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. 4 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. (Prov
8:1-11)
In the devotion
previous to today’s (Proverbs 7), we read of the window out which Solomon
looked upon the streets of sin. A window provides two perspectives – to see OUT
of one’s being, and the other, to see INTO one’s heart. It will be far better
for us if the sin is outside our windows and not INSIDE them for we do not
desire to LIVE in sin. Solomon looked out from his window and saw the world as
it exists today, and has always existed. Full of sinful men and women –
harlots, boys seeking a reason to commit sin, and feet that run to the wrong
place for the wrong reasons. The adulterous harlot of Chapter 7 is precisely
the opposite of the virtuosity demonstrated in the character of Wisdom. In
Chapter 8, we will see Wisdom in her virtue and character. This devotion on Chapter 8 will be
divided into four separate parts – 1)
vs. 1-11 will address the worth and repute of Wisdom; 2) vs. 12-21 the Nature of Wisdom; 3) vs. 22-31, the Eternal aspect of Wisdom; and, 4) vs. 32-36, the blessedness that
Wisdom brings with her company.
Even when men act
out of lust or foolishness, they hear faintly the voice of Wisdom crying out to
them to take heed and follow the righteous way. Though Wisdom is not God,
Wisdom is an inherent quality and virtue of God that attends all His counsels.
God never leaves Wisdom by the wayside in His counsel and teaching of men.
Wisdom, as a devoted wife, goes with God wherever He moves. 1 Doth
not wisdom cry? and understanding put forth her voice? God employs the technique of ‘personification’
in teaching us about Wisdom. We may, thus, consider Wisdom to be a bosom friend
and a dear elder sister. When we make critical decisions in life, it is such a
benefit to have an elder sister to whom we may consult for advice. Why is this
the case? Because an elder sister is 1) gentle in her nature towards us; 2)
wise with life experience; and 3) takes a personal interest out of the love see
feels for us in counseling us of the best way to go. Wisdom was with God before
the worlds were made, and was with God in Eden, and is forever with God now.
But we, too, can have Wisdom to accompany us as well in our daily trials if we
will listen to that voice of Wisdom.
In a sense, we,
too, never leave Wisdom behind, yet we may ignore her pleadings to us. 2 She
standeth in the top of high places, by the way in the places of the paths.
Wisdom’s presence is everywhere whether we follow or not. The place of Wisdom
is always above the place of man, and stands as way markers to show us the way
along the path of life. We ignore the “Bridge Out” sign to our own peril, and
we ignore the voice of Wisdom to even greater calamity. Wisdom is beautiful. She is pure and
righteous and proclaims her message for all to hear unlike that whispering
voice of the harlot in the street. Wisdom always ‘takes a bold stand’ unashamed
of her righteous counsel. Are we like-minded?
Wisdom addresses,
like the Gospel of Christ, all comers in at the gate as well as all those who
depart those gates. 3 She crieth at the gates, at the entry of the city, at the
coming in at the doors. What such emphasis on the ‘gates of the
city?’ Because sin is social. Our interaction with others, either righteous or
wicked, determines our character. The city is the source of greatest temptation
and evil. So Wisdom stands at the gates to warn all comers against the sins of
which they may be tempted WITHIN the gates; and she is a herald of Wisdom to
all who leave those gates to call back to righteousness from the sins they may
have committed. It is unfortunate that Lot did not heed the voice of Wisdom ere
entering into the gates of Sodom with his family.
The Voice of Wisdom
has its source in her Master, God. Her pleadings are with men. 4 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. Her voice is magnified to the simple that
may lack understanding due to youth, of those whose minds have waxed foolish
due to a habitual rejection of her voice. That is what defines a fool – lack of
wisdom and no desire for it. If we will take our focus off those paltry things
that entice us of this world and heed the voice of Wisdom from Heaven, we will
no longer be fools. Fools come in all shapes and sizes and predominate in
places of governmental authority.
Never distrust the
voice of Wisdom, for it always speaks truly and in our best interest. 6 Hear;
for I will speak of excellent things; and the opening of my lips shall be right
things. If left unchecked,
the child will never eat wholesome food, but only those sweets that rot away
his teeth and stunt his growth. The mouth of a loving mother to a child is the
mouth of Wisdom. 7 For my mouth shall speak truth; and wickedness is an
abomination to my lips. How could a false report be considered
wise? Wisdom ONLY speaks truth and righteousness. Profane and vulgar language
never departs her lips. It is only words of truth and justice that grace her
tongue. Wisdom is the mouth of God: I have sworn by myself, the word is gone
out of my mouth in
righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every
tongue shall swear (Isaiah 45:23)
8 All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; there is
nothing froward or perverse in them. Such a quality of language becomes the righteous man and woman,
too.
9 They are all plain to him that
understandeth, and right to them that find knowledge. Allow me here to point out a profound
fact: the words of Wisdom are so plain as to be impossible to misinterpret to
those who DESIRE to understand that voice. The problem is this: many will go a
world apart to rationalize away the words of Wisdom and call it by another
name. The term “alternate lifestyle’ for unmarried cohabitation or homosexual
unions comes to mind. Those who have learned the knowledge God teaches in His
Book will have no difficulty in seeing the righteousness of His teaching
without trying to find ‘detours’ around it.
10 Receive
my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold. Solomon sought Wisdom, not wealth and
power; but Solomon received those added benefits because he sought Wisdom first
and foremost. What good is a million dollars to a fool who knows not the worth
of God’s grace?
Sometimes I wonder
if God is trying to tell men something about their spiritual inferiority
compared with women. God says that a good woman (wife) has value above rubies,
and here God says the same of Wisdom. The implication is that a Wise wife is a
woman whose Wisdom will be used to prepare her husband, her sons, and her
daughters for the pitfalls of life. This has been true with my own wife. She is
the essence of the wise mother and wife. Had I listened to her voice more
keenly in my early youth, I would be much further down the road to the City of
Wisdom. 11 For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that
may be desired are not to be compared to it. If we seek first the Kingdom of God, we shall lack none of the
best things of life. Simple, isn’t it?
