Sunday School 5-14-06 Proverbs 8(1-5), (22-31)
Proverbs 8:1 Doth not wisdom cry? and understanding put forth her voice?
Who is this “wisdom?”
There are two schools of thought among Bible Scholars as to whom this passage of Scripture is referring. Some claim this refers to Divine wisdom while other think it refers to Jesus Christ. I fail to see the controversy. Since Jesus is the Word of God that makes Him Divine wisdom. God is omniscient, or all knowing; Jesus embodies the wisdom of God. It is impossible for Him to be wrong. Every word that proceeds from Him is the Word of God. He is always right. He is always true. He cries out to the lost today through the Holy Spirit. What does he cry? What is the wisdom of God? Let me give you two pieces of Scripture to answer that question. Proverbs 1:7 “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” Matthew 11:28-30 “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 11:29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 11:30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” There can be no wisdom without God! Jesus cries out: “come unto me.” It is only when we come unto Him that we can be wise in this world. A life spent without the pursuit of God is a life lived as a fool!
8:2 She standeth in the top of high places, by the way in the places of the paths. 8:3 She crieth at the gates, at the entry of the city, at the coming in at the doors.
Easily available
The phrase “in the top of the high places” means at a place elevated so that it can be clearly seen from everywhere in the surrounding area. The “places of the paths” is referring to places which are heavily and commonly trafficked. “The gates” refers to the place of judgment where the men of the city would come to decide the business of the community. This refers to the invitation to “come, let us reason together.” God welcomes inquiry. He wants to be free to “search the scriptures.” “The entry of the city” refers to the practice among the Eastern peoples to meet travelers and invite them to stay in their homes. Wisdom, which is embodied in Christ” invites the simple man and woman to come in and visit. It is easily entreated. It wants to become a part of your life. It seeks to make your journey comfortable. “The coming in at the doors” refers to the frint doors of their homes. Christ doesn’t want to be a saviour who you meet once a week in church; He wants to go home with you. Remember the words of Christ to Zacchaeus; “for today, I must abide at thy house.” In other words, God is making this wisdom readily available. To bring this down to us today, Jesus who is our wisdom is readily available today. Many folks will no doubt claim ignorance when they stand before God in judgment. They will claim to not have known the way of salvation, but this is no excuse today. Think about how readily available the Gospel is to anyone who wants to find out about Christ is today! We have literally thousands of churches in our nation from which thousands of ministers are proclaiming the soul winning Gospel each week to anyone who would want to venture in and listen. Television ministries and radio ministries are beaming out the Gospel to every home in our nation. Billboards and tracts are conspicuously placed in many places today. Christians are wearing t-shirts, belt buckles, and hats which proclaim the Gospel message. Millions of cars carry bumper stickers which tell of His love and the coming judgment. Folks, if you are not saved today, it is your own fault. The Gospel is available! It’s free! Don’t miss your chance to hear, believe, and be born again!
8:4 Unto you, O men, I call; and my voice is to the sons of man.
The sons of man
The call to all men. Wisdom can be obtained to everyone, not just the rich or intelligent. Many rich folks are not wise and, contrary to a lot of opinions, a lot of intelligent people are not wise. They know facts, but not wisdom.
8:5 O ye simple, understand wisdom: and, ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart.
Simple & Foolish
The word translated “simple” means one without knowledge or experience. The word translated “fools” means one who willfully turns against God. Both of these kinds of people need to seek wisdom from God. The simple can learn the ways of God and the foolish must yield to God. To continue on their paths is certain devastation.
8:22 The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old.
8:23 I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was. 8:24 When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water. 8:25 Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth: 8:26 While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world. 8:27 When he prepared the heavens, I was there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth: 8:28 When he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep: 8:29 When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth:
The Creator
Sometimes we underestimate the value of the contribution of Jesus in the creation act. The Bible teaches us that He was the instigator and originator of creation. Let me prove what I’m saying with some verses of scripture.
- Genesis 1:26 “And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.” The question is who is us? Those who think Christ had nothing to do with creation had better find an answer for this question. Us is plural. I am convinced us is God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. There was no one else around at the time. Some have suggested that He was talking about angels, but angels have never created anything. They are only ministers of God. Christ is the creator!
- John 1:1 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 1:2 The same was in the beginning with God. 1:3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.” John clearly establishes Christ as being part of the God head and responsible for creation. Notice the phrase “all things” were made by Him. All in the Greek means all.
- John 1:10 “He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.” Again the implication is clear; Christ is the creator. The universe was created not only by Him, but for Him. Everything is as it is to maximize the effect of Christ upon mankind. In His wisdom He created everything.
- Colossians 1:16-17 “For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: 1:17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.” He not only created the things you can see, but things which are unseen. An example of unseen things created by Him is the law of Gravity. Jesus created the universe with certain immutable principles. Mankind doesn’t discover them, but only realizes them when they come into his perception. He also created unseen powers among human beings. The principalities and powers that possess political and social force were created by Him. Notice the phrase “by Him all things consist.” This means He not only created all things, but by Him all things are held together. The very elements are held together by His power.
- Acts 17:28 “For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.” This verse reveals that it is due to Him that I am alive. My next breath, and yours, will only come with His mercy. I got out of bed this morning, and so did you, by the grace of God.
8:30 Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him;
The love of the Father for His Son
Matthew 3:17 “And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” Matthew 12:18 “Behold my servant, whom I have chosen; my beloved, in whom my soul is well pleased: I will put my spirit upon him, and he shall show judgment to the Gentiles.” Jesus is the delight of the Father and He causes me to be His delight also. This is what is meant by justification. Jesus pleased the Father and took my place in death so I could take His place in judgment. When I stand before God, I will stand there as His Son. The pleasure brought by the Son will be transferred to my account. The Scripture explanation is given in 2nd Corinthians 5:21”For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. Oh, how wonderful are the ways and judgments of our God!”
8:31 Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth; and my delights were with the sons of men.
The joy of Christ
This verse means Jesus enjoys the creation that has been made. He loves people and the majesty of this world. Why our righteous Lord loves this imperfect world is something I can’t explain, but He does. Look at this verse: 1st John 4:10 “Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” The love of God is not earned, but given. It was given to an unworthy and sinful people. Only the loving and merciful Father we have could be this gracious.
New Living Translation (recommended for Commentary purposes only)
1 Listen as wisdom calls out! Hear as understanding raises her voice! 2 She stands on the hilltop and at the crossroads. 3 At the entrance to the city, at the city gates, she cries aloud, 4 “I call to you, to all of you! I am raising my voice to all people. 5 How naive you are! Let me give you common sense. O foolish ones, let me give you understanding.
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 and the hills were formed, 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 the deep fountains of 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 what he created—his wide world and all the human family!
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PASTOR RICK BARCUS
