Pro 8:32 | KingComments | STEP | After the description of the Person of Wisdom and Her work, the logical conclusion, introduced by “now therefore”, must be that the sons listen to Her ( ). To this end, She calls the sons who have Her nature, who are wise. All who “keep” Her ways, She praises “blessed”, for they show that they are not only hearers, but also doers. She calls to heed instruction, for in this way a person can become wise ( ). As an additional exhortation, there is still the call not to reject instruction. Not to listen means to reject. Whoever does so shows that he is a fool. He will not escape eternal punishment. He who listens to the Wisdom is “blessed” ( ). He who listens will make every effort not to miss a word that Wisdom utters. He watches “daily” at the “gates” of Wisdom, to catch and store every word She speaks. We can think of the “gates” and “doorposts” as the entrance to the city and temple of God (cf. ). To watch and wait means to focus on something with full attention. It speaks of waiting with great concentration for what the Wisdom, the Word of God, is going to say. This patient waiting for Wisdom, watchful and close to Her dwelling, is rewarded with finding life ( ). Wisdom and life are intimately connected. The goal of wisdom is to live true life, which is living in fellowship with God. “Favor” means being accepted by God. It is the awareness of the benevolence of or recognition by God. What a fool is one who sins against Wisdom ( ). To sin means to miss the mark, here it is to miss the Wisdom, which is Christ. Christ is the center of all God’s plans. We see that in the Scriptures. Whoever sins against Him, misses Him, misses everything that is important to God. That lack is fatal. Whoever accepts this lack because he does not want the Wisdom is harming himself immensely. It proves hatred against Wisdom and love for what will be his death. Sinners die because they choose against Christ (cf. ).

‏ Proverbs 8:32

The Blessing of Listening to Wisdom

After the description of the Person of Wisdom and Her work, the logical conclusion, introduced by “now therefore”, must be that the sons listen to Her (Pro 8:32). To this end, She calls the sons who have Her nature, who are wise. All who “keep” Her ways, She praises “blessed”, for they show that they are not only hearers, but also doers.

She calls to heed instruction, for in this way a person can become wise (Pro 8:33). As an additional exhortation, there is still the call not to reject instruction. Not to listen means to reject. Whoever does so shows that he is a fool. He will not escape eternal punishment.

He who listens to the Wisdom is “blessed” (Pro 8:34). He who listens will make every effort not to miss a word that Wisdom utters. He watches “daily” at the “gates” of Wisdom, to catch and store every word She speaks. We can think of the “gates” and “doorposts” as the entrance to the city and temple of God (cf. Lk 21:38). To watch and wait means to focus on something with full attention. It speaks of waiting with great concentration for what the Wisdom, the Word of God, is going to say.

This patient waiting for Wisdom, watchful and close to Her dwelling, is rewarded with finding life (Pro 8:35). Wisdom and life are intimately connected. The goal of wisdom is to live true life, which is living in fellowship with God. “Favor” means being accepted by God. It is the awareness of the benevolence of or recognition by God.

What a fool is one who sins against Wisdom (Pro 8:36). To sin means to miss the mark, here it is to miss the Wisdom, which is Christ. Christ is the center of all God’s plans. We see that in the Scriptures. Whoever sins against Him, misses Him, misses everything that is important to God. That lack is fatal. Whoever accepts this lack because he does not want the Wisdom is harming himself immensely. It proves hatred against Wisdom and love for what will be his death. Sinners die because they choose against Christ (cf. Hos 13:9).