In Proverbs 8, wisdom herself speaks! What is wisdom? Please read or listen to Proverbs 8.
I have three very short journal entries on this chapter. In 1984, I wrote simply, “Wisdom was with God from the foundation of the earth. Seek her and I will find her. Where? In Scripture and in prayer. Seek her over wealth and possessions.”
In 1999, I wrote, “Speak truth. Be careful what I say and how I say it. Wisdom was there in the beginning.”
In 2014, when reading Proverbs 7-9 on the same day, I referred to just one verse and that was 8:35, “For whoever finds me finds life and obtains favor from the Lord.” Though my journal entries were pretty short, I find some great nuggets of wealth and truth in this chapter. Let’s look at Proverbs 8. In my English Standard Version Study Bible, this chapter is headed, “The Blessings of Wisdom.” I certainly agree. It starts with, “Does not wisdom call? Does not understanding raise her voice?” (v. 1). In other words, wisdom seeks us. We are to seek wisdom, but wisdom is also seeking us.
What is wisdom? Some descriptions are here in verses 6-8 and 11:
Hear, for I will speak noble things, and from my lips will come what is right, for my mouth will utter truth. All the words of my mouth are righteous; for wisdom is better than jewels, and all that you may desire cannot compare with her.
I really like those descriptions about wisdom. Wisdom speaks noble things, wisdom is what is right, wisdom is truth, and wisdom is righteousness. We need biblical wisdom in our world today.
There are more descriptions as wisdom actually speaks in the first person in this chapter. Verse 12, “I, wisdom, dwell with prudence, and I find knowledge and discretion.” Verse 14, “I have counsel and sound wisdom; I have insight; I have strength.” Verse 17, “I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently find me.” Verse 18, “Riches and honor are with me, enduring wealth and righteousness.” Verses 20-21, “I walk in the way of righteousness, in the paths of justice, granting an inheritance to those who love me, and filling their treasuries.”
We gain so much if we seek and find wisdom. Verse 32, “blessed are those who keep my ways.” Verse 35, “For whoever finds me finds life and obtains favor from the Lord.” You want life? You want favor from the Lord? Find wisdom.
This chapter does something incredible, sharing wisdom was there from the very beginning. How in the world could Solomon know or write these verses? How could Solomon know this except it was revealed by the Holy Spirit? Let’s look at verses 22-31. Wisdom, again, speaking in the first person says:
“The Lord possessed me at the beginning of his work, the first of his acts of old. Ages ago I was set up, at the first, before the beginning of the earth. When there were no depths I was brought forth, when there were no springs abounding with water. Before the mountains had been shaped, before the hills, I was brought forth, before he had made the earth with its fields, or the first of the dust of the world. When he established the heavens, I was there; when he drew a circle on the face of the deep, when he made firm the skies above, when he established the fountains of the deep, when he assigned to the sea its limit, so that the waters might not transgress his command, when he marked out the foundations of the earth, then I was beside him, like a master workman, and I was daily his delight, rejoicing before him always, rejoicing in his inhabited world and delighting in the children of man.”
That is wisdom! Wisdom was there from the beginning.
God, thank You for wisdom, Your wisdom: “For whomever finds me finds life and obtains favor from the Lord” (v. 35). “I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently find me” (v. 17). Lord, thank You for wisdom. Wow. The same wisdom that was there from the foundation of the earth is available to me. I can hardly fathom it. All I can say is, “Thank You.” Thank You for the gift of wisdom. I seek Your wisdom diligently. Allow me, Lord, to discover it and obtain favor in Your sight. Hallelujah! Amen.