The Cry of Wisdom
Proverbs 8
In our daily Bible reading we are now in the book of Proverbs.
This book is a collection of wise sayinågs and observations.
It is the most practical book in the Bible.
By way of introduction I have a few things I want to establish.
First, I do believe Solomon wrote the entire book, though some say a few of the later chapters were not.
When we get to Heaven, they will find out I am right about that.
Regardless, there is little to no debate that the about Solomon writing the first 9 chapters.
These are addressed to his son.
Historically, that would be Rehoboam, his heir whose pride divided the kingdom.
He did not listen to his father’s advice.
I think that could be because He saw Solomon drift from the wisdom he was trying to pass on.
Solomon started well but lost his way.
In the end, he came back to his senses and acknowledged his error – see the book of Ecclesiastes.
Second, the theme of Proverbs is wisdom.
Someone said that wisdom is knowledge applied practically.
That is partially true.
But in this book is more than that.
We note Proverbs 1:7
Pro 1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
Here we see that true wisdom is based on proper respect for God.
Why is that important?
Because true wisdom is only found through His character and His truth.
It amazes me when I read or hear things where someone claims some great practical discovery.
So many times, they just stumbled across Biblical truth.
For instance, there is a writer named Joshua Becker that I enjoy following.
He is a proponent of the Minimalist lifestyle that promotes simplifying your life and owning fewer things.
He is a Christian, too.
I cannot say that I follow much of what he teaches, but it is amazing how many times he teaches Bible truth.
How about being content with our possession and not constantly seeking gratification with accumulating junk?
1Ti 6:6 But godliness with contentment is great gain.
1Ti 6:7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.
1Ti 6:8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.
How about living life purposefully?
Eph 5:15 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,
Eph 5:16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
Third, I think Proverbs is a continuation of the thoughts from Psalm 1 that there are two paths that man may choose.
- The Path of Righteousness – loving God, serving Him, living a holy life, and a final destination in Heaven.
- The Path of Wickedness – denying God, serving self, living a sinful life, and a final destination in Hell.
Proverbs constantly contrasts the two paths.
It is like each verse is a waypoint by which we can both guide our hearts and measure our direction.
Fourth, I do remind you that the book of Proverbs, though thoroughly, is written in artistic styling.
It is Hebrew poetry.
Not built on rhyming words, but rather rhyming ideas.
Almost all verses in proverbs have two parts, an A and a B, that are compared and contrasted to each other.
We also have another literary device that Solomon uses called personification.
You learned about it in English class but probably have forgotten about it.
It is when the writer takes something non-human and non-living but applies human attributes and traits to it.
For example, I could say that the wind whispers, or the wind screams, or the wind howls, or the wind kisses.
Now, it does not actually do any of those – it just moves.
We personify it by describing it as having some agency and identity.
Solomon does with Wisdom.
We see it first in 1:20-33.
Pro 1:20 Wisdom crieth without; she uttereth her voice in the streets:
Pro 1:21 She crieth in the chief place of concourse, in the openings of the gates: in the city she uttereth her words, saying,
Pro 1:22 How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge?
Pro 1:23 Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you.
He returns to this device in our text.
Pro 8:1 Doth not wisdom cry? and understanding put forth her voice?
Pro 8:2 She standeth in the top of high places, by the way in the places of the paths.
Pro 8:3 She crieth at the gates, at the entry of the city, at the coming in at the doors.
Wisdom does not literally have a voice or is even a person, but Solomon’s description so much more vivid because he personifies it.
With these introductory remarks in our minds, let us dig into this chapter.
I. The universal appeal of Godly wisdom – vs. 1-21
In the opening verses, Wisdom cries out from the mountain top and the intersections of roads.
Her voice is heard when in the public square of the city.
Everywhere you go you cannot escape the cry of wisdom, begging us to follow her.
Friends, you have to blind your eyes and stop your ears to miss the two greatest truths in this world.
First, that there is a God.
Psa 19:1 The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.
Drew just got back from his big trip with Mimi and Pawpaw.
He was showing us the pictures he took of Yellowstone, the Tetons, Bryce Canyon, the Grand Canyon, and more.
If that cannot see the fingerprints of a Divine Creator in such places, you need your eyes examine.
You have to be willfully blind to not look upon the universe and see that there is a God.
Second, that sin has broken this world.
Go read Romans chapters 1-3.
We are all sinners.
We are corrupted and imperfect, fallen from the purity of God’s original design because of Adam’s sin.
Why is there evil in this world? Sin.
Why is there death in this world? Sin.
Philosopher have wrestled with human depravity and Politicians have tried to suppress it for millennia – ALL TO NO AVAIL.
These are universal truths.
Beyond that, everyday life proves the wisdom of the word of God is true.
Want to know how to do business?
What the experts tell you matches what the Bible says.
Work hard, be fair, and give more than is deserved.
Want to know how to make friends?
You can read Dale Carnegie, but you can read it in the Bible.
Be friendly, be genuine, and be caring.
If humanity would just open their eyes, if they would just look at the evidence, if they would just compare it to the pages of God’s Word – then would be no debate about.
The cry of Godly wisdom is everywhere.
By the way, let me say this.
I think one of the characteristics that divide conservatism and liberalism, in any arena – politics, religion, social sciences – is how it processes information.
Conservatism I believe looks are real life, real stats, and real observations and tries to build order on these.
Liberalism filters its view to try to force order through shifting lenses.
It denies reality, trying to instead force some system or lens on it.
I think this is why so many times you will hear liberal pundits try to understand the world through fiction, like books and movies.
They force a fanciful system onto a real world scenario and wonder why it doesn’t work.
They do it with the Bible – not letting its light shine for itself without forcing a filter on it.
Moving on….
II. The ultimate archetype of Wisdom is Christ – vs. 22-31
This is an intriguing portion of Scripture.
It applies wisdom beyond the present and the practical.
Wisdom is seen as being with God before the beginning in Creation.
Now, I cannot help but read these verses without thinking of the opening of the Gospel of John.
Jhn 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
Jhn 1:2 The same was in the beginning with God.
Jhn 1:3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
Now, I am not saying that this section is Proverbs is about Christ, merely that this a grand parallel here between Wisdom and the Word.
Christ, the Word of John 1, is the ultimate expression of God.
He is the ultimate expression of wisdom.
There is no truth, no wisdom, no reality without knowing Christ.
III. The Alluring Undoing of the Wicked Woman
If you continue reading, the personified Wisdom continues in the next chapter.
Now, what is interesting to be is what surround Wisdom.
In chapter 7, the seductive strange woman appears.
Those that are ensnared and destroyed by her are called foolish as they lack wisdom.
Personified wisdom is the answer to personified folly.
In the final verses of chapter 9, the strange woman returns.
She too calls out to passersby.
Pro 9:13 A foolish woman is clamorous: she is simple, and knoweth nothing.
Pro 9:14 For she sitteth at the door of her house, on a seat in the high places of the city,
Pro 9:15 To call passengers who go right on their ways:
Pro 9:16 Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: and as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him,
Pro 9:17 Stolen waters are sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.
Pro 9:18 But he knoweth not that the dead are there; and that her guests are in the depths of hell.
I do not just want to speak about sexual morality here.
That is forefront but I think there is a deeper meaning here.
Just as Wisdom calls out all around us, so does folly.
It is a siren’s call to the simple.
Just like the mythical siren, it entrances men to their doom.
Wisdom shows us the evil and the danger of folly.
All around us, live and homes are being destroyed because they embrace folly and reject Godly wisdom.
Let it be a warning to us. – Not every appeal is safe – Not every call is sincere.
Do not the let offer of free cheese make you overlook the trap it is set on.
CONCLUSION
- There is no true wisdom without God.
- To reject God is to reject the truth.
- It is like trying to bake a cake without flour.
- Be wise and discerning about the voices that call to you.
- Filter them through the truth of God’s word.
- God has already made the judgement on what is good or what is evil.
- We only must apply His criteria in our discernment.
- Which path are you on?
- There are only two ways for man.
- The path of righteousness.
- You get on this road, not by works, but by faith in Christ.
- The path of wickedness.
- This road is cursed by God.
- Its destination is Hell.
- If you do not know Christ, you are the crossroads today – literally, the CROSS roads
- It is time to choose – which path will you take? What will you destination be?