Part 3
Proverbs 8:22-31 NKJV “The LORD possessed me at the beginning of His way, Before His works of old. (23) I have been established from everlasting, From the beginning, before there was ever an earth. (24) When there were no depths I was brought forth, When there were no fountains abounding with water. (25) Before the mountains were settled, Before the hills, I was brought forth; (26) While as yet He had not made the earth or the fields, Or the primal dust of the world. (27) When He prepared the heavens, I was there, When He drew a circle on the face of the deep, (28) When He established the clouds above, When He strengthened the fountains of the deep, (29) When He assigned to the sea its limit, So that the waters would not transgress His command, When He marked out the foundations of the earth, (30) Then I was beside Him as a master craftsman; And I was daily His delight, Rejoicing always before Him, (31) Rejoicing in His inhabited world, And my delight was with the sons of men.
Wisdom is not a thing. The reason the world has trouble finding wisdom is because they are looking for a thing in all of the wrong places.
Wisdom is a person and His Name is Jesus.
Jesus is also called the Word in John 1.
John 1:1-3 NKJV In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (2) He was in the beginning with God. (3) All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.
John 1:14 NKJV And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.
Then why does Solomon refer to wisdom as a woman in the Book of Proverbs?
We said we gain wisdom through the New Birth and the ministry of the Holy Spirit but we maintain wisdom through the study and meditation of the Word.
Proverbs 4:20-21 NKJV My son, give attention to my words; Incline your ear to my sayings. (21) Do not let them depart from your eyes; Keep them in the midst of your heart;
If you don’t give attention to the Word of God, can you count on wisdom to be there when you need it? NO!
We see in the Book of Proverbs, that as you treat wisdom, wisdom will treat you.
You reap what you sow!
The simple reason that Solomon referred to wisdom as a woman is this: If you don’t treat a woman right, she will not treat you right.
Husbands, if you don’t treat your woman right, don’t count on her in a time of distress!
That is why you don’t let things slip after you have been married for a while. You still need to woo her, date her, etc.
That is why we teach that if you love her, she will respect you!
Solomon knew what it was like to have a good woman and a bad woman. (Song of Solomon)
Proverbs 8:32-36 NKJV “Now therefore, listen to me, my children, For blessed are those who keep my ways. (33) Hear instruction and be wise, And do not disdain it. (34) Blessed is the man who listens to me, Watching daily at my gates, Waiting at the posts of my doors. (35) For whoever finds me finds life, And obtains favor from the LORD; (36) But he who sins against me wrongs his own soul; All those who hate me love death.”
You must sow to wisdom so you can reap wisdom!
Where does wisdom abide?
Does wisdom stay in the church? Does wisdom stay in your house?
Proverbs 1:20 NKJV Wisdom calls aloud outside; She raises her voice in the open squares. (where the people congregate)
Colossians 4:5 NKJV Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time.
Proverbs 1:21-22 NKJV She cries out in the chief concourses, At the openings of the gates in the city She speaks her words: (22) “How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity? For scorners delight in their scorning, And fools hate knowledge.
Three types of people:
- Simple – stupid – those who know what to do and don’t do it.
You find these people in the same place you find the world.
- Scorners – unbelieving mockers.
- Fools – unbelieving people who don’t want to know.
Proverbs 1:23 NKJV Turn at my rebuke; Surely I will pour out my spirit on you; I will make my words known to you.
When you repent, He will pour out His Spirit on you and then give you His Word. Without the Spirit, you cannot understand the Word.
Proverbs 1:24-27 NKJV Because I have called and you refused, I have stretched out my hand and no one regarded, (25) Because you disdained all my counsel, And would have none of my rebuke, (26) I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your terror comes, (27) When your terror comes like a storm, And your destruction comes like a whirlwind, When distress and anguish come upon you.
Why does wisdom behave this way? Because typically we use wisdom or God’s help as a fire escape instead of genuinely repenting and wanting to change.
Proverbs 1:28-33 NKJV “Then they will call on me, but I will not answer; They will seek me diligently, but they will not find me. (29) Because they hated knowledge And did not choose the fear of the LORD, (30) They would have none of my counsel And despised my every rebuke. (31) Therefore they shall eat the fruit of their own way, And be filled to the full with their own fancies. (32) For the turning away of the simple will slay them, And the complacency of fools will destroy them; (33) But whoever listens to me will dwell safely, And will be secure, without fear of evil.”
If you stick with wisdom, wisdom will stick with you!
Proverbs is designed to work IN you! And is designed to drive ignorance OUT!
Wisdom for Everyday Life
- Wearing Out Your Welcome:
Proverbs 25:17 NLT Don’t visit your neighbors too often, or you will wear out your welcome.
- Discern The Correct Time For Something:
Proverbs 25:20 NLT Singing cheerful songs to a person with a heavy heart is like taking someone’s coat in cold weather or pouring vinegar in a wound.
Proverbs 27:14 NLT A loud and cheerful greeting early in the morning will be taken as a curse!
- Co-signing for Someone
Proverbs 6:1-2 NKJV My son, if you become surety for your friend, If you have shaken hands in pledge for a stranger, (2) You are snared by the words of your mouth; You are taken by the words of your mouth.
The Bible teaches co-signing is not wisdom.
Money will separate people quickly.
Proverbs 22:26-27 NKJV Do not be one of those who shakes hands in a pledge, One of those who is surety for debts; (27) If you have nothing with which to pay, Why should he take away your bed from under you?
Proverbs 17:18 NIV One who has no sense shakes hands in pledge and puts up security for a neighbor.
Proverbs 11:15 NIV Whoever puts up security for a stranger will surely suffer, but whoever refuses to shake hands in pledge is safe.
Proverbs 6:3-5 NKJV So do this (now), my son, and deliver yourself; For you have come into the hand of your friend: Go and humble yourself; Plead with your friend. (4) Give no sleep to your eyes, Nor slumber to your eyelids. (5) Deliver yourself like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter, And like a bird from the hand of the fowler.
There is only one person Who can and should co-sign.
Job 17:1-3 NIV My spirit is broken, my days are cut short, the grave awaits me. (2) Surely mockers surround me; my eyes must dwell on their hostility. (3) “Give me, O God, the pledge you demand. Who else will put up security for me?
Job said I was so bankrupt and could not pay the bill but there is One Who did co-sign for us.
Hebrews 7:22 NIV Because of this oath, Jesus has become the guarantor of a better covenant.