Proverbs – Page 12 – Be Still…

Proverbs 8:22-36 – From the Beginning

Wisdom has been around for a long time. “The Lord formed me from the beginning, before he created anything else.” Wisdom was with God in creation. She had a front row seat to watch everything take its place. She saw the heavens being set in place, the clouds, the seas. How magnificent that must have been! To be with God in that time and place was quite an honor.

Wisdom has been in the presence of God. Wisdom is from God and can be trusted. There are a lot of things in this world that cry out for our attention. How many of these sources have been around since the beginning? How many of these are inspired and blessed by God? Think about that for a while.

Proverbs 8:1-21 – So Valuable

Read Proverbs 8:1-21

Wisdom is intended for all of us. It is not hidden and available only to a select few. We are all meant to have understanding. Yet many ignore the gift provided to us. I picture a town crier on the streets. After a while, you stop hearing the message. You stop listening. It’s just noise that blends in with the rest.

What about wisdom? How much more can we be stimulated? Our brains are full of voices, of messages we’ve read, of situations we’ve witnessed or lived through. How do we sort it all out? Do we want to? Wouldn’t it be easier to just bury our heads in the sand, try not to worry, and trust that everything is going to work out okay?

Proverbs 7:1-27 – Too Good to Be True

Read Proverbs 7:1-27

Solomon is really spending time with this notion of immoral women and adultery. Young men can be especially drawn in by attention from women. I’m guessing there is not a lot of discernment going on when testosterone starts coursing through a man’s veins. That’s why all this counsel is being offered when the enticement is not present. Hopefully, these words of warning will come back to mind when such a situation presents itself. It’s an important one to be sure.

What did you think of today’s reading? Solomon sure got specific with his details. I could perfectly envision the woman’s room, couldn’t you? It was almost as if Solomon had first-hand knowledge of what these women were like. In Solomon’s life, although wise, he ended up with many wives and concubines, most of which were not Hebrew like him. If only he had listened to his own counsel.

Proverbs 6:20-35 – Adultery–Don’t Do It!

Read Proverbs 6:20-35

We know that committing adultery (sleeping with someone else’s spouse) is one of God’s top 10 commandments he forbids us to do. Our text continues from yesterday’s theme of promiscuous sex and goes into more detail about what happens when we commit adultery. It is certainly not a pretty picture.

We are also encouraged to listen to our parents. They may not be perfect, but they have lived longer than we have and have been given wisdom we have not yet attained. Godly parents, who have followed the words of Scripture, are even more of a treasure. So, what about parents who don’t know God’s ways? Are all of their children supposed to rely on them?

Proverbs 6:1-19 – Lessons for Life

Read Proverbs 6:1-19

None of us came with an instruction manual at birth. Many first-time parents are overcome with the newness. Others just take it in stride. I remember being fearful throughout my pregnancy, but when the time came, instinct kicked in. It was a beautiful thing. God is so good. Today’s reading is full of some great lessons for life.

One bit of advice, in particular, I wish I had known in my younger days. I co-signed a car loan for a friend, actually a co-worker. I wanted them to be able to get to work, after all. But if I had read this nugget of wisdom, I would have graciously declined. I would have saved thousands of dollars when he defaulted on the loan and they sold the car at auction for pennies on the dollar. Have you had life lessons like that you wish you could have avoided?