does not merely contain clouds; it gives, pouring dew upon the earth in quiet mercy. These are not impersonal systems governed by an aloof watchmaker, but the providential, personal care of a Gardener. The God who designed creation did so with knowledge—deliberate, detailed, and divine. And this same knowledge still sustains all things. The regularity of rain and the mystery of the deep both testify that wisdom is not just useful, it is eternal.
Why does Solomon mention creation in a chapter about trusting God? It seems kind of random. It’s because the God who shaped the stars is also the God who shapes your steps, not as an unopposable force of fate, but as your gracious Shepherd (Psalm 23). The weight of your anxieties does not overwhelm the One who established the foundations of the entire universe. The One who carved the rivers also carves out your days. And just as He orders the heavens, so He orders your life—not always in ways you understand, but always in ways that are wise. The wisdom of God who allows you to suffer for a time is the wisdom of a Gardener who cuts away dying and diseased leaves and stems.
Therefore, when you struggle to trust, look around you: the sky, the sea, the stars. Listen to the rhythm of creation and let it preach to your heart: the Lord is wise. Since He used wisdom to form the very universe, He will not abandon you to folly. His understanding is deeper than the ocean and gentler than the morning dew. Trust Him, not because you see the path ahead, but because you see His wisdom behind everything that is.
The Lutheran Column 