Grace Fellowship ChurchGrace Fellowship Church

Pastor/Teacher - Jim RickardPastor/Teacher - Jim Rickard

www.GraceDoctrine.orgwww.GraceDoctrine.org

Tuesday, August 6, 2013Tuesday, August 6, 2013

1 John 1:9,1 John 1:9,“If we confess our sins, He “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to forgive us our sins and to

cleanse us from all cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”unrighteousness.”

DoxologyDoxology

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;Praise Him, all creatures here below;Praise Him, all creatures here below;Praise Him above, ye heavenly host;Praise Him above, ye heavenly host;

Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.—Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.—Amen.Amen.

The Book of ProverbsThe Book of ProverbsChapter 8Chapter 8

Wisdom’s antiquity Wisdom’s antiquity and work, vs. 22-31.and work, vs. 22-31.

III. Second Exhortation: III. Second Exhortation: Choose wisdom above all else, 8:10. Choose wisdom above all else, 8:10.

1. Reason: Wisdom is most 1. Reason: Wisdom is most valuable, 8:11. valuable, 8:11.

2. Reason: Wisdom has immediate 2. Reason: Wisdom has immediate benefits, 8:12-21. benefits, 8:12-21.

3. Reason: Wisdom’s antiquity 3. Reason: Wisdom’s antiquity and work, 8:22-31. and work, 8:22-31.

IntroductionIntroduction::The relationship of “wisdom” The relationship of “wisdom” to the creation in to the creation in Prov 3:19-Prov 3:19-

2020 is further developed as is further developed as another reason why we should another reason why we should

be Occupied with be Occupied with the Lord Jesus Christ.the Lord Jesus Christ.

““Wisdom” is exalted based on Wisdom” is exalted based on her antiquity, in the analogy her antiquity, in the analogy

that the elderly deserve honor that the elderly deserve honor and respect.and respect.

Prov 16:31; 20:29Prov 16:31; 20:29

She was part of the process of She was part of the process of creation, Prov 3:19-20, and creation, Prov 3:19-20, and understands the secrets of understands the secrets of

existence, so that her counsel existence, so that her counsel is in line with the way things is in line with the way things

really are. really are.

Two main pointsTwo main points: : 1) Wisdom’s existence “before” 1) Wisdom’s existence “before” creation of the heavens and the creation of the heavens and the

earth, vs. 22-26.earth, vs. 22-26.

Two main pointsTwo main points: : 1) Wisdom’s existence “before” 1) Wisdom’s existence “before” creation of the heavens and the creation of the heavens and the

earth, vs. 22-26. earth, vs. 22-26. 2) Wisdom’s existence “when” 2) Wisdom’s existence “when” or “during” the creation of the or “during” the creation of the heavens and earth, vs. 27-30a.heavens and earth, vs. 27-30a.

It concludes with “wisdom’s” It concludes with “wisdom’s” celebration, delight and joy, celebration, delight and joy,

during and after creation, during and after creation, representing herself as an representing herself as an

active worshiper, vs. 30b-31. active worshiper, vs. 30b-31.

1. Wisdom existed before 1. Wisdom existed before Creation, vs. 22-26.Creation, vs. 22-26.

Vs. 23-26 give us four Vs. 23-26 give us four analogies of God’s creative analogies of God’s creative

act in comparison to the act in comparison to the existence of “wisdom”, existence of “wisdom”,

indicating she existed before indicating she existed before them all.them all.

Prov 8:22Prov 8:22 “Possessed” “Possessed”

God is not man who gradually God is not man who gradually gains knowledge and wisdom gains knowledge and wisdom over time. He is Omniscient, over time. He is Omniscient,

Eternal, Infinite and Eternal, Infinite and Immutable as is His wisdom.Immutable as is His wisdom.

““Before” - QEDEM, Before” - QEDEM, ֶק�ֶד�םֶק�ֶד�ם ““Wisdom” existed before the Wisdom” existed before the

earliest of God’s creative earliest of God’s creative works. works.

Prov 8:23Prov 8:23

1. Before the creation of the 1. Before the creation of the earth, “wisdom” existed. earth, “wisdom” existed.

““From everlastingFrom everlasting” ” MIN OLAM, MIN OLAM, עֹו�ָל�םעֹו�ָל�ם

The Word of God existed in The Word of God existed in eternity past, before the eternity past, before the

creation of the heavens and creation of the heavens and the earth.the earth.

““I was establishedI was established” ” NASAK, NASAK, ְך �ַס� ָנ ְך �ַס� ָנ

God’s Word was woven together God’s Word was woven together having been anointed as our having been anointed as our

protector from sin and evil before protector from sin and evil before the creation of the heavens and the the creation of the heavens and the

earth, the beginning of time. earth, the beginning of time.

Prov 8:24Prov 8:24 2. Before water existed on the 2. Before water existed on the earth, both oceans and fresh earth, both oceans and fresh

water, “wisdom” existed.water, “wisdom” existed.

““I was brought forthI was brought forth” ” CHYIL, CHYIL, ִח�יָלִח�יָל

““To receive intense labor To receive intense labor pains.” pains.”

cf. Psa 90:2; Isa 66:8 cf. Psa 90:2; Isa 66:8

““Since wisdom was already Since wisdom was already present before the depths and present before the depths and

the springs, before the the springs, before the mountains and hills (Prov mountains and hills (Prov

8:24f), she ranks above the 8:24f), she ranks above the rest of creation and is close to rest of creation and is close to

God.” (Baumann, TDOT)God.” (Baumann, TDOT)

Prov 8:25Prov 8:25

3. Before land masses were 3. Before land masses were created, wisdom existed.created, wisdom existed.

Mountains and Hills represent Mountains and Hills represent the foundation and heights of the foundation and heights of

the earth, its pillars, yet the earth, its pillars, yet “wisdom” is greater.“wisdom” is greater.

Prov 8:26Prov 8:26

4. Before the creation of top 4. Before the creation of top soil, and the basic elements to soil, and the basic elements to

make the earth, wisdom make the earth, wisdom existed.existed.

MadeMade” - ASAH, ” - ASAH, ָע�ָׂש��הָע�ָׂש��ה,,“To do or make.” The concept “To do or make.” The concept of building something out of of building something out of something that already is in something that already is in

existence, cf. Gen 1:7, 16, 25-existence, cf. Gen 1:7, 16, 25-26, 31; 2:2-4.26, 31; 2:2-4.

ConclusionConclusion::The Bible predates the The Bible predates the

creation of this world. It was creation of this world. It was present before God’s creative present before God’s creative

acts and therefore is wiser acts and therefore is wiser than the oldest sages and than the oldest sages and writings of this world. writings of this world.

It is older than the world and It is older than the world and therefore garners our utmost therefore garners our utmost

respect and attention.respect and attention.

Grace Fellowship ChurchGrace Fellowship ChurchTuesday August 6, 2013Tuesday August 6, 2013

Tape # 13-083Tape # 13-083

Proverbs Chapter 7Proverbs Chapter 7

Wisdom Existed Prior To TheWisdom Existed Prior To The Creation Of The WorldCreation Of The World

Prov 8:22-31, (22-26); 3:19-20Prov 8:22-31, (22-26); 3:19-20

James H. Rickard Bible Ministries 2013James H. Rickard Bible Ministries 2013