Category: Proverbs

Reading

Audio, Visual

SAA Notes

The warning against adultery can be taken as just that – a warning against sexual perversion of any and every kind. It is also a warning against the folly or stupidity of unbelief, of a hard heart. The Devil baits his hook with adulterated truth that appeals to the physical, spiritual, intellectual desires of mankind: “did God really say …” Genesis 3

SJA Notes

* Dear God, may we be attentive to Your wisdom today.

“Let your fountain be blessed, and rejoice in the wife of your youth, a lovely deer, a graceful doe.”

Wisdom is singleness of thought, desire and purpose.

Here Solomon speaks of marriage.

Work hard at the singular devotion to your wife/husband, because this is wisdom!

In God’s wonderful goodness this reflects so beautifully our relationship with Him.

SINGULAR DEVOTION.

Here are words that hold great importance for us today. For God’s people, men and women, adults and children – Growing up in a world bent against us and our King.

Praise God that in Jesus we find the most excellent pattern of a FAITHFUL husband (Him) to the BRIDE (the church, God’s people).

* God Above,

Please mark us today as faithful, each day forwards, faithful in Your faithfulness.

Please help us to be singular in our devotion to You.

Please help us to listen and hearken to Your wisdom on marriage and our other relationships – to reflect Your faithfulness.

Amen.

Reading

Audio, Visual

SAA Notes

The purpose of this prologue to the Proverbs proper is to encourage us to get wisdom! To strive with heart and mind and main to get wisdom! Godly wisdom is essential to your sanctification, growth in grace, and wellbeing. Our own wisdom will lead us up the garden path!

SJA Notes

* Holy God, please shine Your word as a light unto our feet, a lamp unto our path.

“The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom, and whatever you get, get insight.”

Solomon continues to plumb the depths of what wisdom is in this passage.

He gives some very practical applications,

“Put away from you crooked speech, and put devious talk far from you.”

We are to be careful with what we say and how we say it!

We much be people who take control of our tongues.

When we are tempted to speak in the heat of anger or the spike of jealousy – Remember wisdom!

“Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you.”

The world and its treasures can look bright and shiny. We see them every day.

In 1 John 2 we read,

“For all that is in the world – the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and the pride of life – is not from the Father but from the world.”

We are to be _singular_ in our vision, our hearts fixed on Jesus and Him alone.

As that wonderful hymn exhorts us, let us turn our eyes upon Jesus. Look full in His wonderful face – A far better sight than anything the world will offer up.

* Heavenly Father,

Please let the words of our mouths and the meditations of our hearts be acceptable in Your sight today.

You are our rock and our redeemer – We praise Your Name Lord God!

Thank You for Your mercies and Your grace.

Amen.

Reading

Audio, Visual

SAA Notes

There is much to ponder on in this chapter that is true, noble, pure, right, lovely, admirable à la Philippians 4:8.

SJA Notes

* Gracious Lord God, may we honor You with the means You give, the first-fruits of all that we produce.

“The LORD by wisdom founded the earth; by understanding he established the heavens; by his knowledge the deeps broke open, and the clouds drop down the dew.”

How important is wisdom?

We can know theoretically that the answer is “very”.

Here Solomon points us to a fundamental truth, a reality that can be hard for us to wrestle with.

God made the world, all of creation, through WISDOM.

That is how important wisdom is.

Wisdom was used by God to CREATE.

Thought came before matter, not the other way around.

We can think about how we create things. We don’t just use skill and ability and power.

We engage with _wisdom_.

When building the tabernacle after Israel were rescued out of Egypt, God appointed men of skill and knowledge (Exodus 31).

When Solomon built the temple of the Lord in Jerusalem below he had a man (Hiram from Tyre) who did much of the work, a man full of wisdom, understanding and skill (1 Kings 7, 2 Chronicles 2).

Today for us as we are being built up as a spiritual house (1 Peter 2), a royal priesthood, a wonderful work of creation – We need wisdom!

God’s wisdom is the best investment we can make. Nothing else compares.

“Blessed is the one who finds wisdom, and the one who gets understanding, for the gain from her is better than gain from silver and her profit better than gold. She is more precious than jewels, and nothing you desire can compare with her.”

Amen to this!

* God Above,

Please continue to show us Your wisdom today.

Please write Your wisdom on our hearts.

Please show us today what You want for us.

Thank You Lord!

Amen.