A STUDY OF WISE
LIVING FROM THE BOOK OF PROVERBS
Live Wisely Because
Wisdom is Valuable
Proverbs 8 SCC 8/9/15
Chapter 8 is about a call to wisdom. It is very much like
chapter 1. It is almost like Solomon is starting over. But he isn’t. After
giving several applications of wisdom he comes back to an exhortation to wise
living. The repetition is intentional and meant to drive home the absolute
essential need for wisdom. These are not necessarily new, but they are put in a
unique way making a new emphasis.
WISDOM
IS USEFUL EVERYWHERE IN LIFE 1-3
Verse
1:
Wisdom advances herself to exhibit her attractions out in the open not lurking
in the streets in secret. Wisdom wants to be useful for everyone and is found
to be beneficial everywhere in life.
Verse
2-3:
Her crying out in the heights, beside the way, beside the gates, at the
openings and entrances is where the people gathered to buy and sell, to settle
disputes, to determine proper decisions—all of which requires wisdom. Wisdom is
useful ‘on the ground’ where you live, work, and raise family. It is found in
the streets and not a product of miraculous leadings.
PT:
Wisdom is about bringing our chaos to order, our randomness to regularity, our confusion to understanding. Proverbs is not about
maturity per se. Wisdom is the foundation of maturity. Maturity must be built
upon wisdom. There is no maturity without wisdom. But the two are not the same.
Maturity requires creativity. Wisdom requires regularity. Wisdom is moving from
chaos to order, from random, disorder, and confusion, to living in light of the
way things usually are most of the time and that is useful everywhere in life.
WISDOM
IS USEFUL TO SECURE THE UNDERSTANDING TO LIVE LIFE 4-9
Listen
to wisdom’s wisdom 4-5
Wisdom invites all classes of people to embrace her. First it is the ‘sons of men’ meaning
humankind v 4 and then the ‘simple’ and ‘foolish’ v 5 are to gain prudence and
understanding by embracing wisdom. So wisdom is useful no matter where you find
yourself in life. If, for some reason you are currently naïve, then the
understanding wisdom supplies is needful. Or if foolish, the chaos you created
can be improved upon with wisdom. Wisdom is always valuable no matter your life
circumstance.
Wisdom
is protection from foolish chaos 6-9
Verse
6:
First, wisdom declares herself to have noble things to say. Personified as
opening her mouth, she speaks only what is excellent and upright. Wisdom is not
treacherous. Listening to wisdom will never get you in trouble.
Verse
7:
The information wisdom conveys is always reliable. Wisdom tells the truth in
the sense of what is firm and dependable. This conveyance of truth makes
wickedness detestable to wisdom. Wisdoms counsel will never produce evil.
Verse
8:
Everything wisdom teaches appeals to what is righteous. There is no hidden agendas and no deception when wisdom speaks her
mind. Wisdom cannot conceive of guidance that is perverted.
Verse 9: All her counsel is in plain view of the truth. It is
faultless. It is intelligible and precise to those who have discernment, of
course, who wish to discover knowledge and understanding.
NB: Wisdom
is having a firm grasp of the obvious. It’s a skill for recognizing life’s
regular things. Wisdom is the way things usually are most of the time. The wise
man knows what to expect. He has understanding because he thinks in terms of
the regular things of life. So wisdom is a skill for
understanding life according to its regular things. Wisdom can be
counted upon to live skillfully.
WISDOM
IS USEFUL FOR ACQUIRING KNOWLEDGE ABOUT LIFE 10-21
Wisdom
has incomparable value for life 10-11
The point of this second invitation to embrace wisdom is the
instruction it delivers and the knowledge it furnishes v 10. Both of these are more valuable than the most precious
metals—silver and precious gold. True wealth derives from these qualities v 11. The only way we could arrive at
this conclusion is if we perceive eternal things to be more advantageous. A
foolish person would never consider this to be true.
Wisdom
has practical value in life 12-16
Verse
12-13: Wisdom claims to lodge with prudence. Prudence is correct
knowledge in unique situations. Shrewdness and farsightedness enhance one’s
ability to carve a wise path in life v
12. This parallels with the fear of God v 13, which leads to a rejection of evil, pride, arrogance and
distortion. These are the very vices paving the way to chaos and
self-destruction. Pride is independence from God rather than dependence upon
God. Choosing to live in opposition to God’s Word will only harm oneself here
in this life and on into eternity.
Verse
14-16: Notice that counsel, sound judgment, and understanding—all
of which form a powerful force—is associated with
wisdoms embrace v 14. This is especially
noticeable when those in power, kings, rulers, princes and judges, who reign,
decree, rule and judge government is derived from wisdom v 15-16. The converse is also true—leaders who lead foolishly
destroy people. So wisdom is what successful leaders use to lead others.
NB:
Wisdom is not up on a pedestal. It is down to earth. It is where the rubber
meets the road. Wisdom is the difference maker. Wisdom is useful for leadership
because of the wider influence leaders have in the lives of the community they
serve. A wise leader knows this and his or her rule is judicious.
Wisdom
rewards when applied to life 17-21
Verse
17:
Wisdom declares that she will reward those who love her. All of the attributes
of wisdom enumerated in this chapter are accessible to those who seek wisdom.
Wisdom must be sought and found. Wisdom must be pursued to be enjoyed. The
point is to find wisdom--to discover her benefits.
Verse
18-19: The outcome of acquiring wisdom is described as both
riches and honor v 18 and fruit v 19. The former leads to enduring
wealth and righteous living. Godly living is a major benefit from acquiring
wisdom. The latter produces yields more expensive than pure gold and choicest
silver. The point is that the benefits of wisdom applied to life are far
superior to that which is regarded on earth as the most precious possession
ever.
Verse
20-21: Wisdom has a walk v
20 and a path v 21. Wisdom
struts to righteousness and justice. If you pursue wise living you will dwell
in the realm of the sacred. These paths are prosperous endowed with wealth v 21. The practical value of this
insight is that material substance is replenishable
not for everyone all the time but because of the skill a wise person has to
maintain it. Wisdom is capable of enriching your life with significant value
throughout your life.
WISDOM
IS USEFUL SINCE BY WISDOM GOD CRAFTED LIFE 22-36
Wisdom
preceded creation 22-26
Verse
22-23: The motivation for embracing wisdom is her existence
before the creation of the world v 22.
‘Before’ occurs 5 times v 22-23, 25-26. This indicates that wisdom was present
when God crafted the universe. So wisdom existed before creation and during the
creative act v 23. This personified
wisdom derives from God’s essential being and as such is unlike the rest of
creation which came into existence outside of Him as a creative act of God. It
is this wisdom derived from God’s essential nature that is to be embraced in
life. God has revealed it to us so we may live consistent with it.
Verse
24-26: These verses reiterate that Wisdom was established before
creation. So before the waters were separated making clouds and oceans on the 2nd
day v 24 and before the dry land
appeared on the 3rd day v 25,
wisdom existed and operated. Wisdom was established or appointed even before
dirt and dust and landmasses were in place v
26.
Wisdom
existed during the creative act of God 27-29
Not only did wisdom exist before creation (I was established
v 23, I was brought forth v 24-25) wisdom was a craftsman at Gods side when he
created the world (I was there v 27, I was beside Him v 30). Wisdom personified
as an assistant in the Lords creative act indicates that God was wise in what
He created. The entire universe was constructed wisely. Wisdom used to assemble
the universe from the very beginning makes wisdom essential for living within
that universe. Gods wisdom had a hand in establishing
the heavens apart from the earth v 27;
creating the earth in a sphere v 27;
established the atmosphere before any living thing created v 28; creating the sea with a predetermined shoreline with the land
in one place and the sea was in another place v 28-29. Wisdom determined all of this. Creation was not the
construct of a chaotic act. It was an ordered act the essential basis of wisdom
for life.
Wisdom’s
claim to reward is credible 30-36
Verse
30-31: If wisdom is so basic to the universe, then it is
essential for living consistent with the values and ethics embedded within it.
Those are consistent with wisdom. It rejoices in God’s presence v 30 and brings joyful, fulfilling,
rewarding and satisfaction to those who apply it to life v 31. This claim is credible due to her presence from the very
beginning of life. Look and listen for life is in her ways.
Verse
32-34: Wisdom once again addresses herself directly to my sons. Here
is wisdoms appeal once again to seek her and pursue her. Do not forestall her.
Listen to her v 32. Heed her
instruction v 33. Watch and wait for
her v 34. Blessing mentioned twice
is her reward. It comes from following wisdom eagerly and passionately.
Verse
35-36: Wisdom asks what is closest to God’s heart and discovers
the blessing and favor of the Lord v 35.
Fools ask what they can get away with and still hope for blessing v 36. God’s goodwill is available to
the wise. Rejecting wisdom results in harm and death. People have two choices
in life.
So What?
1. The only way to avoid the destruction of a chaotic life
is the application of the wisdom of God. Chaos is unavoidable otherwise. Life
trends toward chaos. We cannot control our circumstances. We cannot determine
how people will manage relationship with us. Potential chaos stalks us on this
side of the grave. Spurning wisdom sets you up to self-destruct.
2. Wisdom must be cultivated. It does not show up all of a
sudden when you need it. If you do not already have it you will most likely
contribute to the chaos you are confronted with. That is why wisdom cries out
and calls us to pursue it as life itself. We are too easily distracted and too
willing to play the percentages hoping that we can get a handle on our chaos
without the hard path of ordered living. Wisdom requires we take responsibility
not handouts.