Posted by Jeff Short on December 4, 2016 · Leave a Comment
They are all plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that find knowledge.
– Proverbs 8:9
Plain means straight or clear. Understanding points to discernment. Those who truly seek for wisdom, find it. Right here means straight or upright. Finding knowledge also points to the desire and pursuit of wisdom. Wisdom does reward those who come to her.
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Posted by Jeff Short on December 3, 2016 · Leave a Comment
All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing froward or perverse in them.
– Proverbs 8:8
The word for froward means twisted and the word for perverse means crooked. They both describe speech that is deceitful and crafty. The word for righteousness means just and right. The words of wisdom are open, truthful, and reliable. There is no deceit or trickery to them.
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Posted by Jeff Short on December 2, 2016 · Leave a Comment
For my mouth shall speak truth; and wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
– Proverbs 8:7
Wisdom continues explaining why she has called for attention to her words. The word for truth here is stable and reliable. The word for speaking is different from the previous verse. Here it means pondered or meditated speech. It isn’t rash or flippant speech. Wickedness is abhorrent to wisdom. The full picture suggests that wickedness is considered and found thoroughly disgusting and so put away from the lips.
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Posted by Jeff Short on December 1, 2016 · Leave a Comment
Hear; for I will speak of excellent things; and the opening of my lips shall be right things.
– Proverbs 8:6
Hear is the command to hear intelligently, which is common to the opening of the Proverbs. It was used often by the father in his addresses to his son and here in the mouth of lady wisdom. There is continuity because the words are the words of divine wisdom. Wisdom commands attention because of what she has to say. Excellent things are noble things or princely things. The word is used almost exclusively of persons, i.e. captain, commander, prince, etc. Right things refers to straight and level. Here it points to moral straightness, or uprightness. The words of wisdom are noble words of straight righteousness.
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Posted by Jeff Short on November 30, 2016 · Leave a Comment
O ye simple, understand wisdom: and, ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart.
– Proverbs 8:5
Simple means gullible or naïve. The simple person is thoughtless and careless. Fools are obstinately stupid in life. It is not a comment on their mental capacity, but rather their willfulness in foolishness. Wisdom is a broad term that means prudence, shrewdness, or discernment. Wisdom is thoughtful, deliberate, and careful. Understanding points more specifically to discernment and an understanding heart speaks of having good sense. The cry and design of wisdom is to give wisdom and understanding to the simple and the fools. All men are born simple and foolish. We must grow in wisdom and understanding by taking heed to the cry and words of wisdom.
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Posted by Jeff Short on November 29, 2016 · 1 Comment
Unto you, O men, I call; and my voice is to the sons of man.
– Proverbs 8:4
Some see a distinction between men and sons of man. The first is a plural, general term for males. The second is sons of Adam, or mankind. Some see a reference to the higher and lower of the race being referred to. At least we know the call of wisdom goes out to all indiscriminately. This has been emphasized variously in the opening of this chapter.
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Posted by Jeff Short on November 28, 2016 · 1 Comment
She crieth at the gates, at the entry of the city, at the coming in at the doors.
– Proverbs 8:3
The accessibility and open cry of wisdom is further emphasized by the gates, entry, and doors of the city. Wisdom is after the man on the street. Though wisdom is among the places of concourse, business, and conversation, wisdom does not arise from the collective. Wisdom strikes her own figure and is separate, calling to men and women to pay attention. To cry is to cry out or even shout. The voice of wisdom is raised above the general din of every day. Wisdom is accessible to those who seek.
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Posted by Jeff Short on November 27, 2016 · 1 Comment
She standeth in the top of high places, by the way in the places of the paths.
– Proverbs 8:2
Wisdom is personified as a woman. Even a casual reading of Proverbs reveals a feminine motif, which culminates in the virtuous woman in chapter 31. This theme has been the subject of scholarly thought, study, and debate for a long time. I personally look to the simple, sensible explanation and confess that I don’t have the wisdom to see more at this time. Wisdom is a feminine noun in the Hebrew and naturally would be feminine if personified. This fact provides a likely explanation for the structure and the selection of the strange woman to be the antagonist to lady wisdom. More could be said, but that must be another setting.
The high places refer to elevated vantage points in the city. These are places where wisdom would be visible and have access to many. The places of paths refers to intersections of travel routes. The point is that wisdom is in open, public places where people are. She doesn’t lurk in dark, secret places to catch a few, but reaches out to the broadest audience. The places where she is also reveal how she mixes through different strata of society. It is perhaps a subtle point, but these show the relevancy of wisdom to all walks of life.
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Posted by Jeff Short on November 26, 2016 · 1 Comment
Chapter 8 presents wisdom as a noble woman with great dignity. There is obviously a contrast with the strange woman of the previous chapters. Verses 1-5 present the character of wisdom as open and accessible. This obviously contrasts with the furtive ways in the dark of the strange woman. Verses 6-13 reveal wisdom as common. Wisdom is common in the sense of being findable but it is never common in the sense of being worldly. Wisdom is always upright and righteous. Verses 14-21 show that wisdom brings reward or blessing. The reward of wisdom is both physical and spiritual. Verses 22-31 reveal that God himself always acts with wisdom. Verses 32-36 emphasize the spiritual nature of wisdom in that wisdom deals in issues of life and death.
Doth not wisdom cry? And understanding put forth her voice?
– Proverbs 8:1
To cry is to accost or to call out to and to put forth is to make known. Though many voices clamor to be heard, the voice of wisdom is present. Solomon highlights the accessibility of wisdom. Wisdom is available (James 1:5). Wisdom actively cries out, but only hearing ears will hear (Mark 4:23). Solomon’s point is to urge us to seek out and listen to wisdom.
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Proverbs 8:9
Posted by Jeff Short on December 4, 2016 · Leave a Comment
They are all plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that find knowledge.
Plain means straight or clear. Understanding points to discernment. Those who truly seek for wisdom, find it. Right here means straight or upright. Finding knowledge also points to the desire and pursuit of wisdom. Wisdom does reward those who come to her.– Proverbs 8:9
Listen to the Proverbs sermon series
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