Proverbs 8:1-36
Call to Wisdom
1 Does not wisdom call out?
Does not understanding raise her voice?
2 At the highest point along the way,
where the paths meet, she takes her stand;
3 beside 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.
5 You who are simple, gain prudence;
you who are foolish, set your hearts on it.
6 Listen, for I have trustworthy things to say;
I open my lips to speak what is right.
7 My mouth speaks what is true,
for my lips detest wickedness.
8 All the words of my mouth are just;
none of them is crooked or perverse.
9 To the discerning all of them are right;
they are upright to those who have found knowledge.
10 Choose my instruction instead of silver,
knowledge rather than choice gold,
11 for 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.
13 To fear the Lord is to hate evil;
I hate pride and arrogance,
evil behavior and perverse speech.
14 Counsel and sound judgment are mine;
I have insight, I have power.
15 By me kings reign
and rulers issue decrees that are just;
16 by me princes govern,
and nobles—all who rule on earth.
17 I love those who love me,
and those who seek me find me.
18 With me are riches and honor,
enduring wealth and prosperity.
19 My fruit is better than fine gold;
what I yield surpasses choice silver.
20 I walk in the way of righteousness,
along the paths of justice,
21 bestowing a rich inheritance on those who love me
and making their treasuries full.
22 “The Lord brought me forth as the first of his works,
before his deeds of old;
23 I was formed long ages ago,
at the very beginning, when the world came to be.
24 When there were no watery depths, I was given birth,
when there were no springs overflowing with water;
25 before the mountains were settled in place,
before the hills, I was given birth,
26 before he made the world or its fields
or any of the dust of the earth.
27 I was there when he set the heavens in place,
when he marked out the horizon on the face of the deep,
28 when he established the clouds above
and fixed securely the fountains of the deep,
29 when he gave the sea its boundary
so the waters would not overstep his command,
and when he marked out the foundations of the earth.
30 Then I was constantly at his side.
I was filled with delight day after day,
rejoicing always in his presence,
31 rejoicing in his whole world
and delighting in mankind.
32 “Now then, my children, listen to me;
blessed are those who keep my ways.
33 Listen to my instruction and be wise;
do not disregard it.
34 Blessed are those who listen to me,
watching daily at my doors,
waiting at my doorway.
35 For those who find me find life
and receive favor from the Lord.
36 But those who fail to find me harm themselves;
all who hate me love death.”
Solomon uses this Metaphor of Wisdom as a woman calling out in public to be heard...Wisdom is a gift of God obtained only by diligent seeking and searching for it, and God will watch over and protect those who receive it and remain faithful to it...Lady Wisdom declares her eternal value, saying that wisdom is more precious than pearls and nothing compares with her...“For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it.”...Lady Wisdom says that humans depend on her every day, whether they know it or not...She says that through her, kings reign, rulers issue just decrees, and princes and nobles rule with justice...So wisdom is just...Lady Wisdom comes from God...Wisdom comes from God to bring order to the universe, just like God's Spirit...Lady Wisdom is the very relationship between God and His creation...Wisdom is then not only from God it is a gift of God...
Wisdom and knowledge are closely related together in the Bible...Knowledge comes from the experiences and skills God provides to us, and wisdom comes from an accumulation of the understanding and knowledge we receive over time and apply it to Scripture...Knowledge tends to focus on correct understanding of the world and oneself as creatures of the magnificent and LOVING God...Wisdom is the acquired skill of applying that knowledge according to Scripture and following the teachings of Jesus...
The Psalmists' teach us that the fear of the LORD brings wisdom...Wisdom brings a happiness for those who fear God...LORD teach me wisdom and knowledge because I trust your commands...Before I suffered, I did wrong, but now I obey your word...You are good, and You do what is good...So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom...So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom...Teach us to realize the brevity of life, so that we may grow in wisdom...
The wisdom of the prudent is to understand God's Way...So we learn from the Scripture that wisdom is a gift of God obtained only by diligent seeking and searching for it...God will watch over and protect those who receive wisdom and remain faithful to it...This promise can be understood only when one remembers that to Israel, wisdom means obedience to God's laws...Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you...Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom...Though it cost all you have, get understanding...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...Blessed is the one who finds God's Way in wisdom, and the one who gets understanding, for the gain from her is better than gain from silver and her profit better than gold...She is more precious than jewels, and nothing you desire can compare with her...
St. James teaches us that if any of us lacks wisdom, we should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him...He will not rebuke you for asking...But when you ask Him, be sure that your faith is in God alone...But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy...Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace...The truly wise person is one whose faith in God leads to selfless good works...Wise people live in the humility of wisdom, setting themselves aside to serve others...
In conclusion, the wisdom of the wise is to understand God's Way...The wise person will seek out God's wisdom and instruction, and they will live their lives in a way that is pleasing to God...