Wisdom (Proverbs 8:1-16; 22-31)

Listen to this weeks sermon

Wisdomʼs Call
1Does not wisdom call out?
Does not understanding raise her voice?
2At the highest point along the way,
where the paths meet, she takes her stand;
3beside the gate leading into the city,
at the entrance, she cries aloud:
4“To you, O people, I call out;
I raise my voice to all mankind.
5You who are simple, gain prudence;
you who are foolish, set your hearts on it.
6Listen, for I have trustworthy things to say;
I open my lips to speak what is right.
7My mouth speaks what is true,
for my lips detest wickedness.
8All the words of my mouth are just;
none of them is crooked or perverse.
9To the discerning all of them are right;
they are upright to those who have found knowledge.
10Choose my instruction instead of silver,
knowledge rather than choice gold,
11for wisdom is more precious than rubies,
and nothing you desire can compare with her.

12“I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence;
I possess knowledge and discretion.
13To fear the Lordis to hate evil;
I hate pride and arrogance,
evil behavior and perverse speech.
14Counsel and sound judgment are mine;
I have insight, I have power.
15By me kings reign
and rulers issue decrees that are just;
16by me princes govern,
and nobles—all who rule on earth.

22“The Lordbrought me forth as the first of his works,
before his deeds of old;
23I was formed long ages ago,
at the very beginning, when the world came to be.
24When there were no watery depths, I was given birth,
when there were no springs overflowing with water;
25before the mountains were settled in place,
before the hills, I was given birth,
26before he made the world or its fields
or any of the dust of the earth.
27I was there when he set the heavens in place,
when he marked out the horizon on the face of the deep,
28when he established the clouds above
and fixed securely the fountains of the deep,
29when he gave the sea its boundary
so the waters would not overstep his command,
and when he marked out the foundations of the earth.
30Then I was constantly at his side.
I was filled with delight day after day,
rejoicing always in his presence,
31rejoicing in his whole world
and delighting in mankind.

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• Big Idea
  • Wisdom is being competent with regard to the realities of life.
• Absolutes and Exceptions                                                                                                     
  • Proverbs are not commands or promises. 
  • The two distinctions among people in Proverbs are that we're either wise – or fools.                                                                                                                               
• Where to Turn?                                                                                                                  
  • Proverbs help us to reason from God's perspective.                                                                                                                      
  • Solomon knew that nothing he had would matter, or last, unless he had wisdom. 
• Wisdom Personified                                                                                                               
  • Jesus is our wisdom. John 1:1-3; 1 Corinthians 1:24, 30
  • Jesus says, "If you're weary, burdened, restless – if this is where your own wisdom has brought you – come to me instead." Matthew 11:28-29