Hey guys!  Apparently the queue has been broken, and I neglected to check on it - so, so sorry about the lack of daily updates!  Everything should be back on track now, but we’re still going to go ahead and stick with the once a day format, even though we’re a little behind.  Hope you’re having a lovely time with your family this holiday!

-nikki.

13 Blessed is the one who finds wisdom,
     and the one who gets understanding,
14 for the gain from her is better than gain from silver
     and her profit better than gold.
15 She is more precious than jewels,
     and nothing you desire can compare with her.
16 Long life is in her right hand;
     in her left hand are riches and honor.
17 Her ways are ways of pleasantness,
     and all her paths are peace.
18 She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her;
     those who hold her fast are called blessed.

Can you imagine anything more precious than silver, gold, and jewels?  Even if you can, Solomon covered all of the bases here by saying that NOTHING you desire can compare with wisdom.  When we think of that, of COURSE we want to search for wisdom, of COURSE we want to be living our lives following its truth!  If there is nothing on earth, nothing that we can desire that compares to her, why wouldn’t we want to search her out and then hold on to that wisdom we’ve found with all of our might??  Solomon lists out for us many of the things we’ve already talked about in the previous passages as benefits of wisdom: long life, riches, honor, joy and peace and LIFE.

I look at that list and sort of kick myself - WHY have I not searched for this great wisdom my whole life?  I mean, it’s been laid out for me in God’s Word this whole time, I’ve had it right in front of me, yet I haven’t tried to study or truly learn or follow this truth.  And don’t we all spend our lives searching for things of worth?  So many people waste their lives searching for riches, when the best thing we can find is here - and we ignore it.  But why??

There’s good news, though: That can change - for each of us - right now, today!  We’ve learned that everything we could ever want is found right here in the Scriptures, so let’s grab ahold of it, why don’t we?

19 The Lord by wisdom founded the earth;
     by understanding he established the heavens;
20 by his knowledge the deeps broke open,
     and the clouds drop down the dew.

Not only do we have all of this treasure of wisdom and knowledge at our fingertips, but we get to read here that through this same wisdom the Lord created everything!  The same wisdom used to create the universe is something that we have the ability to harness and use to live in this crazy world.  =)

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 [4] of the wicked, when it comes,
26 for the Lord will be your confidence
     and will keep your foot from being caught.
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 Lord,
     but the upright are in his confidence.
33 The Lord’s curse is on the house of the wicked,
     but he blesses the dwelling of the righteous.
34 Toward the scorners he is scornful,
     but to the humble he gives favor.
35 The wise will inherit honor,
     but fools get disgrace.

Verses 30 + 31 are so, so interesting to me.  How many of us start something - even something small - just because we can?  That girl at school who’s never done anything to you, but you’re annoyed by, your little brother or sometimes your mom… we all start things without real reason and nothing but bad intent.  Solomon tells us here that one aspect of wisdom is that we will not “contend” with someone who has done us no wrong, or be jealous of those who live violently.  That road only leads to us becoming more and more open to it, and eventually participating - but he tells us here that those people are “an abomination to the Lord”.  We want to be the opposite of that - good, righteous and trustworthy!

We’re about to dive into Proverbs, a book of the Bible that is much different from what we’ve been studying up to this point.  Everything we’ve looked at has been awesome, but Proverbs is a whole different ballgame.  King Solomon, the author of this book, had come from an interesting family: he was the son of King David and Bathsheba (if you’re not familiar with their story, check out 2 Samuel 11 & 12 - it’s crazy!).  After becoming king, God told Solomon that he could ask for anything that he wanted, and he asked for wisdom… of everything in the world that he could’ve had, he wanted wisdom!?  It seems like a strange request, but God blessed that him by not only giving him what he asked for, but also making him the richest man on earth.

So Solomon was the wisest man who ever lived and now we get to study a little of that wisdom that he’s shared with us!

1:1 The proverbs of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel:

2 To know wisdom and instruction,
    to understand words of insight,
3 to receive instruction in wise dealing,
    in righteousness, justice, and equity;
4 to give prudence to the simple,
    knowledge and discretion to the youth—
5 Let the wise hear and increase in learning,
    and the one who understands obtain guidance,
6 to understand a proverb and a saying,
    the words of the wise and their riddles.

7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge;
    fools despise wisdom and instruction.

When I read through these verses, the first thing I notice are a ton of big ideas (words of insight, instruction in equity, prudence), most of them having to do with wisdom.  What’s the big deal?  Most of us, if we’re honest, don’t make very wise choices on a day-to-day basis.  How often, if we’re given the option to get some extra studying done before a test or go to a movie with friends, would we ACTUALLY choose to study?  How about this: when we’re faced with a choice to go to youth group or play video games at home, which do we choose?

Here Solomon calls us to study this book seriously, so that we can gain that wisdom that we so often lack.  In verse 5, he says that “a wise man will  hear and increase in learning, and a man of understanding will attain wise counsel” - a wise believer will be able to help others understand the truth!  The crazy thing about Proverbs is that some of the ideas and truths contained here are SO simple, while others are incredibly complex (hence the term “riddles” in verse 6).  You’ll soon discover, however, that the more you study the Scripture, the more you’ll begin to understand even some of the more difficult concepts and ideas!!

Verse 7 is also the first time “the fear of the Lord” is mentioned… which, contrary to how it sounds, is not actually being afraid of God. The fear of the Lord is very much having reverence for God, and an attitude or a state of mind where, instead of looking out for ourselves and what we want all the time, our feelings, will and even our actions are exchanged for God’s.  This theme is definitely something we’ll be studying more in the coming month!

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.

Verse 10 - for me - is a key verse in this passage.  I am faced everyday with countless opportunities to choose the wrong thing, to sin.  Sometimes the choice is something that I bring upon myself, but very often it’s a temptation that is presented to me by something or someone I see - and very often, it is covert and secret.  I’m sure you run into the same thing on a daily basis; at school, when you’re home alone, out with friends, even at church, sin sneaks up on us all the time!  We’re told here that when we face those temptations and presented with those bad choices, do not consent (don’t agree).  Walk away, turn it off, stop the conversation, say NO, whatever you have to do: do not consent and stay away from those who encourage you to.

Start with me today to look for and listen to wisdom around you.  When you read Proverbs with me this month, try to pull one thing from it that you can practically apply to your life.  What can we pull from today’s verses, and how can we start to practice those lessons?

-nikki.