Scripture: Proverbs 8:1-5, 22-31
Can you hear it?
Can you hear God’s call to wisdom?
What is wisdom?
Does wisdom equal knowledge? Does the wise man necessarily possess more knowledge than the unwise?
Wisdom
n. the ability to discern what is true, right, or lasting.
There can be no doubt that we live in a time of great knowledge. Quite likely the greatest time of knowledge in history. The technological and scientific advances of the last two centuries are unparalleled. The amount of information and knowledge that we have at our fingertips just waiting for us to log in and download and store in our memory is almost inconceivable. Ninety-four million Americans log on to the internet every day. The hard-drive of the average home computer holds more data than an average human being can process in a lifetime. The average American generates the equivalent of 100 gigabytes of information in a lifetime. There are hard-drives the size of a credit card now in production laptop computers that hold that much information. Even the magnetic strip on the back of your credit and debit cards holds several hundred bytes of information. We live in the Information Age.
But does all of our information technology and available knowledge make us wise?
We are very likely the most knowledgeable generation in history. Are we also the wisest generation?
I would not be afraid to state, with conviction, that the wise men of primitive times were as wise or wiser than the most knowledgeable and greatest thinkers of our generation.
Wisdom has no connection with either the quantity or quality of our knowledge. Wisdom is by definition more concerned with how we use whatever knowledge we possess.
Does our modern societies use their immense knowledge wisely?
Human wisdom is the ability to use knowledge purposefully. Wisdom is doing what we know is right. God gives us the ability to KNOW the right thing to do in all situations. This ability is not dependent on any "human" knowledge. Whether we do or do not do the right thing is totally dependent on wisdom, not at all on knowledge.
Where does wisdom come from? What is the origin of wisdom?
Trivia question: According to the Bible, what was the first creation of God?
If your answer is "the heavens and the earth", you need to read past Genesis. According to this weeks scripture lesson:
Pro 8:22-31 GNB
(22) "The LORD created me first of all, the first of his works, long ago.
(23) I was made in the very beginning, at the first, before the world began.
(24) I was born before the oceans, when there were no springs of water.
(25) I was born before the mountains, before the hills were set in place,
(26) before God made the earth and its fields or even the first handful of soil.
(27) I was there when he set the sky in place, when he stretched the horizon across the ocean,
(28) when he placed the clouds in the sky, when he opened the springs of the ocean
(29) and ordered the waters of the sea to rise no further than he said. I was there when he laid the earth's foundations.
(30) I was beside him like an architect, I was his daily source of joy, always happy in his presence---
(31) happy with the world and pleased with the human race.
We can see from this passage that the origin of wisdom is God. Wisdom is not a human attribute. Wisdom is also not merely an attribute of God. God is omniscient (all-knowing) and all-wise, but as the creator of wisdom, wisdom cannot be said to be merely an attribute of God. Wisdom does not affect or define who God is. As the creator of wisdom, God defines wisdom.
Why did God begin His creations with wisdom?
Before anything else existed outside of God, there was wisdom. Wisdom, like an architect or master worker, gave structure to creation. In everything, wisdom is present. Wisdom is not something made up by humans or discovered in our quest for knowledge. Wisdom is NOT a product or attribute of "enlightened" human understanding. Wisdom was created by God’s hand and is part of the very order and being of the world. Wisdom preceded all of the earthly creation and will exist when the earth is no more. Wisdom took an active role in creation and continues its active role. Previous lessons this quarter have pointed out the majesty of God’s creation. As we look at creation and recognize how "right" and "good" creation is, it is wisdom that points toward God as creator.
Just for fun I invite you to read this passage and the first chapter of the Gospel of John together and examine the parallels.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. (Joh 1:1-5 ESV)
Could "wisdom", the speaker in Proverbs 8, be the pre-incarnate Christ, who was referred to as "The Word" in John 1?
Here is John Wesley’s commentary on Proverbs 8:1:
Pro 8:1 - Wisdom - It is a great question what this wisdom is. Some understand it of the Divine wisdom; others of the second person in the Godhead: and it cannot be denied that some passages best agree to the former, and others to the latter opinion. Possibly both may be joined together, and the chapter may be understood of Christ considered partly in his personal capacity, and partly in regard of his office, which was to impart the mind and will of God to mankind.
To whom is wisdom available? Where is wisdom offered?
Does not wisdom call? Does not understanding raise her voice? On the heights beside the way, at the crossroads she takes her stand; beside the gates in front of the town, at the entrance of the portals she cries aloud: "To you, O men, I call, and my cry is to the children of man. O simple ones, learn prudence; O fools, learn sense.
(Pro 8:1-5 ESV)
What is wisdom’s purpose?
To relay the Message. Wisdom cries out with raised voice. Does wisdom attempt to conceal itself until we seek it out?
Wisdom has nothing to hide. No hidden codes. No secret agendas. Wisdom is available to everyone. Worldly knowledge is NOT a prerequisite. Wisdom seeks to persuade everyone to listen and embrace her message. Wisdom’s message is not only for the select few or to certain members of particular clubs or factions. Wisdom cries out for all to hear. Notice that although Wisdom’s call is to everyone, she speaks particularly to those who are considered "simple" or "fools", not to the "smart" or "knowledgeable". The message of wisdom is for the inexperienced and naive.
The inexperienced and naive, without guidance, will fall into all manner of traps and be easily led astray. The foolish may lack intelligence but not necessarily lack experience. The problem with fools is that they refuse to learn from their experiences. They have a great need for Wisdom. Unlike the simple ones who are inexperienced, the fools know better but do not use it.
What is wisdom’s call?
It is as sport to a fool to do wickedness; And so is wisdom to a man of understanding.
(Pro 10:23 ASV)
Fools love their wrongdoing. Discerning people love wisdom. Wisdom’s invitation to the fool is the call to repentance. The call to change direction and follow wisdom. Whatever our circumstances we may play the part of the simple or the foolish. We may lack experience and do silly things that an experienced person may not do. These silly things we do may cause great problems in our lives. We may make foolish decisions even when our experience tells us that there will be unfavorable consequences. Wisdom calls us all, those of us who know better and those who don’t, and promises us much better consequences if we will only heed the call.
Where do we hear wisdom’s call?
Wisdom’s call is heard everywhere we go. This call cannot be escaped.
On the heights beside the way, at the crossroads she takes her stand; beside the gates in front of the town, at the entrance of the portals she cries aloud: "To you, O men, I call, and my cry is to the children of man. O simple ones, learn prudence; O fools, learn sense.
(Pro 8:2-5 ESV)
On the heights beside the way. This indicates that wisdom is present in our place of worship.
At the crossroads, in our cities and towns, at the places where we conduct our business or in the marketplace.
From John Wesley’s commentary on Proverbs 8:2:
Pro 8:2 - High place - Where she may be best seen and heard. Paths - Where many paths meet, where there is a great concourse, and where travellers may need direction.
Beside the gates in front of the town. This was where governmental decisions were deliberated and where judgements were declared.
From John Wesley’s commentary on Proverbs 8:3:
Pro 8:3 - Gates - The places of judgment, and of the confluence of people. The entry - To invite passengers at their first coming and to conduct them to her house. The doors - Of her house.
Wherever we may find ourselves, there wisdom will make herself known. We must make the choice between foolishness and wisdom. We don’t have to leave our current situations and seek wisdom through knowledge. Wisdom is in our current situation calling out to us if we would but listen. We need wisdom in order to make wise choices. How can we acquire wisdom? We just have to listen to the call and respond to the call.
What relationship do you perceive between God and Wisdom?
How does Wisdom relate to creation in general and to humanity in particular?
I would like to remind you of our lesson from April 16. In that lesson God finally answered Job’s many questions. The answers were in the form of questions. The questions went something like this:
"Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding. Who determined its measurements--surely you know! Or who stretched the line upon it?
(Job 38:4-5 ESV)
The questioning went on for two chapters of Job. "Job, you know so much. What part did YOU play in creation?"
How does this passage and it’s description of Wisdom’s place in creation compare or contrast to the passage from Job 38-39.
Job, as representative for all men had absolutely nothing to do with creation. If we go back to the Genesis account of creation, we see that man was rather far down in the order of creation. Wisdom, on the other hand, was the first creation and played an active part in the rest of creation. We can carry that thought further and say that Wisdom continues to play an active part in the created order.
How can we compare and contrast Wisdom as described in Proverbs 8 and the Word (Christ) as described in John 1?
In the beginning (the beginning of creation as we know it) the Word was with God.
In the beginning Wisdom was with God.
All things were made through Him (the Word).
Wisdom was with Him, a master worker and architect.
The task of the Word was to call all men to repentance and faith.
The task of wisdom is to teach all men that repentance is wise.
Do you see any great significance to Wisdom being portrayed as a woman?
I think it a great thing that we have a lesson on woman Wisdom on Mother’s Day. One major reason for the portrayal of Wisdom as a female is the creative role that Wisdom plays. Wisdom is essentially the mother of all righteousness, giving birth to a way of life that is obedient to God.
What are the important voices in your life? How do you decide which of these voices to obey?
From "Adult Bible Studies Teacher":
Our lives are filled with voices calling us. We hear the audible voices of children, parents, friends, and coworkers. These voices issue requests, demands, and questions. Also there is the incessant voice of the media that beckons us to buy this or that product.
Then there are the inner voices that call to us. These inner voices include the internalized voice of parents or needs and desires, hopes and fears. Among these voices is the voice called conscience that helps us tell right from wrong. The voice of conscience is often portrayed as an angel sitting on a person’s shoulder; and often the devil is portrayed sitting on the other shoulder. Both the angel and the devil are demanding that the person do what they ask.
Among the plurality of voices that call out to us, how can we discern God’s voice? We believe that God can speak through other persons and through inner voices of thought and feelings. We acknowledge that God speaks through Scripture and through the Holy Spirit. What we need in order to discern God’s voice is God-given wisdom.
Which voices we listen to and heed is a very important issue. If we listen to the wrong voice, we can end up in the wrong career. It is no accident that the English word vocation comes from the Latin word vocare, which means "to call."
In today’s lesson we hear God’s call to wisdom. We have learned that wisdom was created by God at the very beginning and is woven into the fabric of creation. Not only is it important to hear wisdom’s call, we are to respond by leading the life to which we are beckoned.
