A Tale of Two Ladies--Lady Wisdom speaks for herself! Proverbs 8

 

Move over, King Solomon!  Lady Wisdom can speak for herself.  😉 Actually, Lady Wisdom is going to spend chapter 8 and most of chapter 9 reiterating all that Solomon has taught his son so far.  We see her presenting herself in all the same places we saw in Proverbs 1--in the street, in the markets, at the head of the streets, and at the entrance of the city gates.  She's crying out to all humanity, the naive and foolish.  And although those she calls to are simple, she will be using royal language, all things true and right and straight.  This language isn't meant to confuse, but to call the ones who care to learn--to find and understand knowledge-- to a better way. This instruction and knowledge is worth more than any amount of money.  You could get all the jewels in the world, anything your heart desires, and still wisdom would be more valuable.  

In chapter 8, we see 14 synonyms for wisdom! She wants you to have a well-rounded definition in your mind when you think of her. 😍 Lady Wisdom has been around for a while, after all--"she" was with God at creation!  We can see all 7 days of creation listed--

Day one--8:22-23

Day two--8:24

Day three--8:25-26

Day four---8:27-28a

Day five--8:28b-29

Day six and seven--8:30-31

In John 1:1-3, we see that Jesus was the Word in the beginning; the Word was with God and the Word was God. All things were made through Him, and without Him was not any thing made that was made. 1 Corinthians 1:24 tells us that Christ Jesus is the power of God, and the Wisdom of God! 

 Read Proverbs 8:4-11 again, but this time picture Jesus speaking them instead of Lady Wisdom.  (I learned this prompt in a study I did two years ago with The Village Church.) Does this help to confirm in your mind that Lady Wisdom is Jesus? Jesus calls to us, he teaches us.  He speaks kingdom language, and His kingdom is not of this world.  If the man from Proverbs 7-- the empty minded, senseless man-- stumbles out into the light of the morning after a night in Lady Folly's death bed, Jesus still calls for him.  If he would turn from his wicked ways and pursue wisdom, he would find Wisdom has been pursuing him from the beginning.   Blessed are those who listen to instruction, who keep the ways of Wisdom.  Blessed is the one who watches and waits for Wisdom.  For whoever finds Wisdom finds life and favor.  But whoever doesn't care to learn, or who neglects what they've been taught, Lady Folly is waiting.  Which will you choose?

 {Does it feel weird to refer to Jesus this way?  It does to me, which is why I started with a warning not to get hung up on gender.  This is a teaching tool that the word of God chose to use, and we are going to continue following it throughout the study.}