Hear Instruction

aaa

March 4, 2012

Lesson: Proverbs 8:22–36

Key Verse: Proverbs 8:33

 aaa

Introduction

Wisdom is personified in these words: “She stands in the top of high places, by the way in the places of the paths. She cries at the gates, at the entry of the city, at the coming of the doors” (Prov. 8:2–3). Defining ‘Wisdom’ as being skillful in the knowledge, understanding, and practice of the Truth; we look to the Word of God as revelation from the counsel of the Triune God, by which the Lord “instructs, and governs, and blesses, the children of men” (M. Henry). Whether ‘Wisdom’ cries out (8:1), preaches, proclaims, calls out from the highest mountain or speaks along the pathways of the valley; whether the call is at the cities gates, or door to door of the city; it is a cry of the Word of God. Henry wrote that “There is no speech nor language where Wisdom’s voice is not heard; his discoveries and directions are given to all promiscuously. He that has ears to hear, let him hear. They are proclaimed where they are most needed. They are intended for the guide of our way.”

Wisdom travels through the cities of the nations of this world as seen in the great commission of our Lord and Savior: “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you; and lo I am with you always, even unto the end of the world” (Matt. 28:18–20). The testimony of the Apostle Paul reveals the glory of the Gospel, which we preach: “Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power. Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; and to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ” (Eph. 3:7–9).

 aaa

From the Very Beginning—Proverbs 8:22–26

The previous verses hear this testimony of Wisdom: “My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold; and my revenue than choice silver. I lead the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment: that I may cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures” (8:19–21). Wisdom produces something; and it cannot be distanced from the one who has this wisdom. Wisdom is of divine nature, which has its origin in the mind or counsel of the Godhead: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Wisdom bears fruit in us and through us; and that of the greatest value is the Wisdom that comes from God.

In other words, we are talking about the wisdom that originates in the person of the God: “The Lord possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old,” M. Henry wrote. “That it is an intelligent and divine person that here speaks seems very plain, and that it is not meant of a mere essential property of the divine nature, for Wisdom here has personal properties and actions; and that intelligent divine person can be no other than the Son of God himself.” Christ, the incarnate Son of God, is the Son of God who was in existence within the Triune Godhead and at the time of the beginning of Creation: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God” (John 1:1–2). Christ is the ‘Logos’: the Word or intelligence of God, the Wisdom of God expressed by the Son in whom “dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily” (Col. 2:9). The Lord possesses the divine wisdom of God: “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, today, and forever” (Heb. 13:8). This “Wisdom” is illustrated in the gifts which come from the divine hand of God: “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning” (James 1:17).

Proverbs records the existence of the Son of God before the foundation of the world: “I (wisdom) up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was.” The Lord possessed this Divine Wisdom before the earth was: “When there were no depths, I was brought forth, when there were no fountains abounding with water. Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth; while as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, not the highest part of the dust of the world.” Evolution desires the destruction of divine wisdom by placing a false wisdom in the mind of man; man becomes the authority of life, its origin (minus its purpose and hope). Our prayer must be nothing less than that of Moses: “Lord thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations. Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting thou art God” (Psa. 90:1–2).

Discussion: What is wisdom?

aa

Wisdom established Creation—Proverbs 8:27–29

The creation of the heavens and earth was in the hands of the Lord, whose wisdom alone was its beginning and its continuity: “When he prepared the heavens, I (wisdom) was there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth: when he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep: when he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth.” The Son of God was there at the beginning when “God created the heaven and the earth,” when God said, Let there be light” (Gen. 1:1–3); and so through the six days: “And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good” (Gen. 1:31). Wisdom was with the Son during those days: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God” (John 1:1–2); “For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him and for him” (Col. 1:16). This is the Son “whom (God) has appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the majesty on high” (Heb. 1:2–3). By the wisdom of God have all things been created, and by which all of His saints have been redeemed.

In giving confidence to his servant Job, God spoke to him out of the “whirlwind”—“Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth?” (Job 38:4). The wisdom of God as known in His creation gives us much confidence and hope in the living of our life in Christ Jesus. These words to Job are also a condemnation to the evolutionist whose teachings, especially to our children, as they walk boldly in the muck, which is their sinking hole of hopelessness, saying, Follow us!

Discussion: Who is it that created the earth and its heaven?

 aa

Hear and Receive Instruction—Proverbs 8:30–36

Wisdom personified reveals his glorious presence in the Creator: “Then I was by him, as one brought up with him; and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always with him: rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth: and my delights were with the sons of men.” Wisdom is the ability to skillfully understand and act righteously, to know the truth of God and His creation. Wisdom is the delight of our Creator. There is joy in having such heavenly wisdom, and that it flows to his creation of man. For the Lord loves his people on earth: “But to the saints that are in the earth, and to the excellent, in whom is all my delight” (Psa. 16:3). Herein we see our blessed salvation in Christ Jesus who, as the second Person in the Godhead, was appointed as our Savior before the foundation of the world: “Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God” (1 Peter 1:18–21).

Scripture bids us now to take wisdom seriously: “Now therefore hearken unto me, O ye children: for blessed are they that keep my ways.” The wonder of creation and salvation has been set before us; Christ being seen as the Lord who, with the counsel of the Godhead, bears the name of Creator and Savior, revealing the glorious creation of the Father and the Spirit. Therefore hear wisdom: “Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not.” Go to Scripture and hear the teaching of the Spirit of God, having the spirit of hunger and thirsting after the Word of God: “Blessed is the man that hears me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.” Wisdom embraces each home and congregation true to the Lord: “And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might” (Deut. 6:5). The Law that once condemned us as transgressors now is applied to our lives; for Christ took upon Himself our transgressions and paid the penalty that we deserved.

Therefore the Spirit writes His Word upon our hearts, even upon our homes: “And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart; and thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up” (Deut. 6:6–7). Our life is in the wisdom and mercy of our Lord: “For whoso finds me finds life, and shall obtain favour of the Lord.” The warning is that if we reject His wisdom and sin against Him, we wrong our “own soul: all they that hate me love death.” However, with thanksgiving and praise, we rejoice in the life Christ has given us: “Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth forever” (1 Peter 1:23).

Discussion: What does it mean to be instructed by wisdom?

aa

Lessons are based on the International Sunday School Lessons for Christian Teaching, copyright © 2012 by the Committee on the Uniform Series.