As I mentioned a few posts ago, I’ve been trying to do a daily reading of Proverbs.
Proverbs 8 ends with a section called “the man of wisdom.” The voice speaking is wisdom itself, wisdom personified.
“Now therefore, O sons, listen to me, for blessed are they who keep my ways. Heed instruction and be wise, and do not neglect it. Blessed is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at my doorposts. For he who finds me finds life and obtains favor from the Lord. But he who sins against me injures himself; all those who hate me love death.” –Proverbs 8:32-36.
A couple things stood out for me when reading this passage. First, a well-known passage is “For he who finds me finds life and obtains favor from the Lord” (Proverbs 8:35). Probably more than anything I want God’s wisdom for my life. I see this more and more as I get older, that this is what I need most.
Some commentators have suggested that Proverbs 8:22-31 refers to Jesus Himself. Certainly, Jesus is the perfection of God’s wisdom. When I read Proverbs 8:35, I see Jesus here, too. When we find Him, we find life, life eternal!
The other thing that struck me was the end of chapter 8: “All those who hate me love death.” Love death? Wow. But immediately what came to mind was a quote by the terrorist Nidal Hasan. He’s quoted as saying: “We love death more than you love life.” When you couple that to what it says in Proverbs, he and all others like him hate Christ! It’s pretty straightforward. It’s also satanic and demonic!
Have you found wisdom? Have you find life eternal?
May He Increase!
