Proverbs 8 – 9
Verse 8:1 starts off with two interesting questions:
Does not wisdom call?
Does not understanding raise her voice?
Sometimes I wonder about this. Does wisdom really call or do we search it out? One has to ask based on the large number of fools in this world. All you need to do is spend a few hours on YouTube and the world of fools opens up. Ironically, the more views the more money they make, so who is really the fool!
We all know the friend, who always says “hey watch this” and crashes. With smartphones those become the source of many of the videos we watch today. But one has to wonder if wisdom is really calling and is ignored by many or if it’s something we need to search out. I think it calls, but like God, it’s a faint whisper.
One rule you should take away is “we learn from the mistakes of others!” I wish I could say that applied in my life all the time, but often I would digress from wisdom and follow the well-worn path of fools. If you think about it that is what much of the Bible is about; teaching us Biblical truths from other people’s mistakes. That is why it’s important not only to read the Gospels, but the entire thing. It’s gives context so you can understand how we got to where we are today.
Verse 8:11 makes me wonder who wrote this:
for wisdom is better than jewels,
and all that you may desire cannot compare with her.
One could quickly argue that the author, King Solomon, had all the wealth and power one could want. So of course wisdom has great value to him, he does not need. I often wonder if the two are connected, because I rarely find very wise poor people. We should not search out wisdom for money and glory, but for peace and knowledge.
Verse 8:13 describes many of the “attributes” of people who are wise:
The fear of the LORD is hatred of evil.
Pride and arrogance and the way of evil
and perverted speech I hate.
We need to fear the Lord, but never shutter away from him. We need to understand His disgust of evil and fear that more than God. I know the arguments if “God is love” than why should we fear him? Well “love” is one of His many attributes, not the only one. Don’t get caught worshiping only that part of God or you will miss out on the whole experience.
I also note the how “pride and arrogance” are called out for being evil, granted in a run on that is difficult to read. Other versions read easier, but the underlying theme is God hates “pride and arrogance.” We should avoid it at all costs! Notice how much of the Bible has comments about these sins, because they become the root of most of the others. Pride in one’s self propagates envy, envy causes greed, greed causes many unholy acts including theft and adultery. Arrogance almost always removes one’s ability to self-regulate, since nothing seems wrong with what they do (in their own minds).
Verse 9:8 is very interesting to me:
Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you;
reprove a wise man, and he will love you.
Have you ever tried to correct someone and they get upset at you? How about the ones that actually listen and make a correction? There you have the difference between a wise man and a fool. When someone “corrects” us we often take offense and try to correct them back. Don’t do this! Pay attention to the correction, because even if it’s from a “fool” it often has credence. Learn HOW to respond from this, not to judge others. Also, learn how to offer advice, so even the fool with accept it willingly!