Proverbs 8:22-31 Wisdom continues her proclamations, declaring that she was the first of [the LORD’s] acts of old (v. 22), that she was set up at the first, before the beginning of the earth. (v. 23) She goes on from there, expanding on what we read in Pr. 3:19-20 and describing her presence at Creation. …
Author Archives: John S.
May 26 / Proverbs 8:12-21
Proverbs 8:12-21 Wisdom continues calling, declaring her attributes, her deeds, and her virtue. She says, “I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently find me.” (v. 17) Do we love her? Do we seek her? Even more importantly, do we love and seek the One Who is the Source of all …
May 25 / Proverbs 8:1-11
Proverbs 8:1-11 Today’s reading again personifies Wisdom as a woman calling to the children of man to learn from her, much as in Proverbs 1:20-33. Here are a few descriptors of what she offers: Prudence (v. 5) Sense (v. 5) Noble things (v. 6) What is right (v. 6) Truth (v. 7) Righteous words (v. …
May 24 / Proverbs 7:24-27
Proverbs 7:24-27 Her house is the way to Sheol, going down to the chambers of death. (v. 27) In case you missed the point the first few times, adultery (and sin in general) does not end well.
May 23 / Proverbs 7:6-23
Proverbs 7:6-23 Today we get a vivid portrayal of the progression of temptation, specifically toward adultery, but metaphorically toward sin in general. We see a young man foolishly passing along the street … at the time of night and darkness. (vv. 8-9) We see that the woman meets him, dressed as a prostitute, wily of …
May 22 / Proverbs 7:1-5
Proverbs 7:1-5 Today’s reading sounds very much like Pr. 6:20-24, which we read just two days ago. Are we listening yet? Do you keep [these] words? Do you treasure up [these] commandments? Do you bind them on your fingers? Do you write them on the tablet of your heart? Do you say to wisdom, “You …
May 21 / Proverbs 6:27-35
Proverbs 6:27-35 He who commits adultery lacks sense; he who does it destroys himself. (v. 32) I think that pretty much sums it up. As we have said before, adultery is called out here as particularly dangerous. I suspect that is because Solomon is addressing his son as a young man whose raging hormones could make him more vulnerable to sexual temptation. But that is …
May 20 / Proverbs 6:20-26
Proverbs 6:20-26 Once again we are admonished to heed instruction, and once again the focus of that instruction is to avoid the deadly pitfall of adultery. But I’m not going to talk about adultery today. (We’ll be stuck on that for the next few days!) Instead, I want to look at just the last half …
May 19 / Proverbs 6:12-19
Proverbs 6:12-19 Wormtongue. Now that is a (fictional) person that fits the caricature given in Pr. 6:12-15. In case you don’t know (or by way of reminder) “Wormtongue” is an apt nickname for a character otherwise named Gríma in J. R. R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings. He is an advisor to King Théoden …
May 18 / Proverbs 6:1-11
Proverbs 6:1-11 Today we turn our attention to a couple of practical bits of wisdom. In Pr. 6:1-5 we are warned not to put up security for someone else, particularly a stranger, and in Pr. 6:6-11 we are advised to work hard and not be lazy. Have you ever co-signed a loan for someone, perhaps …