Proverbs 8:18-21

4). Wisdom Gives Riches And Honour Both Physically And Spiritually To Those Who Love Her, And Enables Men To Walk Rightly (Proverbs 8:18).

Wisdom does not just enable rulers. She also gives durable riches, honour and righteousness to all those who respond to her. Part of the lesson is that those who behave wisely will, in general, prosper. They will be hardworking (contrast Proverbs 6:6), abstemious and careful (consider Proverbs 6:1). They will not, for example, waste their substance on foolish living (Proverbs 5:9). They will rather honour YHWH with their substance so that their barns will be full (Proverbs 3:9). This is the promise to all who love her (Proverbs 8:21), and in consequence they will enjoy her fruit (Proverbs 8:19). But there is a deeper thought here, for not all who love wisdom outwardly prosper. They may not pile up gold and silver. But what they will do is build up in their treasuries a fruit which is better than gold, a revenue which is better than silver. They will inherit a substance which is far better. For they will dwell in security and will be quiet without fear of evil (Proverbs 1:33). And that because her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace (Proverbs 3:17). And she will bestow on them spiritual beauty (Proverbs 4:8; compare Proverbs 1:9).

These words are presented chiastically:

A Riches and honour are with me, yes, durable wealth and righteousness (Proverbs 8:18).

B My fruit is better than gold, yes, than fine gold, and my revenue than choice silver (Proverbs 8:19).

· B I walk in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of justice (Proverbs 8:20).

· A That I may cause those who love me to inherit substance, and that I may fill their treasuries (Proverbs 8:21).

Note than in A riches, honour and durable wealth and righteousness are with wisdom, and in the parallel she causes those who love her to inherit substance and have filled treasuries. In B her fruit is better than fine gold and her produce better than choice silver, and in the parallel that fruit is revealed in walking in righteousness and justice.

Proverbs 8:18

Riches and honour are with me,

Yes, durable wealth and righteousness,

My fruit is better than gold, yes, than fine gold,

And my revenue than choice silver.”

The first things that Wisdom offers to those who love her are riches and honour. They will prosper, and gain and keep the respect of good men. Compare for this Proverbs 3:4; Proverbs 3:16; Proverbs 3:35; Proverbs 4:8. But more than that they will gain durable wealth and righteousness. The fact that the wealth is durable and paralleled with righteousness suggests that here the idea is of spiritual wealth, for wisdom's fruit is immediately stated to be better than gold and choice silver. Compare Proverbs 3:14. Thus we are probably to see here wealth that is lasting and permanent which does not, in Jesus words, get affected by moths, rust or thieves (Matthew 6:19). Such ‘wealth' is portrayed in Proverbs 1:9; Proverbs 1:23; Proverbs 1:33; Proverbs 3:2; Proverbs 3:17; Proverbs 3:33 b, Proverbs 3:34 b, Proverbs 3:35; Proverbs 4:9 and can especially be summed up in the promise of abundant life (Proverbs 3:18; Proverbs 3:22; Proverbs 4:13; Proverbs 4:22; Proverbs 6:23; Proverbs 8:35). So Wisdom offers those who love her spiritual wellbeing and righteousness. They will enjoy God's favour (Proverbs 8:35) with all the blessings that come with it. They will walk in the path that grow brighter day by day until its glorious summation (Proverbs 4:18).

Proverbs 8:20

“I walk in the way of righteousness,

In the midst of the paths of justice,

That I may cause those who love me to inherit substance,

And that I may fill their treasuries.”

And this will happen because they are walking with Wisdom in the way of righteousness, and in the midst of the paths of justice. They can walk without fear of the Law, because their lives are just and right as they respond to God's wisdom. They will enjoy the favour of both God and man (Proverbs 3:4). And in consequence, because they love God's Wisdom she will cause them to inherit substance and fill their treasuries. Once again Solomon probably has in mind spiritual benefits that are better than silver and gold, as described above, but it need not deny physical benefits as well. Walking with God's Wisdom enhances every aspect of life.