Jesus The Almighty God Series

Jesus the Almighty God

Proverbs 8:1-36

In chapter seven Solomon gave us a clear warning against succumbing to the attractive and beguiling Lady Seducer. Her aim was to get us off of God’s path and we learned that her end is death. In contrast, in chapter 8 Solomon mentions a woman that desires God’s best for our lives. She will lead us down the path of righteousness. She will counsel us in the way that we should go. Her instruction is clear, her truth undeniable and her judgment completely sound. Her name is Lady Wisdom. Although she is not a real woman, she does have a real voice. She cries out from the pages of the Bible.

She shows up and speaks through the scriptures. The question is: are we listening?

Our lives are so hectic today. From overflowing email inboxes, cell phones, zoom meetings, kids schedules and the list could go on and on. We are so busy that we sometimes don’t have time for what God has to say.

Lady wisdom is always speaking and I, like you, must take the time to hear what she has to say. In this chapter we will learn many of the benefits of listening to the counsel of Lady Wisdom, and if you do not listen you can't put things right in your life.

We learn in 8:2 that she stands out in the open up on a hilltop, strategically placed by a crossroad. She knows that travelers that come her way will have to make a decision when they get to that crossroad and she is ready, willing, and able to help them make it. She stands for all men to see her and she cries out for all to hear.

Lady wisdom is a stark contrast from the adulteress of chapter seven. The adulteress was lurking in the streets, hiding in the dark, seeking wayward young men to deceive with her whispering and conniving lips. Lady wisdom is out in the open; she stands proudly in the light, and speaks loudly and clearly. There is no shame in righteousness. She stands in her strategic location (crossroads) and she does all she can to lead travelers down the right path. This reminds me of a passage in Isaiah where God wanted to lead the nation of Israel – who had strayed from His ways – back to His best. He said, “Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, ‘This is the way; walk in it’ ” (Isa 30:21). And that’s what we want. We want to know that the path we are taking is the right one. That we are taking the path that leads to God’s best and avoiding the one that leads to destruction.

By the gates at the entrance to the town, on the road leading in, she cries aloud, “I call to you, to all of you! I raise my voice to all people. You simple people, use good judgment. You foolish people, show some understanding. Listen to me! For I have important things to tell you. Everything I say is right.

Lady Wisdom cries out by the gates at the entrance of the town. She strategically places herself where she can be most effective. She is at a spot where she can address all those coming into and from the city. And as she stands there, as she raises her voice, as she sounds her clarion call, she does so with the intent of reaching all people. This is an address to all of mankind. God never discriminates based upon race, gender or age. No, he is equally available to all. Part of the Good News of the Gospel is that it is available to all men.

Solomon then addresses two categories of people: the simple and the foolish. To the simple he says, “Use good judgment.” In Proverbs, Solomon organizes people into three categories: the wise, the foolish, and the simple. These categories are not dependent on age, class, race, gender, or socio-economic status. Rather, they are determined by one’s direction in reference to the Lord.

1. Those who are moving toward the Lord are called wise. This person is not a perfect or intelligent person, but rather a person who will gain understanding and change his life based on what he hears in Scripture (Prov 1:5).

2. Those who are moving away from the Lord are called foolish. This person is not an ignorant or uneducated person, but rather a person who doesn’t want to change anymore. He thinks he’s doing just fine on his own and doesn’t need any more help, especially not from the Lord (Prov 1:7).

3. Those who are not moving at all with respect to the Lord are called simple. This person is not an unreligious or immoral person , but rather a child-like person who is just starting out on the path of life and thus is about to decide whether to move toward the Lord or away from him (Prov 1:4). The crossroads are before him; which fork will he take? It’s critical to understand, however, that he cannot remain simple forever. It’s okay for a baby to smear spaghetti in her hair, but by the time she turns 30, more will be expected of her. Or, more elegantly, “one does not stay still: a man who is empty headed will end up wrongheaded"..