Do you want to learn how to read, interpret, and apply God’s word? In today’s episode, let’s get some hands-on practice.
This is Scripture for Students. I’m Steve Whitacre, president of Trinity College and a pastor at Sovereign Grace Church of Louisville. I want to help students build a daily habit for life-long Bible reading. Today is March 21, 2025 and this is a Read With Me episode from Proverbs 8. What I mean is that in this episode, rather than you just listen to me talk about the day’s reading, I want to read the text with you and have you get some hands-on experience with interpretation. So grab your Bible, your journal or some paper, and a pen, and let’s get started.
Our readings for today are Exodus 32, John 11, and Proverbs 8.
Please open your Bibles to Proverbs 8.
We say that the sun rises and greets us, that time marches, that the wind blows, and that stairs groan. We speak of a cheerful bouquet of flowers, trees that dance in the wind, or death staring us in the face.
Do you know what all that is? It’s called personification. Personification is what happens when we describe an inanimate object or concept with human characteristics. Proverbs 8 is one of the best examples of personification in all of literature.
I’m going to read all of Proverbs chapter 8 and as I do, I want you to try to answer two questions: What is being personified? And what human characteristics are used for personification here?
Proverbs 8:1–36
1 Does not wisdom call? Does not understanding raise her voice?
2 On the heights beside the way, at the crossroads she takes her stand;
3 beside the gates in front of the town, at the entrance of the portals she cries aloud:
4 “To you, O men, I call, and my cry is to the children of man.
5 O simple ones, learn prudence; O fools, learn sense.
6 Hear, for I will speak noble things, and from my lips will come what is right,
7 for my mouth will utter truth; wickedness is an abomination to my lips.
8 All the words of my mouth are righteous; there is nothing twisted or crooked in them.
9 They are all straight to him who understands, and right to those who find knowledge.
10 Take my instruction instead of silver, and knowledge rather than choice gold,
11 for wisdom is better than jewels, and all that you may desire cannot compare with her.
12 “I, wisdom, dwell with prudence, and I find knowledge and discretion.
13 The fear of the LORD is hatred of evil. Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate.
14 I have counsel and sound wisdom; I have insight; I have strength.
15 By me kings reign, and rulers decree what is just;
16 by me princes rule, and nobles, all who govern justly.
17 I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently find me.
18 Riches and honor are with me, enduring wealth and righteousness.
19 My fruit is better than gold, even fine gold, and my yield than choice silver.
20 I walk in the way of righteousness, in the paths of justice,
21 granting an inheritance to those who love me, and filling their treasuries.
22 “The LORD possessed me at the beginning of his work, the first of his acts of old.
23 Ages ago I was set up, at the first, before the beginning of the earth.
24 When there were no depths I was brought forth, when there were no springs abounding with water.
25 Before the mountains had been shaped, before the hills, I was brought forth,
26 before he had made the earth with its fields, or the first of the dust of the world.
27 When he established the heavens, I was there; when he drew a circle on the face of the deep,
28 when he made firm the skies above, when he established the fountains of the deep,
29 when he assigned to the sea its limit, so that the waters might not transgress his command, when he marked out the foundations of the earth,
30 then I was beside him, like a master workman, and I was daily his delight, rejoicing before him always,
31 rejoicing in his inhabited world and delighting in the children of man.
32 “And now, O sons, listen to me: blessed are those who keep my ways.
33 Hear instruction and be wise, and do not neglect it.
34 Blessed is the one who listens to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting beside my doors.
35 For whoever finds me finds life and obtains favor from the LORD,
36 but he who fails to find me injures himself; all who hate me love death.”
May the Lord bless the reading and the hearing and the keeping of his Word.
Ok, so first: what is being personified? Some concept or inanimate object. Did you spot it? If you said, “Wisdom,” that is exactly right. Look how 8:1 starts: “Does not wisdom call?” Sometimes the personification of this chapter is referred to as Lady Wisdom. And in verse 4, Lady Wisdom starts a speech that runs the rest of the chapter.
So what about the second question I asked you to think about? What are the ways that Lady Wisdom is personified in this chapter? Now, I read the chapter pretty quickly and I want to give you a couple more minutes to think that over. So in a moment, I’ll have you pause the podcast and then take 5 minutes or so read through and write down as many examples of personification as you can find—how many different ways is wisdom described using human characteristics? So pause the podcast, do that, and come back when you’re done.
Ok, so what did you find? I’m sure you noticed how the personification starts right at the beginning: wisdom speaks, raises her voice, and cries aloud. And Lady Wisdom has a lot to say.
Lady Wisdom is depicted with bodily qualities. You’ll notice that I keep referring to Wisdom as she and her. In verse 6, she has lips, in verse 8, a mouth — again, a lot of talking!
What else does Lady Wisdom have to offer? Take a moment and read through again and think about the gifts that Lady Wisdom is ready to shower upon all those who come to her. Let’s take a couple minutes and write down as many things as you can. Then, look over your list and see if you can sort them into categories? Pause the podcast here, do that, and come back when you are done.
Ok, what did you find? Let’s start with categories. One category is rewards. Think: riches. Look at verse 18: It says her fruit is better than gold and silver, and then it says that she gives an inheritance to those who love her, and fills their treasuries. This isn’t a promise that those who embrace wisdom will get rich, but wisdom brings a kind of riches that are even more valuable than money.
What else does wisdom have to offer? How about verse 10 and the few verses after it? Instruction. Knowledge. Prudence. Discretion. Verse 14: Counsel, insight, strength, justice. Lady Wisdom has a lot to offer.
Now what does Lady Wisdom like and dislike? Time for more lists! Pause the podcast here, make lists of Lady Wisdom’s likes and dislikes, and then come back when you are done.
Ok, let’s start with dislikes—what does Lady Wisdom dislike? Well, “dislike” isn’t really strong enough, is it? It says in verse 13 that the fear of the Lord is the hatred of evil, and then Lady Wisdom names the evils she hates: pride, arrogance, the way of evil, and perverted speech. What does she love? Verse 17: Lady Wisdom loves those who seek wisdom.
Now, for the last thing we’ll think about is this: the last half of the chapter describes Lady Wisdom’s role in creation. This is an even more elaborate form of personification: inserting Wisdom as a character into the story of creation. So one last exercise: in a moment I’ll have you pause the podcast and write down as many ways you can find that Lady Wisdom was involved in the creation of the world. Pause the podcast now, do that, and come back when you are done.
Ok, I’m sure you noticed some really impressive ways that Wisdom was involved in creation. I’m out of time so I’m not going to go through those now, but I want us to finish with this: Wisdom is supremely important to Solomon. Whatever you do: get wisdom. Grab hold of it and hold on with everything you’ve got.
What can you do today to get wisdom? I’ve got three suggestions for you: first, read God’s word. Read as much as you can as often as you can. Second, resolve to obey God’s word. In every situation ask yourself, what does Scripture say and do that. Third, ask your parents for advice. You need more of it than you realize and God has given them to you as a gift to help you! So ask them for help and learn wisdom!
That’s all for today. If you enjoyed this episode please share it with a friend and follow us on Apple Podcasts.
This content is sponsored by Trinity College of Louisville. We shape young men and young women for Christ and for the church. Learn more at TrinityCollegeLou.com. Until next time, keep growing!