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ME: Intro -
So, far in Proverbs the mouthpiece for wisdom has primarily been a teacher,
Speaking on behalf of wisdom.
In chapter 8, we come to a poem where wisdom now speaks for herself.
Wisdom is personified as Lady Wisdom.
She is the supreme teacher who teaches on her own authority.
This authority is vividly expressed through this personification.
Wisdom is then literally personified as God in the NT.
Jesus Christ is the wisdom of God,
And He is the absolute authority.
Our passage this morning presents Words to Wed.
Our outline is:
Wisdom’s Words (vs.
1-11)
Wisdom’s Love (vs.
12-21)
Wisdom’s Origin (vs.
22-31)
Wisdom’s Blessing (vs.
32-36)
Behind human wisdom is the original wisdom of God.
He established all created things and their proper relationship to God and one another by wisdom.
This makes human wisdom valid only when it occurs within the context of God’s Word.
WE: Wisdom’s Words (vs.
1-11)
Proverbs 8:1-11;
(vs.
1-3)
Last chapter we were warned about a forbidden woman with honey lips.
This chapter pictures her opposite, Lady Wisdom.
She is standing up high overlooking a road.
This road she overlooks is a crossroad.
Like the forbidden woman,
She extends an invitation to the inexperienced.
But unlike the forbidden woman.
Her invitation is not done in the dark.
She publicly makes her appeal in broad daylight.
And she makes a spiritual invitation,
Not a sexual invitation.
She promises life, not death.
We should be wed to this woman.
(vs.
4)
Wisdom calls out to us.
She is our instructor.
She does not separate some intellectually elite as the only recipients of wisdom.
She calls out to all people.
To all the children of Adam, the first person.
She appeals to the reality of our limited mortality.
(vs.
5)
Wisdom tells us to learn common sense.
This is the idea of an understanding heart,
Of a mind that functions as it should.
(vs.
6)
Wisdom is telling us to listen because her words are valuable.
She speaks what is right.
She teaches us to have a sense of morality.
(vs.
7)
Wisdom speaks reliable truths.
The opposite of truth is wickedness.
Something that is such an abomination it won’t even touch her lips.
This is not the only place Proverbs relates wisdom to truth.
This comparison happens several places.
This comparison suggests the divine origin of wisdom,
Something that is confirmed later in this chapter.
(vs.
8)
(vs.
9)
Wisdom is a self-consistent reality.
What I mean by this is that one must be attuned to wisdom in order to learn wisdom.
This again supports the idea that all truth is God’s truth.
Therefore, without the knowledge of God, we cannot know absolute truth.
Wisdom is right to those who understand wisdom.
It is right in front of us,
It is the straight path,
Not the twisted and crooked path that requires us to veer off to the side.
A perceptive person is insightful and intelligent,
But most of all they are discerning.
So, those who seek wisdom discovers it.
This is the idea Jesus teaches in Matt 13:10-13;
(vs.
10-11)
Wealth is one of the most desired things in this world.
Silver, gold, and jewels represent this human desire.
So, Wisdom compares herself against these highly desired items.
Doing so emphasizes the value of wisdom.
There is an implicit warning against materialism as well.
But the primary focus is that wisdom is more valuable,
More worthy of our desire,
Than the most desirable things of this world.
Therefore, wisdom’s advice is to desire wisdom over the things of this world.
The truth is we will either pursue godly wisdom or riches.
And the irony is that those who choose wisdom are often materially rewarded.
GOD: Wisdom’s Love (vs.
12-21)
Proverbs 8:12-21;
(vs.
12)
If you find wisdom, you will find she has some other virtuous roommates;
Prudence, knowledge, and discretion.
(vs.
13)
Again we see the phrase, “the fear of the Lord” in Proverbs.
Wisdom is reminding us that we cannot develop a Christian ethic based solely on human experience.
Education and experience are great,
But neither are foundational.
Both are built upon the foundation of God’s faithful covenantal promises,
And the hope His promises provide.
There can be no true ethics without God’s absolute standard of right, goodness, and truth.
And God has given us His absolute standard of right, goodness, and truth in His Word.
So, to fear the Lord is to have the mind of Christ,
Which means we will view evil the same way,
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