BIG IDEA:
THE LEGACY OF WISDOM VALIDATES ITS OFFER OF PRECIOUS AND VALUABLE COUNSEL THAT WILL YIELD BLESSING INSTEAD OF CURSING
I. (:1-11) THE CALL OF WISDOM
A. (:1-3) Universal Accessibility – not restricted to some special elite group
“Does not wisdom call out? Does not understanding raise her voice? On the heights along the way, where the paths meet, she takes her stand; beside the gates leading into the city, at the entrances, she cries aloud”
B. (:4-5) Target Audience – those who need wisdom
“To you, O men, I call out; I raise my voice to all mankind. You who are simple, gain prudence; you who are foolish, gain understanding.”
C. (:6-9) Righteous Content – True and Just and Worthwhile and Right
“Listen, for I have worthy things to say; I open my lips to speak what is right. My mouth speaks what is true, for my lips detest wickedness. All the words of my mouth are just; none of them is crooked or perverse. To the discerning all of them are right; they are faultless to those who have knowledge.”
D. (:10-11) Surpassing Value
“Choose my instruction instead of silver, knowledge rather than choice gold, for wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire can compare with her.”
II. (:12-21) THE COMPANIONS OF WISDOM
A. (:12-14) Those Exercising Good Judgment
1. (:12) Positive
a. prudence
b. knowledge
c. discretion
2. (:13) Negative – “to fear the Lord is to hate evil”
a. “I hate pride”
b. “and arrogance”
c. “evil behavior”
d. “and perverse speech”
3. (:14) Positive
a. “Counsel and sound judgment are mine”
b. “I have understanding and power”
B. (:15-16) Those Ruling Righteously
“By me kings reign and rulers make laws that are just; by me princes govern, and all nobles who rule on earth.”
C. (:17) Those Loving and Seeking Wisdom
“I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me.”
D. (:18-21) The Rewards of Wisdom
“With me are riches and honor, enduring wealth and prosperity. My fruit is better than fine gold; what I yield surpasses choice silver. I walk in the way of righteousness, along the paths of justice, bestowing wealth on those who love me and making their treasuries full.”
III. (:22-31) THE CO-EXISTENCE OF WISDOM WITH THE CREATIVE ACTIVITY OF GOD – THE LEGACY OF WISDOM
A. (:22-23) Co-Existence from Eternity Past
“The Lord possessed me at the beginning of his work, before his deeds of old; I was appointed from eternity, from the beginning, before the world began.”
B. (:24-26) Co-Existence from before the Creation of Waters and Earth
“When there were no oceans, I was given birth, when there were no springs abounding with water; before the mountains were settled in place, before the hills, I was given birth, before he made the earth or its fields or any of the dust of the world.”
C. (:27-29) Co-Existence from before the Creation of Heavens and Seas
“I was there when he set the heavens in place, when he marked out the horizonbon the face of the deep, when he established the clouds above and fixed securely the fountains of the deep, when he gave the sea its boundary so the waters would not overstep his command, and when he marked out the foundations of the earth.”
D. (:30-31) Delighting in Partnering in God’s Creative Activity
“Then I was the craftsman at his side. I was filled with delight day after day, rejoicing always in his presence, rejoicing in his whole world and delighting in mankind.”
IV. (:32-36) THE CAUTION OF WISDOM – BLESSING VS CURSING
A. (:32-33) Caution to Listen and Obey
“Now then, my sons, listen to me; blessed are those who keep my ways. Listen to my instruction and be wise; do not ignore it.”
B. (:34-36) Blessing vs Cursing
“Blessed is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at my doorway. For whoever finds me finds life and receives favor from the Lord. But whoever fails to find me harms himself; all who hate me love death.”