Wisdom Speaks

26. July 2010 by Bernice Davis.

Hello Everyone: 

In our text today, the proverb is written in the voice of wisdom herself.  And this is what she has to say:

Proverbs 8: 1 Does not wisdom call out? Does not understanding raise her voice? 2 On the heights along the way, where the paths meet, she takes her stand; 3 beside the gates leading into the city, at the entrances, she cries aloud: 4 “To you, O men, I call out; I raise my voice to all mankind. 5 You who are simple, gain prudence; you who are foolish, gain understanding. 6 Listen, for I have worthy things to say; I open my lips to speak what is right. 7 My mouth speaks what is true, for my lips detest wickedness. 8 All the words of my mouth are just; none of them is crooked or perverse. 9 To the discerning all of them are right; they are faultless to those who have knowledge. 10 Choose my instruction instead of silver, knowledge rather than choice gold, 11 for wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire can compare with her. 12 “I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence; I possess knowledge and discretion. 13 To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech. 14 Counsel and sound judgment are mine; I have understanding and power. 15 By me kings reign and rulers make laws that are just; 16 by me princes govern, and all nobles who rule on earth. 17 I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me. 18 With me are riches and honor, enduring wealth and prosperity. 19 My fruit is better than fine gold; what I yield surpasses choice silver. 20 I walk in the way of righteousness, along the paths of justice, 21 bestowing wealth on those who love me and making their treasuries full. 22 “The LORD brought me forth as the first of his works, before his deeds of old; 23 I was appointed from eternity, from the beginning, before the world began. 24 When there were no oceans, I was given birth, when there were no springs abounding with water; 25 before the mountains were settled in place, before the hills, I was given birth, 26 before he made the earth or its fields or any of the dust of the world. 27 I was there when he set the heavens in place, when he marked out the horizon on the face of the deep, 28 when he established the clouds above and fixed securely the fountains of the deep, 29 when he gave the sea its boundary so the waters would not overstep his command, and when he marked out the foundations of the earth. 30 Then I was the craftsman at his side. I was filled with delight day after day, rejoicing always in his presence, 31 rejoicing in his whole world and delighting in mankind. 32 “Now then, my sons, listen to me; blessed are those who keep my ways. 33 Listen to my instruction and be wise; do not ignore it. 34 Blessed is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at my doorway. 35 For whoever finds me finds life and receives favor from the LORD. 36 But whoever fails to find me harms himself; all who hate me love death.”

There are a couple of things in this proverb that I want to point out.   The proverb opens with letting us know that there is no excuse for not running into or finding wisdom for it is everywhere. 

All throughout the past seven proverbs, you have been hearing that the beginning of knowledge is to fear the Lord and in this proverb, it tells us what “fearing the Lord” means.  The proverb teaches that to “fear God” you must hate evil. 

Wow…  I am in self-reflect mode now and I immediately looked up the word evil because I needed it to mean horrible crimes, detestable acts, etc and of course I hate those, but if it is the word for common everyday sins then ouch………..   I’m looking now… 

Okay… hear are the results.  It means to give pain, to be bad, to cause un-necessary affliction, to injure, to wrong, to distress, to be unkind, to be hurtful, bad thoughts, deeds or actions. 

So in other words….. I am a work in progress.    To fear God is basically to hate SIN………  or hate wrong doing……..

That is a strong word hate,  While there may be sins that we strongly will never do again, there are also those that we hold on to and reach for every now and then.  To fear God is to hate Evil……   yes………  that’s where I want to be in my mind, actions or deeds. 

The proverb goes on to say that wisdom is better than gold or silver and it brings wealth to those that adhere to it.  The proverb also teaches that Wisdom was here before creation and that whoever finds her finds life and receives favor from the Lord.   Reminds you of the scripture that says:  He who findeth a wife findeth a good thing and receives favor from the Lord.   

The proverb closes by saying whoever fails to find me harms himself and the person that hates wisdom is one who loves death.    The proverb encourages us that whoever seeks after wisdom will find her. 

This proverb today, we cause me to change my prayer life and include the request for wisdom and understanding.

Stay encouraged everyone and don’t forget to pray and read God’s word daily.

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