Study Questions – Proverbs #7
Wisdom for All Ages
Proverbs 8:1-36 (CGS#7)
INTRODUCTION: What kind of life do you want to live? What kind of life do you want those around you to experience? These two questions continue to be at the heart of Proverbs. Up to this point in our study of Proverbs, it should stand out to us that Proverbs offers two distinct visions for life. One vision where folly reigns supreme. In folly’s vision for life, passion and temporary desire are the main drivers of the decisions we make. Then, on the other hand there is wisdom and its vision for life. We might read Proverbs and think that wisdom’s view is all about restraint and seeing desire as an always sinful thing. However, that is not the case. Wisdom offers a different perspective on desire, but it doesn’t condemn it altogether. Remember back in chapter five when the father told his son to delight in the wife of his youth? He was instructing his son that physical and sexual intimacy was not a bad thing when it was, in its rightful context, marriage. Folly’s answer was instant gratification and adultery. Wisdom offers faithfulness that leads to a deeper and more beautiful intimacy than we might think possible. Here is how one commentator describes the contrast of these two visions for life on display in chapters 7 and 8.
“Moving from the voice of the adulteress in chapter 7 to the voice of Wisdom in chapter 8 is an exhilarating leap. These are both portraits of women calling out for people to listen and follow. Whereas we saw the adulteress leading many down to death, however, we now see Wisdom offering life to many. The adulteress speaking in chapter 7 was a real, in-the-flesh woman: in fact a woman ensnared in sensual and fleshly pleasures. In chapter 8, on the other hand, Wisdom is a reappearance of the personified figure we have seen before, most clearly back in 1:20–33, where she was crying aloud and raising her voice in the public places of the town. In the introduction to this fourth and climactic wisdom section, we find Wisdom again calling and raising her voice in public places where people of all kinds are likely and able to hear (8:1–3). The wonderful truth, as the beginning and end of this speech remind us, is that these words keep mercifully calling us even now, sinful and simple as we human beings are. The speech in chapter 8 falls into three main sections between the introduction (v 1–3) and the concluding call (v 32–36). First, Wisdom speaks about the nature of her words (v 4–11). Second, she speaks of the benefits she brings (v 12–21). Third, she speaks of her identity (v 22–31). In these sections, Wisdom is revealing herself more and more clearly; it’s as if she is lifting her veil, and we can only marvel at what we get to see.” [1]
Thinker and theologian Jon Mark Comer asks these questions, “Why does injustice reign when so many of us decry it as evil? Why can’t we seem to fix the world’s deepest problems, even with all of our money and technology and political prowess?” His conclusion is the conclusion of Proverbs, “Could it be that our souls are at war with another world?” [2] Proverbs says we have two choices, wisdom or folly, and those choices are in conflict with one another. One (folly) routinely offers a shortcut to desire. The other (wisdom) offers a longer road, but one that leads to life. If we lean in, we will find that wisdom best explains the age we live in and gives a better vision for life. Why? Because wisdom comes from God. In other words, wisdom transcends culture and time.
GETTING STARTED – As a group, take time to answer this question. What is a piece of wisdom that you have found to be just as true today as it was the first time you heard it?
IN THE WORD – Let’s dig back into the passage(s). It is important to strengthen our muscles in reading God’s Word. On Sunday, we walked through the passage in the sermon. Hopefully, that helped you to see the landmarks of the passage with fresh eyes. Now, with your group, go back through it and see what God is saying to you specifically.
First, before you read the passage, take a moment to ask God’s Spirit to quiet your mind and heart and to illuminate the text to you. Second, read the passage aloud to the group. Then, follow the simple method below. (O.P.A)
Observe: Make 8-10 observations from the passage. Pay close attention to observe and note repeated words and phrases, names, places, and themes.
Principles: From your list of observations, what patterns or big ideas do you see emerging? Can you distill it down into 2-4 big idea truths?
Apply: Moving from your list of principles, it is time to apply God’s Word. Remember, we believe that God’s Word is living and active and that it can change the way we live Monday- Friday. What is one tangible way to apply a truth from your list above?
Note: Another way to approach your time together is to talk through the following questions.
- What did you hear God’s Spirit say to you through the passage this week? How does it encourage you? How does it sharpen you?
- Is there an image, word, or picture that stands out to you in the passage from this week, and what about it is powerful or helpful?
- How would you define what an abundant life looks like? How does your answer compare to the answer that Proverbs would give?
- When you think about the factors that guide your decision-making in life, what are they? Proverbs invites us to be honest with this question. Each of us will have godly factors and ungodly factors that we regularly interact with. Wisdom and folly complete for our heart’s attention.
- Looking at Galatians 5:19-24, how do the fruits of the flesh and fruit of the Spirit line up with folly and wisdom? Which is a more compelling view of life, and how do we experience it?
[1] Kathleen Nielson, Proverbs for You, ed. Carl Laferton, God’s Word for You (The Good Book Company, 2020), 68–69.
[2] Comer, John Mark. Live No Lies: Recognize and Resist the Three Enemies That Sabotage Your Peace. Colorado Springs, CO: WaterBrook, 2021.