Below are some preliminary questions to assist in the study of this passage. For a comprehensive study of the passage, download the Study Guide (PDF download).
1. According to Proverbs 3:16-17 (printed below), why is that man who finds wisdom blessed?
Long life is in her right hand, in her left hand are riches and honor. (17) Her ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peaceful. (Proverbs 3:16-17)
How is it that divine wisdom is more precious and more valuable than all the riches of the world? Several reasons are given in verses 16-17. “Long life is in her right hand.” You cannot buy life with all the money in the world, but the divine wisdom of God offers you long life. Note: long life in the promised land of Canaan was the Old Testament form of the covenant blessing; namely, eternal life in the fellowship of the Lord. “In her left hand are riches and honor.” When you make riches your number one priority, you do so at the peril of your soul (1 Timothy 6:9-10); but when you value the wisdom of God above all else, you shall eventually gain the whole world (note Psalm 84:11-12). “Her ways are pleasant ways, and all her paths are peaceful.” The riches of the world cannot buy you peace of mind and peace of soul; often times they are sought after and secured at the expense of those priceless spiritual commodities (note, again, 1 Timothy 6:9-10 referred to above). But divine wisdom will lead you into the pleasant blessings of God and cause you to walk with God in peace.
2. What further benefits and blessings are to be gained from receiving and heeding divine wisdom? See Proverbs 3:21-26 (printed below)
My son, keep sound wisdom and discernment, do not let them out of your sight; (22) they will be life to your soul and an ornament to grace your neck. (23) Then you will walk in your way securely and your foot will not stumble. (24) When you lie down you will not be afraid; indeed, you will lie down and your sleep will be sweet. (25) Have no fear of sudden disaster, nor of the storm that will sweep away the wicked; (26) for Jehovah will be your confidence and he will keep your foot from the snare. (Proverbs 3:21-26)
Verses 22-26 enumerate further benefits and blessings to be gained from divine wisdom. You shall gain “life to your soul and an ornament to grace your neck.” The wisdom of God will be a source of spiritual life to you and will adorn your life with the beauty of godliness that is precious in the sight of God. “You will walk in your way securely and your foot will not stumble;” the wisdom of God will guide you throughout your life and lead you in the way that leads to eternal life. “When you lie down you will not be afraid, …and your sleep will be sweet.” The promise here is that of the protective presence of the Lord. Verses 25-26 give the assurance that the Lord will protect you and cause you to stand on the judgment day.
3. What does divine wisdom testify about itself in Proverbs 8:22-27 (printed below?)
Jehovah possessed me at the beginning of his work, before his deeds of old. (23) I was appointed from eternity, from the beginning, before the world began. (24) When there were no oceans, I was brought forth, when there were no springs abounding with water; (25) before the mountains were settled in place, before the hills, I was brought forth, (26) when he had not yet made the earth or the fields or any of the dust of the world. (27) When he set the heavens in place, I was there, when he marked out the horizon on the face of the deep (Proverbs 8:22-27)
In Proverbs 8:22 divine wisdom itself declares, “Jehovah possessed me…before his deeds of old.” Note Proverbs 8:24, “When there were no oceans, I was brought forth,” and Proverbs 8:25, “Before the mountains were settled in place…I was brought forth.” Wisdom was “brought forth” by God before the creation. In Proverbs 8:23 divine wisdom declares, “I was appointed from eternity…before the world began.” The Hebrew word has the meaning “to appoint to a royal position.” What Proverbs 8:23 is telling us is that wisdom always occupied an exalted, royal position with the Lord. In Proverbs 8:27 divine wisdom declares, “When Jehovah set the heavens in place, I was there.” Wisdom was present with God at the time of creation, or what the Bible calls “the beginning.”
4. Upon comparing the description of divine wisdom given in Proverbs 8:22-27 (printed above under question #3) with such New Testament passages as John 16:27b, John 17:5, and John 1:1-2 (printed below), what do we discover?
I came forth from the Father (John 16:27b)
And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory that I had with you before the world was created. (John 17:5)
In the beginning was the Word (a title for the incarnate Son of God), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (2) He was in the beginning with God. (John 1:1-2)
According to Proverbs 8:24-25, wisdom was “brought forth” by God before the creation. Compare this with what Jesus testifies about Himself: the Son, who is in the bosom of the Father (John 1:18), “came forth from the Father” (John 16:27b, 28). As pointed out above (see question #3), Proverbs 8:23 is telling us that wisdom always occupied an exalted, royal position with the Lord. Compare this with Jesus’ testimony in John 17:5, “And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory that I had with you before the world was created.” Proverbs 8:27 indicates that wisdom was present with God at the time of creation, or what the Bible calls “the beginning.” Speaking of the Lord Jesus Christ, John 1:1-2 declares, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (2) He was in the beginning with God.” The divine wisdom of Proverbs is an Old Testament manifestation of the Son of God who is revealed to us in the New Testament as the Lord Jesus Christ.
5. We demonstrate that we value divine wisdom when we heed its counsel. What counsel does divine wisdom offer in Proverbs 3:27-32 (printed below?)
Do not withhold good from those who deserve it, when you have the ability to do so. (28) Do not say to your neighbor, “Go away and come back another time. Tomorrow I will give”—when you now have the means to help. (29) Do not plot harm against your neighbor, seeing that he trustingly lives beside you. (30) Do not contend with a man for no reason, when he has done you no harm. (31) Do not envy a violent man and do not choose any of his ways; (32) for the man who is perverse is detestable to Jehovah, but his intimate friendship is with the upright. (Proverbs 3:27-32)
In the closing verses of chapter three (verses 27-32) we are provided with a sampling of the commandments and counsel of divine wisdom. We are instructed to practice generosity, kindness and mercy (verse 27), practice integrity and honor (verse 28), practice love towards our neighbor (verse 29), seek to live in peace with those around us (verse 30), and to avoid envying or imitating the ruthless, remember that the upright enjoy the friendship of God (verses 31-32).
