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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Posted by Jeff Short on November 25, 2016 · 1 Comment
Her house is the way to hell, going down to the chambers of death.
– Proverbs 7:27
Considering the end means considering her house is the gateway of the grave. It is the height of folly for a man to think he can enter there and escape unscathed. The consequences of this sin have been enumerated as many, but all serious. The words of wisdom are to avoid folly and consider well the end of the way before you set foot therein.
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Posted by Jeff Short on November 24, 2016 · 1 Comment
For she hath cast down many wounded: yea, many strong men have been slain by her.
– Proverbs 7:26
This verse shows the true way of wisdom, to look past the short-term gain proposed and look well to the end of the way. The end of the way is where many have been pierced and many thrown down. The urgent warning comes home that it’s not only weak simpletons but many strong men have been undone by her. This verse emphasizes the wisdom in staying away and avoiding and not seeking to grapple with her as though you are the one who will succeed.
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Posted by Jeff Short on November 23, 2016 · 1 Comment
Let not thine heart decline to her ways, go not astray in her paths.
– Proverbs 7:25
To decline is to deviate, to get off course. The heart refers to the mind where the battle is really fought. Once the mind deviates to her course, the person is astray in her way. The mind and heart must be guarded so that no thoughts of the strange woman are entertained. You go astray literally and physically, so Solomon warns to physically stay away, or keep clear of her paths.
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Posted by Jeff Short on November 22, 2016 · 1 Comment
Hearken unto me now therefore, O ye children, and attend to the words of my mouth.
– Proverbs 7:24
Verses 24-27 conclude the chapter with the applied warning of wisdom. The conclusion begins with the familiar call to listen with intelligence and take heed to the words spoken. Again, we note the contrast with the words of wisdom and the words of folly. The adulteress use words of flattery and cunning to persuade. The mouth of the father speaks words of wisdom whereby the words of folly will not prevail.
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Posted by Jeff Short on November 21, 2016 · 1 Comment
Till a dart strike through his liver; as a bird hasteth to the snare, and knoweth not that it is for his life.
– Proverbs 7:23
An arrow to the liver is a mortal wound. Life is in the balance. It could be more immediately or ultimately. The way of fornication and adultery is a way that only ends in death. The last image is the bird going for the bait in the snare unknowing the snare means its life. Again the thought conveyed is that the young man doesn’t really comprehend what he is doing, nor the great cost associated with it.
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Posted by Jeff Short on November 20, 2016 · 1 Comment
He goeth after her straightway, as an ox goeth to the slaughter, or as a fool to the correction of the stocks;
– Proverbs 7:22
Verses 22-23 paint the results with different images. Straightway refers to the sudden turn once his heart and mind are overcome. His yielding is full. The ox is witless in going to the slaughter and so the young man in going with the strange woman. He hasn’t fully comprehended the cost he will have to pay.
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Proverbs 8:3
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.
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.– Proverbs 8:3
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