Chapter 8

2021 - This chapter does not start with "My son...".  This chapter is very different from what has come before.  It is interesting here that wisdom is personified in this chapter, and speaks for herself, advertises, announces herself.  Also interesting is that wisdom is personified as female.

This chapter is about wisdom itself.  There are four divisions to it in my Bible (TCR).

2024 - Oh my, look at this verse:

2 On the heights beside the way, at the crossroads she takes her stand; [Pro 8:2 ESV], or the NASB95:

2 On top of the heights beside the way, Where the paths meet, she takes her stand; [Pro 8:2 NASB95].

This whole chapter is about wisdom, and worth a quick reading.  This verse tells us where to look for wisdom.  At the top of the highest hill.  At the point of decision.  Wisdom doesn't fall in our laps.  Wisdom requires effort, and even at the top of the climb we still have to decide which path is best.  And when we decide, right or wrong, we come out wiser on the other side.  If all our decisions are easy and obvious...we are still in the valley.  Time to change course and look for the high road.

FB'd this one on 11/4/24.

The first section:  Wisdom is speaking, and urges all to hear her, to understand, because what she offers is only truth.  No deceit, no lies.  Especially the simple and the fools should listen.  Wisdom is better than silver, gold, or jewels.  Pursue wisdom.

2021 - Wisdom does not hide from us.  Wisdom is right out in the open, sitting at the city gate, and calling out, offering to inform and enrich all who seek her. 

Perhaps there are some more "tests" for what is wisdom here also: 

Vs 6, wisdom is noble and right.

Vs 7, true, not wicked

Vs 8, righteous, not devious or crooked.

Vs 9, Wisdom is straight.  Here and in 8, the point it that wisdom does not come in convoluted riddles from which it must be teased out.  Wisdom says exactly what it means.

Second section:  Wisdom hates evil, pride, arrogance, and perverted speech.  Those in power who have wisdom govern justly.  Wisdom is not any kind of secret knowledge.  It can be found if it is sought.  Wisdom brings with it riches and honor.  This verse:

14 I have counsel and sound wisdom; I have insight; I have strength. [Pro 8:14 ESV]  Interlinear says insight is again "understanding".  However, KJV, NKJV, and Septuagint, plus others translate this phrase "I am understanding" instead of I have insight. 

Third section:  One of my favorites.  The section on which the whole explanation of the fallen world we live in derives.  Here, to me, is the explanation for why bad things happen to good people, and good things to bad.  Here is the explanation for accidents, premature death in all it forms, diseases, suffering, pain, and death.  All that is in this section.  The key verse:

22 "The LORD possessed me at the beginning of his work, the first of his acts of old. [Pro 8:22 ESV]

TCR notes say possessed could be translated fathered, or created.  Wisdom came first.  God decided to make an ordered, logical, predictable world.  This decision came first, before any creative act.  Wisdom was there before the beginning.  Wisdom demands cause and effect, traceable, understandable, rational.  But sin broke that connection.

Fourth section:

Wisdom speaks, urging hearers to pay attention.  These verses conclude the chapter:

35 For whoever finds me finds life and obtains favor from the LORD, 36 but he who fails to find me injures himself; all who hate me love death." [Pro 8:35-36 ESV]

2025 - 23 Ages ago I was set up, at the first, before the beginning of the earth. [Pro 8:23 ESV].  NASB95 is even better:

23 "From everlasting I was established, From the beginning, from the earliest times of the earth. [Pro 8:23 NASB95].

I am struck once again with this idea, this concept, that wisdom predates creation.  We are all aware of cause and effect, of a right way and wrong way to do just about everything.  These are built in.  The universe has infallible rules.  Rules that we can count on, so we can predict results, consequences, outcomes.  The universe is entirely predictable, and the history of man is one of uncovering the rules.  Man didn't make the rules, and we cannot decide what the rules will be.  We can only discover what is already there.  It is this way because wisdom came first.  It could have been all magic and spells and random chance.  Apples could have sometimes fallen up.  Thunder might not have always followed the lightning.  Earth's rotation might have changed direction regularly, or perhaps at least changed velocity, so that no two days could be counted on to have the same length.  How can we explain the source of these rules that most of us don't even know, yet they determine everything that happens.

Except God.  God is outside these rules because he invented the rules.  God can do miracles, God can cause outcomes that don't follow the rules.  That is where God lives - outside the standard rules.  I am glad God chose to be a just God, a merciful God, and gracious God.  Because if not bound by the rules, imagine what He could do otherwise?