PROVERBS 8 WISDOM God is the source of

PROVERBS 8

WISDOM • God is the source of wisdom, Job 28: 20 -27 • “The ability to live life skillfully” • Prudent, skillful way of applying knowledge, Proverbs 1: 1 -4 2

WISDOM • Godly living requires wisdom, James 3: 13 • Wisdom is personified in Proverbs 8 – She cries out to be heard and heeded – Fools despise her, Proverbs 1: 7 3

4

Wisdom Cries Out for Attention Proverbs 8: 1 -6 (1: 20 -22) • To be wise we must want to hear wise counsel, Proverbs 1: 5; 8: 17 – Heart matter, Proverbs 1: 28 -33; 2: 10 -11 • Wisdom brings understanding and strength, Proverbs 8: 12 -16 – Why we put our faith in Jesus, Colossians 2: 3 5

6

Wisdom’s Markers: Truth and Righteousness Proverbs 8: 7 -8 • Fear God and hate evil, Proverbs 8: 13 (1: 7; 9: 10) “The fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to depart from evil is understanding” (Job 28: 28) – Wisdom obeys truth, Psalm 111: 10 – Warns all who do not choose to fear God, Proverbs 1: 22, 29; 12: 15 7

Wisdom’s Markers: Truth and Righteousness Proverbs 8: 7 -8 • Wisdom uses discretion toward God and men, Proverbs 8: 12 – Puts knowledge into prudent action, Proverbs 3: 21 -26 – Christ’s counsel, Matthew 10: 16 – Skill in doing what is right, James 3: 13 -18 8

9

10

Wisdom is Plain and Right Proverbs 8: 9 • Understanding the Lord's will develops wisdom, Ephesians 5: 17 – Faith in His word, Colossians 1: 9 -10 • Bold confidence in God’s truth, Corinthians 3: 12 2 – Does not masquerade; Open, courageous to do what is right, Acts 4: 20 11

Value Wisdom to Become Wise Proverbs 8: 10 -11 (18 -21), 22 -35 -Job observed man’s search for riches and the priceless value of wisdom, Job 28 • Devalue our wisdom and magnify God’s wisdom, 1 Corinthians 3: 18 -21 12

Value Wisdom to Become Wise Proverbs 8: 10 -11 (18 -21), 22 -35 • Why we must value wisdom from above, Proverbs 8: 22 -35 – God's companion before creation, 8: 22 -26 (Eph. 3: 8 -11) – God's master craftsman at creation, 8: 27 -31; 3: 19 -20 – Can be our companion and bring blessings, 8: 32 -35 (Matt. 7: 24 -25) 13

Fool Rejects Wisdom Proverbs 8: 36 • To reject God’s wisdom is sin, Romans 1: 21 -22 – Moral offense against God that destroys us • To hate God’s wisdom is to love death, Proverbs 1: 32 -33; Matthew 7: 26 -27 – Complacency and self-satisfaction 14

15 15

16 16