Proverbs 22:1
A good Name is to be chosen rather than great riches,
Loving favor rather than silver and gold

The March of Wisdom: Proverbs 8
The Call of Wisdom (8:1-5)
The Value of Wisdom (8:6-11)
The Nature of Wisdom (8:12-21)
Wisdom’s Role in Creation (8:22-31)
Solomon invites us to Embrace Wisdom (8:32-36)

The Call of Wisdom: Proverbs 8:1-5
Does not wisdom cry out,
And understanding lift up her voice?
² She takes her stand on the top of the high hill,
Beside the way, where the paths meet.
³ She cries out by the gates, at the entry of the city,
At the entrance of the doors:
⁴ “To you, O men, I call,
And my voice is to the sons of men.
⁵ O you simple ones, understand prudence,
And you fools, be of an understanding heart.

1 Corinthians 1:24,30
“But to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God… It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness, and redemption.”

Colossians 2:2-3
“My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.”

The Value of Wisdom: Proverbs 8:6-11
Listen, for I will speak of excellent things,
And from the opening of my lips will come right things;
⁷ For my mouth will speak truth;
Wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
⁸ All the words of my mouth are with righteousness;
Nothing crooked or perverse is in them.
⁹ They are all plain to him who understands,
And right to those who find knowledge.
¹⁰ Receive my instruction, and not silver,
And knowledge rather than choice gold;
¹¹ For wisdom is better than rubies,
And all the things one may desire cannot be compared with her.

John Bevere, in the Awe of God.
We are called to:
Obey God immediately
Obey God even if it doesn’t make sense
Obey God even when you don’t see the personal benefit
Obey God even if it is painful
Obey God to completion

The Nature of Wisdom: Proverbs 8:12-21
¹² “I, wisdom, dwell with prudence,
And find out knowledge and discretion.
¹³ The fear of the Lord is to hate evil;
Pride and arrogance and the evil way
And the perverse mouth I hate.
¹⁴ Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom;
I am understanding, I have strength.
¹⁵ By me kings reign,
And rulers decree justice.
¹⁶ By me princes rule, and nobles,
All the judges of the earth.
¹⁷ I love those who love me,
And those who seek me diligently will find me.
¹⁸ Riches and honor are with me,
Enduring riches and righteousness.
¹⁹ My fruit is better than gold, yes, than fine gold,
And my revenue than choice silver.
²⁰ I traverse the way of righteousness,
In the midst of the paths of justice,
²¹ That I may cause those who love me to inherit wealth,
That I may fill their treasuries.

“You will never reach your destination if you stop and throw stones at every dog that barks”

Wisdom’s Role in Creation: Proverbs 8:22-31
²² “The Lord possessed me at the beginning of His way,
Before His works of old.
²³ I have been established from everlasting,
From the beginning, before there was ever an earth.
²⁴ When there were no depths I was brought forth,
When there were no fountains abounding with water.
²⁵ Before the mountains were settled,
Before the hills, I was brought forth;
²⁶ While as yet He had not made the earth or the fields,
Or the primal dust of the world.
²⁷ When He prepared the heavens, I was there,
When He drew a circle on the face of the deep,
²⁸ When He established the clouds above,
When He strengthened the fountains of the deep,
²⁹ When He assigned to the sea its limit,
So that the waters would not transgress His command,
When He marked out the foundations of the earth,
³⁰ Then I was beside Him as a master craftsman;
And I was daily His delight,
Rejoicing always before Him,
³¹ Rejoicing in His inhabited world,
And my delight was with the sons of men.

Saint Augustine:
“You have made us for yourself, Oh Lord, and our heart is restless until it finds rest in thee.”

Solomon invites us to Embrace Wisdom: Proverbs 8:32-36
“Now therefore, listen to me, my children,
For blessed are those who keep my ways.
³³ Hear instruction and be wise,
And do not disdain it.
³⁴ Blessed is the man who listens to me,
Watching daily at my gates,
Waiting at the posts of my doors.
³⁵ For whoever finds me finds life,
And obtains favor from the Lord;
³⁶ But he who sins against me wrongs his own soul;
All those who hate me love death.”

The blessings that come from following wisdom
1. Peace and Security
2. Success and Prosperity(8 Forms of wealth)
3. Growth in Character
4. Fulfillment and
5. A Clear Path Forward

John 5:28-29
²⁸ Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice ²⁹ and come forth—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation.

1. Reconciliation with God;
2. Freedom from Sin and Death;
3. The Gift of the Holy Spirit
4. A New Identity and Purpose and an inner peace

Discussion Questions

1. Solomon says that Wisdom is present everywhere calling out to us, in the high place, at the gates of the city and in the public square. Describe where you see God’s Wisdom crying out to us?
   

2. Explain how Jesus is the embodiment of God’s Wisdom.
   

3. Solomon says that the essence of wise living is Prudence, Knowledge and Discretion. Can you explain how these three are operating in your life ?
   

4. Proverbs 8 states that Wisdom was with God before creation. Is Solomon giving us a picture of Christ?