Proverbs 8-9

See:

• May 25 (2022) / Proverbs 8:1-11
• May 26 (2022) / Proverbs 8:12-21
• May 27 (2022) / Proverbs 8:22-31
• May 28 (2022) / Proverbs 8:32-36
• May 29 (2022) / Proverbs 9:1-6
• May 30 (2022) / Proverbs 9:7-12
• May 31 (2022) / Proverbs 9:13-18

So, how are we doing? Are any of us, in fact, seeking wisdom? Or are we just reading along through Proverbs, maybe skimming over the comments from last year, and going about our day with barely a further thought toward gaining wisdom? Are we (re)evaluating the paths we are on, asking whether we need any course corrections? Are we spending even ten seconds scrutinizing our own long-held political positions, asking whether they are wise or foolish? (And yes, I am asking you, not the other party.) Are we evaluating our sources of news and information and whether they reflect any sense of the fear of the LORD? Are we willing to admit mistakes and accept correction? Are we on a path toward life or toward death? Are we moving toward the LORD or away from Him?

Proverbs 6-7

See:

• May 18 (2022) / Proverbs 6:1-11
• May 19 (2022) / Proverbs 6:12-19
• May 20 (2022) / Proverbs 6:20-26
• May 21 (2022) / Proverbs 6:27-35
• May 22 (2022) / Proverbs 7:1-5
• May 23 (2022) / Proverbs 7:6-23
• May 24 (2022) / Proverbs 7:24-27

Proverbs 3:13-5:23

See:

• May 9 (2022) / Proverbs 3:13-18
• May 10 (2022) / Proverbs 3:19-26
• May 11 (2022) / Proverbs 3:27-35
• May 12 (2022) / Proverbs 4:1-9
• May 13 (2022) / Proverbs 4:10-19
• May 14 (2022) / Proverbs 4:20-27
• May 15 (2022) / Proverbs 5:1-6
• May 16 (2022) / Proverbs 5:7-14
• May 17 (2022) / Proverbs 5:15-23

Proverbs 1-3:12

Given our rapid pace through Proverbs, I will not waste your time with extra commentary here, but I trust that you’ll read last year’s posts and seek wisdom.

See:

• May 1 (2022) / Proverbs 1:1-7
• May 2 (2022) / Proverbs 1:8-19
• May 3 (2022) / Proverbs 1:20-33
• May 4 (2022) / Proverbs 2:1-8
• May 5 (2022) / Proverbs 2:9-15
• May 6 (2022) / Proverbs 2:16-22
• May 7 (2022) / Proverbs 3:1-8
• May 8 (2022) / Proverbs 3:9-12

I Kings 3-4; II Chronicles 1

We return today for a brief dip back into the historical narrative. David is now gone. Solomon is on the throne. The Ark of the Covenant is in Jerusalem, but the Tabernacle and its altar are still at Gibeon, so Solomon goes there to sacrifice.

There at Gibeon Solomon encounters the LORD in a dream, and he humbly and wisely asks for wisdom to know how to govern the LORD’s people. The LORD grants him wisdom in full measure — along with wealth and honor. Although our text does not say so explicitly, it stands to reason that the LORD effectively answers Solomon’s prayer before he prays it, else he would not have sufficient wisdom to ask for wisdom! (By the way, that is just how salvation works for us. On our own, we are dead in our sin, with utterly no capacity or inclination to seek God. It is God Who first reaches down to us, giving us the grace to receive His grace.) What a tremendous prayer from Solomon, and what a tremendous answer from the LORD!

We may not be charged with ruling the kingdom of Israel, but we each need wisdom just the same, so may our hearts be similarly inclined to seek wisdom, asking the LORD to give it to us in whatever circumstances we find ourselves.

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One more thing…

God does not leave us to just randomly “find” wisdom all on our own. He gives us His Word, some of which is expressly geared toward imparting wisdom. And so we will be diving headfirst into the Book of Proverbs tomorrow with Solomon, the wisest of men, as our teacher. Unfortunately, we’ll be racing for a week through material that we spent eight weeks on last year. To prepare, please take a look at our Introduction to Proverbs from last year. Then hold on to your hat!

Psalms 95, 97-99, 101, 110, 144

I hope that in reading the Psalms yesterday and today we recognize that the LORD is the ultimate King, sovereign over all of creation. He is working out His purposes, with the Lord Jesus Christ sitting at His right hand. (Acts 2:33-34; Rom. 8:34; Eph. 1:20; Col. 3:1; Heb. 1:3,13; 8:1; 10:12; 12:2; I Peter 3:22)

The LORD says to my Lord:
“Sit at My right hand,
until I make Your enemies Your footstool.”

Psalm 110:1

According to our custom, the right of sitting is offered to one who, like a victor returning from having accomplished a great deed, deserves to be seated for the sake of honor. And so the Man Jesus Christ, Who overcame the devil by His suffering and unlocked the underworld by His resurrection, returning to heaven like a Victor after having accomplished a great deed, hears from God the Father, “Sit at My right hand.”

Maximus of Turin

That is reality, but do we live accordingly? Do we honor Christ the King in how we live and what we say? Do we submit to His authority?

See also:

• August 21 (2022) / Psalm 95
• August 23 (2022) / Psalm 97
• August 24 (2022) / Psalm 98
• August 25 (2022) / Psalm 99
• August 27 (2022) / Psalm 101
• October 7 (2022) / Psalm 110
• December 23 (2022) / Psalm 144

Psalms 2, 20-21, 72, 93-94

The LORD reigns; He is robed in majesty!

Psalm 93:1

It is good to remember Who is really in control…

See also:

• January 2 (2022) / Psalm 2
• January 26 (2022) / Psalm 20
• January 27 (2022) / Psalm 21:1-7
• January 28 (2022) / Psalm 21:8-13
• June 25 (2022) / Psalm 72
• August 18 (2022) / Psalm 93
• August 19 (2022) / Psalm 94:1-15
• August 20 (2022) / Psalm 94:16-23

I Chronicles 26:20-29:30

For all things come from You, and of Your own have we given You.

I Chronicles 29:14b

This verse is often quoted in church before taking up the offering. Now you know where it comes from. I expect that we can all see the truth of this prayer of David. Given that God is the Creator, what do we have that we can possibly claim as our own? And what can we give to God that He did not give to us to begin with?

And yet…

Do we live (and give) as though we truly believe it? Really?

Psalms 47-49, 84-85, 87

We have thought on Your steadfast love, O God,
in the midst of Your temple.

Psalm 48:9

I think it is safe to assume that the psalmist originally had the Temple building in mind. But Saint Ambrose takes things further. He recognizes that the Temple points beyond itself to Christ and that the ultimate Temple of God is Christ’s body:

God’s true temple is the body of Christ, and in that body lies the purification of all our sins. Truly, that flesh is God’s temple, and in it there is no contagion of sin. On the contrary, it was itself the sacrifice that takes away the sin of all the world. That flesh is indeed God’s temple, and it shone in God’s image. In it there dwelled the fullness of divinity in a bodily manner, for Christ is himself that fullness… In that temple the psalmist tells us, “We have received your mercy.”

Saint Ambrose on Psalm 48:9

The notion of Christ’s body’s being the true Temple does not originate with Ambrose. Jesus Himself says as much:

So the Jews said to Him, “What sign do You show us for doing these things?” Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” The Jews then said, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will You raise it up in three days?” But He was speaking about the temple of His body. When therefore He was raised from the dead, His disciples remembered that He had said this, and they believed the Scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken.

John 2:18-22

That is good food for thought as we work through the Psalms…

See also:

• April 22 (2022) / Psalm 47
• April 23 (2022) / Psalm 48
• April 24 (2022) / Psalm 49:1-9
• April 25 (2022) / Psalm 49:10-20
• August 6 (2022) / Psalm 84
• August 7 (2022) / Psalm 85
• August 9 (2022) / Psalm 87