Monthly Archives: September 2015

Unknown's avatar Rev. David J. Schreffler 4:44 am on September 18, 2015
Tags: , Wisdom   

Wisdom Cries Out In The Streets — Rev. David J. Schreffler

image    September 18, 2015

“Wisdom cries out in the street;
in the squares she raises her voice.
At the busiest corner she cries out;
at the entrance of the city gates she speaks:
“How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple?
How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing
and fools hate knowledge?
Give heed to my reproof;
I will pour out my thoughts to you;
I will make my words known to you.” Proverbs 1:20-23

“Wisdom is not just a mother; she is also something of a prophet. Her first speech is nothing if not straightforward, and it is strongly reminiscent of several of the prophets. The opening verses (1:20-21) locate Wisdom in the midst of society’s hustle and bustle. She hawks her wares where everyone can hear — on the busiest corner and at the city gates (which often doubled as the place of justice in ancient Israel).

The irony is that so few people do listen to her voice. We know those who heed Wisdom are few in number because she addresses her audience as “simple ones,” “scoffers,” and “fools,” and describes them as loving and delighting in such behavior while hating knowledge (verse 22). This scenario is no accident. Wisdom’s audience has refused to hear her call and has not heeded her outstretched hand (verse 24). They have ignored all her counsel (verse 25a), and, indeed, would have none of her discipline (verse 25b). How could it be otherwise? Wisdom is, after all, on the busiest corner where everyone can hear. Everyone can, but not everyone will.” Working Preacher, Brent A. Strawn, September 13, 2009

In the Apocrypha we have the book named “Wisdom” or the “Wisdom of Solomon”. In Proverbs we are introduced to Wisdom. Wisdom is something that can be very elusive. The classic definition of Wisdom is “the quality of having experience, knowledge, and good judgment; the quality of being wise.” Some synonyms might include: sagacity, intelligence, common sense, shrewdness, astuteness, judiciousness, judgment, and prudence. “Wisdom cries out in the streets…” I personally think wisdom is so elusive that even in the streets, we have a lack of wisdom. How can we re-establish some Wisdom in our society, in our world, in our communities, and in our churches? Too often we add the unnecessary requirement of age to the one whom we think will possess wisdom. However, I have heard some very wise comments from children. Wisdom does come from experience, but it also can come from those who keep their eyes and ears open when others shut them tight out of fear. Let’s find ways to heed Wisdom when she speaks….

Pastor Dave

Unknown's avatar Rev. David J. Schreffler 4:44 am on September 17, 2015
Tags: ,   

“Too Soon Old and Too Late Smart” — Rev. David J. Schreffler

image    September 17, 2015

“The Jews took up stones again to stone him. Jesus replied, “I have shown you many good works from the Father. For which of these are you going to stone me?” The Jews answered, “It is not for a good work that we are going to stone you, but for blasphemy, because you, though only a human being, are making yourself God.” Jesus answered, “Is it not written in your law, ‘I said, you are gods’? If those to whom the word of God came were called ‘gods’—and the scripture cannot be annulled— can you say that the one whom the Father has sanctified and sent into the world is blaspheming because I said, ‘I am God’s Son’? If I am not doing the works of my Father, then do not believe me. But if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, so that you may know and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father.”
John 10:31-38

“When we notice in ourselves eager desires for something in the future, and when we see that our temperament carries us too intensely to all that must be done, let us try to restrain ourselves from hurry, and ask our Lord to stop the haste in our hearts and the agitation of our behavior, since G*d has said Himself that His Spirit does not dwell in confusion. Let us take care not to participate too much in all that is said and done, and not to absorb too much of it, because this task that presents itself, let us keep to that, and separate from all the rest. Thus we shall always keep the depths of our souls free and balanced, and we shall cut off entirely the host of unnecessary things which burden our hearts, and which prevent them from turning easily toward G*d.” Christian Perfection, Francois de Salignac Fenelon (1651 – 1715) “For All The Saints” volume II (p. 850)

There’s the saying “We get too soon old, and too late smart” that is an idiom which comes from our PA Dutch friends. It means, in part, that wisdom often comes after we have lived many years. I think it relates to what our friend Fenelon was stating in the above devotion. If we are too much in a hurry to accomplish something that we lose ourselves, our time, our thoughts, and our allegiances in the process, we can also lose our connection with the Holy Spirit, and thus lose our connectivity to G*d. Slow and steady may not always win the race, but it may allow us to be open to the Holy Spirit who will help diminish the chaos and confusion that life can bring. We may still get “too soon old, and too late smart”, but at least we may also learn some wisdom along the way to guide us in faithful living and faithful decisions.

Pastor Dave