Wisdom Available To All Proverbs 8:1-11
The omission of chapter seven at this
point is intentional. Chapter eight begins the conclusion to the first section in
Proverbs, the introduction of the first nine chapters. In the first eleven
verses of this section focuses on the availability of wisdom to all. There are,
as we have seen ten lessons in the first nine chapters dealing with wisdom. These are addressed to the son by the father.
Most people believe that these proverbs
are written or, at least collected, by Solomon. Solomon is writing this for the
training of his own son, but these were written down, many believe, to be a
training manual for the education and training of the leaders within the
nation. As the Davidic kingdom had expanded so greatly and had begun to
solidify its organization and administration under Solomon, Solomon wrote this
not only as a training manual for his son but also as a training manual for
raising up wise, godly leaders who would function in all areas of the
bureaucracy in Israel. It was a way of passing on the truth of GodÕs Word from
one generation to the next, and thus it also forms a manual and pattern for
families to pass on the Word of God generationally. The core
training unit throughout all of history is the family. Not the church,
not the school, not the Sunday school, but the family. The primary
responsibility for training within the family goes to the father.
Today we live in an environment in the
United States when families arenÕt what they ought to be. In fact, the problem
we have today is that we have many families that due to divorce, to
criminality, to the welfare state, it is unusual to find a good family. Everybody
has a problem with their family from one degree to another, because we are all
sinners; but it is the role of the family to pass on the Word of God. We have
to make wise decisions. We often start off in life in a deficit decision. And
this is true for all of us. Because of sins and carnality we start in a
position where we are far from the idea and we just have to do the best we can
with whatever the circumstances are that we find ourselves and push forward to
improve, to follow the Word of God, and to grow spiritually. There is always
hope and there is always the blessing of God which is
our support which enables us to overcome any and all negative situations and
circumstances. And the key to that comes down to wisdom, and wisdom is the
skillful application of GodÕs Word. To have wisdom we have to practice
obedience to GodÕs Word. To practice obedience to GodÕs Word means we have to
know GodÕs Word, which means that is the highest priority. This is the focal
point here in this concluding section of these lessons.
We saw in chapter five, which is the
eighth lesson, the problem of free sex or the problem of immorality. Then last
time we focused on the different character insights in chapter six. From 6:20
through all of chapter seven form the ninth and tenth lessons, along with the
issues related to the adulterous woman, and so those were all covered under the
lesson for chapter five.
Then we come to two appendices in this
opening section, focusing on the value of wisdom—this cry, as it begins
in chapter eight, the cry for wisdom to all mankind to respond to the cry and
to listen and make wisdom part of a personÕs life.
We see three basic divisions in chapter
eight. Verses 1-5 is about the availability of wisdom
to all; verses 6-11 focuses on the attributes and the value of wisdom; 12-21
focuses on the benefits and blessings of wisdom. In verse 22 and down through
verse 31 it is almost as if there is an aside. It relates to the
personification of wisdom as that which the Lord used in all of creation. This fits
into an interesting argument here because what the writer of Proverbs is saying
is that if wisdom was necessary for God in order to create such a
sophisticated, complex creation then how much more do we need wisdom in order
to just deal with our own little areas of creation, innovation, work, family,
etc. Then in vv. 32-26 we see the epilogue, a conclusion to this chapter. We
will start there because 8:1-31 targets or focuses on this conclusion.
It is the first time we read: ÒListen
to me.Ó How many times as we have gone through the previous chapters have we
heard Solomon telling his son, ÒListen to me; hear meÓ? (1:1; 2:1; 3:1, 11, 21;
4:1; 5:1) We see in each of these lessons this emphasis on listening, on paying
attention, on hearing.
Proverbs 8:1 NASB ÒDoes not
wisdom call, And understanding lift up her voice?Ó Notice a little difference
there? Up to this point each new section starts with My son, listen; My son,
keep my words; My son, bind them about your heart—command to the son to
do something and to listen to wisdom, to hear the words of the father who is
the personification of wisdom as he is teaching that to his son. But now we
have a shift and we donÕt see the opening ÒListenÓ until we get down to verse
32, ÒNow therefore, {O} sons [my children], listen to me, For blessed are they
who keep my way.Ó The ÒmeÓ here is the father expressing wisdom; it is wisdom
talking to the son. It is wisdom that is crying out in verse 1, wisdom crying
out in understanding, lifting up her voice. In this section wisdom and
understanding are used as synonymous terms in order to have the poetic
parallelism. So the final command in this chapter is to listen to wisdom. Why?
Why should I take time on Sunday morning to be in Bible class? I could go
fishing! The answer is given in
the second half of verse 32: ÒFor blessed are they who keep my ways.Ó
That takes us back to this key concept
that we have all through Proverbs. There are two paths, and throughout the book
we have this presentation that life is comprised of choices and we have the
choice between the right way and the wrong way. There is no in between. One way
leads to life and one way leads to death. The ways of wisdom is the way, the
path of life in contrast to the path that leads to death. So verse 33 reads:
ÒHeed instruction and be wise, And do not neglect
{it.}Ó Do not disdain it; do not have disrespect; do not treat the availability
of the Word of God lightly.
We live in a time of unprecedented
Bible teaching. Never before in the history of the human race has so much been
available to so many. We have literally hundreds of ministries that because of
the Internet can put all of their Bible teaching up for people around the world
to listen to and to study. We have hundreds of people and pastors in South America,
in Brazil, Zambia, etc. who listen (and are live streaming) to this ministry.
There are others who have taken the material and put them out as a curriculum
for training pastors, and they go into Ghana, Nigeria and many other places in
Africa as well as India. We have no idea of how many people have access to
Bible teaching. And that is just this ministry. This is just one minor, small
speck in a spectrum of ministries where pastors are teaching the Word of God.
And that is not counting the number of people who get online and just listen.
Not only that, but there are so many sophisticated Bible study programs that
are out there. You could spend eight hours a day, seven days each week
listening to somebody really good, who really knows the truth, teach the Bible
from now until the day you go to be with the Lord and you wouldnÕt exhaust what
is available right now. And yet we as evangelical believers in this country are
ignoring it.
The vast number of evangelical
believers in this country who claim to believe in Jesus Christ as their savior
spend maybe 20 minutes a week listening to anybody do anything closely
resembling the teaching of GodÕs Word. And it is usually so short and so
shallow that no baby could ever figure out how to be potty trained, as it were,
listening to those lessons. They just donÕt do it. Because we live in an age
where there is so much prosperity in terms of how much teaching that is
available that it is a judgment on this generation that so few people avail
themselves of the Bible teaching, much less try to apply it. And so this
generation will stand in tremendous judgment before God because of the way they
have treated the wisdom of GodÕs Word with disdain; they have treated it
lightly.
Then we have a promise. Proverbs 8:34 NASB
ÒBlessed is the man who listens to me, Watching daily at my gates, Waiting at
my doorposts.Ó This is wisdom talking. Someone is blessed because every day
they are seeking to learn wisdom, learn the Word of God, and how to skillfully
apply it. [35] The ultimate reason: ÒFor he who finds me finds life And obtains favor from the LORD.Ó
Wisdom is for those who want life. We see again in this section how life is
brought up as a motivation for learning wisdom. There are only two options
here: to be wise and live or to be foolish and die. This is not talking about
eternal life versus eternal death, although that is certainly included, it is
talking about living life well, successfully, in all of the richness that God
intended. We can only do that on the basis of the Word of God.
We see the contrast in verse 36, that
the one who rejects wisdom is the one who sins against wisdom and wrongs his own soul. ÒBut he who sins against me injures himself ÉÓ
It is self-destructive behavior. ÒÉ All those who hate me love death.Ó Again
and again we see this choice. Moses set this choice before the Israelites
before he went up on to Mount Nebo to die physically and go to be with the
Lord: ÒI set before you this day life or death.Ó Joshua set that same choice
for his generation. That is the choice that is presented to us as we continue
in Proverbs. It is a daily decision.
LetÕs go back to the beginning of the
chapter and see how the writer sets this up. Instead of giving a challenge to
the son to listen, to pay attention, to hear, to respond, he focuses on the
objective availability of wisdom. And again personifying
wisdom as a person.
There are those who teach that wisdom
is a personification also of the Lord Jesus Christ. What is the problem with
that? Talk about allegory! That is exactly where that comes from. Literal
interpretation has certain guidelines and you donÕt just look at it and say, Oh well, this relates to the thinking of Christ, so
therefore wisdom here must be the Lord Jesus Christ. Where would you get that
anywhere in Scripture? The New Testament never makes that identification;
neither does the Old. Wisdom is personified here but it is actually that
component of GodÕs omniscience that is seen in the skill with which He created
all things. And that knowledge of the Lord, that skill, is available to us. As
finite image bearers we have it freely made available to us through His Word.
This is not talking about some sort of veiled reference to Jesus Christ; this
is talking about the thinking of God, the thinking of God the Father, God the
Son, and God the Holy Spirit. It is that thinking which is present in their
omniscience.
So wisdom here is presented as a woman
crying out. What is interesting is that this differs in some ways from the previous
couple of chapters. Remember the portions warning the son about not getting
involved with the immoral woman, the adulterous wife. That stands in contrast
to the woman he should be involved with, which is wisdom. The adulterous wife
is the one calling and tempting. It is a superficial fulfillment of
gratification of the flesh here and now, whereas wisdom is that which has a
long tern view and reflects eternal values. It is easy to succumb to the
immediate gratification of the flesh rather than focus on that which has
eternal everlasting value. In fact, what we see in the structure of the seventh
chapter and the eighth chapter is what is known as a diptych, where there are
these two set up in an almost antithetical section but they are tied together where
the unchaste wife shows the path to self destruction versus the personification
of wisdom as a woman offering herself as a source of life. ÒAnd
understanding lift up her voice?Ó That is where we get the feminine idea
in this personification of wisdom.
What we see here is a universal cry
from wisdom to all mankind. Proverbs 8:2 NASB ÒOn top of the heights
beside the way, Where the paths meet, she takes her stand; [3] Beside the
gates, at the opening to the city, At the entrance of
the doors, she cries out.Ó Six different places are mentioned here because
different things happened in each of these places. Wisdom has presented herself
to the entire human race and in every area of human endeavor. This is reflected
in a previous verse which is very similar: Proverbs 1:20, 21 NASB ÒWisdom
shouts in the street, She lifts her voice in the square; At the head of the
noisy {streets} she cries out; At the entrance of the gates in the city she
utters her sayings.Ó What goes on in the squares? This is where the market is
located, where commerce is conducted, where people hear the news of the day and
find out about what is affecting their world. Wisdom is located in the place
where there is the greatest amount of intercourse. So wisdom is available
everywhere, it is not hidden under a rock up in the Himalayas somewhere. It is
freely available to one and all. This reminds us that the Word of God and the
truth of GodÕs Word is always available to
everyone.
Proverbs 8:4 NASB ÒTo you, O
men, I call, And my voice is to the sons of men.Ó The
word here for men reflects the entire human race. Wisdom is available to the
entire human race and is crying out. Remember the flip side of this is that the
son is challenged to listen, to hear, to respond. But what wisdom is doing is
seeking, exercising that grace initiative from God toward man. God is
constantly making Himself available.
We have a couple of great passages
about the universal availability of God. In the Old Testament we have Psalm
19:1-4 NASB ÒThe heavens are telling of the glory of God; And their expanse is declaring the work of His handsÉÓ The
heavens donÕt speak audibly with words and sentences and paragraphs. It is a
non-verbal communication. As we observe the heavens there are things that we
can learn by observing the creation. We can discern certain things about the
creator by observing the works of creation—order, purpose, design, etc.
All of these are present and indicate that there must be something greater that
has designed and been the architect of this creation. ÒÉ Day to day pours forth
speech ÉÓ This is talking about a form of revelation. It is speech but it is
non-verbal speech. Yet the communication is just as clear. ÒÉ And night to
night reveals knowledge.Ó So we can learn specific things about God, we just
canÕt learn enough to be saved. Non-verbal;
communication, or what we call in theology general revelation, must always be
interpreted on the basis of special revelation. ÒÉThere is no speech, nor are
there words; Their voice is not heardÉÓ This answers
the question: What about the those who never heard?
Verse 3 says there is not speech or language their voice is not heard. Every
human being has heard, has seen, has understood, as we will see, the non-verbal; revelation from God in His creation. This is wisdom crying
out and is available to all. ÒÉTheir line has gone out through all the earth, And their utterances to the end of the world. In them He has
placed a tent for the sun.Ó
If we go on and read the second half of
Psalm 19 there is a praise for the written Word of
God. Psalm 19:7 NASB ÒThe law of the LORD
is perfect, restoring the soul; The testimony of the LORD
is sure, making wise the simple.Ó Notice it is the written Word that gives
information for conversion, not general revelation. [8] ÒThe precepts of the LORD
are right, rejoicing the heart ÉÓ Then in verse 9 we read: ÒThe fear of the LORD
is clean, enduring forever ÉÓ Why do we shift from the external revelation to
the fear of the Lord? When we look at Proverbs we understand that the fear of
the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. The fear of the Lord is a response to
revelation. As we come to understand the immensity, the righteousness, the
justice of God and His sovereignty we realize how great and awesome God is and
that we should be under His authority. That generates in us a respect, an awe, a fear of God. It is used there as a response to the
written law, the written judgments of God that are being praised here.
Then in vv. 10, 11 we have a
statement of the
value of GodÕs Word. ÒThey are more desirable than gold, yes, than much
fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the drippings
of the honeycomb. Moreover, by them Your servant is
warned; In keeping them there is great reward.Ó
That finds a parallel in
our passage in Proverbs chapter eight. As we get into the second part of this
opening introduction we will read about the value of GodÕs Word. The fear of the Lord is
mentioned in verse 13: ÒThe fear of the LORD
is to hate evil; Pride and arrogance and the evil way And
the perverted mouth, I hate.Ó Then we read how valuable wisdom is to those who
rule, and concluding with a statement of the value of wisdom in vv. 18ff.
Proverbs 8:18 NASB
ÒRiches and honor are with me, Enduring wealth and righteousness. [19]
My fruit is better than gold, even pure gold, And my
yield {better} than choicest silver.Ó And so we see these same ideas expressed,
that wisdom is available to all and it is more valuable than all things.
The New Testament
counterpart to Psalm 19 is in Romans 1:18-20 NASB ÒFor the wrath of
God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men
who suppress the truth in unrighteousnessÉÓ That sort of represents the major
characteristic of the human race in that they are truth suppressors. Where do
they get the truth? It is known to them internally and
externally from the very beginning. ÒÉ because that
which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to
them.Ó That is everybody; nobody can say what about so and so in some pagan
country who never heard. Psalm 19 says it is spoken in
a language everybody can understand, a non-verbal language. Romans
1:19 says that which is known about God is evident within them, for God made it
evident to them. [20] ÒFor since
the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and
divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been
made, so that they are without excuse.Ó
So we see that wisdom is crying out, understanding is lifting
her voice to one and all. So no one has an excuse to say, I didnÕt know.
It is not just passively available to all; it is actively seeking responders.
Where does she go? Verse 2 & 3: ÒOn top of the heights beside the way, Where the paths meet, she takes her stand; [3] Beside the
gates, at the opening to the city, At the entrance of the doors, she cries
out.Ó Each of these is significant. There is a certain amount of overlap and
parallelism here but each speaks of different areas of life and commerce.
ÒOn top of the heights.Ó If you travel
in the areas of the Middle East, the ancient world, where do you find the
temples set? Up on a high hill. The word here is the same as in Jeremiah 51:53
as a place of fortification. So the high point is a place that is visible, a place
where if you cry out from the highest point it is heard to its furthest extent;
and so the emphasis here is that wisdom takes advantageous positions to reach
the most people, to be seen and heard by the most people.
The second phrase, Òbeside the wayÓ is
the word derek in Hebrew, which is the basic word that is
still used in modern Hebrew for the highway, the road, the path. It is used
over and over again in the Psalms for making this choice between the path
leading to righteousness and the path leading to evil, the path to life and the
path to death. There are only these two options. ÒBeside the wayÓ is talking
about being out on the highways and byways of life.
The third is at the crossroads, Òwhere
the paths meet.Ó Where the pathways intersect, that is your volition point. You
have to choose. Are you going to follow the path of life, or the path of death?
So wisdom goes to the most advantageous
place to reach as many as possible, it goes to the pathways where people
travel—not off the beaten path but on the beaten path—and it is at
the crossroads where decisions are made.
There are only two options in the
Bible. We see this is Psalm 1. ÒHow blessed is the man who does not walk
in the counsel of the wicked, Nor stand in the path of
sinners, Nor sit in the seat of scoffers! But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night.Ó The result: He
is fruitful, prosperous and successful. He will be like a tree {firmly} planted
by streams of water, Which yields its fruit in its
season And its leaf does not wither; And in whatever he does, he prospers.Ó
This is in contrast to the ungodly. Notice there is not a middle place. He is
either the blessed man who is meditating on the law of the Lord day and night
or he is living like the ungodly. There is no middle road. Verses 5, 6: ÒÉ the
wicked will not stand in the judgment, Nor sinners in
the assembly of the righteous. For the LORD
knows the way of the righteous, But the way of the
wicked will perish.Ó
The second three areas
where wisdom is available is: ÒBeside the gates, the
entry of the city and the entry of the doors.Ó Each of these refers to a
slightly different area of entry point to the city. The gates were rather
significant areas in the ancient world because it was at the city gates that
the leaders of the city would gather together. This is where judgments would
take place, where decisions were made that would affect everyone in the city.
It was a place there they would buy and sell and it was the local court room. So wisdom is available at the places that would
most significantly affect our lives. The entrances to the city were the places
where the people would come in in order to do
business. So this relates to the economic activity of the city. Wisdom applies
to everyday economic life. At the entrance of the openings.
When you went in through these gates there were little rooms off to the side
where people would go to conduct business and make decisions. What we see here
is that wisdom
is making herself available to everyone for every area of
life.
Proverbs 8:5 NASB ÒO naive
ones, understand prudence; And, O fools, understand wisdom.Ó The address on one
hand is to the simple ones, and it really refers to someone who is very na•ve,
he doesnÕt know anything, and thus he is open to anything. He can be easily
manipulated or deceived because in the worst case scenario he is open to any
viewpoint and will do what anybody wants him to do because after all every
worldview is equal, every culture is equal and so we are not going to criticize
or condemn anyone. It runs the range of someone who doesnÕt know any better and
thus is open to be deceived. ÒUnderstand prudence.Ó Prudence is the application
of wisdom. The fool is the one who has conscientiously rejected doctrine. Open
your mind to the truth is the idea here.
So the challenge to us is: Are we going
to respond to the revelation of God?