Proverbs 8.1-3
“Does not wisdom call? Does not understanding raise her voice? On the heights beside the way, at the crossroads she takes her stand; beside the gates in front of the town, at the entrance of the portals she cries aloud …”
In contrast to the wicked woman of chapters 6-7, whom we are admonished to avoid at all costs, chapter 8 of Proverbs personifies wisdom as a woman of understanding and insight that we should follow at all times and in all ways. The question being asked is this: Are you listening to and following the wise woman, or are you listening to and following the wicked woman?
Wisdom is not hidden. She is available to anyone who is willing to listen and learn. She declares truth clearly and publicly, where anyone and everyone can hear. The central issue: How will you respond to the voice of wisdom?
Train yourself to separate the false from the true.
Proverbs 8.4-9
“To you, O men, I call, and my cry is to the children of man. O simple ones, learn prudence; O fools, learn sense. Hear, for I will speak noble things, and from my lips will come what is right, for my mouth will utter truth; wickedness is an abomination to my lips. All the words of my mouth are righteous; there is nothing twisted or crooked in them. They are all straight to him who understands, and right to those who find knowledge.”
Here wisdom calls to those being tempted by foolishness. That means everyone, because we are all in some specific way tempted by foolishness. God’s wisdom calls to us and challenges us to listen and learn.
She (wisdom) promises truth and insight about how to live and work in the real world. In dramatic contrast to the fake news and manipulative messages of today’s world, the Word of God delivers straight talk. It provides timeless, objective truth as the reference point for life.
Proverbs 8.10-11
“Take my instruction instead of silver, and knowledge rather than choice gold, for wisdom is better than jewels, and all that you may desire cannot compare with her.”
Wisdom and instruction from God is a priceless treasure, and it should be valued accordingly. There is nothing more important than knowing and living God’s truth. To reject the Lord’s instruction, to reject his standards, is to be spiritually impoverished.
Proverbs 8.12-13
“I, wisdom, dwell with prudence, and I find knowledge and discretion. The fear of the Lord is hatred of evil. Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate.”
Far too many commentators and pundits declare their opinions with great authority. They are confident and bold. But many are prideful and arrogant, and they arrogantly declare things that are not true and aggressively promote things that are evil. Proverbs makes it clear that God hates this.
“God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble” is repeated multiple places in scripture. Wisdom is humble, not arrogant.
