Happy 4th of July!!
BACKGROUND
The last couple of chapters (Proverbs 6 and 7) have focused on the adulterous woman, which, while a warning on a literal level, is also a metaphor for that which leads us away from God, which tries to substitute for Him. The adulterous woman promises much, but gives little, and going with her leads to death. In this chapter(8) we finally focus on the woman Wisdom – the adulterous and foolish woman’s opposite. If you have the time, it might be helpful for you to go back and read Chapter 7 before reading Proverbs 8. And if you want to review some of the previous posts on Proverbs, there are links in the sidebar by book of the Bible; just scroll down and click on Proverbs. We are reading these chapters in Proverbs infrequently enough that I usually need to go back and review before thinking about the new chapter.
We’ve seen previously that the LORD gives wisdom and that He stores up wisdom for the upright (1: 6-7). But we’ve been shown over and over again in these first seven chapters of Proverbs how easily tempted and foolish we can be. The young man in Chapter 7, simple and naïve and foolish, looking for love in all the wrong places, is captivated by the empty promises of the adulteress, the woman who wants to take the place of wisdom. This adulterous woman leads him to death, not life. If you want to spend more time on this, compare and contrast the adulterous woman of Proverbs 5-7 with the woman Wisdom of Proverbs 8 -9.
So let’s look at Proverbs 8! Let’s focus on wisdom.
The claim of wisdom and her authority are established in this chapter. She cries out publicly to all to listen and gain understanding. She asserts her integrity and trustworthiness, and promises that she gives excellent and good gifts. She counsels on the ways of God. She claims that she was with God in the beginning, before creation, and like a master craftsman assisted Him in creation. Finally, she equates herself with life: “For whoever finds me finds life, / And obtains favor from the LORD;/ But he who sins against me wrongs his own soul;/ All those who hate me love death.” (vv. 35-36, NKJV)
REFLECTION
It is continually amazing to me (though it probably shouldn’t be) how closely the various parts of God’s word tie together. The theme of these chapters in Proverbs closely relate to the theme of Psalm 36, the chapter we read on Monday: the contrast between the empty promises of what draws us from God and the absolute integrity of God’s promises. They also relate to some of the closing chapters of Deuteronomy.
Just look at Wisdom!
Wisdom teaches prudence (I will get back to that word later) and gives an understanding heart (5). She speaks of what is excellent and right and good and truthful (6, 7). Is it possible for there to be excellence without moral rightness, goodness, and truth?
She speaks straightforwardly (8-9) and what she says is plain to the one who understands, and right to those who find knowledge. Now that’s a a bit of a paradox there. Could this mean what it means in Ps. 36, that “in Your light we see light”? She says that she is better than riches, better than all the choice things we could desire. (11) She equates herself with “the fear of the Lord.” (13) She is understanding and is strong. (15)
What does wisdom hate? Evil, pride, arrogance, a perverse mouth. That Hebrew word translated "evil" can mean evil in the sense of viciousness, or something that is bad in value, or something that is unethical or immoral. A perverse mouth is a mouth that is turned away from what is good and right, is marked by a dispostion to oppose or contradict, or is self-willed.
Wisdom loves those who love her and is found by those who seek for her with diligence. ((17) (Those who keep on keeping on!) She says that with her are enduring riches, honor, and righteousness – better than gold or silver. I don’t think the wealth she speaks of has anything to do with earthly wealth, but rather with wealth of the soul and heart – a wealth that never is destroyed. (14 – 21)
Wisdom belongs to God and has belonged to Him since before the beginning of this world (22), from everlasting (23). I love the poetry of verses 22- 31. God used wisdom in His creation of the world and delighted in her. Wisdom says that she, in turn, rejoiced before God, rejoiced in His inhabited world and was delighted with mankind.
Her authority over us and delight in us made clear, Wisdom once again asks us to pay attention to her. We are blessed if we keep her ways and listen to her. If we find her, we find life; we find God’s favor. When we sin against her… How do we sin against her? … Maybe by seeking what she offers elsewhere? What do you think? When we sin against her we wrong our own souls.(36) Those who hate her love death. Those are very strong statements and sobering.
Earlier I said I’d talk about that word “prudence” later. Ever since we first read it at the beginning of Proverbs, I’ve been pondering it, because it’s literal meaning is “crafty,” which doesn’t have a very good connotation to us. The serpent in Genesis was prudent. (Our versions say “crafty” or “cunning,” but apparently it’s the same Hebrew word as “prudent.”) I ran across this by Peter Leithart recently:
“Wisdom makes her dwelling with “prudence” or “cunning” (v. 12). This is the Hebrew words (sic) used for the serpent in Genesis 3:1, and both there are (sic) here the word refers to an ability to achieve one’s goals. Those who are shrewd know the ways of the world and can work the system to get what they desire (14:8, 15). The shrewd shrug off insults (12:16), and have the foresight to know where their actions are going to lead (14:15). They are especially adept at seeing when disaster lies ahead and taking steps to sidestep it (22:3; 27:12). Scripture sometimes describes wicked people as shrewd (cf. 2 Samuel 13:3), but the word does not necessarily have a negative connotation. In fact, as Proverbs 8:12 makes clear, Wisdom and cunning are roommates. Shrewdness can be good or bad, depending on what goals one is pursuing.”
(found at http://www.leithart.com/archives/001437.php )
Hope that helps anyone who, like me, might have had a little difficulty with that word!
APPLICATION
Do you want to dwell with wisdom, do you want to be wise?
We are asked to do some things if we want to be wise. Read verses 17; 32-34 and explain each action in terms of your own life. What would being diligent mean? What would it mean for you to "watch daily at my gates"?
We are bombarded today with “self” this and “self” that. So much of what is described as spirituality is thinly disguised self-worship – substitution of self in God’s place.
I want to choose life! (Hey… where did I read that recently?) I want to listen to and follow Wisdom.
What voice are you listening to? Who are you following? Are you pursuing Wisdom? I hope you’ll take the time today to meditate on this chapter as you ask yourself those questions.
PRAYER
Lord, help us to fear You – to reverence You so much that You are our focus. Help us to love Wisdom and be faithful to her, rather than looking for love and fulfillment in that which leads to death. Thank you for the benefits we receive from loving Wisdom!
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