Category: Morning Musings

Woman writing notes beside open books at a home study table

Wisdom for the Road

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“Solomon’s proverbs: A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish son, heartache to his mother. Ill-gotten gains do not profit anyone, but righteousness rescues from death. The Lord will not let the righteous go hungry, but he denies the wicked what they crave. Idle hands make one poor, but diligent hands bring riches. The son who gathers during summer is prudent; the son who sleeps during harvest is disgraceful.” (Proverbs‬ ‭10‬:‭1‬-‭5‬ ‭CSB‬‬ – Read the chapter)

Today we start a new section in our journey through Proverbs. We have made it through the lengthy opening section featuring Solomon offering wise counsel to his children. That section flowed fairly smoothly and there was a significant amount of continuity from one verse to the next. This next section has us entering the rhetorical territory we typically associate with Proverbs. For the next few weeks, we are going to be working our way through individual proverbs. Rather than taking one proverb at a time each day, though, which might take us the next couple of years, we’ll take a look at them in blocks. Some will invite longer reflection than others, but all of them invite us to consider what it looks like to live in the righteousness of God. Let’s get started.

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Tired man holding a plug beside an outlet; forehead overlay reads “5/4”

Recharging Your Batteries

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Here’s a blast from the past today while I’m away at a conference. Interestingly, the posts from this same day in 2020 and 2021 were both from Mark – the beginning and the end of the Gospel. For a day when I’m at a conference to focus in on learning and recharging, this post seemed rather appropriate. When Jesus wanted to recharge His batteries, there was one thing He turned to more than any other. Let’s take a look at what this was and what it means for us.

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Rainy nightlife street with adult cinema, live show, casino, and club signs

The Flashing Lights of Folly

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“Folly is a rowdy woman; she is gullible and knows nothing. She sits by the doorway of her house, on a seat at the highest point of the city, calling to those who pass by, who go straight ahead on their paths: “Whoever is inexperienced, enter here! ” To the one who lacks sense, she says, “Stolen water is sweet, and bread eaten secretly is tasty! ” But he doesn’t know that the departed spirits are there, that her guests are in the depths of Sheol.” (Proverbs‬ ‭9‬:‭13‬-‭18‬ ‭CSB‬‬ – Read the chapter)

We have talked many times along this journey already that wisdom is searching for us. She wants to be found. She positions herself in places where anyone who gives even the remotest amount of effort can discover her and gain her benefits. But wisdom isn’t the only one searching for us. Folly is too. She searches just as eagerly, hoping to ensnare us in her trap so that we suffer all her consequences. Of course, she doesn’t sell it that way. Let’s take a look at this concluding section of Proverbs’ challenging opening.

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Multigenerational family dining together around a table with framed family quote

Who Do You Know?

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“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. For by me your days will be many, and years will be added to your life. If you are wise, you are wise for your own benefit; if you mock, you alone will bear the consequences.” (Proverbs‬ ‭9‬:‭10‬-‭12‬ ‭CSB‬‬ – Read the chapter)

Who has your highest respect? Who is the person you look up to more than any other; whose opinion controls your decision making most of all? That person will direct the course of your life. That person has a power over you that will make your life either happy or terrible. Choose that person wisely, because if you don’t, the consequences will be awful. Solomon has a suggestion of who that person should be here. Let’s take a look.

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Two children play on a tire swing in a refugee camp at sunset

Unwelcome Counsel

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“The one who corrects a mocker will bring abuse on himself; the one who rebukes the wicked will get hurt. Don’t rebuke a mocker, or he will hate you; rebuke the wise, and he will love you. Instruct the wise, and he will be wiser still; teach the righteous, and he will learn more.” (‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭9‬:‭7‬-‭9‬ ‭CSB‬‬ – Read the chapter)

Have you ever had someone try to give you advice you didn’t want? My guess is that you didn’t receive it so graciously. Perhaps if you had been taught by your parents to always be polite you expressed some gratitude, but inside you knew just exactly what you were going to do with that advice: nothing. And you were probably going to resent the person for giving it to you unsolicited in the first place. You might have even determined that you were going to do the opposite out of spite. In that situation, you were playing the part of a mocker. That’s not a great role to play. Let’s talk about it.

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