September 30, 2021 — Proverbs 4:1–6:35

“Listen, children, to a fatherʼs instruction, and pay attention so that you may gain discernment. Because I give you good instruction, do not forsake my teaching. When I was a son to my father, a tender only child before my mother, he taught me, and he said to me: “Let your heart lay hold of my words; keep my commands so that you will live. Acquire wisdom, acquire understanding; do not forget and do not turn aside from the words I speak. Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will guard you. Wisdom is supreme – so acquire wisdom, and whatever you acquire, acquire understanding! Esteem her highly and she will exalt you; she will honor you if you embrace her. She will place a fair garland on your head; she will bestow a beautiful crown on you.” Listen, my child, and accept my words, so that the years of your life will be many. I will guide you in the way of wisdom and I will lead you in upright paths. When you walk, your steps will not be hampered, and when you run, you will not stumble. Hold on to instruction, do not let it go; protect it, because it is your life. Do not enter the path of the wicked or walk in the way of those who are evil. Avoid it, do not go on it; turn away from it, and go on. For they cannot sleep unless they cause harm; they are robbed of sleep until they make someone stumble. For they eat bread gained from wickedness and drink wine obtained from violence. But the path of the righteous is like the bright morning light, growing brighter and brighter until full day.” Proverbs 4:1-18

The family is the metaphorical setting for the instructions in Proverbs. The implied audience is, of course, male; the spouse is always wife and not husband. The hierarchical and patriarchal assumptions of family reflected in Proverbs are problematic to many readers (especially women). These texts were originally written to assist young men negotiate within ancient Israel society – it should not be held up as normative for our culture or society today.

And yet, the instructions in Proverbs still hold real gems of wisdom. “Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will guard you. Wisdom is supreme – so acquire wisdom, and whatever you acquire, acquire understanding! Esteem her highly and she will exalt you; she will honor you if you embrace her.”

We always want leaders who exude wisdom, whether it is in business or even in the church — perhaps that is why we are still electing white men over the age of 65 to be president. Notice that Wisdom is feminine in the Hebrew — wisdom is a “she”. Yet our country seems to have trouble trusting a woman to be president — she only seems able to be First Lady. But in time that will change. There were many wise women in the Bible — I would point you to Rahab, Mary, Deborah, Tamar, Lydia, and Mary Magdalene just to name a few. The advice in Proverbs is for all people — male or female, young or old. Perhaps change is coming – slowly, and over time.

Let Us Pray,

Lord Christ, you offer not only the words of eternal life, but of wisdom as well. Help us to acknowledge the wisdom we read in scripture and to live and trust that word always. Amen.

Pastor Dave

September 29, 2021 — Proverbs 1:1–3:35

“The Proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel: To learn wisdom and moral instruction, and to discern wise counsel. To receive moral instruction in skillful living, in righteousness, justice, and equity. To impart shrewdness to the morally naive, and a discerning plan to the young person. (Let the wise also hear and gain instruction, and let the discerning acquire guidance!) To discern the meaning of a proverb and a parable, the sayings of the wise and their riddles. Fearing the Lord is the beginning of moral knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction. Listen, my child, to the instruction from your father, and do not forsake the teaching from your mother. For they will be like an elegant garland on your head, and like pendants around your neck.” Proverbs 1:1-9

The core theological claim of Proverbs (Proverbs 1:7, 1:29, 2:5, etc.) is that the “fear of the Lord” is the beginning of knowledge or wisdom. (The New Interpreter’s Study Bible, p. 894). What can fear mean? I think the possibilities would include awe, abject terror, respect, and obedience. Proverbs 1:7 reads, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.” It seems to me that piety and our proper understanding of our relationship to this world, to each other, and our relationship to G-d places us in an attitude where we must decide: will be receptive to hearing G-d’s calling or not — and will have a willingness to follow or not? Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote, “How difficult it is to draw the line with certainty between spiritual wisdom and worldly astuteness. …Abide by the Word. Where the Word is, there shall the disciple be. Therein lies his (her) true wisdom and his (her) true simplicity. Only the truth of (the Word of Jesus) will enable him (her) to discern what is wise.” Finally, I ask you to consider the words of Proverbs 3:5: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”

Oh to develop such trust and acknowledgment!

Let Us Pray,

Lord Christ, we know that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge and wisdom. Help us to respect the name of the Lord always, and to love and fear the Lord every day. Amen.

Pastor Dave