Wisdom's Invitation
Study Scripture: Proverbs 8: 1 – 5, 22 - 31
Lesson 11

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Key Verse

Doth not wisdom cry? and understanding put forth her voice?

Proverbs 8:1

 

INTRODUCTION

The Book of Proverbs presents ‘wisdom’ as a gift from God and as an invaluable asset to successful living. The word ‘righteousness’ invariably appears where ‘wisdom’ is discussed and this underscores its divine origin.

Understandably, wisdom is sometimes personified in Proverbs as a beautiful and desirable lady, whose affections bring blessings and goodness on all sides. But beyond this depiction of wisdom and even though God is all-wise, Proverbs still links wisdom with God in a very intimate and intriguing way.

We must remind our readers again that this gift from God is an unimaginably valuable treasure.  There is nothing like it.  Silver, gold, or precious gems are of little value compared to this gift from God.

So we are encouraged to listen to the cries of appeal from wisdom, as she teaches us to choose her way.

In reality wisdom is one of the few meaningful thing that there is.  The things that seem real to us are, generally speaking, are deceptive and destructive illusions. However, it is very difficult for us who have gotten accustomed to the ‘sin nature’, to come to grips with the fact the that everything we see around us, the material things that we so treasure, the style of life that is so attractive, the goals that the world constantly press on us is just not right and leads to death rather than to life.

Wisdom has been given to us, to allow us to sort out the true from the false.

The writer sets forth the book as ‘how to’ instructions for practical, daily living and certainly ‘wisdom’ is best demonstrated in the choices that one makes. The good and the bad are presented in a myriad of situations with their respective results and all the time the reader is exhorted to choose the way of wisdom.

Wisdom is a virtue and beneficial to all who will apply it but there is a big difference between worldly and divine wisdom. While both deliver a variety of rewards to their practitioners, only the latter points the way to eternal life. Very early into the book of Proverbs it is evident that divine wisdom is the issue for the writer.

Let us remember that in the Holy Testament, wisdom is spoken of as meaning skill in life.  Sometimes we find that the word wisdom refers to any educated discipline or skilful performance.  In Isaiah 10:13 the word is used to describe successful military leadership.  In Exodus 35:26 it is used to describe skill in making clothing out of goat’s hair, while in Exodus 31:1-5 it is used to describe metalworking and carpentry skills.

We are looking at a gift from God that brings discipline as well as skilful performance in anything that has to be done.  The Book of Proverbs gives us multitudes of direction, comparisons and illustrations, drawing on things of nature and things encountered in everyday life, so that we can see the necessary attraction of wisdom.

In today’s lesson the writer goes beyond ‘wisdom’ as a virtuous, beneficial and attractive asset and delves into how wisdom in its personification, actively appeals to and seeks to engage all mankind. In doing so we are invited to make observations about Wisdom itself, and not simply restrict ourselves to wise observations about life brought because of our engagement to wisdom.

Now while wisdom does lend itself to the picture of a beautiful woman, it’s still only an abstract and neutral concept that is descriptive of certain actions and ideas. This is particularly true of worldly wisdom. Thus its impassioned plea for men to turn from their folly to the way of life and peace might seem a bit odd, since this is an act of volition and is normally the province of the Holy Spirit. Still in light of it’s inseparable and somewhat mysterious link to the Creator God (verse 22-31), it is not really surprising that ‘Lady Wisdom’ makes strenuous efforts to turn men to the way of wisdom and life. After all, it is the will of God that all men be saved!

But not only is it the will of God that all men to be saved, but we are shown that God takes the initiative to seek men out.

The stress is on the activity of our God.  He just does not sit still, and watch the world ‘go to hell in a hand basket’. 

Our God is fully engaged with his creation.  As such the children of God are really assaulting God's character when they stress themselves out and have nervous breakdowns because of the difficulties that face them.  

Importantly, ‘Lady Wisdom’ does not wait for people to chase after her, but like the Old Testament prophets confront people in their daily lives as they go about their business, meeting them wherever they assemble to do business and to enjoy themselves and issues her invitation, making her sales pitch.  

God is high and lifted up, but He still makes sure that He is in the marketplace of life.  

Note carefully that biblical wisdom operates in the streets and does not simply sit in a church.  She is everywhere, and is very comfortable everywhere, for it is most important God brings back to him those that are enticed by evil seductions.  So we note that God comes to and operates at street level.  

Wisdom’s call is universal, non-discriminatory and made in both the public and private realm.  

We can rejoice that God has chosen to speak to the great varieties of persons and personality types and call them all without discrimination, to respond to Wisdom.  He knows that the many different peoples on the face of the earth, all have important needs which they cannot meet and that they all the need to be saved.  So he provides.  

It is important to recognize the stress on the two ways of life.  They are the only possible choices that men can make.

Life can never be truly understood except in relationship to God, for it is really too big and complicated for us to handle.  We might hear things that seem good to us but really if it is not in line with what God has told us, it is not right and cannot be trusted.  So logically there is another way and another attractive, tempting, alluring appeal.

Concurrent with ‘Lady Wisdom’s appeal are the activities of ‘Dame Folly’ (chapter 7) who allures and seduces men to forsake the way of wisdom and remain in their folly.

So chapters 7 and 8 personifies the two apparently quite attractive ways of life, but it makes it clear that one way leads to life, while the other way leads to death.

Men are involved in the struggle between the ‘seed of the woman’, and the ‘seed of the serpent’. This is part of the on going battle between good and evil

The latter part of our text (22-31) opens an interesting window on the source and origin of wisdom. Here personified wisdom is an active participant and seeming partner with God in creation and so much so that some believe Jesus himself is in view. Undeniably the terminology used in this chapter regarding wisdom has its full and complete meaning only in, `Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God' (1 Corinth ian s 1:24).

What is certain is that infinite wisdom is an active attribute of the Creator God and this fact should not be lost on those who hear the appeal in verses one through five.

Today as we come to our study, let us note the unceasing efforts and appeals to have men come to the way of life and let us heed the call of ‘Lady Wisdom’ in light of her divine credentials. Just remember that following  Wisdom is the only way to a long and beautiful life.  If we foolishly cast this long life away, exchanging it for a short brutish existence on earth and an eternity of suffering, we are idiots indeed.

THE TEXT

Verse 1.  Doth not wisdom cry…Double rhetorical questions for a resounding answer of yes!

An unabashed, sincere and intense appeal is being made. The posture is common to God’s representatives declaring his edicts or making

calls to repentance.

(see Jesus-John 7:37; Peter-Acts 2:14; Paul-Acts 17:22).  

The crying of wisdom is an essential part of her ministry.  This type of activity of course has implications, which it would be wise for us to consider.  

In addition note that Wisdom does not warn so much about particular dangers, but her cry is really offering opportunity to men, opportunities which of course will lead to life.  

The precepts of Wisdom should be known and so much so that they should be declared loudly.  She must cry and put out her voice.  The need for her instruction is great and the dangers facing the foolish and the young are very great, so she has to be aggressive in competing for the heart and mind of all men, especially the young. 

Verse 2-3.   The very public pleas are in contrast to the adulteress of chapter seven who lurks in the streets after dark, to ensnare the unwary with her fleshly enticements. Wisdom does not employ stealth nor speak in whispered, seductive tones under the cover of twilight and darkness. She proclaims her message at the major intersections, at the gates of the city and openly in the public streets.   

So she stands on high, at the top of the places where the roads meet and the paths cross, where people are bound to gather.  The crossroads are very important, for these are exactly where people come to see the latest styles, to find partners in life, to make deals and to get the latest information.  

But note that she also cries at the coming in at the doors, which means that she goes to and cries at the entrance of the doors of every house in the city.   

This is specific attention to every individual, leaving out no one and not allowing anyone to say that they did not hear her cry and her offer of opportunity.  

Note that God cares about every single individual.  He will leave no stone unturned to have those who have gone away from him return  

So Jesus came to give all men without exception the opportunity to come to him, to be saved and to inherit eternity.  It is sad that men will hear the cry of God and turn their backs to Him  

Note Wisdom is a ‘seeker’; she places her self where people concourse, whether going in or out, up, down or across.

Verse 4.   Unto you…the sons of men..   The targets of her pleas are at one and the same time specific and general. She demands that all men of every class and condition, the high and the low heed her admonitions.  

This matter of the invitation of God is very important, for ‘Lady Wisdom’ is a symbol of the grace of God.  God does not only offer  invitation to his elect, but He offers His invitation to all men whether or not they will accept.  He even sends His rain on the unjust, on those who are Hs enemies, those who will certainly refuse His invitation.  That is the grace of God and this flows from the nature of God himself.  

No one can stand on the day of judgment and say that the Holy Spirit did not knock at his or her door time and time again and bring all kinds of experiences into his or her life to make them turn to God.  

So the importance of verses like Jeremiah 35:15 and Ezekiel 33:11 cannot be underestimated.  We read:

“I have sent also unto you called my servants the prophets, rising out early and sending them, saying, Return ye now everyman from his evil way, and amend your doings, and go not to after other gods to serve them, and ye shall dwell in the land which I have given to you and to your fathers: but he have not to inclined your ear, nor hearkened unto me.”

Ezekiel adds:

“Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord God; I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live; turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will you die, O house of Israel?”

Verse 5.   Apparently divine wisdom is not readily grasped but there is no lack of effort or urgency on the part of the herald. Should the simple-minded embrace wisdom, then even they would have an understanding heart.  

The word ‘simple’ means the naïve and the inexperienced and does not at all imply that the person has no ability to hear and to understand the truth.  But it is often pointed out that there is a certain naïveté or simple trait in many young persons.  If they have no direction in life,  have no motivation and commitment to good values they will do anything that comes along.  Aimlessness in the young man is not a good condition.  

The ‘fool’ is however quite different.  This is a rather extreme condition.  

When sinners repent and turn to righteousness, then the simple understand wisdom.

Verse 6-21.   In these verses the whole latitude of wisdom’s desires, applications, virtues and benefits are repeated; as well its inextricable link to righteousness. Many of the traits of wisdom are attributes of God Himself.  

The ‘heart’ of Wisdom is noble or excellent, so her mouth says truthful and righteous things and all of her teachings are right and worthy.  

Equity and truth is most important to her and wickedness is utterly detestable, an abhorrence and an abomination.  

Wisdom cannot speak anything that is crooked or distorted.  Her sayings are all straightforward or plain, right to those with discernment and a thirst for understanding.  

So she cries out for men to receive her instruction, that is, to choose her wiser course, for her way is better than accepting the way of going after the choicest silver, gold and precious jewels.  

When we rank desirable things, it is absolutely clear that Wisdom is so far ahead that nothing can be compared to her.  

When wisdom is grasped and knowledge and instruction comes, there will be ever increasing possibilities for successfully steering through the difficult waters of life.  

Men are taught how to make life a success in the worldly sense. However, it is in the application of the principles of the true wisdom in the moral and spiritual phases of one's life, that by far the greatest rewards of wisdom are to be received.  

Wisdom describes herself as being inseparable from prudence, and is closely tied to knowledge and discretion.  She is so valuable that she enables those who follow her to come up with new things and practical solutions to the problems of life.  

Wisdom makes it clear that the evil way is inseparably tied to a perverted mouth, arrogance, pride and self-love. This absence of wisdom ensures perverse speech and a total lack of understanding.  

On the other hand Wisdom teaches the fear of the Lord and the concomitant hatred of evil.  Since God is the source or origin of wisdom the rejection of God leads to sin.  

When men receive her they receive good counsel and strength to achieve what is required in life.  

If a person wants to be in control and reign in life, to live a life relatively free from stress, understand and have power over the environment, the only way is the way of wisdom.   

If one wants power, the kind that is exercised with equity, riches of the enduring kind, acceptance by men and authority flowing from God; in other words, everything that a person needs to live a successful life as a child of the King, wisdom then has the answer.  

If we want power, the only power that makes sense is the power of the resurrection of Jesus Christ who lives within us. Wisdom will give that to us for her hidden havens would preserve us from being overwhelmed by events.  With Christ living in us ,we will have a power that is far beyond anything that this world can offer.  With Christ living in us ,we have protection, security, and a guarantee of everlasting life.  

This of course adds up to being  held in the hands of God, the ultimate refuge.  

Verse seventeen teaches that if we want to be loved, just as we are, to be protected, to know for sure that we are cared about and that we will never be forsaken despite your shortcomings, we should come to wisdom.  

She will love us, possess us and lavish on us all her marvellous and inestimable goodies.  We will always be able to count on wisdom to come through. She walks in the paths of righteousness and justice, and will make all those who follow her possess substance.  Clearly her spiritual heritage is rich.

TEXT Verse 22-31.

The interpretation of this section of the text presents a challenge. Some question if these verses are to be understood as speaking of Christ; or, are they merely a personification of wisdom in the literary and poetic sense alone. One could reasonably detect overtones of Jesus but this passage is generally not regarded as mess ian ic.

Verse 22-23.   The Lord possessed…This verse has spawned much controversy over the years as some have mistakenly translated the word for ‘possessed’ to mean created. The similarity of this text to John 1 has led some to the belief that Jesus is in view here and was part of God’s creation. Many of the things stated here with regard to wisdom are also most certainly true of Christ but is no proof whatever, that everything said of wisdom is also true of Christ.

Wisdom is not God, but is God's, she has personal existence in Jesus but is not herself Jesus.

The point being made is that we cannot conceive of God as ever being without wisdom. Infinite wisdom is evident over all of creation, a fact to which other writers testify, (psalm 104:24; 136:5). The wisdom mentioned here was that knowledge by which heaven and earth were created.

Wisdom is not acquired by God; man and even angels, learn it by slow and progressive degrees; but in God it is as eternally inherent as any other essential attribute of his nature. The entire question is resolved in the one incontrovertible truth that God did indeed "possess" all wisdom, knowledge, intelligence, omnipotence, omnipresence and omniscience from eternity past.

I was set up from everlasting…this could not have been said of any created thing. This is a clear statement on the eternity of wisdom as a possession of God. This verse says that, Wisdom is eternal.

All the schemes, plans, and circumstances, relative to creation, government, providence, and to all being, material, animal, and intellectual, were conceived in the Divine mind, by the Divine wisdom, from eternity, or ever the earth was.

In fact this gift of God is to be a companion to us.

But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption.

1 Corinth ian s 1:30.

Wisdom is an attribute to which we can have access, for it comes and directs us how to live life the way that our Lord Jesus Christ wants us to live.  This is a most magnificent gift from God and to be without it  is to continually stumble into error and suffering.

Note that all of the attributes to which we have access, are attributes which belong to God himself.  He has enabled us to have wisdom, to display his love, His truth and His righteousness.  These qualities or excellencies are not ours by right, but are given to us by God who has made us in his image and in his likeness.

Jesus is the supreme example of wisdom and he has offered this wisdom to us.

Verse 24-29.   In these verses we have another creation account similar to Job 38 and the personified eternal wisdom was a witness to and a participant in these awesome feats.   These several expressions all say that wisdom is eternal.

Before the earth was. when there were no depths ... fountains ... mountains ...hills ... nor fields ... I was there. The description is poetical and affords some room for imagination.  

Creation is filled with the wise counsels of God and as such it is unquestionably a moral creation, a meaningfully creation and a creation which points to the strength, understanding and love of the one who established it.  

Remember that creation climaxed with the creation of man and all things were made beautiful for him.  Everything was done through this pre-existent personified Wisdom.  Clearly nothing good would be left out of creation.

Verse 30.   Here wisdom is represented poetically and highly figurative as a new-born child that is ever near its parent who takes pleasure to see him act and to sport in his presence as an object of special and pleasing affection.

Rejoicing always before him… The image is borrowed from the state and circumstances of a darling, affectionate, playful child.

Verse 31. Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth… It is on earth that God especially displays his wisdom in ordering and directing men and in providing for their wants. The wisdom of God is in a special way manifested in his providence and men as the recipients can be appreciative and thankful.  

My delights were with the sons of men.
One writer comments on this phrase in part:

Divine wisdom, as it delighted in the creation of man, so it continues to delight in his instruction. Hence it is represented as offering its lessons of instruction continually, and using every means and opportunity to call men from folly and vice to sound knowledge, holiness, and happiness. It is to man that God especially gives wisdom; and he has it in the form of reason beyond all other creatures; therefore it is said, "My delights are with the sons of men;" to them I open my choicest treasures.

CONCLUSION

The personification of virtues was by no means unknown in ancient literature, and it is quite a stretch to say that the poetic personification in this case implies that Jesus, who is the sum of wisdom, was created.

The important consideration for us is that wisdom makes an impassioned plea and compelling argument for all men to embrace her ways and reap benefits in this life and eternal rewards in the life to come.  

Her qualifications are impressive and impeccable, her handiwork as one of God’s active attributes in creation speaks to her perfection.  

Man continually strives for the secret to successful living and it would appear that since so few find it, it must be a secret. The real truth of the matter is however, that Wisdom, the very wisdom of God openly offers and pleas to all men to follow her ways, the way of righteousness and peace; the way that leads to eternal life.  

Unfortunately men will not accept the true and living God and so they will never find the secret to successful living.  

We see wisdom first calling out to us and chasing after us.  But then we see wisdom anxiously waiting for us to respond saying

“Blessed is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my Gates, waiting at my doorposts”.  

We hope that everyone will be seeking after wisdom, not just sitting down and waiting for her to come to us, even though that is what she does.  But once she comes, let us love her, follow her and become an intimate of hers.  What better reason to accept Wisdom's offer than that in Proverbs 8:35

“For he who finds me finds life, and obtains favor from the Lord”.  

They are real dangers in this world but God calls us to a life of joy, adventure, wonder, vitality, learning and experiencing a world created by God and filled with his glory and His opportunities.  

He has brought us to a life that is worth living, where we are protected both on the inside and on the outside and so we can rejoice in him and do his bidding.  

Why would we not want favor with God?  Why would we not want to go everywhere and live at all times with his approval, His companionship and His “Well done”?  

The invitation has been given and we exhort all to respond positively, learn the lessons of wisdom and be changed and so possesses the skills to live a successful life.  

If you have come to Christ, and if you want wisdom, ask for it, and you will have everything that you need to make your life everything you long for it to be. Jesus desires us to grow in your faith, have life and favor with God and to respond to the truth that Proverbs has set before us.  

Let us heed Wisdom’s call!