Proverbs 8 - Wisdom Calls Again pt II

Introduction
- this morning we’re going to continue thinking about wisdom’s calls.
- if you were with us a couple of weeks ago, you know that we moved from chapter 1 to chapter 8.
- we are trying to group our studies around certain themes…
- this matter of how we and our family members respond to God’s wisdom is important, so we’re going to look at all the book says on that, and then move to another emphasis.
- chapter 8 [and also chapter 9] talk about this important issue of wisdom’s call and our response to it.

- in your notes we reminded you of the outline we studied two weeks ago.

I. You Can Trust My Words – 8:6-9.

A. They are excellent
B. They contain right things.
C. They are true and righteous.

- though the first nine verses contain more than enough motivation to turn to God’s Word as our source of truth and direction, the writer keeps heaping on additional reasons.

- Read Proverbs 8:10-31

II. You Can Receive True Wealth – 10-21.

A. Wisdom is better than material blessings.

- that’s the argument of verse 11 – wisdom is better than jewels…[even a diamond of a carat or larger at Stall and Kesslers!]

- verses 18-19 address this issue head on.

- this idea is often a surprise to God’s people, because the assumption is that wealth is a sign of God’s blessing, and if anyone is going to get to heaven, it will be those who have been blessed by God with wealth.
- you may remember after taught the disciples that it would be difficult for rich persons to enter heaven, their response was…if they can’t make it, who will? (Matt. 19:23-26).

- incidentally, the other extreme is equally bad --- believing that poor persons are more spiritual on the basis of their financial condition.
- God has given material things for us to enjoy…but the point is, we all have to decide, which do we value higher?
- this is a OT version of Matthew 6:33 – Seek ye first…

B. Wisdom has more to offer than material blessings.

- INPUT – what “commodities” do we read about in verses 12-15 that prove the point that wisdom is more valuable than material blessings?
- prudence, knowledge, discretion, counsel, understanding, ability to reign, justice

[Marty – Please take letter C – Wiersbe has some good info here]

C. How God’s people should respond to this principle.

1. hear the Word of God – 6

2. receive instruction – 10

3. love truth and wisdom – 17, 21

[cf. Wiersbe’s point about starting the day in the Word – bottom of p. 29]

III. You Can See My Works – 22-31.

- INPUT – What are verses 22-31 talking about?
- INPUT – Is it important to “hold the line” on the doctrine of creation?
[recommend MacArthur’s new book – The Battle for the Beginning]

- INPUT – What is the relationship between our understanding of wisdom, creation, and Jesus Christ? [cf. Col. 1:16-17, 2:1-4?]

- now, if you would say, “it’s surprising that this book would have two full chapters devoted to the call to wisdom”…well, the surprise isn’t over, because that is what chapter 9 is about as well.
- so when you think about wisdom’s call, you really need to think about Proverbs 1, 8, and 9.
- let’s see what is emphasized there:

- READ Proverbs 9

IV. Wisdom’s Call to Life

- this chapter is different in several important ways.
- wisdom is still personified, but now she is no longer going out into the streets but instead has built a house and inviting people to come to a banquet.
- the theme is still on the issue of invitation, and making a choice, but the picture is changed.

A. Invitation – 9:3-9

1. How the invitation is given.

- in Bible times, invitations were often delivered personally.
- many times the first call was given regarding the times, day, etc.
- then a second call was made to determine the exact number of guests…some of Jesus’ parables allude to these practices.
- the picture is of wisdom calling out and asking others to come to her feast…the picture is still the same of God inviting people to come and learn His ways.

2. To whom it was given.

- the significant thing is that now, only the simple are called.
- you may remember before that in chapter one, the fool, the simple, and the scorner were invited.
- in chapter 8, the scorner was left off the list.
- now the fool has been eliminated as well.

- INPUT – What can we make of this progression?

- Wiersbe – “Wisdom’s first call was to the simple, the scorners, and the fools (1:22). The scorners laughed at her, so in her second call she invited only the simple and the fools (8:5). But the fools didn’t want God’s wisdom, so in the third call she invites only the simple ones to come to her feast. It’s a dangerous thing to reject God’s invitation; you never know when it may be your last one (Luke 14:24).

B. Celebration - 10-12

C. Condemnation – 13-18

- develop the “Banquet in a Grave” theme [Welch’s new book]
- develop ways this comes true today.

Adult Bible Fellowship
Wisdom Calls Again
Proverbs Series #9

Introduction
I. You Can Trust My Words – 8:6-9.
A. They are excellent.
B. They contain right things.
C. They are true and righteous.

*************************************************************************************************************

II. You Can Receive True _______________ – 10-21.
A. Wisdom is better than ________________ blessings.

B. Wisdom has __________ to ___________ than material blessings.
INPUT – What “commodities” do we read about in verses 12-15 that prove the point that wisdom is more valuable than material blessings?

C. How God’s people should _____________ to this principle.
1. ___________ the Word of God – 6
2. Receive _________________ – 10
3. Love _____________ and ________________ – 17, 21

III. You Can ________ My Works – 22-31.
INPUT – What are verses 22-31 talking about?
INPUT – Is it important to “hold the line” on the doctrine of creation?
INPUT – What is the relationship between our understanding of wisdom, creation, and Jesus Christ? [cf. Col. 1:16-17, 2:1-4?]

IV. Wisdom’s _________ to Life

A. ___________________ – 9:3-9

1. _________ the invitation is given.

2. To ____________ it was given.
INPUT – What can we make of this progression?

Wiersbe – “Wisdom’s first call was to the simple, the scorners, and the fools (1:22). The scorners laughed at her, so in her second call she invited only the simple and the fools (8:5). But the fools didn’t want God’s wisdom, so in the third call she invites only the simple ones to come to her feast. It’s a dangerous thing to reject God’s invitation; you never know when it may be your last one (Luke 14:24).

B. ___________________ – 10-12

C. ___________________ – 13-18

Adult Bible Fellowship
Wisdom Calls Again
Proverbs Series #8
Introduction
I. You Can Trust My Words – 8:6-9.
A. They are excellent
B. They contain right things.
C. They are true and righteous.
II. You Can Receive True Wealth – 10-21.
A. Wisdom is better than material blessings.
B. Wisdom has more to offer than material blessings.
INPUT – What “commodities” do we read about in verses 12-15 that prove the point that wisdom is more valuable than material blessings?
C. How God’s people should respond to this principle.
1. Hear the Word of God – 6
2. Receive instruction – 10
3. Love truth and wisdom – 17, 21

III. You Can See My Works – 22-31.

INPUT – What are verses 22-31 talking about?
INPUT – Is it important to “hold the line” on the doctrine of creation?
IV. Wisdom’s Call to Life
A. Invitation – 9:3-9
1. How the invitation is given.
2. To whom it was given.
INPUT – What can we make of this progression?
Wiersbe – “Wisdom’s first call was to the simple, the scorners, and the fools (1:22). The scorners laughed at her, so in her second call she invited only the simple and the fools (8:5). But the fools didn’t want God’s wisdom, so in the third call she invites only the simple ones to come to her feast. It’s a dangerous thing to reject God’s invitation; you never know when it may be your last one (Luke 14:24).
B. Celebration – 10-12
C. Condemnation – 13-18