God’s Word for Today 2 Oct, 2024 12 “I, wisdom, dwell with prudence, and I find knowledge and discretion. 13 The fear of the Lord is hatred of evil. Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate. 14 I have counsel and sound wisdom; I have insight; I have strength. 15 By me kings reign, and rulers decree what is just; 16 by me princes rule, and nobles, all who govern justly. 17 I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently find me. 18...

Text: Proverbs 8:1-11 (ESV)   DOES NOT WISDOM CALL?   There are two rhetorical questions asked[v.1]. Thus, wisdom is not some far-off or unattainable thing. Rather, our daily life and experience should inspire us to seek wisdom, for we can find it and have some benefits. Wisdom is personified here as the woman who contrasts sharply with the prostitute (Prov 7:10), who went into the streets in search of the foolish young man to seduce. Where could we find wisdom? We can find her...

Text: Proverbs 7:5-27 (ESV)   5 To keep you from the forbidden woman, from the adulteress with her smooth words. 6 For at the window of my house I have looked out through my lattice, 7 and I have seen among the simple, I have perceived among the youths, a young man lacking sense, 8 passing along the street near her corner, taking the road to her house 9 in the twilight, in the evening, at the time of night and darkness. 10 And behold, the woman meets him, dressed as a...

Text: Proverbs 7:1-5 (ESV)   1 My son, keep my words and treasure up my commandments with you; 2 keep my commandments and live; keep my teaching as the apple of your eye; 3 bind them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart. 4 Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,” and call insight your intimate friend, 5 to keep you from the forbidden woman, from the adulteress with her smooth words.   DO YOU CHERISH GOD’S WORDS?   Solomon instructs his son to have the right...

Text: Proverbs 6:25-35 (ESV)  BEWARE OF FATAL ATTRACTION   The ravages of the sin of adultery are catastrophic results than we realize. It’s started with an attraction. The prostitute woman is a sweet talker, beautiful and tantalizing. But, the truly beautiful woman, is beautiful on the inside, is it not? Prov 31:30 says "beauty is vain." Physical beauty is worth nothing for she lacks godliness. First Peter 3:4 tells women, "Let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the...

God’s Word for Today 26 Sep, 2024 20 My son, keep your father's commandment, and forsake not your mother's teaching. 21 Bind them on your heart always; tie them around your neck. 22 When you walk, they will lead you; when you lie down, they will watch over you; and when you awake, they will talk with you. 23 For the commandment is a lamp and the teaching a light, and the reproofs of discipline are the way of life, 24 to preserve you from the evil woman, from the smooth...

God’s Word for Today 25 Sep, 2024 Prov 6:16-19 ESV SEVEN SINS THE LORD HATES In verse 16, it's important to note that the practice of referencing a number, followed by one more, is a common Hebrew literary pattern. It implies, sometimes, that the final item is the summary or culmination of the others. Sometimes, however, it's just a stylized way to introduce those ideas. The same pattern occurs in Job 5:19, that is, ”He will deliver you from six troubles; in seven no evil shall touch...

Text: Proverbs 6:12-15 (ESV)   12 A worthless person, a wicked man, goes about with crooked speech, 13 winks with his eyes, signals with his feet, points with his finger, 14 with perverted heart devises evil, continually sowing discord; 15 therefore calamity will come upon him suddenly; in a moment he will be broken beyond healing.   BEWARE OF SCAMMERS   Solomon describes a "wicked" and "worthless" person. His emphasis is on how their sins earn them those descriptions. Solomon...

Text: Proverbs 6:6-11 (ESV)   6 Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise. 7 Without having any chief, officer, or ruler, 8 she prepares her bread in summer and gathers her food in harvest. 9 How long will you lie there, O sluggard? When will you arise from your sleep? 10 A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, 11 and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and want like an armed man.   LESSONS FROM THE ANT   Solomon...

 Text: Proverbs 5:15-23 (ESV)   REJOICE IN THE WIFE OF YOUR YOUTH   Solomon highlighted the importance of being a ‘one-woman-man’. Monogamy is much advantageous than polygamy. Even in Gen 2:24-25, the design of God is for a man to leave his parents during marriage and be ‘glued unto his wife’. Both, should endeavor to cultivate an intimate relationship, that is, being ‘naked and unashamed.’ Sexual relationship is only intended in the realm of marriage. Heb 13:4 says, “Let marriage be held...

God’s Word for Today 19 Sep, 2024 7 And now, O sons, listen to me, and do not depart from the words of my mouth. 8 Keep your way far from her, and do not go near the door of her house, 9 lest you give your honor to others and your years to the merciless, 10 lest strangers take their fill of your strength, and your labors go to the house of a foreigner, 11 and at the end of your life you groan, when your flesh and body are consumed, 12 and you say, “How I hated discipline, ...

God’s Word for Today 18 Sep, 2024 1 My son, be attentive to my wisdom; incline your ear to my understanding, 2 that you may keep discretion, and your lips may guard knowledge. 3 For the lips of a forbidden woman drip honey, and her speech is smoother than oil, 4 but in the end she is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a two-edged sword. 5 Her feet go down to death; her steps follow the path to Sheol; 6 she does not ponder the path of life; her ways wander, and she does not know...

Text: Proverbs 4:20-27 (ESV)   GUARD YOUR HEART   There is an intense persuasion from a father to his son for him to hear listen carefully. Asking the son to "incline your ear" brings up the picture of someone leaning forward, tipping his head to hear more attentively. The point is that these words are not to be passively taken in, but actively and carefully considered in the heart. This is like the seed that fell on good soil which represents the Word that hearers accept and show how...

Text: Proverbs 4:10-19 (ESV)   10 Hear, my son, and accept my words, that the years of your life may be many. 11 I have taught you the way of wisdom; I have led you in the paths of uprightness. 12 When you walk, your step will not be hampered, and if you run, you will not stumble. 13 Keep hold of instruction; do not let go; guard her, for she is your life. 14 Do not enter the path of the wicked, and do not walk in the way of the evil. 15 Avoid it; do not go on it; turn away from...

Text: Prov 4:1-9 ESV 1 Hear, O sons, a father's instruction, and be attentive, that you may gain insight, 2 for I give you good precepts; do not forsake my teaching. 3 When I was a son with my father, tender, the only one in the sight of my mother, 4 he taught me and said to me, “Let your heart hold fast my words; keep my commandments, and live. 5 Get wisdom; get insight; do not forget, and do not turn away from the words of my mouth. 6 Do not forsake her, and she will keep you; love...

Text: Prov 3:27-35 ESV 27 Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it. 28 Do not say to your neighbor, “Go, and come again, tomorrow I will give it”—when you have it with you. 29 Do not plan evil against your neighbor, who dwells trustingly beside you. 30 Do not contend with a man for no reason, when he has done you no harm. 31 Do not envy a man of violence and do not choose any of his ways, 32 for the devious person is an abomination to the...

God’s Word for Today 12 Sep, 2024 21 My son, do not lose sight of these— keep sound wisdom and discretion, 22 and they will be life for your soul and adornment for your neck. 23 Then you will walk on your way securely, and your foot will not stumble. 24 If you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet. 25 Do not be afraid of sudden terror or of the ruin of the wicked, when it comes, 26 for the Lord will be your confidence and will keep...

God’s Word for Today 11 Sep, 2024 21 My son, do not lose sight of these— keep sound wisdom and discretion, 22 and they will be life for your soul and adornment for your neck. 23 Then you will walk on your way securely, and your foot will not stumble. 24 If you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet. 25 Do not be afraid of sudden terror or of the ruin of the wicked, when it comes, 26 for the Lord will be your confidence and will keep...

Text: Proverbs 3:9-12 (ESV)   9 Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce; 10 then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine.   11 My son, do not despise the Lord's discipline or be weary of his reproof, 12 for the Lord reproves him whom he loves, as a father the son in whom he delights.   PROSPERITY & DISCIPLINE FROM THE FATHER   Verses 9 & 10 promise that the Lord will reward faithful giving. In...

Text: Proverbs 3:5-8 (ESV)   5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. 6 In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. 7 Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil. 8 It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones.   HE WILL MAKE OUR PATHS STRAIGHT   In our journey of life, we need to know the right goals, as well as the right paths in achieving them. It is an empirical...

Text: Prov 3:1-4 ESV 1 My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments, 2 for length of days and years of life and peace they will add to you. 3 Let not steadfast love and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart. 4 So you will find favor and good success in the sight of God and man. Prov 3:1-4 ESV A FAVOR IN THE SIGHT OF GOD AND MAN Here, a father is charging his son not to forget his teaching. The...

Text: Prov 2:6-22 ESV 6 For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding; 7 he stores up sound wisdom for the upright; he is a shield to those who walk in integrity, 8 guarding the paths of justice and watching over the way of his saints. 9 Then you will understand righteousness and justice and equity, every good path; 10 for wisdom will come into your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul; 11 discretion will watch over you, understanding will...

God’s Word for Today 5 Sep, 2024 My son, if you receive my words and treasure up my commandments with you, 2 making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding; 3 yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, 4 if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, 5 then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. Prov 2:1-5 ESV SEEK WISDOM AS HIDDEN TREASURES In Proverbs...

God’s Word for Today 4 Sep, 2024 Prov 1:20-33 ESV WISDOM CRIES ALOUD Wisdom is personified as crying out for people to listen to him. Far from being an abstract principle, wisdom is presented as a dignified and well-respected woman who stands in the streets and market-places of the town and speaks openly and plainly to those who pass by. In short, she makes herself easily available to everyone. As Solomon writes; 20Wisdom cries aloud in the street, in the markets she raises her...

Text: Prov 1:8-19 (ESV)   8 Hear, my son, your father's instruction, and forsake not your mother's teaching, 9 for they are a graceful garland for your head and pendants for your neck. 10 My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent. 11 If they say, “Come with us, let us lie in wait for blood; let us ambush the innocent without reason; 12 like Sheol let us swallow them alive, and whole, like those who go down to the pit; 13 we shall find all precious goods, we shall fill our...