Year 1, Week 43, Day 5 Bible Reading Observations

Year 1, Week 43, Day 5

I have a brief observation for today’s reading of Song of Solomon 7-8; Proverbs 1-2.

Today’s reading completes the Song of Solomon and begins the Book of Proverbs. As we the look at the Book of Proverbs, Proverbs 1 states some introductory matters, which orient us to what Proverbs concerns itself with: “The proverbs of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel: To know wisdom and instruction, to understand words of insight, to receive instruction in wise dealing, in righteousness, justice, and equity; to give prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the youth” (Proverbs 1:1-4). The Book of Proverbs instructs us in wisdom, and what the Book helps us to see is that wisdom is the moral skill needed to live righteously. Proverbs 2 adds to this notion of wisdom by framing the value of wisdom in very practical terms: “So you will walk in the way of the good and keep to the paths of the righteous. For the upright will inhabit the land, and those with integrity will remain in it, but the wicked will be cut off from the land, and the treacherous will be rooted out of it” (Proverbs 2:20-22). Wisdom is not a theoretical knowledge but an applied understanding that has direct bearing on the way one lives life. This wisdom is not native to the human condition, but is found in relationship with the LORD: “For the LORD gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding” (Proverbs 2:6). So, one’s posture toward the LORD determines one’s acquisition of wisdom: “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction” (Proverbs 1:7).

One of the things that struck me from today’s reading was the blunt manner that the absolute need for wisdom is framed: “Because I have called and you refused to listen, have stretched out my hand and no one has heeded, because you have ignored all my counsel and would have none of my reproof, I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when terror strikes you, when terror strikes you like a storm and your calamity comes like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come upon you” (Proverbs 1:24-27). These words are blunt. But these words are a clear warning that there are sober consequences to living life without wisdom. I would suggest that this warning is built on the premise that we live in a moral universe, for we live in a world that has been created with a moral order. The LORD is holy and upright and He has built into the fabric of the world that He created, such moral order. Life works best when the moral order that God built into the fabric of the world is recognized and adhered to. Life starts to quickly unravel when the moral order that God built into the fabric of the world is ignored and defied.

Coupled with warnings are offers of wisdom: “Wisdom cries aloud in the street, in the markets she raises her voice; at the head of the noisy streets she cries out; at the entrance of the city gates she speaks” (Proverbs 1:20-21). The offers of wisdom are made, but the acquisition of wisdom must be pursued with earnestness: “My son, if you receive my words and treasure up my commandments with you, making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding; yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God” (Proverbs 2:1-5). Wisdom comes from the LORD, but the gracious dispensing of wisdom is not passively received. Obtaining wisdom requires intentionality and effort on the part of the one wishing to receive wisdom from the LORD. And the offers of wisdom highlight the rewards or benefits from acquiring wisdom: “Then you will understand righteousness and justice and equity, every good path; for wisdom will come into your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul; discretion will watch over you, understanding will guard you, delivering you from the way of evil, from men of perverted speech, who forsake the paths of uprightness to walk in the ways of darkness” (Proverbs 2:9-13).

The opening chapters of Proverbs makes it sound like bad things come to the person who fails to obtain wisdom, but also good things come to the person who truly seeks to obtain wisdom. These notions will run throughout the Book of Proverbs—remaining a fool and ignoring the pursuit of wisdom, and one should assume things will go bad; while turning from foolishness and embracing the pursuit of wisdom, and one should assume things will go good. These broad sweeping warnings and benefits should be regarded for what they are: generalized statements that describe how things typically work. The moral universe that God made generally operates in a certain way. The wisdom expressed in Proverbs are provided through Proverbial sayings and statements that give general descriptions; but the wisdom expressed in the Book of Job reminds us that the LORD can have other plans and purposes. Job was a righteous man filled with much wisdom, but the bottom dropped out of his life and his friends assumed that he must have been an unrighteous fool. Reading the generalized descriptions of Proverbs could certainly account for the conclusions of job’s friends. But they were wrong, for the generalized statements found in Proverbs do not explain everything. Thus, as we read the Proverbs, we should embrace them as God’s prescription to a wisdom-filled life, and therefore a good life. But there are times that God’s plans for our life, which are always good plans, can sometimes take us down a path that looks similar to the kind of heartache, struggle, and affliction that comes upon a fool.  

What struck you in today’s reading? What questions were prompted from today’s reading?

Pastor Joe