Wednesday Service | THE BOOK OF WISDOM | Part 1: Will We Listen?

[1] Wisdom calls out to us at the place of

Proverbs 8:1-9 (NIRV)

Doesn’t wisdom call out? Doesn’t understanding raise her voice?
² At the highest point along the way, she takes her place where the paths meet.
³ Beside the gate leading into the city, she cries out at the entrance. She says,
⁴ “People, I call out to you. I raise my voice to all human beings.
⁵ You who are childish, get some good sense. You who are foolish, set your hearts on getting it.
⁶ Listen! I have things to say that you can depend on. I open my lips to speak what is right.
⁷ My mouth speaks what is true. My lips hate evil.
⁸ All the words of my mouth are honest. None of them is twisted or sinful.
⁹ To those who have understanding, all my words are right. To those who have found knowledge, they are true.

[2] To gain wisdom we must adjust our

Proverbs 8:10-11 (NIRV)

¹⁰ Choose my teaching instead of silver. Choose knowledge rather than fine gold.
¹¹ Wisdom is worth more than rubies. Nothing you want can compare with her.

[3] Wisdom is more than just having the next steps, it the map

Proverbs 8:12-14 (NIRV)

¹² “I, wisdom, live together with understanding. I have knowledge and good sense.
¹³ To have respect for the Lord is to hate evil. I hate pride and bragging.  I hate evil ways and twisted words.
¹⁴ I have good sense and give good advice. I have understanding and power.

[4] When we observe good we see wisdom at work

Proverbs 8:15-16 (NIRV)

¹⁵ By me kings rule. Leaders make laws that are fair.
¹⁶ By me princes and nobles govern. It is by me that anyone rules on earth.

[5] If we want wisdom we must for it

Proverbs 8:17-21 (NIRV)

¹⁷ I love those who love me. Those who look for me find me.
¹⁸ With me are riches and honor. With me are lasting wealth and success.
¹⁹ My fruit is better than fine gold. My gifts are better than the finest silver.

²⁰ I walk in ways that are honest. I take paths that are right.
²¹ I leave riches to those who love me. I give them more than they have room for.

[6] If God used wisdom to build creation we need wisdom to build

Proverbs 8:22-24, 29-30 (NIRV)

²² “The Lord created me as the first of his works, before his acts of long ago.
²³ I was formed a long, long time ago. I was formed at the very beginning, when the world was created.
²⁴ Before there were any oceans, I was born. It was before there were springs flowing with water…
²⁹ It was when he set limits for the sea so that the waters had to obey his command.
When the Lord marked out the foundations of the earth, I was there.
³⁰ I was constantly at his side.

[7] Wisdom overflows with

Proverbs 8:30-31 (NIRV)

I was filled with delight day after day. I was always happy to be with him.
³¹ His whole world filled me with joy.  I took delight in all human beings.

[8] The question Wisdom asks us is: Will we ?

Proverbs 8:32-36 (NIRV)

³² “My children, listen to me. Blessed are those who keep my ways.
³³ Listen to my teaching and be wise. Don’t turn away from it.
³⁴ Blessed are those who listen to me. They watch every day at my doors. They wait beside my doorway.
³⁵ Those who find me find life. They receive blessing from the Lord.
³⁶ But those who don’t find me harm only themselves. Everyone who hates me loves death.”