WEBVTT 00:00:08.160 --> 00:00:14.400 Proverbs chapter 8 is probably the most theological chapter in the book of Proverbs. 00:00:14.480 --> 00:00:17.039 And in a sense, it comes out of nowhere. 00:00:17.280 --> 00:00:21.839 Proverbs so far has been instruction from a father to a son. 00:00:22.719 --> 00:00:24.000 The mother has been involved. 00:00:24.079 --> 00:00:30.399 There's been points where the father and mother together are talking to the son, and it really has been a pleading for the son. 00:00:30.559 --> 00:00:32.719 And it's been all based in wisdom. 00:00:33.119 --> 00:00:36.479 In a sense, as you're working through this, it's an introduction to wisdom. 00:00:36.640 --> 00:00:46.000 If you remember in Proverbs chapter 1, it was the beginning of wisdom, the foundation of wisdom, where wisdom was described to the children. 00:00:46.960 --> 00:00:51.200 The father leans through and says, wisdom is going to be out there calling for you. 00:00:51.359 --> 00:00:54.880 Listen to her, and you'll live. 00:00:55.200 --> 00:00:57.759 Proverbs chapter 2 is the value of wisdom. 00:00:57.840 --> 00:01:01.280 The father explains how valuable it is to gain wisdom. 00:01:01.359 --> 00:01:14.400 And he's again pleading with his, let's say, a teenage child here to embrace wisdom, like to grow up and actually hold on to wisdom and knowledge and cling to God and tells him it's going to be worth more than anything else you'll get. 00:01:14.480 --> 00:01:18.799 And warns him, there will be those out there who are who are sinners who are leading you astray. 00:01:18.879 --> 00:01:19.680 That's the end of chapter one. 00:01:19.920 --> 00:01:22.959 There will be people who say, hey, come murder with us, let's do bad things, let's get rich. 00:01:23.040 --> 00:01:25.840 And remember, Proverbs chapter one is the easy place to say no. 00:01:25.920 --> 00:01:28.319 It's like temptation is not subtle in Proverbs 1. 00:01:28.400 --> 00:01:30.879 It's like, hey, let's go murder people and take their cash. 00:01:31.040 --> 00:01:35.519 So you don't have to be a mature believer to go, hmm, I think that's bad. 00:01:35.840 --> 00:01:36.799 Probably not. 00:01:37.040 --> 00:01:40.879 And then it starts to get more sophisticated as you go through the book. 00:01:41.439 --> 00:01:45.760 Proverbs chapter 3 is the warning to trust the Lord with all of your heart. 00:01:46.079 --> 00:01:52.560 And then you get some ethical implications that, how that's going to live out, how you're going to be generous with your life. 00:01:52.959 --> 00:02:02.319 Proverbs chapter 4, then, is more pleading from the Father, accept the words of my mouth, be attentive to them, it's pay attention to wisdom. 00:02:02.480 --> 00:02:05.760 And then you get hit in Proverbs chapter 5 with adultery. 00:02:06.079 --> 00:02:08.080 That's where wisdom goes to die. 00:02:08.319 --> 00:02:16.080 Commit adultery, walk away from your marriage or your family, and watch your whole life be eroded. 00:02:16.479 --> 00:02:18.400 It's the opposite of wisdom, it's embodied that way. 00:02:18.479 --> 00:02:24.639 And then Proverbs chapter 6, more warnings to prepare you for Proverbs chapter 7, which is more warnings about adultery. 00:02:24.960 --> 00:02:27.199 Proverbs chapter 7 is the death chapter. 00:02:27.360 --> 00:02:30.080 Proverbs chapter 7 has the woman who's roaming, remember? 00:02:30.240 --> 00:02:33.759 She's out there patrolling the streets and beckoning you to come in. 00:02:33.840 --> 00:02:36.479 She's ensnaring the sinful person. 00:02:37.759 --> 00:02:39.039 She's lying, remember? 00:02:39.120 --> 00:02:40.240 The adulteress is lying. 00:02:40.319 --> 00:02:41.599 She says she cares for you. 00:02:41.759 --> 00:02:47.439 And remember, the dad in Proverbs 7 is just looking out the window and says, I see this in like almost like it's a different world. 00:02:47.520 --> 00:02:57.680 I see this out there somewhere, and there's a boy who's walking around, and this girl has been looking up down the highways and the byways and the marketplace to trap her, and you know, he to trap him, and he fell for it. 00:02:57.759 --> 00:02:59.360 And so the whole time there's different voices. 00:02:59.439 --> 00:03:09.520 There's the voice of the dad saying, Listen to wisdom, the voice of the mom saying, Listen to wisdom, the voice of the harlot, the sinfully immoral person calling out to the streets and trying to trap people. 00:03:09.680 --> 00:03:18.560 And then if you remember back in Proverbs 2, there was the voice of wisdom at the top of the street, crying down the whole street, telling everybody in the street, listen to wisdom. 00:03:18.879 --> 00:03:22.080 So those are the different voices you have so far in Proverbs. 00:03:22.319 --> 00:03:27.759 The parents, you have the child who doesn't know who to listen to, the child hasn't spoken yet. 00:03:28.879 --> 00:03:35.439 You have the sexually immoral person, and then lady wisdom begging for your soul. 00:03:36.000 --> 00:03:42.159 What's always interesting about this is that the parents are directing this child to somebody else's voice. 00:03:42.719 --> 00:03:47.840 The parents are constantly telling the child you need to learn wisdom's voice and listen to that person. 00:03:49.199 --> 00:03:52.000 That's unusual in a parenting scenario. 00:03:52.240 --> 00:03:55.919 Parents don't usually direct their kids to listen to somebody else. 00:03:56.159 --> 00:03:58.080 But that's what's happening through Proverbs. 00:03:58.240 --> 00:04:01.039 Wisdom is listening, learning to listen to the voice of wisdom. 00:04:01.199 --> 00:04:03.199 That's not what the sexually immoral person is doing. 00:04:03.280 --> 00:04:04.879 She's trapping people. 00:04:05.840 --> 00:04:10.240 And so now this teenager has the two voices clearly described. 00:04:10.319 --> 00:04:13.199 This is what wisdom looks like, this is what sexual immorality looks like. 00:04:13.360 --> 00:04:16.240 The beginning of uh the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. 00:04:16.319 --> 00:04:19.759 If you want uh treasure and knowledge and wealth, walk in wisdom. 00:04:19.920 --> 00:04:22.959 Now in Proverbs 8, you really get to meet wisdom for the first time. 00:04:23.120 --> 00:04:27.040 Now the rest of the book of Proverbs is all about wisdom lived out in life. 00:04:27.279 --> 00:04:29.279 Ethical wisdom, practical wisdom. 00:04:29.519 --> 00:04:31.439 We get a couple more chapters of the introduction. 00:04:31.680 --> 00:04:32.639 Well, we're doing one more chapter. 00:04:32.800 --> 00:04:34.560 Chapter 9 is the last of the introduction chapters. 00:04:34.639 --> 00:04:35.920 We'll look at that next Lord's Day. 00:04:36.079 --> 00:04:45.199 And then chapter 10, all the way through chapter 30, is General Wisdom for Life, with chapter 31, Wisdom for the Godly Wife, the description of her. 00:04:45.279 --> 00:04:47.040 So the rest of the book is practical wisdom. 00:04:47.120 --> 00:04:54.879 This is kind of right, this is the closing scene here of the introduction of the book, and it's now introducing you to Lady Wisdom. 00:04:55.519 --> 00:05:02.800 Proverbs 8, therefore, is a fairly theological chapter because it's taking you to who is this voice of wisdom? 00:05:03.199 --> 00:05:04.160 Like what is it? 00:05:04.319 --> 00:05:05.439 A fortune cookie? 00:05:05.600 --> 00:05:06.720 Like what is wisdom? 00:05:06.959 --> 00:05:08.000 Is it a different book? 00:05:08.160 --> 00:05:09.120 Is it a different tutor? 00:05:09.199 --> 00:05:12.560 Is it a you know a disciple, a rabbi, a mentor? 00:05:12.720 --> 00:05:16.160 What exactly is the voice of wisdom that you're supposed to listen to? 00:05:16.319 --> 00:05:24.079 Because for seven chapters right now, you have a parent telling their child, you need to recognize wisdom's voice and listen to it at all costs. 00:05:24.800 --> 00:05:30.480 Like so by this point, the adulterist will kill you, and so I'm in, I want to listen to wisdom. 00:05:30.720 --> 00:05:31.279 Now what? 00:05:31.360 --> 00:05:32.800 What do I look for? 00:05:33.680 --> 00:05:36.639 Because the parents aren't saying, listen to me, the parents are saying listen to wisdom. 00:05:36.720 --> 00:05:38.560 So now you're like, okay, I'm there. 00:05:38.879 --> 00:05:40.720 Mom, dad, you've got me. 00:05:40.959 --> 00:05:43.040 Like when that kid died, remember the end of chapter seven? 00:05:43.120 --> 00:05:46.720 It's like he's a stag who gets hit in the liver with an arrow and is bleeding out. 00:05:46.800 --> 00:05:49.680 You're like, okay, I'll follow wisdom. 00:05:51.120 --> 00:05:53.600 After that image, the kid is like, I'm in. 00:05:54.000 --> 00:05:54.399 I don't know. 00:05:54.480 --> 00:05:55.519 What does wisdom look like? 00:05:55.680 --> 00:05:58.879 Well, Proverbs chapter 8 is your introduction to wisdom. 00:06:00.240 --> 00:06:02.079 It's introduced in verse 1. 00:06:02.720 --> 00:06:04.000 Doesn't wisdom call? 00:06:04.319 --> 00:06:06.079 Doesn't understanding raise her voice? 00:06:06.160 --> 00:06:07.680 She introduces a woman. 00:06:08.000 --> 00:06:13.680 On the heights beside the way at the crosshart, she takes her stand beside the gates of the front of the town at the entrance of the portal. 00:06:13.839 --> 00:06:15.759 She is crying out loud. 00:06:17.759 --> 00:06:21.279 Wisdom is vocal, pleading for people to listen. 00:06:22.639 --> 00:06:25.360 I'll give you an outline to help you recognize wisdom. 00:06:25.680 --> 00:06:26.959 Four characteristics of wisdom. 00:06:27.040 --> 00:06:28.800 That'll guide us as we go through this chapter. 00:06:29.120 --> 00:06:30.639 Four characteristics of wisdom. 00:06:30.959 --> 00:06:32.160 So you recognize it. 00:06:32.240 --> 00:06:37.519 And right away we're seeing that wisdom's calling out, but how do you know what voice to listen to? 00:06:38.560 --> 00:06:42.480 Wisdom's taking a stand in verse 2 at the portals. 00:06:42.639 --> 00:06:45.199 In other words, every entrance, she's crying aloud. 00:06:46.319 --> 00:06:48.639 What does she look like? 00:06:48.879 --> 00:06:59.519 Now, before we go much further in Proverbs 8, it is surprising to, I think, many uh American Christians understand what an important chapter this was throughout church history. 00:06:59.680 --> 00:07:10.399 When you're thinking in the early church, the early church uh Athanasius and Arius, their theological debates in the early fourth century, 300s, uh, Proverbs 8 was a critical chapter for them. 00:07:10.639 --> 00:07:15.600 So much of our uh current doctrine of the Trinity has grown out of Proverbs 8. 00:07:15.680 --> 00:07:20.639 When you go back in church history, this was a chapter that the doctrine of the Trinity was forged in this chapter. 00:07:20.879 --> 00:07:30.079 Athanasius and Arius, Athanasius was a pastor who uh was an advocate for the Trinity, was an advocate for the deity of Jesus. 00:07:30.639 --> 00:07:35.519 He didn't invent the word trinity, but the concept of Trinity certainly comes from him. 00:07:35.680 --> 00:07:40.240 The idea of one essence and three persons, that kind of language that we just take for granted today. 00:07:40.399 --> 00:07:43.519 I mean, we teach our children the Trinity is one God and three persons. 00:07:43.600 --> 00:07:47.360 That kind of language comes from Athanasius, uh, one essence, three persons. 00:07:47.519 --> 00:07:49.360 That's that's his language. 00:07:49.680 --> 00:07:56.959 Arius was a different uh theologian and he spun in a different direction. 00:07:57.199 --> 00:08:04.399 He was okay with uh different persons, but he rejected the idea that Jesus was eternal like the Father was. 00:08:05.360 --> 00:08:12.560 Arius was okay saying that Jesus existed before time, but he was not okay saying that Jesus was as old as God. 00:08:12.959 --> 00:08:16.720 Which is a little bit of a nuance there that is lost on us. 00:08:16.800 --> 00:08:23.839 The only people that really teach that kind of Aryan theology today are kind of Mormons, like that's our Jehovah's Witnesses, maybe, but Mormons more so than even that. 00:08:24.079 --> 00:08:32.480 Mormons who say Jesus is older than the planet, older than the creation as we know it, is their language, but not as old as the Father. 00:08:33.919 --> 00:08:37.200 Arius' theology didn't win, Athanasius won. 00:08:37.440 --> 00:08:44.000 But I tell you that, just so you know that Proverbs 8, this is the battleground of so much of their debates. 00:08:44.320 --> 00:08:45.600 So much of their debates. 00:08:45.759 --> 00:08:55.679 Even the Nicene Creed, which defines Trinitarianism, for say we sing it sometimes or we read it on Sunday mornings, often that kind of language from there comes out of Proverbs 8. 00:08:56.879 --> 00:09:00.559 You know, it says that Jesus was the Son of God, is begotten, not made. 00:09:00.639 --> 00:09:02.399 That's Proverbs 8 language we'll look at in a second. 00:09:02.559 --> 00:09:04.000 Well, Arius was fine saying that. 00:09:04.080 --> 00:09:05.600 Arius could sign the Nicene Creed. 00:09:05.679 --> 00:09:12.399 He's like, okay, Jesus is begotten, not made, but begotten with the beginning, made with a start in time. 00:09:13.360 --> 00:09:16.480 He would sign the creed and then weasel his way out of it. 00:09:16.960 --> 00:09:24.799 Well, Proverbs 8 was a chapter people kept going back to to fight Arius and his um heretical theology. 00:09:24.960 --> 00:09:30.320 So I tell you that before I thought about it, do I say that at the beginning or do you say that at the end, how important this chapter is in church history? 00:09:30.399 --> 00:09:36.879 I wanted to say at the beginning, because I think you can engage with this chapter now with a different gear, knowing this isn't just one more chapter in Proverbs. 00:09:36.960 --> 00:09:41.360 Like this is a chapter with massive theological debates that have played out throughout church history. 00:09:41.440 --> 00:09:44.080 And so I think it's important for us to pay attention as we go through it. 00:09:44.240 --> 00:09:48.720 These descriptions will take on a different flavor as you hear them, knowing the history of Proverbs 8. 00:09:48.879 --> 00:09:52.559 First of all, wisdom has the prerogative to reward. 00:09:52.879 --> 00:09:54.960 Wisdom has the prerogative to reward. 00:09:55.039 --> 00:09:58.480 That's the first characteristic of wisdom that we'll see in verse 4. 00:09:58.879 --> 00:10:04.639 Wisdom is the capacity or the right, the divine right to reward people for their life. 00:10:04.879 --> 00:10:07.440 Verse 4, to you, O men, I call. 00:10:07.759 --> 00:10:10.080 And my call is to the children of man. 00:10:10.720 --> 00:10:14.399 Wisdom is not crying to angels, it's not crying to animals. 00:10:14.559 --> 00:10:18.159 Wisdom here is given to mankind, and mankind in particular. 00:10:18.480 --> 00:10:20.799 O simple ones, learn prudence. 00:10:21.039 --> 00:10:22.879 O fools, learn sense. 00:10:22.960 --> 00:10:31.440 This is language that uh reminds you of Psalm 19, that the word of God gives, makes the foolish person wise, makes the naive person more profound. 00:10:31.519 --> 00:10:34.399 The word of God's educational, that's David's language, Psalm 19. 00:10:34.559 --> 00:10:36.000 Solomon is David's son. 00:10:36.159 --> 00:10:46.159 It's interesting that Solomon's writing this from the perspective of father talking to his son, and he's practically quoting here Psalm 19, which is Solomon's own dad, instructing him on the power of the word of God. 00:10:46.399 --> 00:10:51.519 Wisdom has the ability, like the word of God, to teach you sense. 00:10:51.919 --> 00:10:54.960 You know, remember Proverbs 8, what it's doing here is it's teaching the kid. 00:10:55.039 --> 00:10:56.480 Okay, the kid says, I want to listen to wisdom. 00:10:56.639 --> 00:10:57.360 What does wisdom look like? 00:10:57.519 --> 00:10:59.440 How do I recognize that I want to listen to her? 00:10:59.519 --> 00:11:00.080 Who is she? 00:11:00.399 --> 00:11:04.559 The very first description you get of wisdom reminds you of Psalm 19 in the Word of God. 00:11:04.639 --> 00:11:06.240 You want to know what wisdom sounds like? 00:11:06.399 --> 00:11:08.399 It sounds like the Word of God. 00:11:08.720 --> 00:11:10.639 You want to know what ton of voice wisdom has? 00:11:10.799 --> 00:11:13.120 Wisdom has the ton of voice you hear in the Word of God. 00:11:13.279 --> 00:11:15.360 You want to know the effect of wisdom's teaching? 00:11:15.519 --> 00:11:24.399 It has the effect of Psalm 19, making the wise person profound, giving the simple person prudence is the word in verse 5. 00:11:25.360 --> 00:11:28.080 Here, verse 6, and I'll speak noble things. 00:11:28.240 --> 00:11:30.320 From my lips will come what is right. 00:11:30.960 --> 00:11:32.639 My mouth will utter truth. 00:11:32.799 --> 00:11:34.799 Wisdom speaks truth. 00:11:36.080 --> 00:11:39.200 Wickedness is an abomination to my lips. 00:11:39.360 --> 00:11:42.159 The speech of wisdom is never mixed with folly. 00:11:42.320 --> 00:11:44.639 The speech of wisdom is never mixed with sin. 00:11:44.879 --> 00:11:52.080 You know, you have your best friends might give you good advice 90% of the time, and 5% of what he says is silly, and 5% is sinful. 00:11:52.159 --> 00:11:54.080 And you understand that filter in your mind. 00:11:54.240 --> 00:11:55.519 That's not the voice of wisdom. 00:11:55.679 --> 00:11:57.039 Wisdom is not your best friend. 00:11:57.200 --> 00:12:01.360 Wisdom is not the sage person down the street who's right more than the weatherman. 00:12:01.600 --> 00:12:08.639 Wisdom here only speaks the truth, always speaks the truth, and never lets any falsehood come out of her lips. 00:12:09.840 --> 00:12:11.919 The word for that is infallible, by the way. 00:12:12.080 --> 00:12:13.600 Wisdom is infallible. 00:12:13.919 --> 00:12:15.519 Wisdom is inerrant. 00:12:16.159 --> 00:12:19.360 And all of her words, are righteous. 00:12:20.399 --> 00:12:22.000 They don't have righteousness. 00:12:22.159 --> 00:12:23.279 They are righteous. 00:12:23.759 --> 00:12:25.919 Righteousness is an attribute of God. 00:12:26.399 --> 00:12:29.360 The words of wisdom have that attribute. 00:12:30.240 --> 00:12:33.759 There's nothing twisted, nothing crooked in them. 00:12:34.320 --> 00:12:40.720 They are straight to those who understand, and they are right to those who find knowledge. 00:12:43.120 --> 00:12:44.320 That's interesting. 00:12:44.799 --> 00:12:49.360 You have to have understanding in order to receive wisdom. 00:12:50.240 --> 00:12:58.240 Wisdom makes the naive person mature, but wisdom does not make the naive person mature if the naive person doesn't receive wisdom as wisdom. 00:12:58.399 --> 00:13:00.799 If the naive person doesn't receive wisdom with faith. 00:13:01.120 --> 00:13:04.879 This should remind you of 1 Corinthians chapter 1 that we read earlier. 00:13:05.039 --> 00:13:08.240 That to the people in the world, the wisdom of God is foolishness. 00:13:08.320 --> 00:13:09.200 It doesn't work on them. 00:13:09.279 --> 00:13:14.399 The wisest news the world has ever learned is folly to the wisest people in the world. 00:13:14.559 --> 00:13:16.000 They don't have the ears for it. 00:13:16.159 --> 00:13:22.960 But the foolish, naive, simple person, if they have faith, wisdom engages with their faith and grows them. 00:13:24.639 --> 00:13:27.120 And then verse 10 is the prerogative to reward. 00:13:27.279 --> 00:13:31.039 Take my instruction instead of silver, knowledge rather than gold. 00:13:31.679 --> 00:13:33.200 Wisdom is better than jewels. 00:13:33.360 --> 00:13:35.919 All that you may desire cannot compare with her. 00:13:36.000 --> 00:13:38.559 Do you remember Solomon was told by the Lord, you can have anything you want? 00:13:39.039 --> 00:13:39.840 You want money? 00:13:40.159 --> 00:13:40.720 Name it. 00:13:40.960 --> 00:13:42.080 Claim it, Solomon. 00:13:42.480 --> 00:13:44.799 The first prosperity preacher, right there, he could have been. 00:13:45.200 --> 00:13:46.159 Name it and claim it. 00:13:46.320 --> 00:13:47.919 And Solomon doesn't name it and claim it. 00:13:48.080 --> 00:13:50.240 Solomon names wisdom instead. 00:13:51.600 --> 00:13:53.039 And God rewards him. 00:13:53.679 --> 00:13:56.879 You know, with wisdom you can get the money, I suppose, if that's what you want. 00:13:57.039 --> 00:14:02.720 And Solomon, through the book of Ecclesiastes, finally understands that wisdom is just more profound than riches anyway. 00:14:03.360 --> 00:14:05.039 Well, that's the point in verse 10. 00:14:05.200 --> 00:14:07.600 It is better to have wisdom in silver or gold. 00:14:07.679 --> 00:14:09.679 There's not a lot you can say that about in life. 00:14:09.919 --> 00:14:12.000 But you can say it about wisdom. 00:14:12.240 --> 00:14:15.440 It doesn't cost you anything, but it gives you everything. 00:14:15.679 --> 00:14:17.519 It should remind you of Isaiah 55. 00:14:17.679 --> 00:14:20.080 Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the water and drink. 00:14:20.240 --> 00:14:22.879 Come who has no money, the one who has no money, come by and eat. 00:14:23.919 --> 00:14:28.080 Come buy wine without cost, milk without money, without price. 00:14:28.240 --> 00:14:32.720 And then in Isaiah it says, why do you spend your money on things that don't actually nourish you? 00:14:33.840 --> 00:14:36.320 Rather, delight yourselves in wisdom. 00:14:36.480 --> 00:14:39.039 Incline your ear, come to me, and hear that your soul may live. 00:14:39.120 --> 00:14:41.759 That's Isaiah 55, verses 1 through 3. 00:14:42.480 --> 00:14:48.000 Job 28, remember, describes people who do all kinds of crazy things to find gold and silver. 00:14:48.080 --> 00:14:51.919 They'll lasso themselves up, they'll sway in the mines. 00:14:52.720 --> 00:15:10.799 My sister-in-law works in a mine in Montana, and you know, she was describing to me what they do to get this element out of the ground, and they they've made these machines out of sheep bone, and they swing this element in sheep bone until it gets refined, and they use it in some kind of batteries for cell phones or something. 00:15:10.879 --> 00:15:23.600 I don't know, but it's like this the most complicated process you can imagine involving literally some element that is swirled in sheep bones deep inside of the mountain to create the right element that we need for our for our cell phones. 00:15:23.840 --> 00:15:31.600 People do crazy things in minds because they value money, they value gold, they value silver, they value whatever chemical that is. 00:15:33.120 --> 00:15:38.240 And Solomon says, Isn't it better to do that stuff for wisdom? 00:15:38.720 --> 00:15:42.480 You'll swing on a rope underground for gold. 00:15:42.559 --> 00:15:44.000 What would you do for wisdom? 00:15:44.559 --> 00:15:46.240 That's the language of verse 10 and 11. 00:15:46.399 --> 00:15:48.480 Wisdom is better than all of that. 00:15:48.960 --> 00:15:50.480 Nothing can compare to her. 00:15:50.720 --> 00:15:54.159 She can alone reward people who search for her. 00:15:54.320 --> 00:15:55.679 Only wisdom can do that. 00:15:55.919 --> 00:15:59.120 Wisdom rewards people who search for her. 00:15:59.840 --> 00:16:01.279 What a contrast earlier. 00:16:01.440 --> 00:16:05.039 The sinner back in Proverbs 1 says, I'll reward you if you come sin with me. 00:16:05.120 --> 00:16:07.519 And remember in Proverbs 1, you recognize that's not actually true. 00:16:07.679 --> 00:16:10.080 The sinner is as likely to kill you as reward you. 00:16:10.480 --> 00:16:12.159 Remember, the sinner says, Hey, come with me. 00:16:12.240 --> 00:16:13.679 Let's ambush that guy and take his stuff. 00:16:13.759 --> 00:16:16.000 Well, how soon until the sinner ambushes you and take your stuff? 00:16:16.159 --> 00:16:17.679 That's the way sin always works. 00:16:17.840 --> 00:16:20.080 Sin says, follow me and I'll reward you. 00:16:20.240 --> 00:16:21.600 Follow me and you'll be satisfied. 00:16:21.679 --> 00:16:23.919 Sin in this way and you'll get your reward. 00:16:24.000 --> 00:16:31.200 You'll get the experience you want, the feeling you want, the toy you want, the pride you want, the compliments you want, whatever your category of sin is. 00:16:31.679 --> 00:16:34.480 Sin says, do this and you'll get the reward. 00:16:35.039 --> 00:16:39.600 And you recognize if you've sinned one time in your life, you recognize that's not actually true. 00:16:39.759 --> 00:16:41.200 It doesn't actually give you the reward. 00:16:41.440 --> 00:16:42.639 It lies to you. 00:16:42.879 --> 00:16:43.600 Sin lies. 00:16:43.679 --> 00:16:46.000 It says, oh, you'll like this, and then you don't like it. 00:16:46.159 --> 00:16:49.360 Oh, you'll be rewarded and you'll feel proud and powerful, and then you're not. 00:16:49.519 --> 00:16:50.480 Sin is a liar. 00:16:50.720 --> 00:16:52.639 Wisdom always rewards. 00:16:53.600 --> 00:16:56.480 Wisdom always delivers, nothing compares to her. 00:16:56.559 --> 00:16:58.960 So, first of all, wisdom is the power to reward. 00:16:59.200 --> 00:17:02.080 Secondly, wisdom is the power to rule. 00:17:02.559 --> 00:17:05.440 Wisdom alone has the power to rule. 00:17:05.920 --> 00:17:09.599 Verse 11, or sorry, verse 12, I wisdom dwell with prudence. 00:17:09.839 --> 00:17:11.440 I find knowledge and discretion. 00:17:11.519 --> 00:17:16.640 In other words, knowledge and discretion, ethical actions come from wisdom, not the other way around. 00:17:17.119 --> 00:17:19.759 The fear of Yahweh is the hatred of evil. 00:17:19.920 --> 00:17:21.680 Pride and arrogance are the way of evil. 00:17:21.839 --> 00:17:23.039 Perverted speech I hate. 00:17:23.119 --> 00:17:24.720 We've heard that refrain before. 00:17:24.960 --> 00:17:28.160 Instead, verse 14, I have counsel and sound wisdom. 00:17:28.400 --> 00:17:30.079 I have insight, I have strength. 00:17:30.240 --> 00:17:32.319 These are attributes that wisdom possesses. 00:17:32.400 --> 00:17:33.599 This is language of possession. 00:17:33.759 --> 00:17:36.000 Wisdom says, I possess these things. 00:17:36.240 --> 00:17:38.160 I possess knowledge. 00:17:38.319 --> 00:17:41.200 I possess, wisdom possesses wisdom. 00:17:41.359 --> 00:17:44.319 In other words, wisdom is not wise because wisdom went to school. 00:17:44.559 --> 00:17:46.960 Wisdom is wise because wisdom possesses wisdom. 00:17:47.119 --> 00:17:48.799 Very different than how you and I are wise. 00:17:48.960 --> 00:17:52.160 You and I can have wisdom by studying and acquiring it. 00:17:52.319 --> 00:17:54.079 Wisdom does not study and acquire it. 00:17:54.240 --> 00:17:57.680 Wisdom just is it by its own nature. 00:17:58.559 --> 00:18:01.359 Wisdom, by definition, is wise. 00:18:01.680 --> 00:18:04.480 Wisdom takes counsel with herself. 00:18:05.519 --> 00:18:07.200 She doesn't go to somebody else for counsel. 00:18:07.279 --> 00:18:08.160 She is counsel. 00:18:08.319 --> 00:18:13.839 Verse 15 by me kings reign and rulers decree what is just. 00:18:14.240 --> 00:18:19.279 By me princes rule and nobles, all who govern justly. 00:18:19.519 --> 00:18:20.960 There's an ethical distinction there. 00:18:21.119 --> 00:18:24.960 Those that govern justly have a particular relationship with wisdom. 00:18:25.119 --> 00:18:30.400 Nevertheless, every king in the world reigns by wisdom's decree. 00:18:31.359 --> 00:18:41.759 Wisdom is, to use the New Testament language, sovereign over every king and every prince and every mayor and every person in authority in the world. 00:18:42.000 --> 00:18:44.799 Wisdom is sovereign over their position. 00:18:45.200 --> 00:18:48.720 Wisdom has decreed their position before the foundation of time. 00:18:48.960 --> 00:18:52.240 It's only by wisdom's decree that the king can reign. 00:18:52.799 --> 00:18:57.519 And the rulers who do what is just are in a special relationship with wisdom. 00:18:57.680 --> 00:19:00.640 This is not even talking about those inside of the covenant with Israel. 00:19:00.799 --> 00:19:06.880 This is any ruler anywhere in the world who is ruling justly is ruling by wisdom's commands. 00:19:07.920 --> 00:19:15.680 I should remind you of Romans 13 that every ruler, every king has authority because it comes from God. 00:19:16.720 --> 00:19:27.279 And those who rule according to God's commands and rule justly and well and suppress evil and promote the good, they are actually doing government the way God meant them to do government. 00:19:27.440 --> 00:19:30.559 So they have a special relationship with God, even if they're not Christians. 00:19:30.799 --> 00:19:33.119 They're actually following the pattern God cut out for them. 00:19:33.200 --> 00:19:36.160 That's what wiz- that's coming from Proverbs 8. 00:19:36.640 --> 00:19:43.359 Where every king, good ones, bad ones, and medium ones, they all are ruling under the sovereign authority of wisdom. 00:19:43.519 --> 00:19:48.240 And yet those who rule justly and wisely are truly following the pattern of wisdom. 00:19:48.400 --> 00:19:51.119 Wisdom is a source of common grace, in other words. 00:19:52.480 --> 00:19:55.839 This reminds me of one passage, 1 Chronicles 29. 00:19:56.559 --> 00:19:58.160 Therefore, David blessed Yahweh. 00:19:58.559 --> 00:20:01.200 This is David's capstone prayer here. 00:20:01.519 --> 00:20:04.319 Blesses Yahweh at the presence of all the assembly. 00:20:04.480 --> 00:20:08.400 And David said, Blessed are you, O Yahweh, the God of Israel, our Father, forever and ever. 00:20:08.640 --> 00:20:14.319 Yours, O Yahweh, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty. 00:20:14.480 --> 00:20:16.559 All that is in heavens and in earth is yours. 00:20:16.799 --> 00:20:18.160 Yours is the kingdom, O Yahweh. 00:20:18.240 --> 00:20:19.680 Your exalted is head over all. 00:20:19.839 --> 00:20:23.599 Riches and honor come from you, and you rule over all. 00:20:25.759 --> 00:20:29.279 Solomon would add a front row seat to this prayer, and he's adopting its language. 00:20:29.440 --> 00:20:34.240 Riches and honor come from Yahweh, and Yahweh rules over every nation. 00:20:34.720 --> 00:20:38.319 In your hands, in Yahweh's hand is power and might. 00:20:38.480 --> 00:20:42.079 In Yahweh's hand, it's to make great and to give strength to all. 00:20:42.720 --> 00:20:47.599 And now we thank you, our God, and praise your glorious name. 00:20:48.319 --> 00:20:51.920 This is the kind of language in Proverbs 8, much more succinct in Proverbs 8. 00:20:52.240 --> 00:20:54.559 Verse 15, by me kings reign. 00:20:56.559 --> 00:21:01.200 Verse 17, I love those who love me, wisdom says. 00:21:01.440 --> 00:21:02.640 Wisdom is reciprocal. 00:21:02.799 --> 00:21:06.400 If you love her, she rewards you and showers you with love. 00:21:08.799 --> 00:21:13.119 Those who seek me diligently, find me, wisdom says. 00:21:13.519 --> 00:21:15.599 This should remind you of New Testament passages. 00:21:15.680 --> 00:21:18.079 Jesus says, ask, it'll be given to you. 00:21:18.400 --> 00:21:19.839 Knock and it'll be opened. 00:21:20.079 --> 00:21:24.559 You lack wisdom, James 1 says, pray and God will give you wisdom. 00:21:24.640 --> 00:21:26.319 That's coming from Proverbs 8. 00:21:27.200 --> 00:21:31.039 You seek God through Jesus Christ, you will find God. 00:21:31.279 --> 00:21:35.279 You seek wisdom from God, wisdom comes. 00:21:35.759 --> 00:21:37.359 When you knock, the door will be open. 00:21:37.599 --> 00:21:38.720 Revelation 3, verse 20. 00:21:38.799 --> 00:21:41.599 Jesus says, Behold, I stand at the door and knock, open. 00:21:42.079 --> 00:21:44.000 I'll come in and eat with you. 00:21:46.079 --> 00:21:47.599 That's this kind of language. 00:21:47.759 --> 00:21:54.640 Wisdom not only rewards people, but by wisdom, rulers are built up, and wisdom rewards those who rule well. 00:21:54.720 --> 00:21:59.759 And you see this in verse 19 My fruit is better than gold, even fine gold, my yield better than choice silver. 00:22:00.559 --> 00:22:09.039 I walk in the way of righteousness and in the path of justice, granting an inheritance to those who love me and filling their treasuries. 00:22:09.119 --> 00:22:11.920 This is more kind of rewarding language. 00:22:12.799 --> 00:22:15.200 And Jesus said, I'm the way, the truth, and the life. 00:22:15.440 --> 00:22:17.519 Wisdom says, I walk in the way. 00:22:17.759 --> 00:22:21.119 I possess the truth and I reward you with life. 00:22:22.640 --> 00:22:27.200 So first, wisdom has the power to reward. 00:22:27.279 --> 00:22:29.680 Second, wisdom has the power to rule. 00:22:29.920 --> 00:22:33.920 Thirdly, wisdom has the potency to create. 00:22:34.160 --> 00:22:42.720 Potency just means the capability, like the latent power, the power wrapped up in there that when it's activated, it comes out. 00:22:42.880 --> 00:22:46.960 Wisdom, lady wisdom, has the potency to create. 00:22:47.920 --> 00:22:50.160 And you understand this about God. 00:22:50.400 --> 00:22:55.599 God eternally has the power to create, but he hadn't always created. 00:22:55.759 --> 00:22:57.759 He wasn't always the creator. 00:22:58.400 --> 00:23:02.000 He began as the creator once he created something. 00:23:02.880 --> 00:23:05.839 But he always has the potency to create. 00:23:06.480 --> 00:23:07.440 That power is always in him. 00:23:07.599 --> 00:23:11.759 He didn't get any new power by creating, but it was a new thing he did by creating. 00:23:11.920 --> 00:23:13.759 That's what potency captures. 00:23:13.920 --> 00:23:18.400 And here, starting in verse 22, you get the same kind of concept. 00:23:18.640 --> 00:23:23.440 Yahweh possessed me, we'll get back to that word later, at the beginning of his work. 00:23:23.759 --> 00:23:25.759 The first of his acts of old. 00:23:26.079 --> 00:23:30.160 Ages ago I was set up at the first, before the beginning of the earth. 00:23:30.319 --> 00:23:31.839 So that should give you pause right there. 00:23:32.079 --> 00:23:36.000 Wisdom has her existence from before day one of creation. 00:23:38.160 --> 00:23:39.839 Wisdom was already there. 00:23:40.720 --> 00:23:44.960 When there were no depths, verse 24 says, I was brought forth. 00:23:45.119 --> 00:23:48.400 When there was no springs abounding with water, before the mountains had been shaped. 00:23:48.559 --> 00:23:51.039 We're talking Genesis 1-1 world right here. 00:23:51.200 --> 00:23:58.400 Before all of that, before verse 26, he had made earth with fields and the first of the dust of the world. 00:23:58.640 --> 00:24:02.640 When he established the heavens, I was already there, wisdom saying. 00:24:02.880 --> 00:24:08.079 When he drew a deep circle on the face of the deep, this is the first day of creation, wisdom says, I was there. 00:24:08.240 --> 00:24:12.480 When he made the skies, we're talking third and fourth day of creation here, I was there. 00:24:12.720 --> 00:24:16.160 When he established the fountains of the deep, the seas are separated. 00:24:16.319 --> 00:24:23.200 When he assigned to the sea its limits, so we're going through the days of creation, not in the exact order, we're hopping to the days of creation here back and forth. 00:24:23.279 --> 00:24:25.119 And wisdom's saying, I was already there. 00:24:25.359 --> 00:24:31.519 When he did the foundations of the earth, separating the dry land from the seas, in verse 29, wisdom was there. 00:24:31.680 --> 00:24:35.039 In verse 30, I was beside him like a master workman. 00:24:36.240 --> 00:24:37.920 What is wisdom doing? 00:24:38.160 --> 00:24:41.440 Not just watching, not just keeping track of the days. 00:24:41.680 --> 00:24:45.839 Wisdom is the workman who's there during creation. 00:24:47.519 --> 00:24:55.759 I was daily his delight, rejoicing before him always, rejoicing in his inhabited world, and delighting in the children of man. 00:24:55.920 --> 00:24:59.200 So wisdom isn't just hanging out, wisdom's doing stuff. 00:24:59.519 --> 00:25:03.039 We have an expression in English that that person is older than dirt. 00:25:03.359 --> 00:25:04.880 You heard that expression before? 00:25:05.119 --> 00:25:06.559 It's worth thinking about for a second. 00:25:06.720 --> 00:25:08.000 Older than dirt? 00:25:09.119 --> 00:25:10.720 How old is dirt? 00:25:11.440 --> 00:25:15.200 Well, that goes back to the very beginning of creation, doesn't it? 00:25:15.440 --> 00:25:20.079 When God separated light from darkness and then earth from sea, you got dirt. 00:25:21.200 --> 00:25:24.400 To be older than dirt, that's like angel territory. 00:25:25.279 --> 00:25:27.680 Wisdom's not just older than dirt. 00:25:28.079 --> 00:25:32.480 Wisdom is older than the beginning of everything. 00:25:33.440 --> 00:25:35.519 Wisdom is older than light in that sense. 00:25:35.680 --> 00:25:37.920 Wisdom predates everything. 00:25:39.839 --> 00:25:40.960 Not yet. 00:25:41.200 --> 00:25:43.440 When everything else in the world was there, not yet. 00:25:43.680 --> 00:25:45.039 Wisdom is already there. 00:25:45.440 --> 00:25:53.519