Podcast Introduction Today we’ll read Proverbs 8-9, after which I have some comments on both chapters. I’m calling today’s episode “I’m Not A Smart Man.” Comments on Proverbs 8-9 Wisdom is again personified in this chapter as a woman. And here she calls out from the hilltops, at the crossroads, at the entrance to the city, to everyone on earth! Wisdom is available to any who will listen, not only the learned, but even the most humble. When I first began to think about this truth, I thought of Forrest Gump when he said, “I’m not a smart man, but I know what love is.” Even though it was fairly obvious in watching the film that he truly was not “smart”, he did learn a certain amount of wisdom…much more than the woman he loved who was “smarter” than he was. Bible commentator Derek Kidner wrote this about Proverbs 8: “A chapter which is to soar beyond time and space, opens at street-level, to make it clear, first, that the wisdom of God is as relevant to the shopping-centre as to heaven itself.” Duane Garrett had this to say: “The important point is that wisdom is for ordinary people—she is not confined to the academic classroom or to sacred precincts of the temple. Nor is she high atop some mountain where only the hardiest and most determined will find her. To the contrary, she wants to attract all and be accessible to all.” Adam Clarke said this: “There are, it is true, temples, synagogues, churches, chapels, etc.; but hundreds of thousands never frequent them, and therefore do not hear the voice of truth: wisdom, therefore, must go to them, if she wishes them to receive her instructions. Hence the zealous ministers of Christ go still to the highways and hedges, to the mountains and plains, to the ships and the cottages, to persuade sinners to turn from the error of their ways and accept that redemption which was procured by the sacrificial offering of Jesus Christ.” Yes beloved, it is true that it is up to us to go to those who do not know Jesus. But in Proverbs nine there is a warning. Proverbs 9:7-8 says, “7If you correct conceited people, you will only be insulted. If you reprimand evil people, you will only get hurt. 8Never correct conceited people; they will hate you for it. But if you correct the wise, they will respect you.” GNT The NASB and several other translations render the verses, “7He who corrects a scoffer gets dishonor for himself, And he who reproves a wicked man gets insults for himself. 8Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you, Reprove a wise man and he will love you.” This is a much better, more accurate translation. Of the scoffer, commentator Allen P. Ross wrote, “He is the person who will not live by wise and moral teachings and is not content to let others do so without his cynical mocking.” Most of us have known scoffers, especially those who scoff at Christians. Proverbs 9 tells us what to expect when trying to share the truth of the Gospel with them. In my experience, it is better to follow Jesus’ advice in Matthew 10:14: “If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that house or town.” Yes, pray for them. But don’t give them a lot of your time or effort.  Instead, find the wise person who will listen. He will, as the second half of verse 8 here in Proverbs 9 says, “…he will love you.” Think of the person who brought you to Christ. Chances are good that you have very good