Wisdom Calls For A Hearing

Proverbs 8

Wisdom Calls for a Hearing

 ¹ Listen as Wisdom calls out!
      Hear as understanding raises her voice!
 ² On the hilltop along the road,
      she takes her stand at the crossroads.
 ³ By the gates at the entrance to the town,
      on the road leading in, she cries aloud,

Prov. 8:1-3 Wisdom is portrayed as a women who guides us

 ⁴ “I call to you, to all of you!
      I raise my voice to all people.
 ⁵ You simple people, use good judgment.
      You foolish people, show some understanding.
 ⁶ Listen to me! For I have important things to tell you.
      Everything I say is right,
 ⁷ for I speak the truth
      and detest every kind of deception.
 ⁸ My advice is wholesome.
      There is nothing devious or crooked in it.
 ⁹ My words are plain to anyone with understanding,
      clear to those with knowledge.
 ¹⁰ Choose my instruction rather than silver,
      and knowledge rather than pure gold.
 ¹¹ For wisdom is far more valuable than rubies.
      Nothing you desire can compare with it.

 ¹² “I, Wisdom, live together with good judgment.
      I know where to discover knowledge and discernment.
 ¹³ All who fear the Lord will hate evil.
      Therefore, I hate pride and arrogance,
      corruption and perverse speech.

 ¹⁴ Common sense and success belong to me.
      Insight and strength are mine.
 ¹⁵ Because of me, kings reign,
      and rulers make just decrees.
 ¹⁶ Rulers lead with my help,
      and nobles make righteous judgments.

 ¹⁷ “I love all who love me.
      Those who search will surely find me.
 ¹⁸ I have riches and honor,
      as well as enduring wealth and justice.
 ¹⁹ My gifts are better than gold, even the purest gold,
      my wages better than sterling silver!
 ²⁰ I walk in righteousness,
      in paths of justice.
 ²¹ Those who love me inherit wealth.
      I will fill their treasuries.

Prov. 8:14-21 Wisdom makes us succeed

 ²² “The Lord formed me from the beginning,
      before he created anything else.
 ²³ I was appointed in ages past,
      at the very first, before the earth began.
 ²⁴ I was born before the oceans were created,
      before the springs bubbled forth their waters.
 ²⁵ Before the mountains were formed,
      before the hills, I was born—
 ²⁶ before he had made the earth and fields
      and the first handfuls of soil.
 ²⁷ I was there when he established the heavens,
      when he drew the horizon on the oceans.
 ²⁸ I was there when he set the clouds above,
      when he established springs deep in the earth.
 ²⁹ I was there when he set the limits of the seas,
      so they would not spread beyond their boundaries.
   And when he marked off the earth’s foundations,
    ³⁰ I was the architect at his side.
   I was his constant delight,
      rejoicing always in his presence.
 ³¹ And how happy I was with the world he created;
      how I rejoiced with the human family!

Prov. 8:22-31 Wisdom was present at the Creation and works with the Creator

 ³² “And so, my children, listen to me,
      for all who follow my ways are joyful.
 ³³ Listen to my instruction and be wise.
      Don’t ignore it.
 ³⁴ Joyful are those who listen to me,
      watching for me daily at my gates,
      waiting for me outside my home!
 ³⁵ For whoever finds me finds life
      and receives favor from the Lord.

Prov. 8:32-35 God approves of those who listen to wisdom’s counsel

 ³⁶ But those who miss me injure themselves.
      All who hate me love death.”

Prov. 8:36 Those who hate wisdom love death

Vs. 8:4 Wisdom is for all people, no one is excluded, but you can’t receive wisdom if you don’t have a relationship with Jesus. Which shows we all need JESUS!

Vs. 8:6 In this chapter God repeats him self and ask 5 times to LISTEN. We sometimes have a hearing problem, we rather talk, talk, talk and talk some more. (I’m preaching to myself) When you choose not to listen, how will you learn and grow? Wisdom says: “Everything I say is right, for I speak the truth and detest any kind of deception.” Be quick to listen and slow to speak (James 1:19)

How many of you have read the scriptures and because of a faulty perception you took it totally out of context? It is so important to ask God for wisdom and understanding, even to read His Word. Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you and give you insight.

Vs. 8:9 “My words are plain to everyone with understanding.” If you can get a child to understand the Gospel, you will be able to share it with anybody. We can easily make the things about God complicated. Ask for wisdom and you will receive the right words to speak.

Vs. 8:11 Wisdom leads to true riches.  See the example of Solomon in 1 Kings 3. When Solomon became King, the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream, and God said, “What do you want? Ask, and I will give it to you!” Solomon knew he could not lead this nation without God, instead of asking for material things, he ask for wisdom and understanding. God was pleased with it and gave him what he ask for. But that’s not it, God honored his request by giving him more that he didn’t even ask for.

Vs. 8:13 “All who fear the Lord will hate evil.” Love for God and sin cannot co-exist.In this verse God addresses pride. How many of you admit that pride has gotten the best of you? The sin of pride has the quality of having an excessively high opinion of oneself or one’s importance (Dictionary). What is your immediate response when you are being rebuked or corrected? Do you receive it? Or do you get defensive?

Vs. 8:17 “Surely” = guaranteed.

Vs. 8:32-36 Gives us clear directions.

If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer. Matthew 21:22

Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete. John 16:24b

If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. James 1:5

 I hope you have been encouraged and blessed today!

Blessings,

Nicole Crews

To be continued....