Audio Download

Pro 8:1-36 “Does not wisdom cry? and understanding put forth her voice?

[Study Aired Jan 9, 2024]

In this study we will look at some answers in God’s word to the questions “Doth not wisdom cry? and understanding put forth her voice?” (Pro 8:1).

Christ is our wisdom (1Co 1:30, 2Co 3:3-5) who cries out to us and beseeches us to present our lives a living sacrifice to him (Rom 12:1-2), as we hold fast our profession of faith (Heb 4:14, Heb 10:23, 1Co 9:25).

1Co 1:30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:

2Co 3:3 Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ (Rev 20:12) ministered by us (Eph 3:10), written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.
2Co 3:4 And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward:(Eph 1:11-12)
2Co 3:5 Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God;

Heb 4:14 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.

Heb 10:23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)

If we are granted to cleave to our Saviour and resist the lies of the devil as the body of Christ (Jas 4:7, Joh 6:44), which is the church (Col 1:24), then we will be blessed to put forth our voice, which will be reflecting the mind of Christ, the voice of living waters (Zec 14:8, Joh 7:38, Rev 14:1-2).

Col 1:24 Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church:

Zec 14:8 And it shall be in that day, that living waters shall go out from Jerusalem; (Gal 4:26) half of them toward the former sea, and half of them toward the hinder sea: in summer and in winter shall it be.

Joh 7:38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.

Rev 14:1 And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father’s name written in their foreheads.
Rev 14:2 And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps:
Rev 14:3 And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth.

This process of bringing forth of living waters is accomplished by resisting the lies of the devil represented by the crown of thorns (Mat 13:22, Gen 3:18, Heb 6:8, Job 2:9) around Christ’s head (Heb 12:4, Mat 27:29). We must hold fast to the crown of life that God has given us through Christ that represents his mind, and resist the lies, or the thorns and briers of the devil (Rev 3:11, 1Co 2:16).

Heb 12:4 Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.

Mat 27:29 And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews!

Rev 3:11 Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. 

1Co 2:16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.

The body of Christ are the first to come to trust in God (Eph 1:11-12) and acknowledge and recognize that all the work being done in us is His workmanship that we are blessed to be a part of (Eph 2:10).

Eph 1:12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.

Eph 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

We give glory and honour to God as we die daily and learn obedience through that dying process that requires judgement (1Pe 4:17). Ultimately that process of judgement will lead to the blessed and holy first resurrection where the saints will cast back the crowns of righteousness forged in their lives at Christ’s feet. These actions symbolize our acknowledging that we were his workmanship, who were prepared from the foundation of the world to accomplish those works of God to His glory, works that required that we overcome the powers and principalities that we wrestle against in our heavens and gain victory over through Christ alone (Rev 4:8-11, Php 2:12-13).

Rev 4:8 And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy,(Joh 17:17) Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.
Rev 4:9 And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever,
Rev 4:10 The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying,
Rev 4:11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

Pro 8:1 Doth not wisdom cry? and understanding put forth her voice?

These straightforward questions are really a declaration of the truth that wisdom does cry out and understanding does put forth her voice. Christ is the head of the church whose voice is contrasted with that of John the baptist of whom we read, “The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it”. Christ’s voice, was connected to baptizing with fiery trials and contrasted with John the baptist who baptized with water unto repentance (Joh 1:23, Mat 3:11, Heb 12:25-26)

Joh 1:23 He said, I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the prophet Esaias.

Mat 3:11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:

Heb 12:25 See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth (John or Christ Luk 7:33-34), much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven:
Heb 12:26 Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven. (Heb 9:23-24)

Christ is our wisdom who cries out to us in our hearts and minds, and he also uses the church of which He is the head to “put forth her voice”, meaning the manifest knowledge of God is being made known through the church (Eph 3:10) as God gives increase to each joint that supplies in love what is needed for the edifying and building up of the body of Christ (Eph 4:16).

Pro 8:2 She standeth in the top of high places, by the way in the places of the paths.
Pro 8:3 She crieth at the gates, at the entry of the city, at the coming in at the doors.

Wisdom cries from the highest quarters, “the top of high places” which represents Jerusalem above the mother of us all where God’s people are raised through Christ (Gal 4:26, Eph 2:6).

We are in the world and not of it (1Co 5:10), and so if we are being led by the holy spirit in this life, it will be in “in the places of the path” (Rom 8:14, Psa 1:1-3, Psa 23:2-3). It will be with Christ, who makes a way where their appears to be none, in the sea where we will learn to become more than conquerors through him (Php 2:12-13, Isa 43:16, Psa 107:11-15).

Isa 43:16 Thus saith the LORD, which maketh a way in the sea, and a path in the mighty waters;

Psa 107:11 Because they rebelled against the words of God, and contemned the counsel of the most High:
Psa 107:12 Therefore he brought down their heart with labour; they fell down, and there was none to help.
Psa 107:13 Then they cried unto the LORD in their trouble, and he saved them out of their distresses.
Psa 107:14 He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and brake their bands in sunder.
Psa 107:15 Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!

The church crying “at the gates, at the entry of the city, at the coming in at the doors” are all symbolic locations that point to how Christ in us as our hope of glory gives us the ability to enter into the narrow gate (Mat 7:13-14), at the entry of the city which city represents the church of the first born (Heb 12:23), whose doors can only be opened and closed by Christ (Rev 3:7).

Mat 7:13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
Mat 7:14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

Rev 3:7 And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth;

Heb 12:23 To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,

Pro 8:4 Unto you, O men, I call; and my voice is to the sons of man.
Pro 8:5 O ye simple, understand wisdom: and, ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart.

God’s existence has been expressed through the Word, Jesus Christ (Mat 11:27, Joh 1:1-3), who made all things (Rom 1:20, 1Co 8:6). All that physical creation reveals a spiritual reality to those who have eyes to see and ears to hear, and are given the ability to compare spiritual with spiritual using the physical realm (Mat 13:16, 1Co 2:12-14). The world will be without excuse once their eyes are opened to these truths, but today very few are given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven (Mat 13:11).

“What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?” of (Psa 8:4), tells us that even though God calls, or is mindful of us, we also know that many are called of God and few are chosen and remain faithful till the end (Mat 22:14, Rev 17:14) as a result of God’s visitation in our life which is His judgement (Luk 19:44). It is those who go onto be judged and are blessed to endure that judgement until the end, who are being blessed to do the work of casting His bread upon the waters that will return in time (Ecc 11:1, Isa 55:11, 1Co 10:16).

The elect are that bread upon the water, the flesh and bones of Christ (bread of life) that is sacrificed for the world today as we are led by our Saviour (Eph 5:30, 1Jn 3:16). Our desire should always be to point people to Christ, with a readiness of mind to speak the truth to anyone who asks us with “meekness and fear” the reason for the hope within us (1Pe 3:15). These two verses were looking at, (Pro 8:4-5), are an invitation to the wedding supper if God is visiting us in this age (Psa 8:4), which means he will judge us in this age, and finish that work of faith in us through Christ (1Pe 4:17-18, Php 1:6).

Pro 8:6 Hear; for I will speak of excellent things; and the opening of my lips shall be right things.
Pro 8:7 For my mouth shall speak truth; and wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
Pro 8:8 All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing froward or perverse in them.
Pro 8:9 They are all plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that find knowledge.
Pro 8:10 Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold.
Pro 8:11 For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it.

The opening questions of verse one, “Doth not wisdom cry? and understanding put forth her voice?”, which are a proclamation of what God’s words are, is answered for us with such statements as, “I will speak of excellent things; and the opening of my lips shall be right things”, and, “my mouth shall speak truth; and wickedness is an abomination to my lips”, as well as, “All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing froward or perverse in them”.

God is holy (1Pe 1:16), and to those who are blessed to be in pursuit of His mind in this life, a clear and evident truth arises that shows us that God’s words don’t contradict themselves and are “all plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that find knowledge”.

1Pe 1:16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

If we are blessed to receive God’s instruction in this life and lean not unto our own understanding (Pro 3:5-8), we are promised a clarity of mind and peace that is more valuable than any physical things we could desire such as silver or gold (Php 4:7).

Php 4:7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Wisdom is better than rubies, and “all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it”.  These negative uses of gold and silver and rubies and their rejection is just the same as Paul saying, “Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ” (Php 3:8).

Pro 8:12 I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of witty inventions.
Pro 8:13 The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.

It is God’s wisdom that will bring us to see the beasts that we are (Ecc 3:18), and the fear of the LORD will motivate us to “hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate” within me.

Many translations has “witty inventions” ^H4209 translated in a positive sense, as “discretion” or “sound judgment”. However, H4209 is also defined as ‘an evil plan or thought or mischievous devise or lewdness’, and here is this verse in a couple of those translations:

Pro 8:12 I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of witty inventions.(KJV)
Pro 8:12 I, wisdom, have dwelt with prudence, And a knowledge of devices I find out. [good or evil!] (YLT)
Pro 8:12 I, wisdom, have dwelt with prudence, And I find out a knowledge of purposes. [good or evil!] (LSV)

There is no one who dwelt on this earth that was more prudent and wise than Christ, and this verse, “I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of witty inventions”, is a reminder to God’s elect that with Christ as our head we can avail ourselves of that prudence that dwells within Christ and receive whatever knowledge we need for “find[ing] out knowledge of witty inventions” [good or evil] by simply asking our Father in heaven for those things we need (Jas 1:5). 

Jas 1:5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. [Solomon, a type of the elect, does not ask amiss (1Ki 3:11-13, Jas 4:3, Mat 6:8)]
Jas 1:6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.
Jas 1:7 For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.
Jas 1:8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.

Pro 8:14 Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom: I am understanding; I have strength.
Pro 8:15 By me kings reign, and princes decree justice.
Pro 8:16 By me princes rule, and nobles, even all the judges of the earth.

This is the great epiphany in our lives when we come to see the strength that we have when we learn of God’s faithfulness to provide for those who ask of Him both counsel and sound wisdom. When we come to see that Christ is our wisdom and our strength, through whom we can endure all things, we acquire great confidence and hope in this life (Joh 14:20).

Joh 14:20 At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.

It is by Christ that “kings reign, and princes decree justice”, whether they be carnal kings or holy kings who are connected to the King of Kings, and Lord of Lords, Jesus Christ. It is also true that by Christ “princes rule, and nobles, even all the judges of the earth”. How else can we call God sovereign unless the world itself, including its kings and princes, nobles and judges, are all living and moving and having their being in Christ (Act 17:28)? For God’s elect, the difference with that relationship is that God has earmarked those who are His to be in that blessed and holy first resurrection, which will be attained through much tribulation (Rom 8:28, Act 14:22).

Rom 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

Pro 8:17 I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.
Pro 8:18 Riches and honour are with me; yea, durable riches and righteousness.
Pro 8:19 My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold; and my revenue than choice silver.
Pro 8:20 I lead in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment:
Pro 8:21 That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures.

The bible is redundant, but it is a blessed redundancy for those who see the hope filled message being given.

God loves those who love him, but He loved us first and shed His love abroad in the hearts of those that He softened in this life (1Jn 4:19, Rom 5:5). He also caused us to want to seek Him early in this life as a kind of first fruits who, as a result of this relationship, we are promised we would find Him “and those that seek me early shall find me”.

Only Christ can be Christ, so it is the true Shepherd who leads “in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment”, and he does this so “That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures”.

The treasure or fruits that we receive come about by being connected to the vine, Jesus Christ (Joh 15:5), who gives us “durable riches and righteousness” and promises exceedingly great and precious in this life that are of more value “than gold, yea, than fine gold; and my revenue than choice silver”.

Pro 8:22 The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old.
Pro 8:23 I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was.
Pro 8:24 When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water.
Pro 8:25 Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth:
Pro 8:26 While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world.
Pro 8:27 When he prepared the heavens, I was there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth:
Pro 8:28 When he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep:
Pro 8:29 When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth:
Pro 8:30 Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him;
Pro 8:31 Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth; and my delights were with the sons of men.

All of these verses are talking about Christ and his relationship with the Father prior to the creation as well as after he, Christ, created all of the heavens and earth as the beginning of God’s creation who was given the power to do that (Rev 3:14). 

Rev 3:14 And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;

It is also speaking of the predestined work (Pro 8:22) that is unfolding in the body of Christ through God’s spirit that makes it possible for His workmanship (Eph 2:10) to have a start and finish in the lives of those who are being dragged to Christ in this age (Joh 6:44).

Wisdom here is personified, making an intimate relationship more visible for us to embrace (Pro 8:35, Joh 17:26).

Pro 8:35 For whoso findeth me [Wisdom, Christ] findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the LORD.

Joh 17:26 And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them.

Pro 8:32 Now therefore hearken unto me, O ye children: for blessed are they that keep my ways.
Pro 8:33 Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not.
Pro 8:34 Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.
Pro 8:35 For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the LORD.
Pro 8:36 But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death.

The final admonition to the church in these verses (Pro 8:32-33) is stated this way in (Rev 1:3), “Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand”.

Verse 34 reminds us of the zealous and faithful approach that must be taken in order to find God (Jer 29:13, Heb 11:6), and when we find Christ we find life and “obtain favour of the LORD”, as opposed to “he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death” (1Jn 3:14).

Jer 29:13 And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.

Heb 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

1Jn 3:14 We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.