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Proverbs 8New Living Translation
Wisdom Calls for a Hearing
8 Listen as Wisdom calls out!
Hear as understanding raises her voice!
2 On the hilltop along the road,
she takes her stand at the crossroads.
3 By the gates at the entrance to the town,
on the road leading in, she cries aloud,
4 “I call to you, to all of you!
I raise my voice to all people.
5 You simple people, use good judgment.
You foolish people, show some understanding.
6 Listen to me! For I have important things to tell you.
Everything I say is right,
7 for I speak the truth
and detest every kind of deception.
8 My advice is wholesome.
There is nothing devious or crooked in it.
9 My words are plain to anyone with understanding,
clear to those with knowledge.
10 Choose my instruction rather than silver,
and knowledge rather than pure gold.
11 For wisdom is far more valuable than rubies.
Nothing you desire can compare with it.
12 “I, Wisdom, live together with good judgment.
I know where to discover knowledge and discernment.
13 All who fear the Lord will hate evil.
Therefore, I hate pride and arrogance,
corruption and perverse speech.
14 Common sense and success belong to me.
Insight and strength are mine.
15 Because of me, kings reign,
and rulers make just decrees.
16 Rulers lead with my help,
and nobles make righteous judgments.[a]
17 “I love all who love me.
Those who search will surely find me.
18 I have riches and honor,
as well as enduring wealth and justice.
19 My gifts are better than gold, even the purest gold,
my wages better than sterling silver!
20 I walk in righteousness,
in paths of justice.
21 Those who love me inherit wealth.
I will fill their treasuries.
22 “The Lord formed me from the beginning,
before he created anything else.
23 I was appointed in ages past,
at the very first, before the earth began.
24 I was born before the oceans were created,
before the springs bubbled forth their waters.
25 Before the mountains were formed,
before the hills, I was born—
26 before he had made the earth and fields
and the first handfuls of soil.
27 I was there when he established the heavens,
when he drew the horizon on the oceans.
28 I was there when he set the clouds above,
when he established springs deep in the earth.
29 I was there when he set the limits of the seas,
so they would not spread beyond their boundaries.
And when he marked off the earth’s foundations,
30 I was the architect at his side.
I was his constant delight,
rejoicing always in his presence.
31 And how happy I was with the world he created;
how I rejoiced with the human family!
32 “And so, my children,[b] listen to me,
for all who follow my ways are joyful.
33 Listen to my instruction and be wise.
Don’t ignore it.
34 Joyful are those who listen to me,
watching for me daily at my gates,
waiting for me outside my home!
35 For whoever finds me finds life
and receives favor from the Lord.
36 But those who miss me injure themselves.
All who hate me love death.”
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Bill Elliff
Proverbs 8
THE ENDGAME OF YOUR DAILY PURSUITS
December 08, 2014
All of us pursue things in life. In fact, today will be a record of your pursuits—whether in business, pleasure, family, entertainment, relationships, etc. What you really value you will pursue.
But the most important question about today is this:
Will you pursue God?
Will you run after Him and His wisdom?
The inspired writer of Proverbs knew the most important direction. He reminds us of the direction needed and the endgame assured.
Blessed is the man who listens to me,
Watching daily at my gates, waiting at my doorposts.
For he who finds me finds life and obtains favor from the Lord.
But he who sins against me injures himself; all those who hate me love death. (Proverbs 8:34-36)
The DIRECTION
“”Blessed is the man who listens to Me.””Blessing is promised to the one who turns his ear and heart and attention to Christ. Who makes knowing Christ the passion of his life.
The DAILYNESS
“”Watching daily at my gates.”” This is not an occasional or sporadic pursuit, but must be the regular, daily passion of your life because you know the results of an undirected life.
The DOORPOSTS
“”Waiting at my doorposts.”” Doors and gates were important in Solomon’s day for there was often only one way into a city or building. Therefore to wait at the doorpost meant you were going to encounter everything that passed by. This indicates something of the intentionality and intensity needed in this pursuit.
The PROMISE
There is both a positive and negative promise. If you find Christ (wisdom) you will find life and favor from God. But if you neglect this, you will injure yourself and find death. Read that last sentence again carefully. Is that really what you want? It will be the reality for every man who fails to be intentional about the trajectory of his passions.
So, what will you pursue today? Evaluate your activity…for days turn into weeks and weeks to years. And soon the sum total of your daily pursuits will tell the tale of your life.
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Scripture Passage: Proverbs 2:1-9
The Book of Proverbs was not written by human experience, but by divine revelation. The insight encased in these pages are not just things worked out by human ingenuity. They are God’s words of wisdom, given by inspiration of the Holy Spirit.
The Book of Proverbs is King Solomon’s love letter of wisdom, given to him by God alone, to his child. And we, as children of the King of Kings, can read it with full confidence that these words from our Father are for our best interest. They are for our health, wealth, and wisdom.
But the greatest of these is wisdom.
Wisdom is the most important virtue we could ever obtain. Proverbs 8:11 says: “For wisdom is better than rubies and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it.”
Wisdom’s worth comes from the Father. He is the One who provides it, promises it, and initiates the purpose of it.
The Bible says that great men are not always wise. There is a difference between knowledge and wisdom. A lot of people have head knowledge but lack wisdom. You can obtain knowledge without the Holy Spirit, but you cannot get true wisdom without the Holy Spirit. And it comes, not from books, but from knowing Jesus.
In order to know the secrets of the universe, you have to know the Lord Jesus Christ, for the Bible says in Colossians 2:3 “In him (Jesus) lie hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.”
Adrian Rogers said it this way: “When a man reverences God, when a man receives Christ, when a man has a personal encounter, that man receives the wisdom of God and here is the incomparable worth of wisdom. It, dear friend, is provided by the father. It is produced by the spirit but only by the presence of the son. When you have the Lord Jesus Christ in your heart then you are ready to have that real Wisdom.”
Apply it to your life
True wisdom comes from a relationship with Jesus. Ask him for wisdom today and pursue Scripture, perhaps starting in the Book of Proverbs, with fresh eyes. Hide what you read in your heart. Appreciate it. Appropriate it. Simulate it. Activate it in your life.
The Daily Hatch 