Old Testament Commentary - Proverbs 8

by Don R. Hender


Scriptural Text [& Editorial]
Commentary & Explanation
Footnotes ~ References ~ JST
                 CHAPTER 8                  

Wisdom is greatly to be desired—The Lord and the sons of men possessed wisdom in pre-existence.


WHAT IS WISDOM?


     Proverbs are statements of truth and as such they have much to do with wisdom and Intelligence. Intelligence is equated to 'the light of truth' and it was not created or made (D&C 93:29). Intelligence or 'the light of truth' has always existed, it is eternal in nature. It always has been, is, and will always exist. We are told that whatever degree of intelligence that we can attain to in this life the more it is to our advantage in the life, eternal life, to come (D&C 130:18-19).

Wisdom is directly associated with intelligence. Wisdom involves learning, knowledge an understanding. All the concepts of wisdom abound in truth and light. And whatever principle of intelligence we attain unto in this life will rise with us in the resurrection. In that sense wisdom, principles of intelligence, that light of truth; is of a cummulative and eternal nature. You can accumulate intelligence through diligence and obedience. Knowledge and learning in and of themselves are not wisdom or even intelligence. There is the knowledge and understanding of men and those philosopies and innovations which men can and do contrive of themselves, but they certainly need not have a direct correllation to wisdom, truth or intelligence. A person's IQ supposedly measures one's ability and capacity for leaning. Sadly it is called 'Intelligence Quotient', but that does not necessarily equate to 'Intelligence' in terms of degree of attainment in the acculative obtaining 'principles of intelligence'. Many men who possess great 'mind power' spend their time involved with 'learning the wrong things'. Learning is only of greatest value when it is guided by the 'spirit of light', that is God's truth which is 'the light of truth'. Thus many men of high IQ potential waste it one attaining to self contrived, worthless and often unneedful facts of 'dark learning' which does not lead men to greater 'Intelligence' but actually in the opposite direction, that is into the darkness of deceptive learning.

That is importance of 'wisdom' as 'wisdom' is associated with and governed by those principles of Intelligence which are those of God and Eternity. The obtaining of even one of God's leading eternal principles of Intelligence by way of Spirit quided learning, knowledge and understanding is worth all the contrived theories of men which are not consistant with 'the light of truth'. Much of the 'Ivory Tower' learning of the institutions of 'higher learning' of men. It is 'Wisdom' that marks the difference between that which is important to learn, know and understand, and that which is not, no matter how detailed, complex and of a mental exercise as it may be. Too much of the 'learning of men' is but nonsense especially when compared to the wisdom of the light of truth of God, which is pure intelligence. And it is this intelligence of wisdom that works to one's advantage and advancement in the Eternal Kingdoms of God. For the learning of men is loaded with but temporary folly which is of little signicants in relationship to those eternal principles of wisdom and intelligence of God.

In short, wisdom is the process of selecting those principles of learning, knowledge and understanding which is the eternal light of truth of the Intelligence of God. Too many learned men of science, philosophy and of the world are fruitlessly pre-occupiled in the foolishness of attaining unto that which IS NOT the wisdom of God's Intelligence, 'the eternal light of truth'.


  1 Doth not wisdom acry? 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.
 1a IE to make her availability and
     values known

  4 Unto you, O men, I call; and my voice is to the sons of man.
  5 O ye asimple, understand wisdom: and, ye fools, be ye of an understanding bheart.
  6 Hear; for I will speak of excellent things; and the opening of my lips shall be right things.
  7 For my mouth shall aspeak btruth; and wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
 5a Prov. 1:4
   b Mosiah 2:9; Mosiah 12:27;
     3 Ne. 19:33
 7a TG Communication
   b TG Truth

  8 All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing froward or perverse in them.
  9 They are all plain to him that aunderstandeth, and right to them that find bknowledge.
  10 Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold.
  11 For awisdom is better than brubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it.
   9a 2 Ne. 32:4
     b Prov. 14:6
 11a TG Wisdom
     b Job 28:18

  12 I wisdom dwell with aprudence, and find out knowledge of witty inventions.
  13 The afear of the LORD is to bhate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.
  14 Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom: I am understanding; I have strength.
 12a TG Prudence
 13a TG Reverence
     b Alma 13:12-13

  15 By me akings reign, and princes decree justice.
  16 By me princes rule, and nobles, even all the judges of the earth.
  17 I alove them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.
 15a Prov. 21:1
 17a D&C 76:5-10

  18 Riches and honour are with me; yea, adurable arichesa and righteousness.
  19 My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold; and my revenue than choice silver.
  20 I lead in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment:
 18a durable riches All the 'riches' of this world, whether of gold and silver or of talents, skills and learnings of men, are naught and doomed to but this temporary mortal existence. But is durable and what does last forever are the principles of intelligence, that wisdom of God, that we attain unto in this life, for it is that which will rise with us in the resurrection (D&C 130:18).  18a D&C 130:18 (18-20)
 18a Prov. 3:16

  21 That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures.
  22 The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his aworks of old.
  23 I was set up from aeverlasting, from the bbeginning, or ever the earth was.
 22a TG Creation
 23a TG Eternity
     b D&C 93:29

  24 When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water.
  25 Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth:
  26 While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor athe highest part of the dust of the world.
 26a HEB the head (or first) of the
       dust (or elements) of the earth

  27 When he prepared the heavens, I was there: when he set a acompassa upon the face of the depth:
  28 When he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep:
  29 When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth:
 27a when he set a compass A central part of the creative process is to set the 'limits' or 'bounds', that is the scope and governing conditions of a creative effort. These verses continue to list some of the such a the governing of the clouds or the atmopheric cycles of moisture and air, the governing and establishing the bounds of the sea and the tempertures and rules of science that are so needed to control and govern that, such as gravity extend. There are spans of multiple conditions that must be set within their proper ranges for the creation and governing of life and its extents and conditions. such  27a OR circle; i.e., delimiting bounds,
       as in; Job 26:10

  30 Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him;
  31 Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth; and my delights were with the sons of men.
  32 Now therefore hearken unto me, O ye children: for blessed are they that keep my ways.
  33 Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not.
  34 Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.
  35 For whoso findeth me findeth alife, and shall obtain favour of the LORD.
  36 But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love adeath.
 35a Prov. 21:21
 36a TG Death; TG Death, Spiritual, First