Overwhelmed with facts,
people tend to mistake data for truth,
knowledge for wisdom.
PROVERBS
Big Idea
Wisdom is the ability to make wise choices
and to live successfully according to the
moral standards revealed by God.
Big Idea
FRAMEWORK
Urgency
8:1-5
Reasons
8:6-31
AVAILABLE
INTENTIONAL
CONSEQENCES
Urgency
8:32-36
A dark story of the
devastating consequences
of foolish choices
Big Idea
Urgency
8:1-5
Reasons
8:6-31
Urgency
8:32-36
1. Wisdom is inseparable from truth and justice.(6-11)
Wisdom has a self-evident
moral excellence:
•Stated in 1:1-7
•Illustrated in 7:6-23
•Explained in 8:6-11
Excellent
6 Listen, for I have worthy things to say;
I open my lips to speak what is right.
Things which relate to an eternal
God, an immortal soul, and an
everlasting state, must needs be
excellent things.
(Matthew Henry)
Straight
Direct
Correct
Philippians 4:8
Finally, brothers, whatever is true,
whatever is noble, whatever is right,
whatever is pure, whatever is lovely,
whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or
praiseworthy— think about such things.
Reliable
Firm & Dependable
7 My mouth speaks what is true,
for my lips detest wickedness.
Contrast:
I would rather have speeches that are true
than those which contain merely nice
distinctions. Just as I would rather have
friends who are wise than merely those who
are handsome.
(Augustine)
Righteous
8 All the words of my mouth are just;
none of them is crooked or perverse.
Total Contrast
See Psalm 19:7-11
Straight
Direct
Correct
(vs. 6)
9 To the discerning all of them are right;
they are faultless to those who have knowledge.
Correct
Condition of Hearer
(Matthew 13:14-15)
Proverbs 8:10-11
10 Choose my instruction instead of silver,
knowledge rather than choice gold,
11 for wisdom is more precious than rubies,
and nothing you desire can compare with her.
Big Idea
Urgency
8:1-5
Reasons
8:6-31
Urgency
8:32-36
1. Wisdom is inseparable from truth and justice.(6-11)
Jeremiah 9:24
“But let him who boasts boast about this:
that he understands and knows me,
that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness,
justice and righteousness on earth,
for in these I delight,” declares the LORD.