Meditationen am Gnadenstuhl: Wisdom Belongs to All People Proverbs 8:1-11

Tuesday, August 2, 2022

Proverbs 8:1–11

[1] Does not wisdom call?

Does not understanding raise her voice?

[2] On the heights beside the way,

at the crossroads she takes her stand;

[3] beside the gates in front of the town,

at the entrance of the portals she cries aloud:

[4] “To you, O men, I call,

and my cry is to the children of man.

[5] O simple ones, learn prudence;

O fools, learn sense.

[6] Hear, for I will speak noble things,

and from my lips will come what is right,

[7] for my mouth will utter truth;

wickedness is an abomination to my lips.

[8] All the words of my mouth are righteous;

there is nothing twisted or crooked in them.

[9] They are all straight to him who understands,

and right to those who find knowledge.

[10] Take my instruction instead of silver,

and knowledge rather than choice gold,

[11] for wisdom is better than jewels,

and all that you may desire cannot compare with her. (ESV)

Wisdom’s Invitation to All People

Proverbs Chapter Eight begins the second poem about God's Wisdom and her invitation to life. In this first section of that poem, wisdom extends her invitation to all people, graciously and freely. This chapter begins similarly to Chapter one but opens with the rhetorical question, "Does not wisdom call?" The answer is, of course, yes. Wisdom extends her offer to the gullible and the foolish (that’s you and me, by the way). We are inclined to foolishness and gullibility because all are born with a sinful nature. Wisdom entreats all to come and hear the divine message, repent, and believe.

Wisdom’s message consists of noble and upright things which are true, not wicked things spoken with twisted and crooked speech. This is in contrast to the false teachers we heard of in previous chapters whose lips drip honey and have voices smooth with oil (Ch.5). Here, too, is the first occasion when that which is the opposite of wisdom is described as wickedness, a disgusting thing, and crooked.

Solomon is introducing wisdom anew in a fresh way to engage our attention and have us reflect on the things which he has already taught us about her. Think of it as sitting in a new math class in high school and spending the first few classes reviewing what you have already learned before moving on to newer and more difficult material.

The power of wisdom is enlightenment. Having wisdom means having knowledge and understanding. Remember our first lesson regarding wisdom: It all begins with this: “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.” (Proverbs 1:7 ESV). The fool is the one who despises God's Word and does not read and take it to heart. The first commandment teaches us to have no other gods but the One True God and to fear and love Him above all things. What does fearing the Lord mean? Are we to be terrified of Him, cowering like a beaten dog? No! Fear of the Lord means we cling to Him above all else. If you fear God, you do not have to be afraid of anything. King Solomon's father, David, had something to say about it: “I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears.” (Psalm 34:4 ESV). In the Bible, when speaking of God, fear does not mean terror but standing in reverence and awe before Him.

Those with knowledge and understanding can comprehend wisdom's message and take it to heart as being upright. The fool does not because "the natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he is not able to know because they are discerned spiritually" (1 Corinthians 2:14; compare this with Romans 8:7). Unlike sitting in that math classroom, however, no one can teach himself divine wisdom, just as we contribute nothing to our justification and salvation. The knowledge of divine things comes through the Means of Grace by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Wisdom invites us to “take my discipline” because its value is greater than any material wealth. Only as God works through the Word and the Sacraments to create and sustain faith do we receive His saving grace in Jesus Christ and the knowledge of these divine things. Divine wisdom offers freely something of greater value than anything on this earth.