PROVERBS 8

1 ¶ Doth not wisdom cry (call out)? and understanding put forth her voice?

• How does Wisdom cry? (1) Verbally, in the written Word of God. (2) Providentially, as God speaks to us through His providence and works, (Ps. 19:1-6).
• Beginning in Proverbs 1:22, the concept of wisdom takes on the characteristics of a person as we see in our study tonight. Wisdom is personified in the feminine gender in Prov 1.22 and in this chapter.
• Even though we will see wisdom spoken of in the feminine gender, the Scriptures clearly reveal The Lord Jesus Christ as the Wisdom of God Incarnate.
• Col 2:3 In Whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
• 1Co 1:24 But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.

2 She standeth in the top of high places, by the way in the places of the paths.

• Ancient and cultic wisdom is hidden from the average person. The Masonic Lodge has its secrets, as do many other groups. But the wisdom from above is revealed to all of God’s creatures.
• None need stay away from Him because of their ignorance; it should even be a reason for coming to him.

3 She crieth at the gates, at the entry of the city, at the coming in at the doors.

• The gates of a city were the places where one could reach the most people with a message, for everyone entering or leaving had to pass through here. Here the prophets often proclaimed their messages of rebuke to the people, (Isa. 29:21; Jer. 7:2; 17:19ff, etc.). As “gates” suggest the way into the city, so “doors” would suggest the way into the house.
• The wisdom of God is given to guide us in both our public and personal lives.

4 Unto you, O men (iysh), I call; and my voice is to the sons of man (adam).

• Two different words are used for “men” here: the first suggests man as mighty and noble, while the second (son of Adam) suggests man as a common son of fallen Adam—as a mortal creature.
• Thus, Wisdom is shown to be needful for the great as well as the small.
• There is not one person who is exempt from needing the wisdom of God.

5 O ye simple (naive), understand wisdom: and, ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart.

• Wisdom calls. Wisdom reproves. Wisdom cries out. And to whom does wisdom call? To those who are unwise (the "simple ones"); naive.
• "The fool says in his heart, 'there is no God.'" (Psalm 53:1). In the Bible, the fool is one who actively spurns the ways and wisdom of God. The fool says there is no God and lives his life as if there were no God in spite of overwhelming evidence that says there is a God. And the fool is one who hears God's call but refuses to listen.
• We are all like sheep in need of a shepherd’s guidance, because we so often make decisions based on earthly knowledge instead of the wisdom from above.
• Pr 14:12 There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
• The design of Wisdom is to make men wise where they are simple, and it is capable of even giving understanding to fallen, sinful man. “The ‘simple’ are those liable to be led astray. The ‘fools’ are those actually guilty of sinful folly and error.
• Pr 26:12 Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? there is more hope of a fool than of him.

6 Hear; for I will speak of excellent things; and the opening of my lips shall be right things.

• In Luke 10, Jesus commended Mary for making the decision to sit at His feet and hear His words.
• Pr 22:20 Have not I written to thee excellent things in counsels and knowledge.

7 For my mouth shall speak truth; and wickedness is an abomination (morally disgusting; 19 times in Proverbs) to my lips.

• Joh 14:16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; 17 Even the Spirit of truth.
• Joh 17:17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

Of our Lord Jesus alone was this verse fulfilled perfectly. The Lord’s lips always spoke the truth because His Father’s law was always in His heart, and He delighted to do His will, (Ps. 40:8-10).

8 All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing forward (twisted, unsavory) or perverse (crooked) in them.

• 2Ti 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
• May our words be void of twisted or corrupt things.

9 They are all plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that find knowledge (implying a search).

• Right understanding requires a right attitude on the part of the learner. Unwillingness to obey closes the mind to right understanding of spiritual truth.
• The plainest and best instructions are of no avail unless there be an understanding heart to receive them.  The doctrine of Christ was an offence to the scribes and Pharisees; but all who had an humble and obedient spirit received it gladly. FBN

10 Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold.

11 For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it.

• These verses show the relatively greater importance of spiritual truth to earthly treasures, and that spiritual wisdom is the most important thing. The rich man in Luke 16 learned his folly too late.
• The most valuable reality a young person can attain is the insight to order his life by the standard of truth as revealed in God’s holy Word.
• Psa 19:9 The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.10 More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.11 Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward.
• Pr 3:14 For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold. 3:15 She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her.

12 ¶ I wisdom dwell with prudence (I possess knowledge and discretion), and find out knowledge of witty inventions.

• “Wisdom here is Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge; it is Christ in the word and Christ in the heart, not only Christ revealed to us, but Christ revealed in us,” [M. Henry].
• Since his fall, man has sought out many inventions.
• Eccl 7:29 Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions.

13 The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the forward (perverse; twisted) mouth, do I hate.

• There are 14 references to the fear of The Lord in Proverbs. Among other things, it is both the beginning of knowledge and wisdom as well.
• The fear and love of the Lord involves the hatred of evil: there is no room for compromise in this, for evil sets itself against the Lord, and to take any attitude toward it but hatred is to dishonor the Lord.
• Ps 97:10 Ye that love the LORD, hate evil.
• Am 5:14 Seek good, and not evil, that ye may live: and so the LORD, the God of hosts, shall be with you, as ye have spoken.15 Hate the evil, and love the good, and establish judgment in the gate

The highest virtue is humility, and humility is submission to God, and thus, this wisdom hates and despises pride and self exaltation.

14 Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom: I am understanding; I have strength.

• Not only is Christ the Wisdom of God, (1 Cor. 1:24), but He is also the Wonderful Counselor, (Isa. 9:6), for His counsel is always that which does us good. “Sound wisdom” is contrasted with the wisdom of the world, (1 Cor. 1:20-21; James 3.13-18), which is not sound.
• This counsel and wisdom of God does not come to us by some mysterious method, it is given to us as we pray and obey God’s Word.

15 By me kings reign, and princes decree justice.

This is what King Solomon asked God for when he began his reign over the nation.

• 2Ch 1:10 Give me now wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people: for who can judge this thy people, that is so great?

John Dickinson was known as “The Penman of the Revolution”. His most stirring pamphlets were called, Letters from a Pennsylvania Farmer, and one of his quotes was “But, above all, let us implore the protection of that infinitely good and gracious Being by Whom kings reign and princes decree justice.”

16 By me princes rule, and nobles, even all the judges of the earth.

• We know that every single earthly ruler is divinely appointed and our responsibility as Christians is to pray for them (1 Tim 2).
• Taken together, verses 15-16 show that all governmental offices are ordained by God, and men only come to occupy them by God’s providential will.
• Dan 4.25 the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever He will.
• Ro 13:1 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.

17 I love them that love me; and those that seek me early (diligently) shall find me.

• 1 John 4:19 goes further to reveal that God’s love is prior to ours and the cause of ours for Him. His love to us draws out our love to Him.
• “Early” may be applied several ways: (1) Early in life. (2) Early in each day. (3) Early when problems first arise (not as a last resort). (4) Early, in the sense of earnestly, diligently and without delay.

18 Riches and honour are with me; yea, durable (enduring) riches and righteousness.

• This is a promise of spiritual riches, not necessarily financial riches as the prosperity heretics teach.

19 My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold; and my revenue than choice silver. 20 I lead in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment:

• The Lord’s leading is always in the way of righteousness. The way of truth is, as Jesus taught, a strait and narrow way, (Matthew 7:13-14).

21 That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures.

• Here is the promised fruit of submitting to Wisdom: treasures of real substance.
• The fulfillment of this verse is spoken of in 1Co 2:9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. 10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
• Re 21:7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.

22 ¶ The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old.

• Pr 3:19 The LORD by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath he established the heavens.

• This carries this “Wisdom” back to eternal time, and nothing is eternal but God. This is an obvious reference to Jesus Christ, The Eternal Son of God.
• John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God.
• To hear and obey Christ, is to receive heavenly wisdom, and with her, eternal life.

23 I was set up from everlasting (eternity), from the beginning, or ever the earth was.

• “Set” is the same Hebrew word as in Psalm 2:6, and means “to anoint” or to set forth officially.
•   Ps 2:6 Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.
• Jesus Christ’s eternal existence is often mentioned, (Ps. 93:2; Micah 5:2). His existence before the earth was, in the beginning of time as we know it, is also declared, (John 1:1-3; Heb. 1:1-2).
• Those who reject the eternal existence of Christ, and wish to make Him only the first created being as does every cult that denies the Deity of Christ, are faced with an impossible task in the light of all these and many other like texts which so closely bear witness to his eternal being before all created things.
• Wisdom antedates even the angelic creation, and proves Christ to be infinitely more than the highest archangel.
• Col 1:16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: 17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.

24 When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water.

• According to Genesis 1:2, the deep is the first thing specifically mentioned after the creation, so that what is here said of Wisdom reveals His existence before Genesis 1:1-2.
• Another proof of the eternal existence of Jesus Christ.
• No depths- This is a reference to the fountains of the great deep in Gen 7.11.

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.

• Ps 90:2 Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.

27 When he prepared the heavens, I was there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth:

•  “Compass” is “a circle” as the marginal reading and shows that the Bible taught the sphericity of the globe long centuries before the first scientist thought of this.
• Isa 40:22 It is he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth.

28 When he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep: 29 When he gave to the sea his decree (boundary), that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth:

• This decree is stated in Job 38:10-11, Psalm 104:9 and Jeremiah 5:22. All that God does is orderly, and every part of the creation is bounded by laws and decrees, which is why all creation works with a more perfect precision than the most precise clock on earth.
• Think of the genetic code that has all of the information for the reproducing of the original product. We are fearfully and wonderfully made beloved; the information that is there in that cell, has every aspect of the human body coded in. How to create it, how to develop it. The development of the muscles, the development of the skeleton, the digestive system, the blood stream, the nervous system. All of this information there in the code of the cell. Oh the wisdom and knowledge of God.
• Can you imagine if your car was in an accident and you knew that all of the dents and scratches were made in such a way that they would eventually heal themselves?

30 Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him;

• Wisdom’s eternal existence before all creation means this can refer only to Deity. “With Him” shows distinct personality. “Delight” and “rejoicing” reveals the mutual complacency that the Father and Son have with each other.
• The phrase, one brought up with Him, is translated a master craftsman in the NKJV.

31 Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth; and my delights were with the sons of men.

• Here we see the love of Christ for men manifesting itself in eternity past. It was this supreme kind of love that moved Him to voluntarily lay down His life for His sheep, (John 10:16-18). It required a like supreme love for the Father to give up His Son, (Rom. 5:8).

32 ¶ Now therefore hearken unto me, O ye children: for blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) are they that keep my ways.

• Wisdom appeals to the sons of men to obey and keep her ways that they might be blessed.
• No one really loses anything of real value by obeying the Word of God. It is a part of Satan’s deception to imply that God withholds good from people, (Gen. 3:1-5).
• Psa 119:2 Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart.
• Psa 128.1 Blessed is every one that feareth the LORD; that walketh in his ways.

33 Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not (do not ignore it).

• There cannot be any wisdom apart from hearing God’s Word and applying it to our lives by faith.
• The person that refuses to listen to God’s Word is walking on the path of darkness and death.

34 Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.

• “Blessed” (as in the beatitudes) always has to do with happiness, so that here is the source of true happiness: obedience to Christ.
• For those who watch and wait diligently upon the Lord daily, we are assured that we will hear His voice.

35 For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the LORD.

• “Life” is plural, for the promise is both of the life that now is, and that which is to come. Both of these find their fullness only in Christ, for in Him alone is the life that is the light of men, (John 1:4). Eternal life is alone in Christ, and this is through the grace (favor) of God, for we are only accepted in Christ, (Eph. 1:6). The Lord’s promise to seekers is that they shall find, (Matthew 7:7-8).
• Whoso neglects the salvation that is in Christ alone, shall not have life, (Acts 4:12; Heb. 2:2-3).
• There is no promise but of wrath to come for those who reject the wisdom and gospel of God.
• Ro 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness.
• 2Th 2:10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: 12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
• It is a simple choice: we must choose Him who is the Truth or we shall be deceived by him who is the Lie.

36 But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death.

• Eternal Wisdom found out the witty invention of the Cross.  The plan of salvation by a substitute is the very summit of wisdom.
• If any person here tonight hates The Lord Jesus Christ, they love death.

o   1Co 16:22 If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema (accursed) Maranatha.