Proverbs 8:36Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Departing from the commandments of the Lord brings destruction to the soul, while those who faithfully adhere to them will receive indescribable joy.

Thus says the Lord, the Creator of heaven and earth through His prophet. He who hates the wisdom of God hates God, and he who hates God, what else can he love but death? Is not everything outside the Lord death?

The wise person is attuned to the voice of Wisdom herself. She calls out to everyone from elevated and bustling places, and recognizing that her hands are filled with truth and significance, she reveals her divine attributes and actions as the incarnate Wisdom. She bestows power, wealth, and prosperity upon those who follow her. As a co-creator with God the Creator, she collaborates in the crafting of the world; now, she extends an invitation for all to listen to her teachings, assuring them that she will grant them wisdom and joy. The Lord formed me as the beginning of His paths, in His works.

Blessed are the faithful followers of Divine Wisdom, while those who turn away from Her find themselves in a lamentable condition. Those who rebel against Her, meaning those who disregard Her teachings, invite evil into their hearts, burdening themselves with the grievous sin of wickedness, effectively becoming estranged from God. As Divine Wisdom states, "he who hates me loves death." This does not imply that those who reject the teachings of Divine Wisdom actively desire their own demise or ruin, but rather that they choose a path that leads to ruin, inevitably facing the dire repercussions of their disregard and animosity toward the principles of Wisdom, both in this life and in the life to come.