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Monday, February 08, 2010

Wisdom Project 2/8



Proverbs 8 – NIV
Proverbs 8 – ESV

Proverbs 8:10-11 …
Choose my instruction instead of silver,
knowledge rather than choice gold,
for wisdom is more precious than rubies,
and nothing you desire can compare with her
.


Commentary

Solomon is saying that wisdom, godly wisdom, is more valuable than all the treasures you could find in the entire world. Now that may be hard for some to understand because we have become such a materialistic society. Money is everything to many people. But all the money in the world will not put your mind at ease. It will not give you peace. If you think it will, if you think I am wrong, take a ride out to Hollywood California, for one example, and see all the psychologists and psychiatrists that the wealthy are going to, their offices are packed. Why? Because riches will not buy happiness, it won't put your mind at ease, it won't give you peace.

You see, the answer is coming before God, asking Him for wisdom in a given situation. In fact James 1:5 tells us, he admonishes us that "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him." Thus, we are without excuse. God wants to give us wisdom. In fact, that word "liberally" in the Greek speaks of bountifully. You see, you don't have to face the circumstances of life in your own wisdom. If you need spiritual insight, ask of God and He will speak to your heart and show you the things you need to know and how to apply those truths to your life.

From: A
Sermon posted on the Precept website, by Pastor Joe Guglielmo

Blessings
3 John 8
Bill H.
_________

WISDOM PROJECT: For this month, I will supply links to both the NIV and ESV versions of the chapter each day (Feb. 1 = Proverbs 1, etc.) in the post—both of which contain the audio.

And in the month of February a unique feature for the WP will be Commentaries on selected passages/verses from within the chapter for the day. And for the most part, these comments will be from links in the Online Bible Study Resources feature here on the 3 John 8 blog (scroll down in the column to the right to find the links).

Note to Proverbs class participants: this is the place where you should post your application comments for

25 comments:

Jilli Bair said...

"Does not wisdom call? Does not understanding raise her voice?"

Why does she have to raise her voice? Because we do not listen! Later on he says, "O simple ones, learn prudence, O fools, learn sense. Hear, for I will speak noble things, and from my lips will come what is right," (5-6). Too often we will tune out the call of wisdom, even when she is shouting in our ear, begging us to follow her ways. I wonder what would happen if we simply listened right away and took heed to her call.

Carrie L. said...

Woman Wisdom really describes herself in this chapter, urging men(mankind) to follow her ways and to choose her wisdom instead of choice gold or silver.

30 "Then I was the craftsmen at His side. I was filled with delight day after day, rejoicing always in His presence, rejoicing in His whole world and delighting in mankind". This verse was enlightening to me. I didn't think of wisdom rejoicing in God's presence or delighting in His creation. It was a refreshing thought to think of wisdom there with God when He created the universe.

Jim Morrison said...

The first verse jumped out at me. "Does not wisdom call out? Does not understanding raise her voice?" I am reminded here that our call to wisdom is not a casual thing. It says that wisdom calls out and understanding raises her voice. Our call to follow wisdom and to have a fear of the Lord is in front of us and being made known. Just as much as Satan is calling for us to follow the path of unrighteousness so is God calling out to us to follow a path of righteousness. Again in verse 4 "To you, O men, I call out;
I raise my voice to all mankind."

Unknown said...

v4 – “I raise my voice to all mankind.” Just as salvation is universally desired by God for all mankind (2 Peter 3:9), in v4 Woman Wisdom is too pleading to all of mankind – wisdom is for all who seek her. Those who seek her - they will find her (v17.)
Also from v22 on she speaks of her role before and during creation; I haven’t been able to grasp this yet. I’m accepting this by faith at this time (along with the other references in our class work). This is now an on-going pursuit. Clinging to His Words in v32 “blessed…keep my ways” is the man, v33 “listen…be wise…do not ignore”, v34 “blessed…who listens to [wisdom]”, and v35 “For whoever finds me finds life and receives favor from the LORD.”
Mike T.

Unknown said...

Wisdom is not silent! Verse 4 says, "To you, O men, I call out; I raise my voice to all mankind." God's wisdom does not remain quiet, but she speaks out to all men. I love that God is a god of action. He doesn't just sit back and watch His creation from the heavens. He personally makes an effort to speak to all men. I selfishly assume that God is so Holy and pious, that He wants nothing to do with is creation, but He does. He wants to point me in the right direction. He wants to give me life to the fullest. I am left with the choice to heed His call to wise living or ignore it. What it really comes down to is whether or not I trust God.

Sarah said...

When reading this chapter, verses 10 and 11 stuck out to me the most. It reminded me of the song "precious," because it is saying that God is more precious than silver, more costly than gold, and more beautiful than diamonds. In the verse it says that wisdom is more than rubies, which since God is wisdom, then wisdom is certainly more than any of them.

Anonymous said...

Response 2/8/2010 1:09 PM
Proverbs 8:10-11 …
Choose my instruction instead of silver,
knowledge rather than choice gold,
for wisdom is more precious than rubies,
and nothing you desire can compare with her.
This invitation to receive instruction can be found in many synonymously in many other New Testament passages. I think that ultimately the invitation to live in the wealth of wisdom is an invitation to walk by faith with Christ. It makes me think of this passage in 1 Peter.
1Pe 1:7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:
John Erbentraut

Unknown said...

35 For whoever finds me finds life
and receives favor from the LORD. 36 But whoever fails to find me harms himself; all who hate me love death."

Wisdom gives this promise in verse 35-36 about the consequences between not having her and having her in our lives. Finding wisdom understanding prudence when she calls will only keep us from harm. Why do we not just let her in, why do we fight so much, is it not very clear what will happen if we do not? We need to step away from our selfabsorbed worlds and see what wisdom is yelling about!

Danielle Cummings said...

This chapter really emphasizes the importance of gaining wisdom and the benefits of having it. Verses 10-11 tells us that we are to value wisdom over silver and gold. In today's society we dont necessarily think of possessions as silver and gold like they did back then, but its the same concept. When we value our "stuff" over wisdom, we're portrayed as fools. It also says in verses 32-36 that those who strive to gain widsom, benefit in ways that noone can explain or imagine. Having life, favor with God, and a clear conscience of doing right beats having any materialistic thing in my mind.

Rachel said...

"The fear of the Lord [the beginning of wisdom] is hatred of evil..."
When I read this verse, I thought immediately of the passage in the gospels when Jesus warns that one cannot serve two masters. Our love for God must be complete, without room for compromise. We cannot love sin and Christ at once. God abhors sin and so must we.

Unknown said...

Proverbs 8:35, "For he who finds me finds life And obtains favor from the LORD." Wisdom is founded in Christ and given by Him and finding it will bring us life from the Father.

Krista Harrison said...

The fear of the Lord is hatred of evil.
Pride and arrogance and the way of evil
and perverted speech I hate.
This is where my heart and ears were drawn when I read the Proverb of the day. In a society with high tolerance and a fear of offending people we as Christians, myself included find it hard to stand up for small issues. Am I being to picky?Annoying? or is this me taking a stand for wisdom, I guess this is a part of where discernment comes in to play. This proverb has encouraged me to listen to wisdom the first time and not play with different options of Life. Just the cross reference of James says if you lack wisdom, ask for it. Ask for it through prayer and ask for it through spending time with other godly people

Jessica said...

"Hear instruction and be wise,
and do not neglect it."
So many times i think we are told something but don't really listen and take it to heart. I know i personally do this. We need to hear instruction, hear what God is telling us in His word, hear what older wiser Christians tell us and just don't listen but take it a step further and apply it to our lives

Renee K said...

As I was reading through this chapter something really stuck out to me that hadn't necessarily hit me in this way before. I have everything that I possibly could need to be wise. God has laid out a blueprint for wisdom in Proverbs. It leaves no ecuse for someone to live a foolish life. Again, I have everything I need in order to live a life of wisdom.

Lisa Griffiths said...

I love the verse...
Take my instruction instead of silver,
and knowledge rather than choice gold.
How real this is. Too many times I think of earthly or worldly things over the truths that Christ has given me. Why is that? Why don't I see that Christ is the ultimate giver of all thins, its frustrating sometimes. I need to be putting the instructions of Christ in the front of my life, not on hold or second.

julee said...

I was amazed to read again that God formed the world in wisdom. She delights in the world and in mankind. How often do I complain about something, especially about myself and the way I am? God created each one in wisdom, specifically and knowledgeably for a purpose. He declared it good.. yes it was corrupted but Romans reminds us that one day it will be completely restored again. Wisdom, God knew and knows what He's doing.

julee said...

I was amazed to read again that God formed the world in wisdom. She delights in the world and in mankind. How often do I complain about something, especially about myself and the way I am? God created each one in wisdom, specifically and knowledgeably for a purpose. He declared it good.. yes it was corrupted but Romans reminds us that one day it will be completely restored again. Wisdom, God knew and knows what He's doing.

Tim K. said...

As I read/listened to todays Proverb I was struck by the importance of the revealed word of God. The wisdom/understanding that leads to life and calls out to us would be unknown to us and we would be left with nothing, but speculation and assumptions about who God is and what He wants from us. But God in His grace not only revealed Himself to us, but calls out to us in the Scriptures. I need to listen closer to His voice.

Nate said...

The biggest thing I notice is the overwhelming amount of positive effects listed if one chooses wisdom. i am sure in the Hebrew language wisdom seems VERY attractive as it does in the English. Also lady wisdom takes a stand in verse 2. She cries our much like a street preacher we may see these days. She cries out tirelessly to anyone who would hear her. She is searching fro men to follow her and her beneficial ways. Am I listening?

Cody F said...

I thought verses 10-11 are very interesting. Wisdom is compared to silver, gold and rubies. It says that wisdom is more valuable than all those. When you think of the importance that those items have to people and how valuable they are, I feel it really goes to show the importance of how much we need wisdom.

Mandi said...

To fear the LORD is to hate evil;

This is what stuck out to me the most! I know its just part of a verse but this is what hit home for me today! Though proverbs class i am learning what it truly means to fear the Lord. I need to really hate evil!

Renee said...

I was just struck by the similarities between the wisdom in Proverbs and Christ. I think this is really interesting and worth looking at more in-depth. Also, I was hit with the fact of wisdom's value; it is priceless and valued greater than gold or jewels. Do I value wisdom that much in my life?

Danyelle Steckiel said...

We know that God is being portrayed as Woman Wisdom in Proverbs and so verse four hit me "to you, o men, I call out!" God is drawing us to Himself. He sent His son because He loves us, He saved us and now He wants us to seek Him and know Him. He does not stay queit, but He corrects us when we need it and He leads us to Himself!

TWash said...

The emphasis is on treasuring wisdom. It helped the way wisdom is written as a possession. We should desire and value wisdom way more than anything of this world. I would much rather be rich in wisdom than rich in money any day!! That is what matters to God. Wisdom and discernment to carry out his will while on this fallen world!

Unknown said...

This Proverb for today stresses so much the importance of Wisdom. I had a long conversation about this actually today and he was asking questions about Wisdom and honestly I felt good talking to him about it from learning stuff in the class. This Proverb tells me that it is important for me to seek Wisdom and walk in Wisdom from now on. Verse 13 was convicting to me to read because it says that wisdom hates Pride and arrogance. Two things I struggle with at times. The next verse was very encouraging though where it says that Wisdom gives counsel, sound wisdom, insight, and strength. At this time in my life these are things that I am praying for daily.