Proverbs 8:22 says, The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old.  Solomon had been speaking about wisdom, but now we see that this wisdom comes from Christ and likewise refers to Him.  These next few verses refer to the eternal nature of Christ.  Verse twenty-three states, I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was.  Christ is eternal, without beginning or end, therefore He existed even before the earth existed.  We must accept this fact by faith if we are to put our faith in Christ.  Verse twenty-four says, When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water.  This tells us that Christ predates the oceans and the fountains.  Scientists today are always attempting to find evidence that there is or was water on other planets, but we are told that God brought forth the water.  Still, if evidence of water was found elsewhere, it would not change my understanding that God created everything.  Verse twenty-five adds, Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth:  We hear the term older than the hills used to refer to someone who is getting very old, but Christ is indeed older than the hills and mountains.  Verse twenty-six declares, While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world.  Christ tells us that He existed before the earth itself existed.  Again, I may not fully understand everything about creation, but by faith I can accept the eternal nature of Christ.  Verse twenty-seven states, When he prepared the heavens, I was there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth:  This is a continuation of the discussion of the eternal nature of Christ.  He existed even before the heavens did.  As vast as the universe is, it is still God's creation.  Verse twenty-eight adds,  When he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep:  Then verse twenty-nine continues, When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth:  These two verses continue to discuss creation, particularly the separation of the water from the land.  The way the world functions is not the result of an accident, but is according to God's plan.  Verse thirty says, Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him;  This is a reference to the eternal nature of Christ.  He was with the heavenly Father at creation, because They and the Holy Spirit are One.  Verse thirty-one declares, Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth; and my delights were with the sons of men.  Jesus said He rejoiced in the habitable pert of the world, and He delighted in the people.  Mankind was God's crowning creation, given life by His breath.  We too often fail to bring God delight though, because along with the breath life, He gave us free will to choose whether to obey Him or not.  Verse thirty-two states, Now therefore hearken unto me, O ye children: for blessed are they that keep my ways.  Since God is the One Who created and sustains the world, we are called to listen to and obey His word.  Verse thirty-three continues, Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not.  If we are to be wise, or live with wisdom guiding us, we will hear and obey the words of God.  As followers of Christ, I believe that God speaks to us continually through the Holy Spirit, if we are only listening.  Verse thirty-four states, Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.  If we wish to be blessed, we will actively seek the will of God in our lives.  We are not to just sit by passively hoping God might speak to us.  We are to actively listen daily for God's word.  Verse thirty-five states, For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the LORD.  Though God calls all people to Him, not all believe, or find, Him.  Those who do are promised everlasting life, beginning at the time they accept Christ as their Savior and Lord.  Verse thirty-six warns, But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death.  We can either accept Christ as our Savior and Lord and have forgiveness and restoration with God through Him, or we can reject Christ and go away into eternal punishment and separation from God.  Each individual must make this choice for himself or herself alone.

Proverbs 8:13 says, The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.  We can now see that wisdom points us to Christ.  The first step in gaining the wisdom of Christ is to not be filled with evil pride and arrogance.  Anyone who promotes themself as being superior to other people is not following God's teachings.  Verse fourteen states, Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom: I am understanding; I have strength.  When we accept the council of God, we gain sound wisdom and understanding.  The wisdom of the world, when it denies God, can never be sound wisdom.   Verse fifteen adds, By me kings reign, and princes decree justice.  I believe that this means that without God allowing them to that no one could be an earthly ruler.  Though some might disagree, I don't believe that this means that God has placed all earthly rulers in their position.  God simply allows them to be in power for a time.  Verse sixteen continues, By me princes rule, and nobles, even all the judges of the earth.  As just discussed, I believe this means by God allowing them to that the princes and nobles rule, and not that God placed them in power.  Verse seventeen declares, I love them that love me; and those that seek me early shall find me.  This does not mean that God's love is limited to a particular group of people, but that God's love only benefits us when we accept Christ as our Savior and Lord.  We are better off if we do this early in life instead of delaying our acceptance of salvation.  Verse eighteen states, Riches and honour are with me; yea, durable riches and righteousness.  I do not believe this is referring to earthly riches and honor, which are but temporary, but the riches and honor of God, which are indeed durable.  They will last forever.  Verse nineteen declares, My fruit is better than gold, yea, than fine gold; and my revenue than choice silver. This is just another way of saying that the things of God are worth more than any earthly riches.  Verse twenty states,  I lead in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgment:  God leads us in the way of righteousness in the world.  We simply have to be willing to follow Him.  Verse twenty-one adds, That I may cause those that love me to inherit substance; and I will fill their treasures.  When we love and follow God, we will inherit a things of substance, which begins with everlasting life with the heavenly Father through our faith in Christ.  Anything other than that is just a bonus and should never be the reason we follow Christ.

Proverbs 8:1 says, Doth not wisdom cry? and understanding put forth her voice?  Solomon asks doesn't wisdom cry out to us.  Wisdom and understanding are easy to find if we are truly seeking them.  The wisdom and understanding of God's call to follow Him are easily understandable.  Even a child can understand God's call.  Verse two states, She standeth in the top of high places, by the way in the places of the paths.   Wisdom, which can really only come from God, is all around us if we are looking for it.  Far from being hidden, wisdom cries to us from the high places.  Verse three adds, She crieth at the gates, at the entry of the city, at the coming in at the doors.  I believe that we can say that the wisdom of God calls out to us from everywhere.  I believe this means that instead of not being able to understand God's wisdom, which comes from His word, we must reject it instead.  No one will be able to stand before God and claim that He never revealed Himself to that person.  Verse four declares, Unto you, O men, I call; and my voice is to the sons of man.  God calls everyone to Him.  God may work through His followers to reach people with the message of Christ, but He is already at work calling them to Him.  We have the responsibility to share the gospel, but we cannot cause anyone to accept it.  This is entirely between each individual and God.  Until someone responds to God's call in faith, no matter how loudly the wisdom of God is proclaimed, it will mean nothing to that person.  Verse five says, O ye simple, understand wisdom: and, ye fools, be ye of an understanding heart.  We do not have to be the brightest student to understand the wisdom of God.  Even simple, foolish people can understand God's call to Christ, which is the first step toward wisdom and understanding.  Then, once we accept Christ as our Savior and Lord, we have the Holy Spirit to lead us to a greater understanding of God.  Verse six declares, Hear; for I will speak of excellent things; and the opening of my lips shall be right things.  In order to understand Gods word, or the wisdom of God, we must first listen to God.  Even when studying God's written word for us, the Bible, we must do so under the leadership of the Holy Spirit.  When we do listen to God's word, we do hear things that are right.  Verse seven says, For my mouth shall speak truth; and wickedness is an abomination to my lips.  God's word is always the truth.  We cannot pick and choose which parts of God's word to believe.  We must accept all of God's word as truth, even if we do not fully understand parts of it, for example, the events of the second coming.  We are to accept the truth of the second coming, but cannot know the date of it.  Verse eight says, All the words of my mouth are in righteousness; there is nothing froward or perverse in them.  God's word is always righteous.  There is really nothing to add to that statement, other than the fact that we should therefore believe it.  Verse nine says, They are all plain to him that understandeth, and right to them that find knowledge.  God's words are plain enough, and lead us to knowledge and understanding of God.  Understanding God's word begins with believing in Jesus as our Savior and making Him the Lord of our life, and this is done through faith.  It is so simple even a child can understand it.  Verse ten declares, Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold.  This tells us to value God's word more than silver or gold.  We, as followers of Christ, cannot allow the things of this world to become more important than God's word.  Verse eleven adds, For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it.  This is the wisdom of God and what His word teaches us, and not the wisdom of the world.  True wisdom can only come from God.  Verse twelve says, I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of witty inventions.  Wisdom of God leads us to prudence, and knows the way that all witty inventions, of which we have many.

Proverbs 7:10 says, And, behold, there met him a woman with the attire of an harlot, and subtil of heart.  Solomon is still talking about the simple young man who was passing the house of this wife, who was dressed and acting like anything but a wife.  She was dressed to entice someone, though it may not have been this particular young man.  Verse eleven states, (She is loud and stubborn; her feet abide not in her house:  Then verse twelve adds, Now is she without, now in the streets, and lieth in wait at every corner.)  Solomon tells us that even though the young man had possibly been watching or noticing her, that the woman did not wait to see if he was going to come to her.  She went out in the streets looking for him, or maybe more accurately someone like him.  Verse thirteen declares, So she caught him, and kissed him, and with an impudent face said unto him,  Here, the woman was the aggressor, though more often it is the man.  She caught the young man and kissed him.  Had the young man been following the wisdom of God, he would have fled, or not have even put himself in this position to start with.   Verse fourteen says, I have peace offerings with me; this day have I payed my vows.  She said that the young man did not have to worry about money, because she had money, or peace offerings.  She also said that she had paid her vows.  Matthew Henry says that she had been to the temple and made offerings for her sins, and now she felt free to begin again.  This is not the way the forgiveness of God works.  We cannot buy God's forgiveness, nor can we buy His indulgence.  Verse fifteen adds, Therefore came I forth to meet thee, diligently to seek thy face, and I have found thee.  The woman basically said that having paid her vows, she was now seeking out this young man.  Again, I believe that it could have basically been any young man, but she chose this one, possibly because she had seen him watching her.  We do know that sin often begins by looking at someone or something with a self centered attitude instead of an attitude of glorifying God.  In verse sixteen she continues, I have decked my bed with coverings of tapestry, with carved works, with fine linen of Egypt.  Then verse seventeen adds, I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.  The women told the young man that she had prepared nicely for their sinful encounter.  She wasn't leaving anything to chance.  People today often spend a lot of time and money to set up sinful encounters, whether they be sexual or otherwise.  Though in this case the woman is seen as the one pursuing the young man, she could not have enticed him if he had not been willing to follow her invitation.  We are just as guilty of sin whether we initiate it or simply give in to it.  If we are following God with wisdom and understanding of His commandments, the we will not give in to temptation if we encounter it.  In verse eight she says, Come, let us take our fill of love until the morning: let us solace ourselves with loves.  Though she described the encounter as acting in love, it was far from it.  She was married, and not to him.  Verse nineteen states, For the goodman is not at home, he is gone a long journey:  Verse twenty adds,  He hath taken a bag of money with him, and will come home at the day appointed.  Her husband was to be away on business for a long time, and she knew when to expect him back.  She wasn't worried about her husband coming back suddenly.  Sometimes, conditions seem to make sinning easier.  Verse twenty-one says, With her much fair speech she caused him to yield, with the flattering of her lips she forced him.  This says that she seduced the young man, though often just the opposite happens.  Verse twenty-two states, He goeth after her straightway, as an ox goeth to the slaughter, or as a fool to the correction of the stocks;  We are told that the young man goes away guilty, because even if he was seduced, he knew that what he was doing was wrong.  We cannot avoid our guilt from sin simply because we were tempted into it.  Verse twenty-three states, Till a dart strike through his liver; as a bird hasteth to the snare, and knoweth not that it is for his life.  Even if the young man doesn't feel guilty, the result of the sin is just as deadly spiritually.  We cannot commit sin without a penalty.  Fortunately, if we are a follower of Christ, He has paid the penalty.  This still doesn't give us a license to sin.  Verse twenty-four declares, Hearken unto me now therefore, O ye children, and attend to the words of my mouth.  This is a call for us to both listen and obey the teachings of God.  Verse twenty-five adds, Let not thine heart decline to her ways, go not astray in her paths.  This is the message we are to hear and heed.  We are not to allow ourselves to be tempted by the actions of others, no matter how appealing they may be.  Verse twenty-six states, For she hath cast down many wounded: yea, many strong men have been slain by her.  This young man was no one special to her, and he wasn't the first to be led into sin.  Verse twenty-seven concludes, Her house is the way to hell, going down to the chambers of death.  Any temptation that leads us away from God leads us toward hell.  Though we will not lose our salvation if we have accepted Christ as Savior, at least in the instance when we give in to temptation to sin, He is not the Lord of our life.  If we keep Christ first, we will act in wisdom and not be tempted by worldly lusts or desires.

Proverbs 7:1 says, My son, keep my words, and lay up my commandments with thee.
This is another call for us to keep the commandments of God.  If we are to keep them, then we must know them.  Verse two states, Keep my commandments, and live; and my law as the apple of thine eye.  Keeping God's commandments, under the leadership of the Holy Spirit, brings life.  Though we cannot claim everlasting life through simply keeping the commandments, because we all fall short of keeping them completely, they do lead to a better relationship with people and with God.  They are still to direct our path.  Verse three says, Bind them upon thy fingers, write them upon the table of thine heart.  God's commandments are to be written in our hearts.  Even if we have them bound on our fingers, the most important thing is to have them guide our every action.  Verse four declares, Say unto wisdom, Thou art my sister; and call understanding thy kinswoman:  Wisdom and understanding are to be like close kinsmen to us.  We must live every day with wisdom and understanding, which can only come when we acknowledge the leadership of God through our relationship with Christ.  This is not a call to learn more facts, but a call to live by the wisdom that God is alive in our lives and directs our path.  Worldly wisdom will not do, but only God given wisdom will lead us to the best in life.  Verse five adds, That they may keep thee from the strange woman, from the stranger which flattereth with her words.  This is another warning that God's wisdom will keep us from falling into sexual temptations.  If we are following Christ in every aspect of our life, then we will not be tempted by things that oppose what He teaches us.  Verse six states, For at the window of my house I looked through my casement,  Solomon simply says he was looking out his window.  We may often be looking out on life as well.  Verse seven states, And beheld among the simple ones, I discerned among the youths, a young man void of understanding,  Solomon said he saw a young man devoid of understanding among the youth.  How often do we look out on the youth of the world today and see those that appear to be devoid of understanding by the way they act.  Verse eight states, Passing through the street near her corner; and he went the way to her house,  Matthew Henry says this was a married woman whose husband wasn't at home.  Whether married or single, she tempted the simple youth.  I believe this means that he was inexperienced in sexual situations.  Verse nine adds, In the twilight, in the evening, in the black and dark night:  This occurred not in the light of day, but in the darkness of night.  People often want the darkness of night to cover them when they know that they are doing something wrong.  Of course, some people don't seem to care whether it is day or night, because they aren't worried about hiding their sins.   Without the wisdom and understanding of God, we are always in spiritual darkness, whether it is daylight or dark outside.

Proverbs 6:24 says, To keep thee from the evil woman, from the flattery of the tongue of a strange woman.  This still comes under the reasons to keep God's commandments, and when we do they will keep us from evil women who would entice us with flattery, and I believe would also apply to evil men who would tempt women.  Satan will never come to us to tempt us with things that will not appeal to us, but will always appear in a way that is tempting.  Verse twenty-five states, Lust not after her beauty in thine heart; neither let her take thee with her eyelids.  We are warned against lusting after a strange woman, or even looking at her with lust.  We need to view women as God's children, even if they don't act like it.  We are never to view them simply as objects of lust, as we hear so much about men doing today.  Of course, the same could be said of the way some women view men.  Verse twenty-six declares, For by means of a whorish woman a man is brought to a piece of bread: and the adulteress will hunt for the precious life.  Giving in to temptation, whether it be sexual or otherwise, will always lead to destruction.  This is why we should be guided by God's commandments and laws.  Verse twenty-seven asks, Can a man take fire in his bosom, and his clothes not be burned?  This is just another way of saying if we play with the fire of temptation, then we are going to get burned.  Verse twenty-eight adds, Can one go upon hot coals, and his feet not be burned?  There may be people who walk on hot coals without being burned, but this is not normally the situation.  The best way to avoid being burned is to not step on the coals, just as the best way to keep from giving in to temptation is to avoid it to start with.  If God's word is written in our hearts, we will not be tempted by the things of this world, no matter how appealing they may be.  Verse twenty-nine warns, So he that goeth in to his neighbour’s wife; whosoever toucheth her shall not be innocent.  This is a warning against adultery.  If we follow God's commandments, we will certainly not give in to this temptation, or any other for that matter.  Verse thirty states, Men do not despise a thief, if he steal to satisfy his soul when he is hungry;  Though it does not justify stealing, if a person is stealing simply because they are hungry, it is easier to be forgiving.  Verse thirty-one says, But if he be found, he shall restore sevenfold; he shall give all the substance of his house.  There was also a penalty for stealing if a person was caught, and it was fairly severe.  The person was to repay sevenfold and give all the substance of their house.  The reason for the theft did not remove the penalty.  Verse thirty-two says, But whoso committeth adultery with a woman lacketh understanding: he that doeth it destroyeth his own soul.  There can be no justification for adultery.  It does not sustain a person, but destroys their very soul.  This does not mean that adultery cannot be forgiven, but that it is more than just a physical act, as some would claim.  Verse thirty-three states, A wound and dishonour shall he get; and his reproach shall not be wiped away.  Adultery brings dishonor and reproach.  Verse thirty-four declares, For jealousy is the rage of a man: therefore he will not spare in the day of vengeance.  I believe that this is a warning that adultery will never be viewed with any sympathy, which might have been felt for a hungry thief.  Verse thirty-five adds,  He will not regard any ransom; neither will he rest content, though thou givest many gifts.  There can be no restitution made for adultery.  It affects both the body and the soul, and more than just the two people involved.

Proverbs 6:12 says, A naughty person, a wicked man, walketh with a froward mouth.  The wicked person walks with a desire to deceive everyone and do what is best for himself or herself.  This person will say anything to advance His or her own purpose and enrich himself or herself.  Verse thirteen states, He winketh with his eyes, he speaketh with his feet, he teacheth with his fingers:  I believe that this means that such a person will use every means available to bring riches or glory to himself, or herself.  Verse fourteen declares, Frowardness is in his heart, he deviseth mischief continually; he soweth discord.  Wicked or evil people are always looking for ways to sow discord, because the have mischief in their hearts.  This is not a fun seeking mischief, but one that seeks only what will lead to personal good, and not be considered about others.  Verse fifteen says, Therefore shall his calamity come suddenly; suddenly shall he be broken without remedy.   One day, the wicked and evil will pay for their actions.  They may live a lifetime without being held accountable, but when Christ returns they will find themselves suddenly accountable for their actions.  Verse sixteen warns, These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:  If there is a warning about what God hates, we need to pray attention.  Though God hates all sin, we are told that there are seven things that He especially hates.  Verse seventeen states, A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,  The first thing may not sound very significant, but I believe that a proud look refers to always pointing to one's self as being better and smarter than anyone else, or self glorification in other words.  God also hates a lying tongue.  Again, we might rank this as not that significant in the list of possible sins, but it is high on God's list.  Unless we accept the truth of Christ being our Savior and Lord, we cannot speak the truth.  Then, we hear that God hates hands that shed innocent  blood.  We can easily understand this, but I believe it also would apply to oppressing the less fortunate.  Verse eighteen adds, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,  We definitely see enough of people devising wicked plans today, sometimes even in the name of some god.  Though people might have more means to carry out their evil plans, this is nothing new nor will it stop before the return of Christ.  Verse nineteen continues,, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.  This is just more of the ways that people attempt to deny or discredit God and harm His people.  We cannot obediently follow God and lie about anything.  We certainly shouldn't use lies to cause discord in the church.  Verse twenty says,  My son, keep thy father’s commandment, and forsake not the law of thy mother:  The commandments and laws that we should keep are God's, but Godly parents should teach them to us, then we are to be guided by them.  I realize that not at parents teach their children by the laws of God, which why it is His commandments and laws that we must live by., and not just those of our parents.  Verse twenty-one says, Bind them continually upon thine heart, and tie them about thy neck.  Though we don't wear signs around our necks, we most certainly should have God's word bound in our heart, and should be directed by it.  Verse twenty-two says, When thou goest, it shall lead thee; when thou sleepest, it shall keep thee; and when thou awakest, it shall talk with thee.  Following God's word keeps us safe, whether we are at home, out in public, or even asleep in our bed.  Verse twenty-three declares, For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life:  God's commandments are a light to guide our path, and also a source of reproof when we stray.  We cannot claim to follow God and ignore His commandments.