The Blessings of Wisdom Proverbs 8:1-36

Lady Wisdom Calling Out 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:

The Truth and Righteousness of Wisdom She speaks noble things (v6) From her lips comes what is right (v6) She utters truth (v7) Her words are righteous, not twisted (v8) Her words are straight and right, not crooked (9)

Elwell, W. A., & Beitzel, B. J. In Baker encyclopedia of the Bible Righteousness is fulfillment of the expectations in any relationship, whether with God or other people. Elwell, W. A., & Beitzel, B. J. In Baker encyclopedia of the Bible

31 So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:31–32

The Practical Value of Wisdom Proverbs 8:14–18 14  I have counsel and sound wisdom; I have insight; I have strength. 15  By me kings reign, and rulers decree what is just; 16  by me princes rule, and nobles, all who govern justly. 17  I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently find me. 18  Riches and honor are with me, enduring wealth and righteousness.

“Wisdom makes possible the proper exercise of power and the healthy production of wealth.” …From a commentary…

1 What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you 1 What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? 2 You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. 3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. James 4:1–3

13 The fear of the Lord is hatred of evil 13 The fear of the Lord is hatred of evil. Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate. Proverbs 8:13

The Supremacy of Wisdom Proverbs 8:22–31 (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.

The Supremacy of Wisdom Wisdom does not change Isaiah 40:6–8 (ESV) 6  …All flesh is grass, and all its beauty is like the flower of the field. 7  The grass withers, the flower fades when the breath of the Lord blows on it; surely the people are grass. 8  The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.

The Supremacy of Wisdom Wisdom does not change Wisdom gives us Wonder again

The Supremacy of Wisdom Wisdom does not change Wisdom gives us Wonder again Wisdom gives us the Joy of the Lord

Jesus - God’s Wisdom John 1:1–4 (ESV) 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. Colossians 1:15–17 (ESV) 15 He [Jesus] is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

“… we simply point out that Prov “… we simply point out that Prov. 8 is not a prophecy of Jesus or any kind of literal description of him. We must remember that the text is poetry and is using metaphor to make important points about the nature of God’s wisdom. … We must remember all this when in the NT we see that Jesus associates himself with Wisdom. Woman Wisdom is not a preincarnate form of the second person of the Trinity… The language about Jesus being the “firstborn of creation” is not to be pressed literally, as if Jesus were a created being. But – and this is crucial – the association between Jesus and Woman Wisdom in the NT is a powerful way of saying that Jesus is the embodiment of God’s Wisdom.” Tremper Longman III

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.” Proverbs 8:34–36

6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6