Proverbs 8 Series

Wisdom – Proverbs 08

Proverbs 8:1-21

“Does not wisdom cry out, and understanding lift up her voice?

- The beautiful truth about wisdom is that it is not hidden from anyone; rather, wisdom is trying to be found by crying out. Wisdom is for anyone / everyone.

- Wisdom wants to be accessible to all.

- Adam Clarke : “There are, it is true, temples, synagogues, churches, chapels, etc.; but hundreds of thousands never frequent them, and therefore do not hear the voice of truth: wisdom, therefore, must go to them, if she wishes them to receive her instructions.

“All the things one may desire cannot be compared with her.”

- Wisdom is more valuable than the things we often desire; however, if we would value wisdom then often wisdom would lead us to the very things, we so often put over wisdom.

“I, wisdom, dwell with prudence”

- Prudence = self-control, good judgement (actual definition is wisdom applied to practice)

o A life of impulse will not appreciate or display wisdom.

“The fear of the Lord is to hate evil.”

- Reverence (fear) hates what is wrong.

- As image – bearers, we tend to hate what is evil.

“I love those who love me; Those who seek me diligently will find me; Riches and Honor are with me.”

- When we seek wealth from impure desires, we fall to corruption but if we would seek wisdom, wealth is given.

“The Lord possessed me at the beginning of his way.”

- Since created the world; Solomon is (again) indicating that God, in and through his wisdom, created the world (intelligent design).

- The application is that if the created world (order) is founded on God’s wisdom, then if we walk in wisdom, creation thus works for us; if however, we go against the wisdom of God, creation works against us.

- Eating healthy

Proverbs 8:32 – 9:12

“Now therefore, listen to me, my children; for blessed are those who keep my ways.

- Wisdom has given her reason(s) for listening to her.

- Wisdom teaches us how to live in God’s world and has shown herself to be good and the blessings we so often want come through wisdom.

“Watching daily at my gates.”

- Here Solomon is representing wisdom as having a school (university) and those who desire wisdom stand outside the gates of the school, waiting for the school to open. These people are eager to get inside and get wisdom, understanding, clarity.

“Whoever finds me finds life and obtains favor from the Lord.”

- Accepting wisdom leads to life; rejecting wisdom leads to death.

- Those who love death do so by consequence (not directly or intentionally).