Proverbs 8-11
What I Noticed Today (Proverbs 8-11)
Proverbs 8
In Proverbs 8, Solomon speaks of wisdom as a woman, her invitation, her virtues, and her rewards.
In verses 1-5, wisdom stands on the street and calls out to men to learn prudence and sense.
In verses 6-11, wisdom exhorts the listener to listen to what is righteous, saying her instruction is more important than worldly wealth (silver, gold, jewels).
In verses 12-21, the emphasis switches to wisdom herself.
Note: The use of 16 personal pronouns in these ten verses.
If a person has wisdom, they have prudence, knowledge, and discretion. By contrast, wisdom hates pride, arrogance, and perverted speech. Wisdom provides counsel, sound judgment, and understanding. With wisdom kings, princes, and nobles rule justly. Wisdom loves those who love her, and she is found by those who diligently seek her. The fruit (benefits) of wisdom are more precious than gold or silver. Wisdom, righteousness, and justice go together.
Verses 22-26 describe wisdom as being with the Lord in the beginning of His creative work. In fact, wisdom existed before creation (mentioned five times in verses 22-23).
In verses 27-31, wisdom says she was present when God made the heavens, the deep, the skies, and the seas rejoicing with Him in the creation and in man.
In verses 32-36, wisdom exhorts young men to listen because those who have wisdom are blessed (appears three times v. 32, 33, and 34). Whoever finds wisdom finds life and obtains the favor of the Lord, but whoever does not find wisdom injures himself, and those who hate wisdom love death.
Proverbs 9
Proverbs 9 summarizes Proverbs 1-8 contrasting wisdom with folly. Wisdom is portrayed as a woman of good character preparing a banquet, while folly is portrayed as a harlot preparing stolen food.
In verses 1-6, wisdom builds her house, slaughters beasts, prepares wine, and has set the table in preparation for her banquet. She sends young women into the community inviting the simple (naïve) and those who lack the sense to come in and eat and gain insight.
In verses 7-12, accepting the invitation of wisdom is contrasted with the invitation of folly. A scoffer and the wicked will hate you while giving instruction to a wise man will result in him gaining more wisdom. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of God brings insight.
In verses 13-18, folly is portrayed as loud and seductive. Taking the highest point in the city, she calls out to the simple (naïve) and those who lack the sense to come in and eat stolen food in secret. Her guests don’t realize they are in the depths of Sheol.
Proverbs 10
Proverbs 10 begins a long series of 375 sayings that contrast the righteous (wise) with the wicked (foolish).
Note: Most of the verses are a form of parallelism (comparisons, completions, contrasts).
The wise are characterized by bringing joy and are diligent. The wise will follow instructions and will increase in knowledge and share it with others. The wise know when to be quiet, do not boast about sin and are serious about following God’s teaching.
The benefits of being wise are they enjoy God’s protection, provision, and blessings, they are encouraging (giving life) to others, they prosper in their work, their future is secure, and they are joyful. The wise person’s words match his actions (talk matches walk).
Proverbs 11
The contrasts of the wise and foolish continue in Proverbs 11.
The integrity of the righteous guides them. They are humble and blameless. God keeps them from lust, death, trouble, gossip, and protects their families. They desire what God desires, sowing righteousness. They are a blessing to others.
By contrast, the wicked are proud, treacherous, lustful, full of trouble, cruel, crooked hearts, evil, and lacking in discretion.
What did you notice in your study today? Feel free to visit the website and leave a question or a comment.