Having ended our discussion of Chapter 7 warning against the ways of the adulteress we proceed to Chapter 8 with a description of the ways and nature of Wisdom, who serves almost as a foil to the adulteress.
1. Wisdom Seeks Out Man. Like the adulteress, wisdom seeks out man, but not to destroy him; rather, to educate him. She cries out "O simple ones, learn prudence; O fools learn sense" (Proverbs 8:5 ESV). Wisdom is in the marketplace, at the crossroads and in the heights (Proverbs 8:2-3 ESV). She is at the "entrance of the portals" (Proverbs 8:3 ESV) which I take to mean men's mouths, that is she is there to watch over us and guard our lips lest we say something foolish (I do think she is separate from but may at times play a role similar to our conscience).
2. She is Greater Than Everything in the World Put Together. "[A]ll that you desire cannot compare with her" (Proverbs 8:11 ESV). By her kings, princes and nobles rule (Proverbs 8:15-16 ESV).
3. She Keeps Good Company. "I, wisdom, dwell with prudence, and I find knowledge and discretion" (Proverbs 8:12 ESV).
4. She Hates Evil. "The fear of the Lord is the hatred of evil. Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate" (Proverbs 8:13 ESV).
5. She Was There From the Beginning of Creation. Wisdom was the first of the Lord's acts of old and the implication is she was utilized in the making of creation and bore witness to it (Proverbs 8:22-31). If you have wisdom then you have some knowledge of the fundamental nature of life itself.
6. She Blesses Those Who Find Her and Love Her. Whoever finds Wisdom has life and the favor of God (Proverbs 8:35 ESV). Whoever fails to find her will suffer harm; those who hate her will die (Proverbs 8:36 ESV).
Lord Jesus Christ, you are to us wisdom and so I pray that you renew our minds in you that we may gain a heart of wisdom and the favor of God.
*ESV=English Standard Version
1. Wisdom Seeks Out Man. Like the adulteress, wisdom seeks out man, but not to destroy him; rather, to educate him. She cries out "O simple ones, learn prudence; O fools learn sense" (Proverbs 8:5 ESV). Wisdom is in the marketplace, at the crossroads and in the heights (Proverbs 8:2-3 ESV). She is at the "entrance of the portals" (Proverbs 8:3 ESV) which I take to mean men's mouths, that is she is there to watch over us and guard our lips lest we say something foolish (I do think she is separate from but may at times play a role similar to our conscience).
2. She is Greater Than Everything in the World Put Together. "[A]ll that you desire cannot compare with her" (Proverbs 8:11 ESV). By her kings, princes and nobles rule (Proverbs 8:15-16 ESV).
3. She Keeps Good Company. "I, wisdom, dwell with prudence, and I find knowledge and discretion" (Proverbs 8:12 ESV).
4. She Hates Evil. "The fear of the Lord is the hatred of evil. Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate" (Proverbs 8:13 ESV).
5. She Was There From the Beginning of Creation. Wisdom was the first of the Lord's acts of old and the implication is she was utilized in the making of creation and bore witness to it (Proverbs 8:22-31). If you have wisdom then you have some knowledge of the fundamental nature of life itself.
6. She Blesses Those Who Find Her and Love Her. Whoever finds Wisdom has life and the favor of God (Proverbs 8:35 ESV). Whoever fails to find her will suffer harm; those who hate her will die (Proverbs 8:36 ESV).
Lord Jesus Christ, you are to us wisdom and so I pray that you renew our minds in you that we may gain a heart of wisdom and the favor of God.
*ESV=English Standard Version
