In chapter 7 we saw a fool seduced by temptation. In chapter 8 we hear Lady Wisdom’s call to humanity: “Listen to me and live!”
Trustworthy
Read Proverbs 8:1
• How is wisdom personified here?
• Who is Wisdom speaking to? What is she offering?
Read Proverbs 8:6
Wisdom’s describing her words and their effect. We are being offered a competing vision of beauty. Instead of being seduced to our deaths by the harlot, we should allow the siren call of wisdom to lead us to knowledge and safety.
• Compare the two women:
Lady Wisdom.
Location: look at v 2-3
Audience: look at v 5
Words: look at v 6, 8
Purpose: Grant inheritance (8 v 21), grant blessing (8 v 32)
Result: Life (8 v 35)
The Adulteress.
Location: In street and market (7 v 12)
Audience: Simple youths (7 v 7)
Words: Seductive, smooth (7 v 21)
Purpose: Flatter (7 v 15), seduce (7 v 16-18), trap (7 v 21-22)
Result: Death (7 v 27)
Wisdom offers the opposite of what the temptress does, if only we would stop to listen to her and realise this.
How to have a better life
Read Proverbs 8:10
• Where does wisdom rate, in terms of value?
The picture of wisdom is a picture of something beautiful, worth more than precious metals and rare jewels. Most of us would probably naturally prefer the cash: but wisdom is valuable for three reasons:
• She speaks the truth (8 v 6-7). In a world of moral confusion, wisdom tells it like it is.
• Wisdom promises blessings (as the whole chapter outlines).
• You need wisdom to live well. Some decisions are black and white; it is easy to know what to do (“Should I commit
murder? No!”). But most of life is lived in the grey areas (“How should I respond when my spouse is frustrated with me?”). As we read through the book of Proverbs, we receive instruction in how to be wise in those kinds of situation.
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APPLY
Be encouraged! No matter who you are, listening to God can make you wise. You don’t need to be a genius, you just need to be willing to listen.
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