"THE BOOK OF PROVERBS" Wisdom's Plea To Be Heard (8:1-36) INTRODUCTION 1. In our previous study, we found warnings against the immoral woman... a. Who seduces with her beauty and flattery - Pr 6:24-25 b. Who in the open square lurks at every corner - Pr 7:12 2. In the eighth chapter, we once again find wisdom personified as a woman... a. Similar to what we read earlier in these discourses - Pr 1:20-23 b. Who cries out to be heard by the sons of men - Pr 8:3-4 [What does she have to say? Why should we listen to her? Let's study the eighth chapter of Proverbs to found out, beginning with...] I. THE PLEA OF WISDOM (8:1-11) A. SHE DESIRES TO BE HEARD... 1. By crying out, lifting up her voice - Pr 8:1 2. Not lurking in the corner (cf. Pr 7:12), but openly: a. On the top of the hill, beside the way, where paths meet - Pr 8:2 b. By the gates, at the entry of the city - Pr 8:3 B. SHE DESIRES TO BE HEARD BY ALL... 1. By the sons of men - Pr 8:4 2. By the simple ones and fools - Pr 8:5 C. SHE DESIRES TO IMPART GREAT THINGS... 1. Excellent things, right things - Pr 8:6 2. Words of truth and righteousness - Pr 8:7-8 3. Things that are plain and right - Pr 8:9 4. That which is better than silver, gold, rubies, and all that can be desired - Pr 8:10-11 [So wisdom is crying out to be heard by everyone, to share things of great value. Will we listen to her? To encourage us to do so, read further what she says about...] II. THE VALUE OF WISDOM (8:12-21) A. SEEN IN WHAT SHE POSSESSES... 1. Prudence, knowledge and discretion - Pr 8:12 2. The fear of the Lord, prompting her to hate pride, evil, and the perverse mouth - Pr 8:13 3. Counsel and sound wisdom, understanding and strength - Pr 8:14 B. SEEN IN WHAT SHE GIVES... 1. To kings, princes, nobles, and justices, the ability to rule with justice - Pr 8:15-16 2. To all who love her, riches, honor, righteousness, justice, and wealth - Pr 8:17-21 [Doesn't the value of wisdom make us want to hear her? To help us appreciate the value of wisdom even more, we next read of...] III. THE POSSESSION OF WISDOM (8:22-31) A. BY THE LORD BEFORE THE CREATION... 1. At the beginning of His way, before His works - Pr 8:22 2. From everlasting, before there was an earth - Pr 8:23 3. Before there were depths of water, or mountains and hills - Pro 8:24-25 4. Before the earth was created, before the primal dust of the world - Pr 8:26 B. BY THE LORD IN HIS ACTS OF CREATION... 1. When He prepared the heavens - Pr 8:27a 2. When He created the world - Pr 8:27b-29 3. She was beside Him as a master craftsman, rejoicing in His creation - Pr 8:30-31 [The wisdom utilized by God in the creation of the heavens and earth is the voice crying out for us to hear! If we have ears to hear, shall we not hear? Finally, we hear wisdom speak of...] IV. THE BLESSEDNESS OF WISDOM (8:32-36) A. FOR THOSE WILLING TO KEEP HER WAYS... 1. They are blessed - Pr 8:32 2. So hear her instruction and be wise, do not disdain it - Pro 8:33 B. FOR THOSE WILLING TO LISTEN INTENTLY... 1. They are blessed - Pr 8:34a 2. As they watch daily and wait - Pr 8:34b 3. They find life and obtain favor from the Lord - Pr 8:35 4. Unlike one who sins against her (he wrongs his own soul - Pro 8:36a 5. Unlike those who hate her (they love death) - Pr 8:36b CONCLUSION 1. So wisdom cries out to be heard... a. To share understanding and knowledge, truth and righteousness b. To bless our lives with riches and honor, especially that offered by the Lord 2. To whom shall we hearken...? a. To the woman lurking in the corners, whose house is the way to hell? - Pr 7:27 b. Or the woman standing on the top of the high hill, and by the open gates? - Pr 8:1-3 The answer should be obvious... "Blessed is the man who listens to me (wisdom), Watching daily at my gates, Waiting at the posts of my doors. For whoever finds me finds life, And obtains favor from the LORD;" - Pr 8:34-35