Proverbs (Part 085) - Pro 8:5-6

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5. Pro 8:5 - "O ye simple, understand wisdom: and, ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart." A. O ye simple, understand wisdom: i. The word "O" is here used by God to impress upon us how important it is to understand wisdom. a. O int. (n.) - 1. Standing before a noun in the vocative relation. 2. In other connexions, or without construction, expressing, according to intonation, various emotions, as appeal, entreaty, surprise, pain, lament, etc. b. Wisdom is emphatically crying out to the simple with emotion to get their attention. (i) Simple people love simplicity which is why they need to be yelled at to be shaken out of their stupor (Pro 1:22). (ii) Simple people often need to have something dramatic happen to them, or to those around them, for them to pay attention and wise up (Pro 19:25; Pro 21:11). (iii) "They who won't listen have to feel." (Grandpa Wagner) ii. Wisdom cries to the simple. a. Simple - B. absol. or as n. 1. a. As pl. Persons in a humble or ordinary condition of life. 2. a. As pl. Those who are unlearned, ignorant, easily misled, unsuspecting, etc. b. As sing. An ignorant or foolish person. b. Wisdom doesn't cry to the wise because they already have wisdom. c. She rather calls to the unlearned, ignorant, easily misled, and foolish. (i) The simple know nothing (Pro 9:13). (ii) They are not discerning and believe everything they hear (Pro 14:15). (iii) They learn folly from their stupid parents who were bad examples and didn't train them well (Pro 14:18). (iv) They have no discernment to foresee evil, so they plow forward and suffer for it (Pro 22:3). iii. Wisdom enjoins the simple to understand wisdom. a. The fact that wisdom calls on the simple to understand wisdom implies that it is possible for them to do so. (i) Wisdom n. - 1. a. Capacity of judging rightly in matters relating to life and conduct; soundness of judgement in the choice of means and ends; sometimes, less strictly, sound sense, esp. in practical affairs: opp. to folly. (ii) Understand v. - 1. To comprehend; to apprehend the meaning or import of; to grasp the idea of. b. Therefore, it's possible for an unlearned, ignorant, gullible, foolish person to learn how to make good decisions to maximize his wellbeing, prosperity, influence, and happiness in this life. (i) This can be accomplished if the simple man will read the word of God, listen to it when it is preached, and endeavor to apply it to his life. (ii) The word of God will make wise the simple (Psa 19:7; Psa 119:130). (iii) The proverbs in particular were written to give subtlety to the simple (Pro 1:4). B. and, ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart. i. This verse is an example of a Hebrew parallelism wherein a point is restated using slightly different wording to elucidate it. ii. Fool n. - 1. a. One deficient in judgement or sense, one who acts or behaves stupidly, a silly person, a simpleton. (In Biblical use applied to vicious or impious persons.) iii. For the simple to understand wisdom, they must be of an understanding heart. iv. In other words, they must have a heart which is capable of understanding. v. God must give an understanding heart if we are to understand wisdom and be wise (1Ki 3:12). vi. But before He does that, we must desire to have one (1Ki 3:9; Jam 1:5). vii. If we lift up our voice for understanding and diligently seek it (Pro 2:3-4), the LORD will give it (Pro 2:5-6). 6. Pro 8:6 - "Hear; for I will speak of excellent things; and the opening of my lips shall be right things." A. Hear; for I will speak of excellent things; i. Wisdom is in essence saying "listen up!". a. Hear v. - 1. a. intr. To perceive, or have the sensation of, sound; to possess or exercise the faculty of audition, of which the specific organ is the ear. 4. To exercise the auditory function intentionally; to give ear, hearken, listen. b. A wise man will hear, increase learning, and attain to wise counsels (Pro 1:5). c. In order to be wise, we must hear counsel and instruction (Pro 8:33; Pro 19:20). d. We should be swift to hear and slow to speak (Jam 1:19), but most people are just the opposite. ii. The reason for hearing what wisdom says is that she speaks of excellent things. a. Excellent adj. - B. adj. 1. Of a person or thing: That excels or surpasses in any respect; preëminent, superior, supreme. Of qualities: Existing in a greater, or an exceptionally great, degree. b. The word of God speaks of excellent things: it is superior to any other book. c. The excellent things which wisdom speaks of are words of truth (Pro 22:20-21). d. When we are instructed out of the law of God and grow in knowledge we will approve the things which are more excellent (Rom 2:18; Php 1:9-10). e. The excellent things which wisdom speaks of are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, virtuous, praiseworthy things (Php 4:8). B. and the opening of my lips shall be right things. i. Wisdom speaks only of right things. a. Right adj. - II. 5. Of persons or disposition: Disposed to do what is just or good; upright, righteous. 6. a. Of actions, conduct, etc.: In accordance with what is just or good; equitable; morally fitting. 7. a. Agreeing with some standard or principle; correct, proper. Also, agreeing with facts; true. b. All of wisdom's words are in righteousness, and there is nothing froward or perverse in them (Pro 8:8). c. God's word is pure (Pro 30:5; Psa 119:140). ii. The word of the LORD is right (Psa 33:4). a. Anything which contradicts the word of God is not right and must be rejected. b. Knowing the Bible will enable us to identify things which are not right and avoid them. c. If we give ear to (hear) God's commandments and keep all His statutes, we will do that which is right in His sight (Exo 15:26; Deut 13:18).