Day 194

Wisdom Calls

Read: Proverbs 8-11

In chapter 8 and the first part of 9, Wisdom continues to call us to follow her teachings so that we may avoid folly and experience blessings. In the last part of chapter 9, folly is also personified as a woman who calls in the same way, but who calls to the wrong kind of life, which ends in death. Both of them call, “Whoever is simple, let him turn in here” (9:4, 16). Still today, God calls us to his way, which is best for us, while the world calls us to a different way that ends in death; the broad road still leads to destruction.

The second section of the book of Proverbs begins with chapter 10, also written by Solomon, but in a different style. Each verse is an individual proverb not connected to the verses in the context. But there are some common themes. Many proverbs begin with “He who” in which the first line of the proverb gives the result of the right kind of living, while the second line shows the result of the wrong kind of living. For example, “He who walks in integrity walks securely, but he who perverts his ways will be found out” (10:9).

Just as is often found in Psalms, there are two kinds of people: “the righteous” and “the wicked,” and the action of the first will result in blessing while that of the later ends in destruction. Jesus enlarges on the teachings of some proverbs; for example, 10:25 is similar to the conclusion of the Sermon on the Mount.

PRAYER
Father, as voices call us from all directions, give us ears to hear and hearts to obey your Word. In Jesus’ name. Amen.