Pay Attention!
June 6, 2004 - Proverbs 8:1-36
Open It
Who or what sorts of things compete for people's attention and loyalty these days?
What one possession do you value more than any other?
Explore It
How was wisdom depicted by Solomon? (8:1-3)
How is wisdom described in these verses? (8:1-36)
To whom does wisdom cry out? (8:4-5)
Why does wisdom say people should listen to her? (8:6-9)
To what are wisdom, instruction, and knowledge compared? (8:10-11)
With whom does wisdom dwell, and what does she possess? (8:12, 14, 18)
What does it mean to fear (to be afraid of or to honor and revere) the Lord? (8:13)
Who uses wisdom? (8:15-16)
Whom does wisdom love? (8:17)
What did wisdom say about her origin and her role in creation? (8:22-31)
What did wisdom say would be the result of finding or not finding her? (8:32-36)
Get It
Why do you think wisdom was depicted as being out in the streets of the city?
If wisdom went walking through your neighborhood, how do you think people would respond?
In what way is wisdom like precious metals and stones?
How is wisdom better than precious metals and stones?
How is hating evil honoring the Lord?
What types of things do people today value more than wisdom?
How does having wisdom benefit your life?
Why is it important that wisdom was God's first work of creation?
What is the role of wisdom in the universe?
How is wisdom's role in your life demonstrated in your life-style?
How has the world responded to wisdom's invitation?
How have you answered wisdom's invitation?
What does it mean to find wisdom?
Apply It
What is one way in which you can increase wisdom's role in your life?
What is something that you have mistakenly valued more than wisdom that you want to restore to its proper place?
NOTES
Proverbs 8:1ff: Wisdom's call is contrasted to the call of the adulteress in Proverbs 7. Wisdom is portrayed as a woman who guides us (Proverbs 8:1-13) and makes us succeed (Proverbs 8:14-21). Wisdom was present at the creation and works with the Creator (Proverbs 8:22-31). God approves of those who listen to wisdom's counsel (Proverbs 8:32-35). Those who hate wisdom love death (Proverbs 8:36). Wisdom should affect every aspect of our entire life, from beginning to end.
Proverbs 8:13: The more a person honors and respects God, the more he or she will hate evil. Love for God and love for sin cannot coexist. Harboring secret sins means that you are tolerating evil within yourself.
Proverbs 8:22-31: God says wisdom is primary and fundamental. It is the foundation on which all life is built. Paul and John may have alluded to some of Solomon's statements about wisdom to describe Christ's presence at the creation of the world (Colossians 1:15-17; Colosians 2:2-3; Revelation 3:14).