DISCOURSE 9. THE CALL OF MS WISDOM AS THE ONE WHO SEEKS RESPONSE, GIVES MEN TRUE INSTRUCTION, ENSURES GOOD GOVERNMENT, ENRICHES MEN PHYSICALLY AND SPIRITUALLY, WAS PRESENT WITH GOD DURING CREATION, AND BLESSES MEN AND BRINGS THEM INTO LIFE SO THAT THEY FIND GOD'S FAVOUR (PRO 8:1-36). Having concentr... [ Continue Reading ]
1). WISDOM CALLS ON MEN TO HEAR HER (PROVERBS 8:1). Wisdom had been defined for us earlier in the Prologue. She is based on ‘the fear of YHWH' (Proverbs 1:29; Proverbs 2:5; Proverbs 9:10). She is given by God (Proverbs 2:6). She brings men to the knowledge of God (Proverbs 2:5). She is closely conne... [ Continue Reading ]
2). WISDOM CALLS ON THE NAIVE AND ON FOOLS TO PAY HEED TO HER WORDS BECAUSE HER INSTRUCTION IS BOTH TRUE AND VALUABLE (PROVERBS 8:5). Wisdom's words come especially to the naive and to ‘fools' (compare Proverbs 1:22), that is to those who are still grappling with life without having any agenda, ofte... [ Continue Reading ]
3). WISDOM HATES EVIL ATTITUDES AND BEHAVIOUR BUT ENABLES JUST GOVERNMENT FROM THOSE WHO LOVE HER (PROVERBS 8:13). This subsection which majors on wisdom's role in ensuring just government where she is accepted, commences with an indication of YHWH's attitude towards it and the impression that all r... [ Continue Reading ]
4). WISDOM GIVES RICHES AND HONOUR BOTH PHYSICALLY AND SPIRITUALLY TO THOSE WHO LOVE HER, AND ENABLES MEN TO WALK RIGHTLY (PROVERBS 8:18). Wisdom does not just enable rulers. She also gives durable riches, honour and righteousness to all those who respond to her. Part of the lesson is that those who... [ Continue Reading ]
5) WISDOM WAS WITH GOD IN CREATION AND REJOICES IN THE ONGOING OF HIS CREATION (PROVERBS 8:22). Lest we have any doubt about what wisdom Solomon is speaking about he now makes it very clear (as he has indeed in he had in Proverbs 3:19, compare Proverbs 2:5). It is the wisdom and understanding that G... [ Continue Reading ]
6). WISDOM BRINGS BLESSING ON THOSE WHO HEAR HER FOR THROUGH HER THEY FIND LIFE AND COME INTO THE FAVOUR OF GOD (PROVERBS 8:32). Because her delight was with the sons of men Wisdom calls on men to listen to what she says, and that is because she wants them to be blessed by God. And she assures them... [ Continue Reading ]