Proverbs 8.
That God is not indifferent to man’s need is shown at the beginning of this deeply interesting chapter. Wisdom’s call is urgent on the great highway of life. Connect what we have here with 1 Corinthians 1:18-3118For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. 19For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. 20Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? 21For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. 22For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: 23But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; 24But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. 25Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men. 26For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: 27But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; 28And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: 29That no flesh should glory in his presence. 30But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: 31That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord. (1 Corinthians 1:18‑31).
Verse 9 states a very blessed fact, for the believer justifies God in all His sayings. And we who have by grace received Christ as our Saviour, know well the truth of the eleventh verse.
Verses 12 to 16 tell important principles of divine wisdom for man. Prudence; knowledge which comes from reflection; fearing God; hating evil, pride, arrogancy, the evil way arid the froward mouth are part of this-wisdom of God, provided for us. In it is counsel, strength; by it kings, princes, nobles, judges, rule and carry on their responsibilities.
Verse 17 introduces another subject which was before us a little in considering chapter 3,—that there are rewards for the diligent seeker after wisdom. This verse carries a pointed message:
“I love those that love me, and they that seek me early (or earnestly) shall find me.”
God knows how to encourage His be loved children to apply themselves diligent ly to what concerns their eternal blessing!
Verses 18 to 21, it will be seen, tell of more than riches and honor; durable wealth and righteousness, fruit better than fine gold, revenue better than choice silver: these are spiritual blessings with which our God has endowed those of His heaven bound children who prize His Word above all things earthly. Precious is the last verse (21) with its positive assurance of blessing from above. May we look more constantly to the great Blesser!
The Holy Spirit has been occupying these chapters with the theme of God’s wisdom for man; Christ is the wisdom of God and the center of all; the object of God’s ceaseless and eternal love. In Him the wisdom of God is revealed. (See Ephesians 1:9, 109Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: 10That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him: (Ephesians 1:9‑10); 1 Corinthians 1:24, 30,24But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. (1 Corinthians 1:24)
30But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: (1 Corinthians 1:30) and 2:6-10). Accordingly Christ is pre sented in our chapter, from verse 22 to verse 36.
Every reference to the Lord Jesus in the Old Testament (though we never find that blessed name of Jesus there) is of the deepest, interest to the believer, and these verses, in Proverbs 8 are very precious. The mystery of the Godhead is here: the Father and the Son, with the Holy Spirit writing the words. The Son was set up (literally, anointed) from eternity, from the beginning, before the earth was.
Our limited minds cannot grasp eternity; the subject is too vast, and God uses the words “the beginning” to bring to our thoughts that which we can take in. So in Genesis 1, In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” tells us of the beginning of creation, untold ages, it may be, ago, for it was before the events of the six days of verses 3-21, which are commonly reckoned as occurring 4000 years before Christ. But John 1 proceeds back into past eternity as far as our minds can grasp, when it says,
"In the beginning Was the Word, and the Word \ v a s with God, and the Word was Cod." And so here in Proverbs 8,
" Jehovah possessed Me in the beginning of His way, before His works of old."
Here is the furthest point our finite minds can travel. Avoiding the speculations of the natural mind, we rest in the knowledge of the Father who gave His Son; of the Son who laid down His life on Calvary's cross, and of the Holy Spirit, seal of the purchase of every believer, with the precious blood of Christ. Matthew 11: 27; Luke 10:22,22All things are delivered to me of my Father: and no man knoweth who the Son is, but the Father; and who the Father is, but the Son, and he to whom the Son will reveal him. (Luke 10:22) and John 1:1-3,1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2The same was in the beginning with God. 3All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. (John 1:1‑3) shut off all speculation about the Son.
Before we close our scripture study to-clay, let us notice the Father's delight in the Son, in verse 30, and the Son's delight in man, in verse 31.
"It is in connection with men that Christ is seen, when considered as uniting and developing in Himself every feature of wisdom and the counsels of God. The life that was in Him was the light of men."
Christ's delight in man will have its full expression in the Millennium, not before, and in the meanwhile He calls upon men to hearken unto Him.
"Whoso findeth Me findeth life" (verses 32-36).
Messages of God’s Love 5/15/1932