Proverbs
Notes on Proverbs – Chapter 8
Proverbs 8:1-6
Wisdom Speaks of Excellent Things
Introduction:
1. Chapter 8 is one long, personification of Wisdom.
• This is no longer Solomon having a father/son talk.
• Wisdom is spoken of as if she were a woman calling out to men… to take heed to her voice… and follow her ways.
2. Some have understood the “Wisdom” in this chapter to refer to Christ – because of vs. 22 and following (I was there when the world was created).
• It is better to understand wisdom here as one of God’s attributes personified
• In chapter 9, Lady Wisdom is seen in contrast to Lady Folly.
• But this chapter, 8, is a song of praise for God’s wisdom. Wisdom is extolled throughout the chapter.
1Doth not wisdom cry? and understanding put forth her voice?
1. Once again, wisdom is seen crying out… putting forth her voice.
a. She WANTS to be heard.
b. There are 1001 other voices calling for our attention…
c. God’s wisdom is trying to get our attention…
2. Put in the form of a question—seems to indicate some frustration…
a. It is as if wisdom was calling out—but few are listening!
b. God says, “Isn’t wisdom crying out? Am I the only one who hears her?”
c. Don’t you hear her? Isn’t she crying out? Is anyone listening?
d. Illustration – Suppose the fire alarm went off in a crowded building and no on was paying attention. Nobody gave it any notice.
• You might say, “Isn’t the fire alarm ringing? Isn’t it crying out in warning? Am I hearing things? Isn’t anyone going to pay attention?”
• “Am I the only one who hears it? Is it ringing for nothing?”
• That seems to be the import of the question in vs. 1
2She standeth in the top of high places, by the way in the places of the paths. 3She crieth at the gates, at the entry of the city, at the coming in at the doors.
1. In these verses we are told that not only is Lady Wisdom crying out… she’s doing it in a most public way!
2. She is positioning herself so as to be heard by as many people as possible.
a. High places – standing on the hill top shouting out…
• If you want God’s wisdom, just look up! It is being shouted from the tops of the high hills!
b. By the way in the places of the paths—at the crossroads…
• The way where different paths come together…
• Crossroads are places of decision in our life where we could follow the wrong signpost and head in the wrong direction… get confused… lost!
• When we come to a crossroads in our life, we need wisdom—she’s right there at the crossroads!
• God’s wisdom isn’t trying to trick us… or abandon us…
• When we need her, she’s there! At the crossroads of life.
• Jer. 10:23 – it is not in man to direct his steps—BUT God gives wisdom and guidance at every crossroad in life.
c. At the gates, the entry of the city; the coming in of the doors… where everyone who enters must pass by.
• God’s wisdom is crying out in the most prominent places to be heard.
• She is not elusive… mysterious… or obscure…
• She’s not whispering… or hiding in the shadows; she is crying out… shouting out… boldly… clearly…
• You can’t miss her… unless you try!
• II Pet. 3:3-5 – some scoffers act as if God has NOT spoken. Peter says that they are WILLINGLY IGNORANT.
• Some people CHOOSE not to listen to truth… because darkness hates the light… and light makes us accountable…
• Lady Wisdom does NOT want us to be willingly ignorant. She is crying out to be heard.
3. Wisdom is not hard to find… but it does require work! (Prov. 2:1-6)
a. Here we are told that you have to dig for wisdom…
b. WE are told to cry after wisdom (vs. 3) (Ch. 8 – she is crying after us!)
c. Here the emphasis is on the effort on our part to obtain wisdom… through the study of God’s word. That takes work.
d. BUT—this wisdom is there for the digging… not hard to find… if we dig!
e. In chapter 8, the emphasis is on the availability of wisdom… she’s everywhere!
f. Illustration – In the days of the gold rush, in certain areas, gold was readily available… just crying out to be had! But, they still had to dig it up! It was readily available, but required effort. So too with God’s wisdom. (or picking apples in an orchard!)
4Unto you, O men, I call; and my voice is to the sons of man.
1. Once again, Lady Wisdom is seen calling out. (I call; my voice)
2. Here, the emphasis is on her audience: to the sons of man! (mankind)
3. Lady Wisdom is making a direct appeal to the sons of men.
4. God’s wisdom is available for all of mankind… men, women, children, red, yellow, black, and white, rich and poor, educated and uneducated… ALL the sons of Adam!
5. One of the wonderful things about God’s wisdom is that you don’t have to be smart to obtain wisdom… wisdom is a matter of the heart more than the head.
6. Wisdom is offered to all… without respect of persons… to all without reservation.
a. Lady Justice is supposed to be blind. Lady Wisdom really is!
b. If you want God’s wisdom, you can have it.
c. If you want to lean on your own understanding, God will let you.
d. Prov. 3:5-6 – God will direct our paths ONLY if we trust in Him… and lean NOT on our own understanding… listen to Lady Wisdom!
e. Prov. 3:7 – don’t be wise in your own eyes!
5O ye simple, understand wisdom: and, ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart.
1. Wisdom is crying out to all of mankind. All men need this wisdom.
2. However, the appeal is made directly to the simple and the fools.
a. Simple: naiveté; foolish, open-minded;
• Young people are often naïve; open minded to things they should NOT be open to…
• Those who are naïve and overly open-minded are at a crossroads OFTEN… and wisdom is there.
• Young people come to roads they have never seen before OFTEN…
• The wrong road often looks right… and a simple man is likely to take it… naively… being open to more than he should… and may get lost…
• There is a way that SEEMETH right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. (Prov. 16:25)
• Wisdom is there to guide… to point in the right direction to the one who has little experience…
• But this kind of evil simplicity is not limited to the youth. There are many older folks who are simple and foolishly open minded to!
b. Fools: stupid fellow, dullard, simpleton, arrogant one
• The “fool”, like the simple one is lacking wisdom. However, the fool seems a bit more accountable.
• The fool is foolish because he hates wisdom… he is arrogant… defiant of wisdom and the right way. Fools rarely change.
• Nevertheless, Lady Wisdom is still calling out… making a special effort to offer guidance and direction… only to be rejected by the fool.
6Hear; for I will speak of excellent things; and the opening of my lips shall be right things.
1. HEAR: once again, this lady begs to be heard… listened to…
2. FOR: She gives a logical reason to listen to her too…
3. The sons of men should listen to Lady Wisdom because she speaks of EXCELLENT things…
a. The term “excellent things” = is the Hebrew word for: leader, ruler, captain, prince.
b. The idea seems to be that Lady Wisdom speaks of noble things… princely things… things that are higher, things that are nobler…
c. Too often we talk about ordinary things. (soccer; stock market; Olympics; cars; etc… not bad things… just not excellent things)! There is a place for small talk.
d. But there is also a place for excellent things! Noble things!
4. Lady Wisdom leads us to consider higher things…
a. Oftentimes in life, we come to a five-way intersection.
• About to choose a mate; a school; a church; a job; a neighborhood; a ministry; a new career;
• One way might be dead wrong… sinful.
• Another road might be OK…
• Another road might be pretty good.
• But one stands out as being excellent.
• Wisdom is there to lead us on to excellent things… to choose the best!
b. Paul prayed that the believers might abound in knowledge and judgment (wisdom). (Phil. 1:9-10)…
• THAT ye might approve things that are excellent.
• Lady Wisdom is right there urging us to choose the excellent.
• It may be the road less traveled…
• It may be the most difficult road…
• But it is the BEST road spiritually.
5. She opens her lips and speaks RIGHT things…
a. Right things = evenness, uprightness, straightness, equity
b. Lady Wisdom helps us see things fairly… justly… without bigotry… without prejudice…
c. Our ears are inclined towards that which is crooked; Lady Wisdom speaks of that which is even… fair… upright… just…
d. She beckons to us to listen to her… follow her leading…
e. This is in reality GOD speaking to us through His Word!
f. This is GOD’S wisdom crying out. Be sensitive. Listen when He speaks.
Proverbs 8:7-9
All the Words of My Mouth
Introduction:
1. This chapter personifies wisdom. Wisdom is spoken of as a woman crying out to be heard. (vs.1)
2. She cries to the simple and to the fools—but also to ALL the sons of men. (vs. 4-5)
3. Her last exhortation was for men to HEAR her when she speaks, for she speaks of excellent things. (vs. 6)
4. Next, Solomon describes the words of Lady Wisdom: they are characterized by truth; righteousness; and plainness.
Truth
1. When Lady Wisdom speaks, you KNOW it is truth.
a. How does Lady Wisdom speak to us? Through the Word!
b. Thy Word is truth. (John 17:17)
c. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of truth. John 14:17
d. The Holy Spirit guides into all truth. John 16:13 (He guides and illuminates us into the truth too.)
2. We don’t have to WONDER about truth. We HAVE it! (We don’t appreciate this fact as we should.)
a. Consider the parent in the world… and the struggles they face because they don’t know the Lord and don’t have the truth.
• They love their kids just like we do…
• They want to be good parents… and want their kids to turn out well.
• BUT—they have been fed all kinds of contradictory information… they have heard countless voices on HOW to raise children.
• Some spank their kids and feel guilty because they are afraid they are harming them… teaching them to be violent.
• Some don’t spank their kids because they have been told spanking is harmful… and yet they see a lack of good results and wonder if they are doing the right thing…
• They don’t know the truth. Knowing the truth will set you free from such needless worries!
b. Consider the religious man. (I am corresponding with one right now!)
• He may want to go to heaven. He may fear going to hell.
• His priest has told him to keep the sacraments, so he does.
• Yet, he doesn’t have peace… and he sees his Jehovah’s Witness neighbor who is just a nice family man—and he wonders if perhaps he is missing out… so he goes to a Jehovah’s Witness Bible study… and he is being witnessed to at work…
• There are a lot of religious men who are genuinely searching for truth… but don’t know where to look.
c. Consider the psychologist.
• The so-called “science” of modern psychology is in disarray today.
• The practicing psychologist KNOWS that there are several very different and contradictory schools of psychology today. They can’t all be right.
• They are entrusted with the fragile lives of people every day.
• Some of them MUST wonder if what they are prescribing is right… if what they are saying is true…
• I’m sure some of them have a hard time sleeping at night… on occasion.
• No matter how well versed they are in their particular school of psychology, they must be troubled by the concept of TRUTH…
d. Consider Pilate and his famous question to the Lord Jesus, “What is truth?”
• No doubt kings, judges, lawyers, and other officials have battled over this subject.
e. BUT—we don’t have to worry about truth. We don’t have to wonder. We just have to READ God’s Word and we KNOW we have truth!
• We don’t have to wonder and worry about whether we are doing right by our kids when we spank them. We know God’s Word on the subject is truth!
• We don’t have to worry or wonder whether we are going to heaven or not. God’s Word is truth and settles all those worries. It gives rest.
• We are not seeking for truth any more. We have found it! Men in the world may be seeking, but don’t know where to look or how to recognize it when they see it.
• We only seek truth in the sense of examining all the jewels in God’s treasure chest—the Bible.
• Men in the world are looking for the treasure chest…
• We have found the truth in God’s Word… and we can TRUST and believe everything it says… rightly divided.
• God said it; I believe it; that settles it! That’s rest!
• When the Bible speaks on history, creation, salvation, doctrine, man’s nature, man’s purpose in life, our eternal destiny—it is all TRUE!
• Since I became a Christian, I have never once wondered, “Where did I come from? What is the purpose in life? Why am I here? Is there an afterlife?”
• Those issues plague many people. Not the believer! Praise God for Lady Wisdom.
3. We should value the truth.
a. Prov. 23:23 – Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding.
• Whatever Lady Wisdom says, it’s worth buying… and keeping.
• ANY truth from God’s word is valuable and useful—even if it doesn’t seem to apply to your life today… or meet your needs today — hold on to it. It may be just what you need later! So buy it and put it on layaway if need be.
4. We should speak the truth like Lady Wisdom!
a. Eph. 4:25 – Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.
b. Phil. 4:8 – Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true…. THINK on these things.
c. Prov. 3:3 – We should be thinking truth and speaking truth because truth should be engraved on our heart… it should be part of us. It IS part of our new nature!
d. Prov. 12:22 – God delights in those who deal truly. (deal = work; spend one’s time; act)… if it characterizes our life, God is delighted!
e. Everything that comes out of Lady Wisdom is truth. That should be the case in our lives too.
5. Wickedness is an abomination to her lips.
a. In this context, wickedness refers to anything less then truth… pure truth…
b. Truth that is mixed with error is an abomination.
c. A misleading ½ truth is abomination.
d. A true statement taken out of context and presented deceptively is abomination.
e. Deep down in our heart, we know when we are speaking pure truth. We know if we are changing it; twisting it; bending it; taking it out of context; diluting it; and God knows too.
f. Anything less than pure truth is an abomination—something utterly disgusting to God.
Righteousness
1. All the words coming out of Lady Wisdom’s mouth are in righteousness.
2. Psalm 11:7 – The Lord LOVES righteousness.
a. Righteousness is His character. It characterizes all He is and all HE does.
b. Whatever God does or says is RIGHT.
3. Psalm 119:128 – Therefore I esteem all thy precepts concerning all things to be right; and I hate every false way.
a. Can you say Amen to that?
b. Do we really esteem ALL of His precepts concerning ALL things to be right?
c. When God destroyed the world in the days of Noah—do you esteem Him to be right?
d. When the sweet little old lady down the street dies and goes to hell, do you esteem that God’s judgment is right? What if she was your grandmother? Or do we rebel against some of His precepts and judgments…
e. Some of God’s precepts have been quite harsh. When God sent the Israelis into the land to kill all the Canaanites and take their land—do you esteem those precepts to be right?
f. Sometimes—with our limited perspective—it is difficult to understand HOW some of God’s precepts can be “right.”
g. How do we settle this in our mind and heart? By knowing and trusting God Himself. If we trust Him, we can leave all those hard to understand issues in His hands.
h.) We need to learn to esteem ALL His precepts in ALL things to be RIGHT!
4. Psalm 119:75 – I know, O LORD, that thy judgments are right, and that thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me.
a. When we are afflicted and suffering it is hard to see how that suffering is an example of God’s righteous judgment—especially if we have been walking with the Lord. Job struggled with this issue.
b. But, God wants our hearts to be tender toward Him. Faith and trust answers all those unanswerable questions for us. If we know God and trust Him… then we can be comfortable leaving the affliction with Him.
c. Faith enables us to say, “He doeth all things well” “Thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me.” “All thy judgments are right.”
5. Hosea 14:9 – Who is wise, and he shall understand these things? prudent, and he shall know them? for the ways of the LORD are right, and the just shall walk in them: but the transgressors shall fall therein.
a. Israel often had a hard time accepting that the ways of the Lord were right.
b. They sometimes accused God’s ways of being crooked—uneven—unfair!
c. Ezek.18:29 – Yet saith the house of Israel, The way of the Lord is not equal. O house of Israel, are not my ways equal? are not your ways unequal?
d. This is a common cry even among believers today. “That wasn’t fair!”
e. Lady Wisdom wants us to know that whatever she says (all God says or does) is RIGHT!
f. We don’t have to understand it all, but he does expect us to trust Him.
6. Psalm 19:8 – The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart.
a. Once this truth is established in our hearts, it will cause us great joy!
b. At first glance, some of God’s words or actions might cause us grief. But as we get to know Him, we discover that he is GOOD, kind, gracious, loving, holy, and always does that which is best and right. We can bank on that.
c. Thus, we can trust Him… leave difficult issues in His care… knowing that all He does is right!
d. When this truth finally sinks in what peace and joy it will bring to our heart.
7. His wisdom and His Word is FULL of righteousness.
a. Whatever God says, is RIGHT. No debates. No arguments. No amendments.
b. The world is beginning to have some strange ideas about children and child rearing—“children are little adults.” They are NOT little adults, they are children.
c. Children are NOT to rule in the home. They are to obey their parents. Why? Because it is RIGHT. Why is it right? Because God said so. He knows best.
d. I Tim. 2:11 – women are not to be teachers in the assembly. The world says that is wrong—but God says it is right.
e. Eph. 5:23 – the husband is to be the head of the wife. The world says that is wrong—but God says it is right.
f. God’s wisdom says that homosexuality is sin. The world says it is acceptable. What God says is right—no matter how unpopular it might become.
g. I Cor. 5:5 – this might seem harsh, but it is RIGHT! God means it for good—for the individual who sinned and for the assembly.
h. If we did not have God’s Word—Lady Wisdom shouting out to us—we would be just as blind as those in the world… wandering in darkness… having to GUESS as to what is right and wrong.
i. That Lady Wisdom is crying out in the streets… and thank God what she says is always right.
j. There is nothing froward (twisted) or perverse in them! You can trust what God says.
Plain
1. All these difficulties—things hard to be understood—are PLAIN to the one who understands God… who knows who God is!
2. The secret of the Lord is with those who fear Him.
3. There are many things in the Bible that cause men much consternation… anguish… distress… (election; virgin birth; feeding 5000, creation from nothing; resurrection of the body)
a. But these things are PLAIN… straightforward to the one who understands… to the one who knows God and fears Him.
• The Bible really is plain. It is not much that it is hard to understand—but it is hard to believe!
• But the one who has a heart of faith—God’s word is plain.
• It is PLAIN when it speaks of—virgin birth; feeding 5000, creation from nothing; resurrection, etc…
• I don’t know HOW God created the world from nothing. BUT, through faith we can understand that the worlds were framed by the Word of God—and the things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.
• That’s plain.
b. These things are all RIGHT to the one who has found knowledge!
4. Whatever we don’t understand or perhaps there are some things that don’t SEEM right to us… remember the following:
a. There is a way that SEEMETH right, but the ends thereof are the ways of death!
b. Ps. 147:5 – Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite.
c. God’s understanding is infinite. That should settle everything for us. Trust Him.
Proverbs 8:10-12
Lady Wisdom is Clever
10 Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold.
1. Lady Wisdom urges the readers to RECEIVE what she offers them: instruction and knowledge.
2. Receive – to take, get, fetch, lay hold of, seize, snatch, acquire, buy, bring, marry, take a wife…
a. Lady Wisdom wants young men to lay hold of wisdom… to marry her… seize…
b. Wisdom is crying out… now she wants men to receive what she says.
c. In effect, she wants men to be DOERS and not just hearers. (James 1:22)
• When wisdom cried out in all the public places, everyone heard.
• But not many listened… not many paid much attention.
• This is always a concern in the local church too. Many hear the Word.
3. Instruction – discipline, chastening, correction
a. Wisdom corrects us.
• If we are headed down a wrong road, God’s wisdom, found in His Word will point it out to us… if we have ears to hear.
• Parents correct children. Parents have wisdom that children have not yet obtained. Therefore, the correction is good.
• God is our Father. He corrects us. It is His WISDOM that corrects us.
b. Wisdom chastens us.
• If we fail to take heed to the correction… we may be disciplined and chastened.
• If that takes place, it is God’s WISDOM at work.
• God is all-wise. Sometimes we think that we are all-wise… and we choose to travel a road contrary to what God would have us to do.
• At that point, God has to demonstrate to us that it is HE and not we who is all wise. That demonstration might be painful…
c. Real wisdom corrects and chastens if necessary.
• It is the wise parent who disciplines his children.
• Parents who don’t discipline think they are being loving. In reality, they are acting contrary to God’s wisdom. It is folly… and they and their kids will pay a price for that folly.
• In the local church, wise leaders will practice discipline… when called for.
d. When God in His infinite wisdom sees fit to chasten us—RECEIVE it! Receive instruction! It’s good for you.
• It is possible to fight and kick against wisdom… and correction… to resist it… and stubbornly rebel against it.
• Kids do that all the time. Oftentimes this inner rebellion is covered up with silence… but there is rebellion in the heart.
• Whether they outwardly kick against the wisdom… or inwardly rebel against it… it is still rebellion… and folly.
• Lady Wisdom beseeches us to RECEIVE the instruction she gives. It is good for us!
4. Receive IT (instruction) and not silver and gold.
a. Once again, Solomon makes it clear that wisdom is superior to money.
b. Prov.3:14 – the merchandise of it is better than gold!
• Solomon knew what he was talking about. He had more silver and gold than we could dream of. He said that instruction is better!
• Merchandising = profitable
• It is more profitable to have wisdom than gold and wealth.
• It is even more profitable in a financial sense… on a purely materialistic sense—it is more profitable to have wisdom.
• Which would you prefer?
» A million dollars and no wisdom? (how many dollars would you have in a year?)
» OR no money, but the wisdom to earn a million dollars a year?
» Think of some of the immigrants that come here from Vietnam or India—who are wise in the ways of the world. They come broke and through wisdom and hard work make a good life for themselves.
» Then think of some of the airheads graduating from high school today—with all the advantages in the world, and they spend their money on cocaine…
» It is far better to have wisdom than to have gold.
c. Wisdom is better than gold.
♦ A believer might successfully accumulate wealth, but what profit is it if he ruins his health in the process and cannot enjoy it? (Ecc. 6:1-2)
♦ A believer might successfully accumulate wealth, but what profit it is if he can’t even sleep at night worrying about it? (Ecc. 5:12)
♦ A believer might successfully accumulate wealth, but what profit is it if it causes you to forget God? (Deut. 8:11-14)
11 For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it.
1. Not only is wisdom better than rubies (money). It is better than “all the things that may be desired!”
2. What are some of the other things men desire?
a. Fame – wisdom is better than fame. Do you know any famous people whose personal lives were in shambles? Hollywood is full of examples.
b. Power – do you know any powerful people who ruined their lives through foolishness? You can be the president of the United States and ruin your life through foolish behavior! Wisdom is better than power.
c. Position – perhaps you desire a certain position in your company… or perhaps you desire to be the lead violinist in the Boston symphony… perhaps you desire a position in the church… or on the Red Sox… wisdom is better.
d. The words ALL THINGS is all inclusive! It includes anything else that anyone might desire! Fill in the blank—and wisdom is greater!
e. No doubt some of you young people here tonight have lots of ideas as to what you would like in life… things you desire to do… to be… to have…
f. NOTHING can be compared to wisdom. It is in a class by itself.
g. You have a copy of God’s wisdom in your hands! It is better than money, fame, power, position… and all other things your heart might desire!
3. Phil. 3:4-8 – Paul left a lucrative position in Judaism behind in order to pursue the knowledge of God in the person of Jesus Christ!
a. He chose wisdom over earthly wealth and success. He is our example today.
b. Paul knew that what he left behind was not even to be compared to the knowledge of God—the wisdom of God in Christ that he found! By way of comparison, he said they were like dung!
12 I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of witty inventions.
1. Lady Wisdom has a roommate. She dwells with prudence.
a. Dwell – to settle down, abide, dwell, tabernacle, reside
b. Lady Wisdom’s sister is named prudence
• in a negative sense = shrewdness or craftiness;
• in a positive sense = prudence; skillfulness;
2. Prudence is the product of wisdom. Prudence is a DOER of the Word of wisdom.
a. Proverbs 12:23 – a prudent man conceals knowledge… isn’t a blabbermouth.
b. Prov. 12:26 – a prudent man covers shame—(suppresses his anger)
c. Prov. 14:8 – a prudent man knows where he is going… he understands the direction his life is taking… he ponders the path of his feet.
d. Prov. 14:16 – the prudent man is not gullible; he looks well to his going.
e. Prov. 14:18 – the prudent man is crowned with knowledge.
f. Prov. 22:3 – a prudent man foresees evil and avoids it.
g. Prudence seems to put wisdom into PRACTICE.
h.) Thus, wisdom and prudence DWELL together. The one who really has received wisdom will conduct his life in a prudent manner.
i. It is possible to have wisdom in the head, but not practice it. Prudence practices wisdom.
3. Wisdom finds out witty inventions.
a. Witty inventions: purpose, discretion, device, plot
b. Find out = discover; detect
c. You don’t pull the wool over the eyes of Lady Wisdom. She is too clever.
• She sees through the cunning plots of evil men.
• She is not gullible.
• Men might concoct “witty inventions” (clever plots) to deceive, but wisdom finds them out.
• The devil has devised his wiles against us—witty inventions. But we are not to be ignorant of his devices. Wisdom studies the Word and finds them out… and avoids trouble thereby!
d. Through wisdom, the Lord Jesus avoided many of the witty inventions of His enemies!
• Matt. 12:14-15 – He withdrew… wisely… and avoided trouble.
• Matt. 22:15-22 – the adversary came with their witty inventions to trap Him, but in the end, they marveled at His wisdom.
• Matt. 22:46 – His words of wisdom and prudent behavior ended their questions.
• I Peter 2:15 – we are urged to demonstrate the same kind of wisdom and prudent behavior. Our “well doing” will put to silence the ignorance of foolish men… and all of their witty inventions.
• Of course, the Lord Jesus is the Source of our wisdom. He abounds towards us in all wisdom and prudence! (Eph. 1:8)
4. The person with wisdom and prudence (who avoids the clever inventions of his enemies) will not only be safe. He will be HAPPY too!
a. Prov. 3:13 – happy is the man!
b. Prov. 8:36 – Whoever rejects wisdom will NOT be happy. He is sinning against his own soul… wronging himself!
• Ex: the young boy rebels against his father’s wise counsel and refuses to do his homework. He is only hurting himself! He is the one who will pay in the end…
• Ex: wisdom says, “Obey God and you will experience blessedness; happiness.”
c. It is the fool who says that obeying God and walking the straight and narrow is boring. The fool will pay for his folly eventually.
d. The fool says, “I won’t be happy until I break away from God and do my own thing. God is too restrictive. I can’t be happy if I follow Him!”
e. In reality, real, lasting happiness comes from following the way of wisdom!
f. Foolish ways and decisions will linger to haunt you. Wise, prudent decisions will bring delight and blessing the rest of your life.
Proverbs 8:13-14
Pride and Counsel
13a The fear of the LORD is to hate evil…
1. The author speaks about the fear of the Lord. This is a topic mentioned often in Proverbs.
a. Remember who is speaking here: Lady Wisdom (8: 1-2)
b. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom! (9:10) The fear of the Lord is the beginning of Lady Wisdom.
c. These two concepts go hand in hand. A wise man WILL fear God. A God-fearing man will be wise. A God-fearing man will submit to the words of Lady Wisdom.
d. We might even say here, “The beginning of Lady Wisdom is to hate evil…”
e. Lady Wisdom HATES evil, pride, arrogance, and the evil way.
2. It is WISE to fear God, for that fear will cause us to hate evil and stay away.
a. One of the reasons we commit sin and do evil is because we don’t hate it enough.
b. If your son was killed by a drunk driver, wouldn’t you hate drunk driving? God’s son was killed because of our sin. He HATES sin. He hated sin BEFORE the cross too.
c. But if we feared God as we should, that FEAR would keep us away from sin.
d. How much do you hate sin? Enough to stop? How much do you fear displeasing God? Enough to change?
e. Heb. 11:7 says that Noah was moved with fear and prepared an ark to the saving of his house.
f. When WE are moved with fear, we too will obey! Fear drives us AWAY from evil and towards that which pleases God.
1. Lady Wisdom (God’s wisdom) hates pride and arrogance. (self exaltation)
a. Note that she DWELLS with prudence (8:12), but she CANNOT dwell with pride, arrogance, and the evil way!
2. Pride and arrogance think they don’t need Lady Wisdom’s advice. They can handle life on their own… or so they think.
3. Note that the young man about to ruin his life is “void of understanding.” (7:7)
4. Note that the young thieves about to rob and plunder think that they are going to get away with their crime… no wisdom… they are proud and think they can outwit the police… the authorities. (1:12-13)
5. Dan. 5:20 – his mind was hardened by pride—DENSE! (hardened to all reason;: truth; common sense). Proud men can be extremely foolish at times! It blinds; it hardens the mind.
6. Ps. 10:4 – because of pride, men will not seek after God or His ways.
7. Prov. 26:12 – a man who is blinded or hardened by pride is hopeless! There has got to be a breaking of the pride before you can get through to him.
8. Prov. 28:25 – a proud heart stirs up strife.
9. Obadiah 3 – The pride of thine heart hath deceived thee, thou that dwellest in the clefts of the rock, whose habitation is high; that saith in his heart, Who shall bring me down to the ground?
a. Edom FELT secure nestled away in her rock palaces, but she was not.
b. Her pride made her feel secure, but that same pride deceived her.
c. Pride hardens the mind… blinds the eyes… deceives us.
d. “Wherefore, let him that THINKETH he standeth take heed lest he fall!” That is a warning against pride!
10. The proud man THINKS he is safe; thinks he is secure; able to stand; invincible; yet, he is deceived!
a. This man will listen to no one… why should he? He knows it all already!
b. It is this kind of pride that LEADS to every evil way.
c. That evil way then leads to shame. (Prov. 11:2 – When pride cometh, then cometh shame.”)
d. That is why Lady Wisdom warns of pride and arrogance—because of where it leads… its END.
14a Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom
1. Right after stating that she hates pride and arrogance because they lead men in the evil way, Lady Wisdom now states that counsel is HERS!
2. Good counsel BELONGS to Lady Wisdom!
3. This statement stands in direct contrast to what was said in vs.13.
a. Young men have a choice. They can walk in the way of pride and arrogance OR they can come to Lady Wisdom for her counsel.
b. It is one or the other. You can’t have both.
c. It is HUMBLING to come for counsel. It is in effect saying, “I need help.”
d. It is the proud macho man who says, “I can handle it myself. I don’t need anybody’s help!”
e. This kind of pride keeps people away from salvation. (I can do it myself!) It is humbling to come to salvation God’s way… admitting we are helpless and in NEED of a Savior!
4. Yet if that proud young man humbles himself and comes to God for wisdom, God will ABUNDANTLY supply all the wisdom he needs! (Jas. 1:5-7)
5. God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble. (Jas. 4:6) Humility and fear of the Lord is the way of wisdom.
14b I am understanding; I have strength.
1. Lady Wisdom is understanding.
a. She knows HOW we ought to live.
b. She knows HOW we are to handle situations at work.
c. She knows the right thing to say to your boss… to your teacher… to your friend.
d. She knows HOW to restore that broken relationship.
2. Lady Wisdom has strength.
a. The young man who takes her counsel and follows her ways will have strength he needs for life’s journey.
b. He will have strength of character… and that will carry him far throughout his life.
c. He will have strength in facing temptations… the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom… and that same wise fear causes us to flee from temptation!
d. He will have the strength he needs in facing tribulation in life… and it will come!
e. Lady Wisdom not only knows WHAT we ought to do. She also has the strength we need to carry it out! She not only provides the wisdom in knowing which road to take… she offers strength for the journey… or at least can point us to the source of strength!
3. Those who follow Lady Wisdom are STRONG
a. Prov. 24:5-6 – “A wise man is strong; yea, a man of knowledge increaseth strength. For by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war: and in multitude of counsellors there is safety.”
• The military leader with fewer troops but with much wisdom is stronger militarily than another leader who may have more troops, but lacks wisdom!
• Ecc. 9:13-15 – a poor wise man saved a city from a strong, powerful king!
• Ecc. 9:16 – Wisdom is better than weapons of war:
• Ecc. 7:19 – “Wisdom strengtheneth the wise more than ten mighty men which are in the city.”
• Prov. 21:21 – a wise man can defeat all the strongholds of the city… not by strength but through wisdom!
• Prov. 30:25 – this principle can apply to us too. Put the principles of wisdom into practice and THAT will more than compensate for your lack of money or size or skill or strength in other areas!
• Ignorance is WEAK. Wisdom and knowledge result in strength.
• Young people—do your best in school! Knowledge increases your strength in many ways… it will increase your spiritual strength… it will strengthen your safety… your finances will be stronger by use of wisdom… your friendships will be stronger… your marriage… your ministry in the local church—wisdom and knowledge increases strength!
4. Prov. 10:29 – “The way of the LORD is strength to the upright: but destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity.”
a. Two distinct WAYS are set before us. The way of the Lord (which is the way of wisdom) and the way of iniquity… the broad way.
b. One way results in destruction to one’s life. (a life full of pride; laziness; drunkenness; immorality; ignorance; folly—a road to disaster. Sin, pride, and ignorance weaken the believer.)
c. The other way, the way of wisdom… the way of the Lord results in STRENGTH.
• God’s way is a narrow way. God restricts our paths… keeps us off dead end streets. God’s wisdom keeps us away from that which is harmful.
• The way of God’s restrictions are GOOD for us… and strengthen us.
• Think of food—who is stronger, the one who eats wisely, or the one who eats whatever and whenever he wants?
• Think of school work—who is stronger? The one who restricts himself from all the entertainment and games and hits the books, or the proud know-it-all who never studies? Who enters the final in a stronger position? Who enters life in a stronger position?
• Think of the Christian life—who is stronger? The proud believer who thinks he can live the Christian life on his own? The one who hardly ever reads the Word? The one who never prays unless he is in a crisis? The one who lives for himself and the world? OR—the one who fears God, and thus, hungers after His wisdom… and practices it in his daily life?
• There really is no contest. Wisdom possesses strength. Those who submit to the words of Lady Wisdom are strong… in every way! Wisdom leads to strength. Pride and sin lead to destruction… weakness… a pitiful life.
• We can humble ourselves and come to Lady Wisdom for counsel… OR we can go on in our pride and arrogance… which weaken us and set us up for a fall.
• Lady Wisdom is still calling out to young men. “Don’t go the way of pride and evil. I hate that way! Come to me. I have counsel. I am understanding and strength!
Proverbs 8:15-16
By Me Kings Reign
Introduction:
1. Lady Wisdom who is seen in vs.1 crying out to be heard.
2. It is she who is speaking in vs.15. “By me” = Lady Wisdom.
3. This lady is a personification of God’s wisdom.
THE TERMS
1. Kings – the normal word for king… royalty… a ruler… one who reigns.
2. Princes: (first term) prince, ruler, leader, chief, chieftain, official, captain
3. Nobles: a noble one
4. Judge: a judge in a controversy; judicial system ruler
1. REIGN (reign – to be or become king or queen, and hence, reign as king).
2. It is by means of Divine wisdom that this occurs.
a. This does NOT mean that all those who reign as king (or president or sheik or Prime Minister) are wise… or that they conduct the affairs of their realm by means of Divine wisdom.
b. Rather, it means that the whole system of human government came about because of God’s wisdom… God’s wise design.
c. It was the wisdom of God that put this system in place. Back in the day of Noah, God instituted human government. (Gen. 9:5-6)
3. The kings that reign today are ordained by God’s wisdom, as God’s ministers… and as such are an example of the wisdom of God. (Rom. 13:1-4)
4. All who reign as king do so by God’s design and by God’s appointment. (Dan. 4:17) (Yes even those rulers who are the basest of men!)
a. Dan. 2:20-22 – God in His wisdom sets up and removes kings… and presidents.
b. Jer. 27:5-7 – God appointed Nebuchadnezzar to bring His will to pass upon Israel: captivity!
c. Ezra 1:1-3 – God used Cyrus to bring His will to pass for His people: bringing them back to the land to rebuild.
d. It was the wisdom of God that puts men into positions of power… and God uses them for His purposes… whether they be wise, fools; good or evil; believing or pagan!
e. One might legitimately ask, “Where is the wisdom in such flawed systems of government?”
• God’s concept of man governing is not flawed. That is a perfectly good system.
• The problem is that MEN are flawed. God doesn’t have much to work with!
• In the Kingdom, men will be governed by men… and it will be a perfect government… the Lord Jesus Christ, the God-Man being King of kings.
• But even today, the fact that kings reign is an expression of Divine wisdom.
• God uses the whole system of nations to bring His perfect plan for the ages to pass… and one day, the kingdoms of this world will become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ.
5. As flawed as human governments are, could you imagine the alternative? (Every man doing what is right in his own sight! Anarchy is no improvement! Thank God that the Lord in His wisdom instituted human government for our protection.
6. When kings reign, there is a sense of law and order in the land.
a. This too is by God’s design. He is a God of order.
b. He has established a sense of order in the world today… although 6 billion sinners seem bent on destroying that order.
7. When Kings reign, they collect taxes from the people:
a. And provide roads, bridges, and services for the common good of the people.
b. They support an army for the protection of the people.
c. These are all expressions of Divine wisdom. This is God’s idea!
d. Different political parties debate over the details, but the overall concept is God’s idea!
8. When kings reign, good is rewarded and evil is punished.
a. When there is no king… no government, criminals rule… evil rules.
b. When a king reigns, criminals are punished. Murderers are put to death or at least incarcerated. (Deut. 25:1-3)
9. When kings reign, those who have been mistreated have somewhere to take their complaints. (Like the two women who came to Solomon when one of their babies died in the night.) People came to kings for justice to be executed.
10. Certainly not all individual kings exercise wisdom as they execute the duties of their office. But the fact that there IS such an office is an expression of God’s wisdom.
a. The prince that wanteth understanding is also a great oppressor (Prov. 28:16)
b. Some in positions of power are BABES: (Isa. 3:4) – And I will give children to be their princes, and babes shall rule over them.
c. Sometimes God gives a people a ruler who is a babe as a form of judgment upon the sins of the people. We get what we deserve!
d. Let’s pray that God will be gracious to us next week!
11. The laws which governed the land of Israel were DIVINE LAWS… that was certainly a reflection of God’s wisdom. (Deut. 4:5-8)
a. When the people obeyed the laws of the land, they would demonstrate the wisdom of God before the nations.
b. The kings in Israel were to read the Scriptures every day! (Deut. 17:18-20)
c. When all this was practiced, kings would reign by wisdom… God’s wisdom!
WISDOM IS NEEDED BY RULERS
1. We are about to elect a president who will likely appoint several chief justices, which could affect the direction of our nation for years to come.
2. We need people in positions of power who are WISE… that is not always the case.
3. Prov. 31:4-5 – it is not good that ANYTHING should hinder the ability of a ruler to rule… and to think clearly… to make sound judgments!
a. vs. 8-9 – Kings should protect those who have no voice; the weak; poor; needy
4. I Tim. 2:1-2 – we are commanded to PRAY for kings and for all that are in authority that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. Let’s pray tonight for our nation… and for the election…
5. Ecc. 10:17 – BLESSED is the people whose leader is WISE… and not a self indulgent fool! This isn’t a given—we are to pray for these things.
6. Prov. 16:12 – It is an abomination to kings to commit wickedness: for the throne is established by righteousness. Let’s PRAY for a leader who will bring honor to the office and execute his office in righteousness!
7. Prov. 16:10 – A divine sentence is in the lips of the king: his mouth transgresseth not in judgment. Let’s PRAY for a leader with a divine sentence in his lips… one who isn’t afraid to speak up for what is right!
8. Isa. 5:20 – Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! Let’s PRAY that we might have a leader that knows the difference between good and evil and isn’t afraid to say so!
9. These are some simple, but practical things we can pray for — for our country and the upcoming election.
Proverbs 8:17
I Love Them that Love Me
I love them that love me.
1. Again, this is Lady Wisdom speaking.
a. Solomon has personified God’s wisdom as a woman calling out to be heard by all. (vs.1-4)
b. She has counsel, sound wisdom, understanding, and strength to offer. (vs.14)
c. It is by means of God’s wisdom that kings reign (vs. 15).
2. Now this woman (Divine wisdom) states that she loves those who love her. (vs. 17)
a. This woman loves to be loved.
b. This woman extends her love to those who love her.
c. Nothing pleases her more than to have those who are lacking in wisdom come to her FOR wisdom!
d. She loves those who genuinely love wisdom. (This is God speaking!)
3. How many of us really LOVE wisdom?
a. Lots of people love to have others think they are smart or wise. But that is not a love of wisdom. That is a love of self.
b. Lots of people love education… but that is not necessarily a love of wisdom. There are plenty of highly educated people who are NOT wise… and certainly many who do not possess God’s wisdom… nor want it!
c. Wisdom BEGINS with the fear of the Lord.
• Do we love the fear of God? Are we God-fearing?
• Do we love to humble ourselves before Him and His Word?
• God-fearing people are fearful of stepping outside of Gods’ will. Are we?
4. How can we TELL if we truly love wisdom? (I’m sure we would all SAY that we do…)
a. Consider how the term “love” is associated with choice:
• Rom. 9:13 – Jacob have I loved; but Esau have I hated. (God chose Jacob = love; God did NOT choose Esau: hated.)
• Love is defined as choosing one thing over another. Love is a choice
• Luke 14:25 – A man must “hate” his parents to be a disciple of the Lord. (meaning that he does not choose them; he chooses God OVER them. That is demonstrating love for God and hatred for anything else… by way of comparison)
• We are to LOVE wisdom in this way… by CHOOSING the way of wisdom above other roads…
b. Love speaks of a heart-attachment that is demonstrated by the choices we make in life.
• When our heart is attached to a thing, then we will pursue it… and choose it over other things.
• If our heart is attached to the things of the world, then we LOVE the things of the world… and will choose to pursue them…
• This pursuit is contrary to the Word of God, and is thus NOT God’s wisdom operating in us. It is the wisdom of the world… (love not the world…)
• If we LOVE the things of the world, the love of the Father is not in us.
• Lady Wisdom does not love us either!
c. Those who CHOOSE the way of wisdom demonstrate that they LOVE wisdom.
d. Those who CHOOSE the way of folly demonstrate that they LOVE folly and hate wisdom!
e. Those who demonstrate by their actions and choices that they HATE wisdom will be hated BY wisdom! (vs. 13 – some things this lady hates!)
f. Thus, if we love wisdom (if we choose the way of wisdom and pursue wisdom) then wisdom will love us!
• She will then choose us… and pursue us for our good.
• This speaks of a RELATIONSHIP between the young man and Lady Wisdom: He shows love to her and she responds to that love and returns the love!
• This is a beautiful and poetic way of speaking about the importance of God’s wisdom: it is a love relationship to be pursued and developed!
• Every time we choose the way of wisdom, she responds with blessing. (cf. vs. 18-19)
g. Those who practice wisdom… will INCREASE in wisdom! The relationship grows.
h. Those who reject wisdom and refuse to practice wisdom will be hated by this lady…
• Lady Wisdom (God’s wisdom) hates pride and arrogance. (self exaltation) (Prov. 8:13)
• Pride and arrogance think they don’t need Lady Wisdom’s advice. They can handle life on their own… or so they think.
• Wisdom will NOT pursue that life. She hates it… she will avoid that person! There is no relationship there.
i. Lady wisdom loves some people… (chooses and blesses) and she hates (rejects) others.
• Prov. 1:20, 28-31 – those who hate Lady Wisdom and hate her knowledge will seek but will NOT find her!
• Be one that she loves!
• How? By loving her… choosing her way of wisdom… daily… moment by moment…
• Seeking God’s wisdom and God’s will for our life should be a MAJOR element in our prayer life! (Col. 1:9-10)
• If that is what we seek after, then we love wisdom.
And those that seek me early shall find me.
1. Lady Wisdom loves those who love her—and prove it by choosing her ways.
2. Now she states that all those who seek her shall find her! She’s not hiding from anyone!
3. Thus, ANY godly person can be wise if they WANT to.
a. Having divine wisdom has nothing to do with one’s IQ or educational background or being famous.
b. You don’t have to be listed in Who’s Who to know what’s what.
c. Having divine wisdom depends upon ONE thing only: seeking it!
d. If you want it, then you will seek it. And if you seek it, you will find!
e. This truth was mentioned in chapter two (Prov. 2:3-6)
4. Matt. 7:7-8 – If we pray, and in our prayer ask for God’s wisdom, He will give it!
a. In the context, the Lord has been speaking about judgment (truth; discernment; wisdom; vs. 1-2)
b. He uses a present tense indicating that if we KEEP ON asking, seeking, and knocking, we will receive and find!
c. God is not obliged to give it unless we seek for it.
d. The seeking demonstrates a HUNGER for it… a diligence… and implies sincerity in the desire for it.
5. James 1:5-6 – if we need wisdom, then ASK… and ask in faith.
a. Again, God is not trying to withhold His wisdom from anybody! Lady Wisdom is not trying to hide!
b. And again, the present tense is used: Let him keep on asking…
c. The diligence in prayer demonstrates a sincere heart… and God delights in answering those kinds of prayers.
d. God feeds the hungry heart.
6. They that seek me EARLY shall find me… (Prov. 8:17)
a. The verb here is a word meaning “to seek early”… the concept of early is part of the verb… not an adverb.
b. It can mean to seek early, diligently, or earnestly.
c. The idea is to seek it right away… and dig in and don’t let up until you find it…
“There’s a story about a proud young man who came to Socrates asking for knowledge. He walked up to the muscular philosopher and said, “O great Socrates, I come to you for knowledge.” Socrates recognized a pompous numbskull when he saw one. He led the young man through the streets, to the sea, and chest deep into water. Then he asked, “What do you want?” “Knowledge, O wise Socrates,” said the young man with a smile. Socrates put his strong hands on the man’s shoulders and pushed him under. Thirty seconds later Socrates let him up. “What do you want?” he asked again. “Wisdom,” the young man sputtered, “O great and wise Socrates.” Socrates crunched him under again. Thirty seconds passed, thirty-five. Forty. Socrates let him up. The man was gasping. “What do you want, young man?” Between heavy, heaving breaths the fellow wheezed, “Knowledge, O wise and wonderful…” Socrates jammed him under again Forty seconds passed. Fifty. “What do you want?” “Air!” he screeched. “I need air!” “When you want knowledge as you have just wanted air, then you will have knowledge.”
d. Wisdom is to be sought for with all diligence… early… and you don’t let up till you have it!
e. With that kind of sincerity and diligence, you will find it!
7. It is GOOD for children to be taught to seek wisdom early.
a. Job 13:26 – Job regretted the sins of his youth. Young people should be taught to seek wisdom so that they DON’T have to bear the burden of regret over the sins of their youth!
b. Ps. 90:14 – Young people should pray that God would satisfy them EARLY with His mercy… that their life may be glad and full of rejoicing!
c. I Sam. 2:18 – Samuel ministered before the Lord from a child. He sought after the Lord and found Him. He sought God’s wisdom and found it.
d. Think of all the trouble and grief that could be avoided in life if our young people sought wisdom with all their hearts at a young age!
Proverbs 8:18-21
Riches and Honor are with Me
18 Riches and honour are with me; Yea, durable riches and righteousness.
1. This is God’s wisdom speaking… as throughout the chapter.
2. Riches and honor are with God’s wisdom.
a. Riches = wealth of any kind
b. Honor = glory, honor, splendor, dignity, reputation
3. Those who follow God’s wisdom throughout their lives will have a life of honor… dignity… a good reputation.
a. He has just spoken about a young man who REFUSED to walk in the way of God’s wisdom.
b. 5:1-4 – Wisdom will keep him from the strange woman.
c. 5:9 – the young man who does NOT follow the words of wisdom will be robbed of his honor…
d. 5:10 – strangers will be filled with your wealth…
e. 5:11-13 – he will regret not having listened to the words of wisdom… and followed instruction.
4. Thus, riches and honor are in the way of wisdom. This is a truth mentioned several times in Proverbs.
a. 3:13, 16 – Lady Wisdom holds riches and honor in her left hand.
b. 4:7-8 – Exalt wisdom and she will exalt you and bring you to honor!
c. 22:4 – Riches and honor come through the fear of the Lord—which is the beginning of wisdom!
d. Thus, four times, this book states that the way of wisdom leads to riches and honor.
e. But those who refuse to walk in the way of wisdom (like the young men in chapters 5 and 7) will LOSE both their riches and their honor!
5. Passages such as these are often taken out of context by the gospel of success folks.
a. They say, “See! The Bible says that if we follow the way of wisdom then we will be wealthy and rise to a position of honor!”
b. This passage promises riches… but DURABLE riches… riches that endure…
c. Durable: enduring, durable, valuable, eminent, or surpassing.
d. What are durable riches? Not money in the stock market. Not the gold that perishes!
e. Proverbs 23:4-5 – Proverbs speaks of earthly riches as fleeting… here today, gone tomorrow! We are NOT to strive to obtain earthly wealth.
• Earthly wisdom (thy own wisdom) will cause us to strive for earthly riches and possessions.
• Godly wisdom will cause us to strive for heavenly riches and treasures! Those are the durable riches!
• Labor not (don’t drive yourself into the ground) for riches that are not enduring… corruptible things such as silver and gold.
• Labor for that which will endure… for eternity! (Matthew 6:19-21) Those are words of wisdom… God’s wisdom!
f. And should we seek honor to ourselves?
• Before this kind of honor is humility!
• This is not a self-aggrandizing kind of honor…
• This is not honor before men… but honor before God! (John 5:44)
• The kind of honor mentioned here is linked together with “righteousness.” (Prov. 8:18)
» The one who walks in the way of wisdom… and in the way of righteousness will not receive honor from men. He will more likely receive ridicule from men.
» Walking in righteousness is considered foolish by many today.
» But he will receive honor from God one day: Well done, thou good and faithful servant!
19 My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold; and my revenue than choice silver.
1. Fruit = produce; product of; the reward of labor; wages; payment;
2. What is the reward for walking in wisdom?
a. In vs.18, he suggests that the fruit is riches… but he defines it as the durable riches…
b. Now he states that the payment for walking in the way of wisdom is BETTER than gold or silver!
3. Those who walk in the way of godly wisdom will not always be rich in this world… but they will have something far better!
a. Wisdom DOES offer a reward to those who follow her ways. It is a treasure unspeakably valuable… far better than gold.
b. They will have riches in heaven.
c. They will have the approval, honor, and blessing of God!
4. Think of the man who chooses NOT to follow the way of wisdom…
a. Some men, like the young fool in ch.7, pursue the pleasures of sin.
b. Other men might seek earthly riches… and live for their jobs and money.
c. In the process, many such men lose that which is truly valuable:
• They lose their marriage…
• They lose their honor…
• Their kids no longer respect them… they lose all self respect;
1. God’s wisdom is given that it might LEAD us in the way…
a. Lead – to take on a walk…
b. If we are going to go with Lady Wisdom, we will have to walk where she walks… follow her steps… her pathway…
2. The way of righteousness.
a. There are lots of different ways to go in life…
b. Some SEEM right, but lead to death.
c. Following the way of wisdom doesn’t just seem right; it IS right!
d. Prov. 4:26 – we are challenged to “ponder the path of our feet.”
• THINK about what direction your life is taking right now.
• Apart from Divine wisdom, our feet will NATURALLY wander from the right path.
• Compare that to the wisdom of God recorded in the Word.
• Does it line up? Are we really walking in the way of righteousness?
3. Follow her leading…
a. Cf. 8:17 – Those who love her will seek her… and if you seek you will find.
b. Now she states that as we seek her… she is leading us… down the path of righteousness.
c. She is leading; we are seeking; following; finding; and walking… in the RIGHT pathway.
d. Note her description of those who find her—“them that love me”! (vs. 17)
e. Those who love godly wisdom will have no problem following her leading.
f. She leads down a path of righteousness… and a path of “judgment” or discernment.
• How can you tell if you are following Divine wisdom?
• Are you walking in righteousness? Is the righteousness of God being manifested in your life? Do you do things righteously according to the Scriptures?
• Are you walking in the way of judgement or justice?
• The Bible is the objective check!
• Just because we tote a Bible around and come to church on Sunday doesn’t mean that our life is headed in the way of wisdom. We COULD be headed for destruction.
g. Prov. 4:10-11 – Solomon taught his son to take the right path.
• This wisdom LEADS him down the right paths…
• The right path will keep him safe (vs. 12)
• BUT, Solomon’s son… and each one of us are responsible to CHOOSE the path of wisdom.
• And there will be times when we take the wrong path… and pay a price for it!
• There will be times when after teaching our children to take the right path, they too will swerve off course.
• But the good news is we don’t HAVE to! God’s wisdom is ready, willing, and ABLE to lead us… if we will but follow. (Follow and find!)
• Prov. 6:20-22 – a father’s wisdom will lead the son the rest of his life… it can TALK to you when you are in a difficult place…
• Do YOU allow God’s wisdom to lead you? Are your steps REALLY directed by divine wisdom… or is it the wisdom of the world?
1. Those that love me (those who love wisdom will FOLLOW her leading.)
2. Those who HATE her refuse to listen or follow. (Prov. 1:20, 29-30)
a. Some men do not love wisdom but demonstrate (by the choices they make) that they HATE her.
b. Those individuals will eat the fruit of their own ways. (Prov. 1:31) This speaks of rotten fruit… evil fruit…
3. But those who love wisdom and demonstrate that love by CHOOSING to follow her ways will inherit substance… and will be filled with treasures.
a. Enduring riches and honor are with her.
b. Again, this passage seems to be speaking in figurative terms. (Children who follow wisdom are not really promised that their parents will be rich and will leave them a lot of money!)
c. Rather, Solomon says in poetic language, in this lengthy personification, that Wisdom will leave something quite valuable with those who love her and follow her ways.
d. It is not a literal, earthly inheritance, but rather, wisdom leaves behind a great intangible treasure to those who embrace her.
e. It is better than gold or money. Money gets spent up and it’s gone. But with wisdom, the more you use it, the more you have! It is an unending reservoir of valuable treasures.
f. Our treasure chests can be FILLED with the results of following wisdom:
• Children that love the Lord!
• A happy home where Christ is exalted!
• A conscience that is clean and at rest.
• A content and merry heart…
• Good Christian friends…
• A life that is focused above… not running in 15 different directions at once.
g. AND, wisdom leaves behind a TREASURY from which to draw… like a large bank account.
• You can draw on God’s wisdom today… tomorrow… and in 20 years from now.
• It will lead us today and the rest of our lives.
• If we follow wisdom… and love wisdom… she will FILL our treasure chests with all we need for all we face in life!
• This is like a bank account that can continually be drawn upon but never goes down… never runs dry!
Proverbs 8:22-34
The Lord Possessed Me in the Beginning
Introduction:
1. In vs. 22-36 we have a description of creation.
a. In this section, someone is mentioned as being with God as He created the world.
b. Many good commentators state emphatically that this person is Christ… for the New Testament does teach that Christ is responsible for creation. (Ironsides; Gaebelein; Matthew Henry; Charles Bridges;)
c. Christ certainly seems to fit this description… and if this passage were taken all by itself, one might be able to make such a case.
d. However, the context of this chapter demands a different interpretation.
2. Throughout this chapter, God’s wisdom has been personified as a Lady. It is the personification of Divine wisdom that we see speaking throughout.
a. Wisdom is NOT a person, but is spoken of in poetic language AS IF it were a person… in this case a lady.
b. Thus, wisdom speaks… she calls unto young men (vs. 4)… she has a mouth (vs. 7)… she has a dwelling place (vs. 12)… she gives counsel (vs. 14)… kings reign by her (vs. 15)… she has feelings… she loves (vs. 17)…
c. If one traces the first person singular “I” & “me” mentioned throughout the whole chapter, it leads back to Lady Wisdom as the speaker.
d. Thus, in vs. 22, the “me” must be the same.
e. This does not ROB Christ of His deity or of His role as Creator. That is clearly stated in Heb. 1, John 1, and Col. 1… but not in Proverbs 8!
23I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was.
1. The Lord possessed Divine wisdom in the beginning (same word as in Gen. 1:1).
2. In other words, Lady Wisdom predated the creation… before God’s works of old.
3. Go back as far in time as you can… to the beginning… and Divine wisdom was there! Always and eternally the possession of God.
4. Lady Wisdom is trying to impress her readers with her great antiquity!
5. Real wisdom did not arise with Solomon… it predated the earth!
6. We have folks out today who think that the present generation has arrived at a set of morals and a standard of wisdom that is superior to the old fashioned wisdom.
7. Here Lady Wisdom isn’t ashamed that her wisdom is old—she glories in it! Her antiquity proves that she is true… the real thing… genuine…
8. Our generation says that the wisdom recorded in the Bible on subjects such as husband/wife relationships… child training… sexuality… is to be discarded because it is old… outdated… and therefore irrelevant.
9. Just the opposite is true. The fact that God’s wisdom has lasted so long is the greatest demonstration of its truth!
10. It’s almost laughable to hear college professors, politicians, and sociologists declare that they have wisdom superior to that of Moses, David, Solomon, or Jesus! And yet they make such claims every day!
11. The wisdom we stand by IS old fashioned. In fact, it’s eternal! God’s wisdom has been around as long as God has existed! God possessed this wisdom before He created the earth!
12. It’s fair to say that God’s wisdom has stood the test of time.
13. God has never had a recall on the wisdom He recorded for us. He never had to correct any errors in the wisdom recorded in this book.
24 When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water. 25 Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth: 26 While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world. 27 When he prepared the heavens, I was there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth: 28When he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep: 29 When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth:
1. This section makes one main point: Lady Wisdom was right there by God’s side all during the creation of the universe.
2. Not only was she there (present), but the passage implies that it was BY MEANS OF divine wisdom that God created the universe!
3. The world we see around us was made by Lady Wisdom in one sense: the created universe is a manifestation of God’s wisdom!
4. Vs. 25-26 – God made the solid earth… the fields… by means of Lady Wisdom.
a. cf. Jer.10:11-12 – God established the earth by His wisdom.
5. Vs. 27-28 – God made the heavens by means of Lady Wisdom.
a. Psalm 19:1 – the heavens declare the GLORY of God.
b. How does it declare His glory? It is a demonstration of Divine wisdom… which is glorious! The heavens declare the power and infinite wisdom of the Creator!
c. Ps. 33:6 – by the word of God the heavens were made… by the wisdom of God… expressed in words… He spoke words of wisdom… and it was so!
6. The best minds in the world have been busily studying creation for centuries… and they MARVEL at how complex it all is!
a. After centuries, man hasn’t even begun to scratch the surface. In fact, the more we learn, the more we discover we don’t know!
b. Astrologers marvel at what they are discovering about outer space… its immensity… its beauty… its mystery…
c. The medical profession has been studying the human body… and stand in awe at how fearfully and wonderfully we are made… whether they believe in God or not!
d. Every bit of it is an open display of the wisdom of God manifested in the creative works of God!
30 Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him. 31 Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth; and my delights were with the sons of men.
1. Here Lady Wisdom states that way back in the beginning, she was with God as His son… as one brought up with Him… a closeness to Him.
2. I was daily his delight—Lady Wisdom was daily God’s delight.
a. God delights in wisdom… He loves it…
b. God delights when WE walk by wisdom too… HIS wisdom, not the wisdom of the world.
c. I Cor. 1:30 in Christ He has been made unto us wisdom. To KNOW HIM is to be wise… the better we get to know Christ, the wiser we will be.
d. Col. 2:3 – In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
e. God DELIGHTS when we get to know Christ better… and thus walk in wisdom…
3. Rejoicing always before Him… Lady Wisdom continually rejoiced in God’s presence.
a. The presence of God makes wisdom glad… joyous… happy.
b. The presence of God makes fools nervous… uneasy… sad…
4. Her delights were with the sons of men. (vs. 31b)
a. Lady wisdom dwelt with God and delighted in Him!
b. Now she states that she also is with the sons of men and delights in them.
c. The delight that wisdom brings to God is available to bring delight to men too!
d. This seems to be the capstone or conclusion to this section before the exhortation.
e. This is an awesome fact: the very same wisdom that was used in creating the universe is available to the sons of men… to you and me! In fact, we have a copy of it in our hands!
f. This wisdom was powerful enough to create the universe. It is powerful enough to solve your problems!
g. This wisdom was enough to put the sun, moon, and stars in their orbits and maintain their steady course for thousands of years. It is good enough to put your life in working order too!
h. This wisdom was enough to provide for the needs of every creature in the world’s eco-system… from micro-organisms all the way up to the elephant. The birds don’t worry about what they are going to eat tomorrow. The lilies don’t worry about what they are going to wear tomorrow. God in His wisdom will provide for your needs too.
• Matt. 6:26-31 – look at the created world… made under the direction of Lady Wisdom.
• God in His wisdom has taken care of every tiny detail. We need not worry! He hasn’t forgotten us!
i. The wisdom that was used in creating the universe is available to the sons of men… to us!
• The same wisdom that guides the stars in their intergalactic journeys is certainly able to guide us through our earthly journey!
• God’s wisdom is rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth (where WE live!) (vs. 31b)
• His wisdom is available to us… daily… moment by moment!
• It seems quite FOOLISH not to read the Bible…
• And yet our tendency is to lean on our OWN puny understanding when we have available to us the wisdom God used in creating the world! (Prov. 3:5-7)
32 Now therefore hearken unto me, O ye children: for blessed are they that keep my ways.
1. Here is the exhortation which is based upon the section from vs. 22-31.
2. The exhortation is the same as Lady Wisdom has been making for the past couple of chapters: hearken unto me! Listen to what I have to say!
3. The difference here is that the author has laid a foundation for this exhortation: this wisdom is DIVINE… it is ancient… it was with God before the world was… in fact, it was the wisdom God used to CREATE the world…
4. Who in their right spiritual mind wouldn’t want to hearken to this kind of wisdom!
5. BLESSEDNESS is promised to those who hearken to her.
a. This kind of wisdom is powerful enough to bring a universe into existence.
b. It is powerful enough to bring blessedness into your life too!
c. Follow God’s wisdom… apply it to your life… and your life will be blessed.
d. Bridges: those who follow God’s wisdom “choose rightly; walk surely; live happily; progress honorably; and end gloriously.”
e. Ignore it, and you will pay a price…
Proverbs 8:33-34
Hear Wisdom and Be Wise
Hear instruction, and be wise…
1. Lady Wisdom continues to speak. She represents Divine wisdom.
2. God’s wisdom here commands the readers to HEAR her instruction.
3. Hear: this has been a theme in the book of Proverbs.
a. Prov. 1:5 –a wise man will HEAR and will increase in learning…
b. Prov. 1:8 – Solomon instructs his son to HEAR the wisdom he wants to pass on to him.
c. Prov. 4:1 – the same command as 1:8
d. Prov. 4:10 – the same command with a promise of long life attached.
e. Prov. 5:7-8 – the son is instructed to HEAR what his father has to say about immoral women… hear and stay away!
f. Prov. 8:6 – Lady Wisdom is crying out to young men… HEAR, for she is speaking excellent things!
g. Prov. 8:33 – once again at the end of the chapter—hear instruction.
4. The fact that it is repeated so often implies something: we are prone to let God’s wisdom go in one ear and out the other!
a. Perhaps some of you parents have had to deal with this sort of thing.
• You tell your child once… twice… many times the same thing…
• They heard you, but it seems to go in one ear and out the other.
• You have to repeat it many times before it really sinks in.
• Children are like that. They need to have truth repeated many times.
• As children of God, we are like that too.
b. The repetition of the word HEAR in Proverbs implies that we need to hear it today… but also hear it tomorrow!
c. It implies that we need to be reminded over and over about these truths.
d. Sometimes folks in the local church say, “Oh, I’ve heard that preached over and over again. Why not something new once in a while?” — the reason is because we NEED to HEAR… and to hear repeatedly… because we are PRONE to let these truths slip!
e. Heb. 2:1 – give the more earnest heed to the things which you have HEARD lest at any time we should let them slip!
5. There are different levels of “hearing.”
a. It is possible to hear with the ears, but it goes no farther… it doesn’t sink in.
b. The expression, “He that ears to hear, let him hear” implies different levels of hearing. We all have ears, but we don’t all HEAR.
c. Hear in the Bible often rises to the level of DOING… obeying…
d. James 1:23-25 – it is possible to be a hearer of the word but NOT a doer. That man is a “forgetful hearer.” He heard, but it never went any further than his ears.
e. Matt. 13:14-15 – it is possible to hear and not understand… but notice that Jesus states the reason WHY they cannot understand or see: because THEY have closed their eyes… they didn’t WANT to understand or see… because that makes them accountable.
f. Matt. 7:24-25 – real wisdom is obtained when one hears AND obeys!
g. Ezek. 33:30-32 – some PRETEND to hear, but have no intention of obeying or practicing what they hear.
h.) True hearing is hearing with the ears AND with the heart. It sinks in!
• Prov. 8:32 – hearken here implies obedience. It is the very same word as is translated “hear” in vs. 33.
• Prov. 23:21 – same word again—and it is used as a synonym for “obey your father… hearken to his words.”
• Lev. 26:14 – here hearkening EQUALS obeying. (same word as hear)
• It can hardly be said that a child hearkened to his father if he did not do what he said!
6. Prov. 8:33 – Note that Solomon equates “hearing instruction” with “being wise.”
a. Again, as always in Proverbs, being WISE has nothing to do with being smart. It is not merely an intellectual issue.
b. Rather, being wise is a matter of the heart.
c. Any child of God—regardless of his IQ—can be a wise person… simply by hearing God’s wisdom with his ears and heart… really taking it in.
d. That puts every single believer on the same level. There are many ways in which we are NOT all created equal. Some are born with great wealth; others with great intellect; others with the advantage of great education available to them; while others may be born in poverty; simple minded; no educational advantages possible…
• Yet, when it comes to divine wisdom we ARE all equal! It is obtainable to anyone who chooses it! It is a matter of the heart… and has nothing to do with our education or IQ.
• Hear… and be wise—a command to every believer. It is possible for every believer too… IF we will hear… IF we choose to follow the path Lady Wisdom sets before us.
• Intelligence and education is no guarantee of godly wisdom!
And refuse it not.
1. Once again, Solomon lets us know that obtaining wisdom is a matter of the heart… the will and determination and choices made by the heart.
2. It is possible to choose wisdom… AND it is possible to refuse it.
3. Prov. 1:24-29 – those who refuse wisdom will regret it one day, and wish they HAD it… but it may be too late.
a. Is it ever too late to obtain wisdom? Yes and no.
b. No—in the sense that we can always repent and choose to follow the path of wisdom… but that is a growth process.
c. Yes—in the sense that some folks only want God’s wisdom when they are in a crunch… and the rest of the time they make choices based on their feelings or desires rather than what is best… and when they are in a crunch, THEN they want it—but wisdom will laugh. It is too late then.
Blessed is the man that heareth me…
1. This too has been a theme in Proverbs. True blessedness or happiness comes through following the way of wisdom.
2. Prov. 3:13, 18 – happy is the man…
Watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.
1. These two phrases explain to us what REAL hearing means.
2. The man who truly hears wisdom is the one who watches daily at the gates for it…
a. The picture is that of a guard on a city wall near the gate… a watchman… setting watch for the sight of anyone approaching.
b. The one who truly hears is the one who watches daily for God’s wisdom… eyes and ears open… listening attentively… continually…
3. HOW do we watch daily at the gates for wisdom?
Watching
a. By reading the word daily… the Bible is the gateway for God’s wisdom to enter our heart.
b. This passage implies that we need the Scriptures DAILY… we need a daily dose of God’s wisdom…
c. It implies that if we are NOT reading the Word daily for our daily dose of God’s wisdom… we are like a guard at the city gate asleep on the job!
d. We are unprepared… perhaps open to attack by the enemy!
e. This implies that we need to be watching our own heart as we read.
• When the guard sees the enemy coming, he is responsible to ACT… to blow the horn and warn!
• When God’s wisdom speaks to our heart through the word, we too need to take heed to the warning… and ACT on it!
Waiting
f. The sentinel is to watch AND wait.
g. We don’t always like to wait… but it is necessary.
• Often guards watch and seem to see nothing…
• It might even seem boring at times…
• So too with reading God’s word. Some days nothing seems to pop out at us… nothing seems to apply.
• The same is true in our study of the Word at church.
• But the true guard will watch and wait.
• If God is not convicting our heart about anything today… then that is good. But keep on watching and waiting. Sure enough… in time, a warning will sound!
• But if we grow weary and STOP watching and waiting… then when the enemy comes and we NEED to be warned… we will be defeated.
4. Others have seen in this an allusion to watching and waiting at the gate of the Temple… waiting to hear from God.
a. The point is the same in either illustration…
b. The point is that of watching and waiting for God’s wisdom!
• Ps. 25:5 – Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day.
• Lam. 3:25 – The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him. —– if we need wisdom, God is good to those who wait!
5. This passage also tells us that the BLESSEDNESS spoken of is obtained by the kind of hearing that watches daily… and waits!
a. It is not enough to watch once a month and expect this kind of blessedness. It comes through watching DAILY at the gates!
b. But if we watch for God’s wisdom… and wait for God to speak to our heart… THEN we will receive wisdom, which will bless our lives immensely!
c. James 1:25 – “But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.”
Proverbs 8:34
Blessed is the Man that Heareth Me
Introduction:
1. Last week we looked at the command “to hear” in vs. 33—
2. We looked at several different KINDS of hearers in the Bible:
• Those who hear and then forget: hear, walk away, and forget
• Those who hear but do not understand—because they shut their eyes
• Those who hear but don’t do
• Those who only pretend to hear and have no intention of doing
• Those who hear with their ears AND their hearts… and obey!
3. The next few verses speak of the great advantages to being a WISE hearer.
Blessed is the man that heareth me…
1. This too has been a theme in Proverbs.
2. True blessedness or happiness comes through following the way of wisdom.
3. Prov. 3:13, 18 – happy is the man… that obtains and applies wisdom.
4. One might THINK that the happy man is the one who pursues pleasure and ease.
a. There IS a pleasure to sin… but it doesn’t bring about true blessedness.
b. Consider the young man in Prov. 7:7 – a man void of wisdom.
• He pursued the pleasure of sin… (vs. 13,18,21)
• But after the brief moment of pleasure, there was no blessedness. (vs. 22-23,26-27)
• Prov. 5:11 – instead of blessedness it brings remorse.
• Prov. 5:4 – the end of that kind of relationship is not blessed but bitter.
c. This is true of virtually any kind of sin… we are attracted to the superficial pleasure or happiness it appears to offer… but we later discover that the happiness is shallow and short-lived.
d. The man who pursues after money does so because he assumes that it will bring to him a lifetime of pleasure and satisfaction. He later discovers that instead it pierces him through with many sorrows. (I Tim.6:9-10)
e. Those are the ways of folly… and there are countless other foolish things to pursue in life… none of which bring true blessedness.
5. The man who is truly BLESSED is the man who HEARS Lady Wisdom.
a. This kind of hearer is the one who hears with his ears and heart… and who obeys.
b. Wisdom says do NOT pursue a life of pleasure, pomp, pride, gratification, wealth, worldly pleasures. Wisdom says follow her… and she is headed in the opposite direction.
c. True happiness comes from a life that is disciplined enough to be willing to forsake the instant gratification… and pursue wisdom’s ways.
d. There is a deep, abiding sense of joy, contentment, and satisfaction that comes from doing things RIGHT. That’s the blessed man.
e. Living life the foolish way ends up in remorse, regret, bitterness, frustration, and guilt. That’s no way to live.
6. Blessed is the man who learns from his folly. (Psalm 94:12)
a. We don’t always take the way of wisdom first. We may stray down a pathway of folly for a while.
b. But God chastens His own. If God has to chasten us, then praise Him for that.
c. HAPPY is the man who learns from the Lord’s chastening… and turns from his foolish ways and chooses to follow the path of wisdom.
d. Heb. 12:10-12 – God’s chastening hurts, but it results in JOY… happiness… contentment and blessedness IF we learn from the chastening… and turn from our folly and sin to the way of wisdom and holiness.
Watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.
1. These two phrases explain to us what REAL hearing means.
2. The man who truly hears wisdom is the one who watches daily at the gates for it…
a. The picture is that of a guard on a city wall near the gate… a watchman… setting watch for the sight of anyone approaching.
b. A guard who watches for an enemy invasion doesn’t just watch every other day… he has to watch EVERY day!
c. The one who truly hears is the one who watches daily for God’s wisdom… eyes and ears open… listening attentively… continually…
3. HOW do we watch daily at the gates for wisdom?
Watching
a. By reading the word daily… the Bible is the gateway for God’s wisdom to enter our heart.
b. This passage implies that we need the Scriptures DAILY… we need a daily dose of God’s wisdom…
c. It implies that if we are NOT reading the Word daily for our daily dose of God’s wisdom… we are like a guard at the city gate asleep on the job!
d. We are unprepared… perhaps open to attack by the enemy!
e. This implies that we need to be watching our own heart as we read.
• When the guard sees the enemy coming, he is responsible to ACT… to blow the horn and warn!
• When God’s wisdom speaks to our heart through the word, we too need to take heed to the warning… and ACT on it!
f. We should pray as we read: Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law. (Ps. 119:118)
• There are WONDERFUL truths in God’s word… but we don’t always watch carefully as we read. We skim over some real gems!
• It is better to read just a few verses with our mind, heart, and eyes open, than to skim over many chapters.
• Every time we read, we should be watching… and listening… to hear from the Lord… to BEHOLD something wondrous from His Word.
Waiting
g. The sentinel is to watch AND wait.
h. We don’t always like to wait… but it is necessary.
• Often guards watch and wait… and seem to see nothing…
• In fact, most often the sentinel sees nothing. It is RARE that he sees an enemy invading… the norm is nothing happening.
• It might even seem boring at times…
• So too with reading God’s word. Some days nothing seems to pop out at us… nothing seems to apply… didn’t learn anything new…
• The same is true in our study of the Word at church.
• But the true guard will watch and wait.
• If God is not convicting our heart about anything today… then that is good. But keep on watching and waiting. Sure enough… in time, a warning will sound!
• But if we grow weary and STOP watching and waiting… then when the enemy comes and we NEED to be warned… we will be defeated.
i. Watching and waiting of a sentinel means SAFETY. The city is safe as long as the sentinel is doing his job of watching… and waiting.
• So too with us. As long as we are in the word daily… we are safe…
• Having our devotions isn’t a lucky charm or a rabbit’s foot, but it does keep us safe.
• Part of our armor is the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God. (Eph. 6:17)
• The Lord Jesus confronted the devil’s temptations by quoting scripture. How did He know those Scriptures? Because since he was a young boy He studied the Word… DAILY…
• Consistent, daily time spent in the Word keeps us safe spiritually.
• The sentinel who waits and watches faithfully will keep his city safe. But the unfaithful sentinel is a real threat to the safety of the city.
» A security guard may slack off for a night, and nothing happens. Nobody invades the city… so he thinks he can get away with it.
» He may make it a habit… starting off small (just snoozing an hour here or there)
» Gradually it increases… more and more time is wasted snoozing.
» And it doesn’t seem to affect the city at all… UNTIL the attack.
» We might think that we can go without reading the Word because we skipped all last week—and nothing happened!
» That gives a false sense of security… for the thief comes when you least expect it… and so does our adversary… so does temptation.
j. Our adversary watches and waits daily… seeking whom he may devour. He is faithful to his watch. He never stops watching… and waiting for the right moment to strike. (I Pet. 5:8)
• He waited until the Lord had gone 40 days without food before tempting Him to turn the stones into bread.
• He will watch and wait until we are sleeping on the job… when we have been neglecting God’s Word and God’s wisdom… and have been leaning on our OWN understanding. That’s a good time to strike.
4. Others have seen in this an allusion to watching and waiting at the gate of the Temple… waiting to hear from God.
a. The point is the same in either illustration…
b. The point is that of watching and waiting for God’s wisdom!
• Ps. 25:5 – Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day.
• Lam. 3:25 – The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him. —if we need wisdom, God is good to those who wait!
5. This passage also tells us that the BLESSEDNESS spoken of is obtained by the kind of hearing that watches daily… and waits!
a. It is not enough to watch once a month (or even once a week) and expect this kind of blessedness. It comes through watching DAILY at the gates!
b. But if we watch for God’s wisdom… and wait for God to speak to our heart… THEN we will receive wisdom, which will bless our lives immensely!
c. James 1:25 – “But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.”
Proverbs 8:35-36
Results of Our Response to Wisdom
* Blessing – v. 34
a. We saw this result last time—the life that listens with the ears and the heart to Lady Wisdom is the life that will be blessed by God.
b. If we refuse to follow the way of God’s wisdom… we are refusing His blessing in our life!
c. This is all our choice.
Life and Favor
1. Finding Wisdom.
a. This implies much more than simply “hearing” the words of wisdom.
b. This implies more than just “knowing” what the wise thing to do is.
c. The one who truly finds wisdom is the one who practices it. If you aren’t practicing it… you haven’t yet found it! You may be close… but not there yet.
d. Wisdom… the wise choice… the wisest way to go… the right decision… doesn’t always come right away. Wisdom isn’t INSTANT. It doesn’t always come easily.
e. The picture given here is that the one who finds wisdom is the one who WAITS for it – v. 34… watching… looking… expecting… waiting…
f. The one who finds and follows the way of wisdom is the one who does NOT act impulsively… he does not act rashly… he waits patiently.
g. If he doesn’t hear from the Lord right away… he doesn’t move until he does! He waits… rests… trusts… looks unto the Lord…
h. We act on our feelings way too often. We are by nature impatient.
• Sometimes we decide and then pray.
• On other occasions, we pray and then decide… which can be just as bad!
• What God wants us to do is to pray… and wait for an answer! Don’t pray… and then go ahead and do what we have already decided to do!
• That is the way of the flesh… acting on feelings and impulses.
• God is able to guide us… incline our mind and heart… to use His Word… to work IN us both to will and to do of HIS good pleasure.
• The one who truly FINDS wisdom is the one who waits at the posts of Lady Wisdom’s doorposts… waiting to KNOW what is the right way to go… the right thing to do… the right and wise decision to make.
• Ex. 29:42 – the priests waited at the door of the tabernacle to hear the word of the Lord!
• THEN we need to act and obey—even if the way seems tough… even if the way of wisdom involves suffering… crosses to bear…
2. The one who FINDS wisdom finds LIFE.
a. Consider the apparent contradiction in terms:
• We are to FIND wisdom.
• Yet in 2:6 it says that God GIVES wisdom.
• In both contexts, however, we have a responsibility to diligently SEEK wisdom or we will never find it! (2:4-5)
• God gives it… but only to those who hunger for it… and demonstrate that they truly want it… by seeking it diligently… and waiting for it… and practicing it when received!
b. When we diligently seek the way of wisdom, we find LIFE.
• Life here does not refer to regeneration… the impartation of eternal life.
• Rather, it speaks about the QUALITY of life… a good life…a long life… a joyous life… an abundant life… a life worth living!
• Prov. 3:1 – a long, peaceful, good life for those who follow wisdom.
• Prov. 3:13, 16-18 – a long, happy, pleasant, peaceful life—a tree of life—a source of all kinds of good fruit!
• Prov. 1:33 – if we hearken to God’s wisdom, we will dwell safely and be quiet from fear of evil. We can sleep at night… not having to worry about the IRS knocking at our door… worrying if we are going to lose our driving license… worrying about contacting aids… worrying about being caught in the middle of a love triangle…
3. The one who finds wisdom obtains favor of the Lord.
a. Everybody wants God’s favor in his or her life… God’s blessing.
b. Num. 6:25-27 – a blessing from the Lord—a prayer.
c. Psa. 31:16-17 – another prayer for God’s blessing in our life… that God’s favor would come our way in the form of answered prayers.
d. Not everybody is willing to obtain God’s favor the way God says it is to be obtained: by diligently seeking, finding, and following the way of wisdom!
e. If we refuse to find wisdom God’s way… then we are choosing to forfeit God’s blessing in our life. God’s way of wisdom and God’s blessing go hand in hand.
f. There is a simple principle found in I Sam. 2:30 – “Them that honor Me I will honor.”
• That doesn’t mean a life free from trials or troubles.
• But it does mean a life full of the blessings of God in the midst of life’s difficulties! Grace, strength, and courage enough to keep on going!
Wronged Soul and Death
1. The one who SINS against Lady Wisdom wrongs his own soul!
2. Wrongs: to wrong; or to do violence to; to treat violently; it refers to sinful violence, not the violence of storms or natural disasters; an act of injustice committed against someone;
a. The one who sins against Lady Wisdom—misses the mark—refuses to walk in her ways is hurting himself!
b. He is committing an injustice against his own soul!
c. He is doing violence to his own soul… his inner life… his emotions… his thoughts… etc…
d. When we refuse to follow the way of wisdom, we are inflicting deep, violent wounds on our own soul… and we will have to live with that.
3. Consider the hurt we inflict upon ourselves:
a. The alcoholic—he chooses not to follow the way of wisdom, and inflicts suffering and ruin upon his whole life.
b. The young man who pursues a life of sexual immorality—he chooses a path that is similar to an ox going to the slaughter. Think about a slaughterhouse for cattle… and picture your SOUL there!
c. I Pet. 2:11 – fleshly lusts WAR against our soul! Therefore, abstain from it! When we give in, it is war… think of the horrors of war… and picture your soul in the midst of it all.
d. Those who pursue money pierce themselves through with many hurtful sorrows! (I Tim. 6:9-10).
e. Those who ignore their kids and let them run wild have to live with shame on their soul. (Prov. 29:15)
f. Those who refuse to control their tongue… not only hurt others, but themselves. They have to live with all the conflict created.
g. Those who are lazy have to live with the fruits of laziness. (Prov. 21:25-26)
4. These are all self-inflicted wounds… that cause real pain and suffering.
a. Those who refuse God’s wisdom are forced to EAT THE FRUIT of their ways… which is painful to the soul. (Prov. 1:31-32)
b. Even Christians inflict these kinds of wounds upon themselves.
c. When God’s wisdom warns us against certain pursuits in life, and we pursue them ANYWAY… we are doing violence to our own soul!
5. Violence to our soul.
a. This includes emotional pain and suffering… (guilt; remorse; resentment)
b. This includes spiritual violence to our soul…
• Prov. 5:22 – the man who practices sin CAN become BOUND by the cords of that sin… addicted… trapped… enslaved…
c. Our enemy is out to get our soul. He can do enough damage. We don’t need to HELP him do violence to our soul!
6. Those who hate wisdom love death.
a. In other words, those refusing wisdom are skating on thin ice… they are demonstrating that they are choosing the way that leads to death and destruction!
b. Following the way of wisdom leads to a long, healthy, satisfied, blessed life.
c. Hating the way of wisdom and not following it leads to the opposite of a long, healthy, happy life…
d. There are only two ways: the way of wisdom that leads to an abundant life… and the way of folly that leads to destruction and death.
