This Proverb has 2 distinct sections, so I will do each of them separately.  The first 12 verses are a classic Proverb-style writing, with the second half of the chapter, verses 13-35 being more of a hymn.  For today, in reading the first 12 verses, these lines are just dripping with nuggets of wisdom.  I mean, it is rich.

One of the things I notice on a repeated basis in reading Proverbs, especially in these earlier chapters, is the repetition of the plea that we should really treasure wisdom, and that we should seek it like currency, almost like it is oxygen even.  It is something we shouldn’t take for granted in other words.  And yet, I know that I pass by it on a daily basis, not appreciating how accessible God has made it for me.  I love wisdom, but do I really treasure it like that?  Perhaps THAT is a key element of wisdom in-and-of-itself, just treasuring it and valuing it appropriately; a subtle point, but probably a highly valuable one.  We see this in verses 1-4 today.

Getting into verse 5, we see some of the more quoted verses from Proverbs, and a beautifully written piece of scripture.  We see words like “trust” and “lean”, and this idea of a path again...that trusting in the Lord, leaning on His wisdom will put us on a path towards a good life.  We will a different way of suggesting that we remain humble, that we shouldn’t be “wise in our own eyes”...a huge element to wisdom.  The author goes on to tell us that we shouldn’t dispise correction either; that discipline isn’t a negative, but a positive.  As a side note, I think this has a huge lesson buried in it, by way of example to us who are parents.  When I am going to discipline my children, it is imperative that I don’t do it in a way that insults them, that stirs them up, or that damages their opinion on themselves.  Discipline is a method of bettering someone...and it is important that we remember that.  Discipline is something that we give someone we love, as we are told that God does with us here in v11-12; if someone were looking over my shoulder and watching me discipline my children, they should be convinced that I love my children based on the way I discipline them.  That’s a big idea.

We also see this idea that we should honor the Lord with our production in v9-10 - that is, our money, our time, our energy...all of it.  My nature lends itself naturally to getting up early in the morning, writing this blog, doing my podcast, studying God’s word.  For some people, they look at that and think I am super-faithful...but that’s not fair.  Some people struggle to get up and put God first, to open God’s Word and to study, but at the same time they are very generous with their time, with their energy, with their money, etc.  It isn’t fair to judge me by my strengths only...and, I mustn’t give myself more credit than I am due.  The giving of my time, energy, and money is an area where I can grow.  It is an area where I used to be more solid if I am being honest.  What’s happened is the stress of work and family has caused me to be more inward-focused, almost in a self-preservation kind of mode, and I have lost that outward-minded lifestyle.  That is what I am getting from the reading today.  That’s the challenge I am feeling today.  That’s what I will be praying about and thinking about today.

As a side note, with the amazing wisdom in today’s reading, I find it funny that God really hit my upside the head with these two verses...I almost wish I could ‘unsee’ them...funny how that works.