God’s Wisdom In My Life - Proverbs 1, 8

 

God’s Wisdom In My Life -Proverbs 1, 8

Let me tell you a joke that to me describes the wisdom of the world today. Three passengers were on a charter plane flying over the Alaskan tundra, a missionary on his way to start a new work, a college professor on his way to give a lecture at the University of Alaska on Global Warming and polar bears and a hiker on his way to climb Mt. McKinley. Suddenly the little plane’s engines just quit, the cockpit door opened and the pilot came out and said, “This plane is going down, the good news is we have parachutes, but the bad news is there are only three and I’m taking this one.” And he jumps out the door. The university professor jumps up grabs the other chute and says, “I’m the smartest man in the world, an expert on Global Warming, a personal friend of Al Gore and I’ve got to live to save the world from starving polar bears, shrinking glacier and rising sea levels.” And he grabs one the chutes leaving only one. The missionary and older man who had served the Lord all his adult life turned to the hiker and said, “I’m ready to meet the Lord and I pray you are too, but take that last chute and live your life.” The hiker said, “I really appreciate that preacher, but it looks like we are both going to live.” The missionary said, “What makes you think that?” “Well, the hiker said, “the smartest man in the world just jumped out of this plane with my backpack.”

The wisdom of the world today says there is no God. It says we evolved from a primordial goo that maybe was struck by lightning. From that great intellectual insight the wisdom of the world has evolved to the point that today, it says families are obsolete, that churches are places of hate, bigotry and racism. It says that men and women are interchangeable, that babies are disposable, that there is an infinite number of genders, that you can even choose to a cat, or dog or a unicorn and that the rest of us must accept your delusion.

This world’s wisdom says that sex must be promiscuous and sought for at all times with all people, that drugs can fix all your emotional, mental and physical problems. This world’s wisdom says that good is evil and evil is good, that day is night and night is day, up is down and down is up. That there are no absolute truths but only personal truths which can be anything you want choose them to be. Oh yeah, it also believes carbon dioxide is causing global warming which says it all.

What this world is today, and what our nation is today, is an absolute train wreck when it comes to what wisdom really is. And if you don’t think the insanity of the world affects you and your family, then you’re probably already infected by the world’s anti-wisdom.

So what is true wisdom? Let me give you some definitions for wisdom.

American Heritage Dictionary, “The ability to discern or judge what is true, right, or lasting; insight.”

Cambridge Dictionary of the English Language, “the ability to use your knowledge and experience to make good decisions and judgments:”

J I Packer the theologian and author said, “Wisdom is the power to see, and the inclination to choose, the best and the highest goal; together with the surest means of attaining it.”

In Proverbs the word wisdom comes from the Hebrew word, חָכְמָה ḥâḵemâ and it means to be skillful, to have wisdom, to act wisely, to have wit.

The Bible has many places where wisdom is described and defined, place like

Job 28:28 Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.

Proverbs 1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge.

Deuteronomy 4:5-6 Behold, I have taught you statutes and judgments, even as the LORD my God commanded me, that ye should do so in the land whither ye go to possess it. 6 Keep therefore and do them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations, which shall hear all these statutes, and say, Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.

Later Moses wrote a prayer to God in Psalms 90:12 So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.

Proverbs is the “Biblical treasure house of wisdom.” There is wisdom in all of the Bible, it is found on almost every page, but the book of Proverbs specializes in wisdom, it emphasizes it and explains in detail what wisdom is, what it does and how essential it is for a good life. It begins this lesson with two women.

The Two Women of Proverbs, Sister Wisdom and Seductive Stranger

Sister Wisdom - Proverbs, in order to make wisdom come alive to us, personifies wisdom as a woman seeking to teach those willing to learn. She is seen calling out to any around her offering to lead them to a long life, good health and true wealth.

Anti-wisdom, The Strange Woman Seduction, Proverbs also personifies evil, this time a adulteress woman and a prostitute. In Proverbs 7, this “strange woman” as she is called seduces the foolish, the simple and the scorner and with cunning, deception and lies, brings them down to destruction. Proverbs 7:10-12 And, behold, there met him a woman with the attire of an harlot, and subtil of heart. 11 (She is loud and stubborn; her feet abide not in her house: 12 Now is she without, now in the streets, and lieth in wait at every corner.)

I want us this morning to hear the call of Sister Wisdom, twice in Proverbs she calls out to those who would learn of her. The first call is in Proverbs 1:20

Wisdom’s Calls

Wisdom’s First Call - Proverbs 1:20-23

20 Wisdom crieth without; she uttereth her voice in the streets:  21 She crieth in the chief place of concourse, in the openings of the gates: in the city she uttereth her words, saying,  22 How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity? and the scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge? 23 Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you.

Wisdom’s Second Call – Proverbs 8:1-11

1 Doth not wisdom cry? and understanding put forth her voice? 2 She standeth in the top of high places, by the way in the places of the paths.  3 She crieth at the gates, at the entry of the city, at the coming in at the doors.

In Proverbs 7, the evil prostitute, the seductress went out in the secret places of the streets at twilight, in the dark, out of the way corners to entice the foolish, the sinner and the scorner to come in and join her in her feast of sin. And they gladly went, not knowing that it was their own souls that would be devoured.

But in chapter 8 Wisdom, the virtuous woman, is seen in the public, bright and open places of the streets offering her blessings to all who will receive them.

Proverbs 8:1-2 Doth not wisdom cry? and understanding put forth her voice? 2 She standeth in the top of high places, by the way in the places of the paths.

Wisdom’s call is made where she can be heard and where people travel, the hilltops, the way, intersections, the gates and the entrances of the city.

After Wisdom is introduced in vss 8:1-3 She then speak directly from verses 4–31 Proverbs 8:4-11 Unto you, O men, I call; and my voice is to the sons of man. 5 O ye simple, understand wisdom: and, ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart. 6 Hear; for I will speak of excellent things; and the opening of my lips shall be right things. 7 For my mouth shall speak truth; and wickedness is an abomination to my lips. 8 All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing froward or perverse in them. 9 They are all plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that 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 that may be desired are not to be compared to it.

She invites all mankind to learn from her. This heavenly, divine wisdom is available to any who would but take the time to listen and learn. She especially calls out to the simple and the foolish  because these are the ones who most need what she can give to them. But these are also the ones most likely to ignore her and walk away from her open invitation. Both Sister Wisdom and Seductress Sin call and each of us must choose whose voice we will heed and which house we will enter in.

Wisdom even warns the simple, the scoffer and the fool of the consequences of walking away from the wisdom of the Lord. Look back at …

Wisdom’s Curse – Proverbs 1:24-33

24 Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded;  25 But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof: 26 I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh;  27 When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you. 28 Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me: 29 For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD: 30 They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof. 31 Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices.  32 For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them. 33 But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely, and shall be quiet from fear of evil.

Choosing Life or Death, True Wisdom or The World

The Bible is very clear about our free will, given to us all because we were created in the image of God, for fellowship with God, but that fellowship must be of our own choosing.

God over and over in scripture tells us and gives us examples of choosing life by trusting and obeying Him or choosing death, even eternal death by ignoring and rejecting Him.

Moses, the first great giver of God wisdom declared it so very strongly at the end of his life. He told Joshua when they enter the promised land to divide the tribes on two mounts, one would represent the mount of cursing, the other the mount of blessing. Then Joshua was to read these words from Moses.

Deuteronomy 30:19-20 I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live: 20 That thou mayest love the LORD thy God, and that thou mayest obey his voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto him: for he is thy life, and the length of thy days…

Every time a faithful preacher stands behind a pulpit and preaches the Word of God as it is written, he is doing the same thing. “I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:”

On the great choices of life it is just this graphic and plain, “Heaven or earth, blessing or cursing, death or life, salvation or damnation.” You must choose.

Is it really a hard choice? We read the curse of rejection but look at the reward of choosing wisdom.

Wisdom’s Character - Proverbs 8:11–21

Vss. 8:12–13. If you listen to Sister Wisdom and choose her way rather than Sin’s seduction, then you gain, prudence, the ability to make the right choices, knowledge, and witty inventions which is the word for discretion.

Vss. 8:14–16. Tells us that true wisdom will enable us to give wise counsel and sound judgment, and to have understanding and power, the word means bravery, valor.

Wisdom enables Kings, rulers, princes, and nobles to judge righteously and well do for those they server in their office.

Vss. 8:17–19. Wisdom rewards those who love and seek her with riches and honor, true lasting wealth and prosperity. Those who heed wisdom’s call will find a reward that is better than fine gold and choice silver. Wisdom’s way yields lasting righteousness and justice.

Wisdom’s Co- Eternity With God – Proverbs 8:22-31

The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old. 23 I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was. 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 was I brought forth: 26 While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world. 27 When he prepared the heavens, I was there:
when he set a compass upon the face of the depth: 28 When he established the clouds above:
when he strengthened the fountains of the deep: 29 When he gave to the sea his decree,
that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth: 30 Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight,
rejoicing always before him; 31 Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth; and my delights were with the sons of men.

The Power of Wisdom

Proverbs 8 tells us that the wisdom is so powerful, so essential, so important that it was used by God when He created the earth. How important should it be then to us? If it is woven into God’s creation of this world and of us, then how vital is should be in us.

And even after the creation of the universe, wisdom continued with God, rejoicing before Him in the places of earth where the sons of men live.

Isn’t that an amazing reality? That God sees rejoicing and the word means laughter, pleasure, making merry, God sees rejoicing on the earth where wisdom is found. You need a good reason to choose wisdom here it is, God sees our joy in church, in our home, in our lives when wisdom produces that eternal joy.

Wisdom herself bring us to our conclusion.

Wisdom’s Conclusion - Proverbs 8:32-36

32 Now therefore hearken unto me, O ye children: for blessed are they that keep my ways.
33 Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not. 34 Blessed is the man that heareth me,
watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.  35 For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the LORD. 36 But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death.

I want to leave you with three quotes that sum up the choices that wisdom has just presented to us today from Proverbs. They amplify what Wisdom concludes, “Whoever finds God’s wisdom finds life, but he that sins against wisdom wrongs his own soul: If you hate wisdom then you love death.”

The first quote is attributed to Socrates, the great wisdom giver of the ancient world, “All the wisdom of this world is but a tiny raft upon which we must set sail when we leave this earth. If only there was a firmer foundation upon which to sail, perhaps some divine word."

Socrates never read the Proverbs, never heard Moses speak, never heard the Gospel and he knew he was launching into eternity with nothing that would carry him. Now contrast that with this writing from the Roman historian, Cyprian who lived shortly after the time of Christ.

“ It is a bad world, Donatus, an incredibly bad world. But I have discovered in the midst of it a quiet and good people who have learned the great secret of life. They have found a joy and wisdom which is a thousand times better than any of the pleasures of our sinful life. They are despised and persecuted, but they care not. They are masters of their souls. They have overcome the world. These people, Donatus, are Christians. . . and I am one of them.” – Cyprian

Finally, listen to Paul the great apostle of the Gentiles as he wrote to the church at Cornith, 1 Corinthians 1:20-24 Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.

Wisdom begins with God and Jesus Christ is the Wisdom of God come to earth, showing us God, showing us His way and paying for our salvation with His own life poured out on Calvary.

He is the greatest of all wisdom ever given and like all forms of wisdom we must choose to accept or reject Him