Have you ever felt a stirring within, a call to discern between right and wrong, wisdom beckoning you to follow her voice in the midst of life’s complexities?
Reconnect: In Proverbs 8, Solomon personifies wisdom, depicting her as a woman calling out to all who will listen, offering guidance and insight in the pursuit of righteous living.
(Summarized and continued after scripture)
The Commendation of Wisdom
1Does not wisdom call,
And understanding lift up her voice?
2On top of the heights beside the way,
Where the paths meet, she takes her stand;
3Beside the gates, at the opening to the city,
At the entrance of the doors, she cries out:
4“To you, O men, I call,
And my voice is to the sons of men.
5“O naive ones, understand prudence;
And, O fools, understand wisdom.
6“Listen, for I will speak noble things;
And the opening of my lips will reveal right things.
7“For my mouth will utter truth;
And wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
8“All the utterances of my mouth are in righteousness;
There is nothing crooked or perverted in them.
9“They are all straightforward to him who understands,
And right to those who find knowledge.
10“Take my instruction and not silver,
And knowledge rather than choicest gold.
11“For wisdom is better than jewels;
And all desirable things cannot compare with her.
12“I, wisdom, dwell with prudence,
And I find knowledge and discretion.
13“The fear of the LORD is to hate evil;
Pride and arrogance and the evil way
And the perverted mouth, I hate.
14“Counsel is mine and sound wisdom;
I am understanding, power is mine.
15“By me kings reign,
And rulers decree justice.
16“By me princes rule, and nobles,
All who judge rightly.
17“I love those who love me;
And those who diligently seek me will find me.
18“Riches and honor are with me,
Enduring wealth and righteousness.
19“My fruit is better than gold, even pure gold,
And my yield better than choicest silver.
20“I walk in the way of righteousness,
In the midst of the paths of justice,
21To endow those who love me with wealth,
That I may fill their treasuries.
22“The LORD possessed me at the beginning of His way,
Before His works of old.
23“From everlasting I was established,
From the beginning, from the earliest times of the earth.
24“When there were no depths I was brought forth,
When there were no springs abounding with water.
25“Before the mountains were settled,
Before the hills I was brought forth;
26While He had not yet made the earth and the fields,
Nor the first dust of the world.
27“When He established the heavens, I was there,
When He inscribed a circle on the face of the deep,
28When He made firm the skies above,
When the springs of the deep became fixed,
29When He set for the sea its boundary
So that the water would not transgress His command,
When He marked out the foundations of the earth;
30Then I was beside Him, as a master workman;
And I was daily His delight,
Rejoicing always before Him,
31Rejoicing in the world, His earth,
And having my delight in the sons of men.
32“Now therefore, O sons, listen to me,
For blessed are they who keep my ways.
33“Heed instruction and be wise,
And do not neglect it.
34“Blessed is the man who listens to me,
Watching daily at my gates,
Waiting at my doorposts.
35“For he who finds me finds life
And obtains favor from the LORD.
36“But he who sins against me injures himself;
All those who hate me love death.”
Summary Key Points:
- Wisdom’s Presence and Prominence: Solomon vividly portrays wisdom as present from the beginning, before the earth’s foundations were laid. She stands at the crossroads and the city gates, inviting all to heed her voice and walk in her ways.
- The Value of Wisdom: Through allegory and imagery, Solomon extols the incomparable worth of wisdom, emphasizing that those who find her find life and obtain favor from the Lord. Wisdom brings riches, honor, and lasting prosperity to those who embrace her teachings.
- The Source of Wisdom: Solomon emphasizes that wisdom comes from the fear of the Lord, from humility and reverence before God. It is through a deep relationship with God that true wisdom is acquired, guiding individuals along the path of righteousness.
- Embracing Wisdom’s Counsel: Solomon urges his listeners to listen to wisdom’s instruction and heed her rebuke, for her words lead to life and protection. Those who reject wisdom invite destruction upon themselves, while those who embrace her find true fulfillment and security.
Call to Action: Let us heed the call of wisdom by:
- Seeking God earnestly in prayer, asking for wisdom and discernment in our daily decisions.
- Diligently studying God’s Word, where wisdom’s counsel is revealed, and applying its principles to our lives.
- Embracing humility and reverence before God, recognizing that true wisdom comes from a deep relationship with Him.
Closing Prayer: Heavenly Father, grant us the wisdom to discern between right and wrong, to walk in the path of righteousness guided by Your Word. May we heed the call of wisdom, embracing her teachings and finding favor in Your sight. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.
May the grace and peace of our Lord, Yeshua, be with you.
John Golda
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