Doth not wisdom cry? and understanding put forth her voice?
2 She standeth in the top of high places, by the way in the places of the paths.
3 She crieth at the gates, at the entry of the city, at the coming in at the doors.
One of the first things that comes to mind is something we read earlier in proverbs:
The Lord by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath he established the heavens (Proverbs 3:19).
The entire creation speaks of the wisdom of God if we can hear it. You can read some about that in the study here: Considering Proverbs 3:19-20
What about verse 2?
I think about a common theme among Jesus in which the proud are humbled and the humble are exalted.
I also think of the importance of wisdom.
Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding (Proverbs 4:7).
With wisdom we find the right path to take, and that might not be the well-trodden path we highly esteem.
Both meanings of verse 2 seems true: a representation of that which is laid low by wisdom as well as the importance of wisdom. The two go together.
We all need wisdom. In general terms, wisdom is attributed as fear of the lord, hate for what is wicked, and love for what is righteous.
In the Parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins, we see that the wise are ready to meet the Bridegroom when he returns, and the others are not. (Matthew 25).
Wisdom is obviously important for a Christian, and if we find wisdom then we will discover that the so-called important things of this world are made into nothing. We will also find that the ways of God are often despised by this world and counted as nothing.
Jesus said a lot about humility. For a good starting point, you can read about humility in Matthew 18, Luke 14, and Matthew 23.
One of the things Jesus teaches is that we cannot find the Kingdom of Heaven without humility. This comes first when we understand our sin and our dependence on Him. In any case, Jesus knows our frame. He will work on our pride, and He often does so by bringing all the things we highly esteem—especially over Him—to nothing.
Jesus also humbles us by working in the lives of people we might think little of while refusing those we deem as important. “God resists the proud and gives grace to the humble.” This is true in many capacities, the ministry of Jesus Himself being the prime example.
What about the gates and the entrance of the city?
This is the first scripture that comes to mind:
Psalm 24:
The earth is the Lord‘s, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.
2 For he hath founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the floods.
3 Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? or who shall stand in his holy place?
4 He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.
5 He shall receive the blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation.
6 This is the generation of them that seek him, that seek thy face, O Jacob. Selah.
7 Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.
8 Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle.
9 Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.
10 Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, he is the King of glory. Selah.
I don’t know if this is what is meant by “lift up your head O ye gates,” but I think about that which guards the entrance into a city. I consider this to be a metaphor for anything that stands in between us and Jesus. If we lift up the head of the gate, if we let Jesus in, then we will receive the King of glory who is mighty in battle, powerful to save us from our enemies.
Jesus said: “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.”
The above is from Revelation 3, but you can also learn more about this in John 14 concerning the Holy Spirit.
Jesus provides us with wisdom if we ask for it, and with wisdom we will stand strong against all things that come against us in the faith.
However, the wisdom Jesus provides will go against most things we are comfortable with. We need to be ready to challenge ourselves, and we cannot be double minded about this.
We cannot have the wisdom of this world (which is more natural and comfortable) and the wisdom of God at the same time (which often results in fighting temptation, enduring difficulties, and chastisement from God).
The above concepts remind me of this scripture:
James 1
1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.
2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
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.
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.
7 For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.
8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.
9 Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted:
10 But the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away.
11 For the sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withereth the grass, and the flower thereof falleth, and the grace of the fashion of it perisheth: so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways.
12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.
13 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:
14 But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
16 Do not err, my beloved brethren.
17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.
18 Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
19 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:
20 For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.
21 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.
22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:
24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.
25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.
26 If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain.
27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.
There is a lot that we can take away from this chapter in James, and we might consider this chapter more as we continue looking at Proverbs 8.
I know a lot of scripture was mentioned here, but this is an important topic. We need to understand that the wisdom of God is foolishness to man. We need to seek wisdom from Jesus so that we can stand strong in the day of temptation, both in our daily lives and in the final days should we be here.
Wisdom is best learned through a life of seeking Jesus ourselves. I hope these studies will inspire some to seek Him more fully.
What about myself? I can think of some high things that need to be made low within my heart. I can also think of ways in which Jesus needs to be exalted above these things. I can also consider well-trodden paths that seem appealing but only lead me away from the Lord and what He has given me.
This might be a little self-gratifying, but I also say this for the sake of my accusers: I do not like to be contrarian. Anyone who knows me understands that about my nature. I am naturally a people pleaser, even to a fault. Though, Jesus is working on that heavily. You cannot please God and man.
If I were trying to make myself into something or trying to show off, I would go about things much differently.
I know there is something to this unpopular path that the Lord set in front of myself and others, and Lord willing I will not overly stray from it. I trust in the Lord for all who trod the unpopular paths in this world.
Any discussion is welcome. If you have thoughts, questions, or anything you want to share please do.
Jesus Alone 