Finding Wisdom in God’s Human Design

Introduction <explain personification>

How many of you when you think of the book or Proverbs, it reminds you of impactful one liners. This is how I’ve shared Proverbs with people for years. Here recently, God has opened my eyes to Proverbs and see a larger story line.

Chapter 1-9 involve speeches from two figures:

Most speeches come from this kingly/fatherly figure who is sharing to his children

The fatherly figure introduces this lady named, Lady Wisdom. This is who we will be focusing on tonight.

If you look at Proverbs 1-9 you also find two other opposing figures. One is opposite of the father figure who is a wicked man

There is an opposite to lady wisdom — a wily woman named Lady Folly

All of the speeches in these 9 chapters lead you to make a choice. These contrasting couples are like poetics symbols of the many voices out there telling us how to be human. They are competing for your attention.

Today we are going to look at a speech from Lady Wisdom. As we look at the speech note that LADY WISDOM IS NOT ACTUAL BEING! God used the author to use strategic writing to personify His wisdom as a lady. Just as Proverbs refers to God’s wisdom as Lady Wisdom, we will also refer to God’s wisdom as Lady Wisdom. Turn to Proverbs 8 and lets look at the speech.

Proverbs 8:1–3 (ESV)

1 Does not wisdom call? Does not understanding raise her voice? 2 On the heights beside the way, at the crossroads she takes her stand; 3 beside the gates in front of the town, at the entrance of the portals she cries aloud:

These beginning verses help set the scene for us! Lady Wisdom is standing at gates to enter the city. There are two roads here that reveal our options. Lady Wisdom stands their inviting travelers who come along to take what she has to say. We are going to highlight the latter part of her speech but I would encourage yall to look at it in small groups or later tonight or for your quiet time tomorrow!

Proverbs 8:22–36 (ESV)

22 “The Lord possessed me at the beginning of his work, the first of his acts of old. 23 Ages ago I was set up, at the first, before the beginning of the earth. 24 When there were no depths I was brought forth, when there were no springs abounding with water. 25 Before the mountains had been shaped, before the hills, I was brought forth, 26 before he had made the earth with its fields, or the first of the dust of the world. 27 When he established the heavens, I was there; when he drew a circle on the face of the deep, 28 when he made firm the skies above, when he established the fountains of the deep, 29 when he assigned to the sea its limit, so that the waters might not transgress his command, when he marked out the foundations of the earth,

30 then I was beside him, like a master workman, and I was daily his delight, rejoicing before him always, 31 rejoicing in his inhabited world and delighting in the children of man. 32 “And now, O sons, listen to me: blessed are those who keep my ways. 33 Hear instruction and be wise, and do not neglect it. 34 Blessed is the one who listens to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting beside my doors. 35 For whoever finds me finds life and obtains favor from the Lord, 36 but he who fails to find me injures himself; all who hate me love death.”

As we talk about wisdom we need to understand what wisdom is because it is more than just knowledge. From the beginning of time, humans have had a misunderstanding of wisdom. God gave Adam and Eve the wise instruction not to eat from the tree of knowing good and bad because he knew it would kill them. If Adam and Eve had trusted God’s knowledge of good and bad, it would have kept them safe to enjoy all the good things he had made for them.

Wisdom (chokma) is like an invisible force that works through creation and guides people how to live. The word for WISDOM in Hebrew is used to describe the skilled artisan who excels in their craft like woodworking or stonemason. You possess wisdom when you put it to work and develop the skill of living like Jesus. If we need to possess wisdom and use it, where do we find it?

It’s not some impersonal force but its a characteristic of God. To find wisdom we must first enter into God’s presence and have the FEAR OF THE LORD. This is a scriptural term for having a healthy respect of God’s definition of good and evil. True wisdom means learning the boundary lines and not crossing them!

EXTRA NOTE for vs 19: Wisdom is like the Tree of Life

Let’s venture into Lady Wisdom’s speech and learn about this characteristic of God.

The Origin of Wisdom

What credibility is there to trust the Wisdom of God? Some people may say they just know the wisdom of God is trustworthy. But how do you know you can trust God’s wisdom versus when someone else comes to you claiming they have wisdom?

Look at verse 22: “The LORD possessed me at the beginning of his work” While God was working and started creating, one of His greatest characteristics was right there working through creation.

Before the beginning of earth

Before the separation of water and land

Before the fields were filled with plants and trees

Wisdom was there during the creation of heavens and sky

Wisdom was there during the separation of water

Wisdom was there during the raising up of land

God’s wisdom has always been working and moving through creation. In the garden, it moved through Adam and Eve to keep God’s design, but humans failed to listen. Now God’s wisdom is moving to call people back to God’s design.

So, why can you trust the wisdom of God? It is the only invisible force that has seen the FULL PROGRESSION of creation and provides a solution to return to the original design of creation. The author uses repeated synonyms to express that Wisdom emerges from God’s own being!

vs 22 “possess” or “brought forth”

vs 23 “set up” or “formed”

vs 24 “brought forth” or “given birth”

vs 25 “brought forth” or “given birth”

If you put your trust in God, you can put your trust in His wisdom and know that there is no greater life guider, than God’s Wisdom or as Proverbs personifies it, Lady Wisdom.

Looking at the origin of Wisdom is the connection to the series we are in! How can we get back to the original design of humans in God’s creation? By listening to & trusting Lady Wisdom/God’s Wisdom rather than considering the advice of the world.

If I can share something from the heart…

teacher can tell how to do well academically and prepare for college

coach can tell you how to be the best in your sport and possible make it to play in college

directors/leaders can tell you how to play an instrument, dance, paint, and succeed in extra-curriculars

parents can tell you how to be successful for when you enter adult life

bosses/managers can tell you how to be the best employee & make strategic moves to move up in the company

rules/laws can tell you live as a good citizen

ONLY WISDOM CAN GUIDE HOW YOU LIVE TO OBEY YOUR SAVIOR/MASTER/ JESUS

As we acknowledge what only Lady Wisdom can do, let’s look at the DUTY OF WISDOM

The Duty of Wisdom

As we look at where wisdom serves in creation, notice that it is always beside God/Jesus. Wisdom does not work outside of God because wisdom is apart of God.

We see four duties of Wisdom:

Working/filled with

Rejoicing

Delighting

The duty of Wisdom has been and always be closely connected and involved with God’s work. It is inseparable! Proverbs says that Lady Wisdom was like a master workman OR fill with delight. Wisdom’s duty is working through the fabric of creation and pronouncing the design. Like last week, we see that in all of creation, God sends His wisdom to delight & dwell within children of man. Those who have childlike faith saying, “I need God.”

The Duty of Wisdom leads us back to the Call of Wisdom!

The Call of Wisdom

Proverbs 8:32–36 (ESV)

32 “And now, O children, listen to me: blessed are those who keep my ways.

33 Hear instruction and be wise, and do not neglect it.

34 Blessed is the one who listens to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting beside my doors.

35 For whoever finds me finds life and obtains favor from the Lord,

36 but he who fails to find me injures himself; all who hate me love death.”

After the main part of Lady Wisdom’s speech, it calls to children.

}Blessed are those who keep my ways

}Listen to wisdom’s instruction

}Blessed are those who listen to wisdom

}WATCH at the doors and WAIT at the doorway

}Finding wisdom is equal to finding life

Finding wisdom means receiving favor from Jesus

The call of Wisdom is up against screams of the world. Everything is trying to grab your attention and time. Whenever it gets your attention and time it will consume more of your attention and time.

Think of Instagram for a second. I remember when it came out, that it’s primary purpose was to post pictures with a short caption. That was it. Then Instagram became creative to consume your attention and time

~hashtags

~direct message

~shopping

~stories

~zoom on posts

~likes on comments

~personal algorithm for your feed

~live video

~links in stories

~filters

~polls in stories

~close friends

~reels

~notes

Whatever has your attention and time it will consume more of your attention and time. You only have so much you can give attention to. You only have so much time.

Lady Wisdom/God’s Wisdom is the only thing that can take your time and attention and give it purpose.

You can be apart of great groups with great friends having a great time.

You can be apart of great teams with great players playing a great game.

You can be apart of a great school with great grades and planning a great future.

WITHOUT WISDOM GUIDING YOUR TIME AND ATTENTION, YOU WILL FIND DEATH.

That is the ending to Proverbs 8

Proverbs 8:36 ESV

36 but he who fails to find me injures himself; all who hate me love death.”

Closing

Where is Wisdom at in your life? You are standing at a crossroads with a decision to make. Wisdom calls you to come into the city where life and goodness reside. Wisdom calls us from the chaos of the world in every moment.

As you go to Small Groups, don’t discuss wisdom to see how it can fit into your life.

Approach Wisdom with an open heart and consider what NEEDS to change for Wisdom to be the guide of your life.

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